A/N: To clarify... I've always felt that in canon, Bo's impulsive nature was often the result – but not the sole source or blame – for Lauren's pain within their relationship. Bo was also quick to defend/protect those she loved, while also being quick to become angry with them. She had difficulty letting go of the past and often allowed past events to dictate how she handled present circumstance. Maybe much of that was because of the restless Succubus she was forced to hold captive within her for fear of what it may do should she release it from its cage, but my take was that she didn't trust easily, but always seemed to find her way to what was the 'right' thing to do by others while often treating Lauren as an after thought... in short, I don't think Bo ever truly showed her devotion to her human lover outwardly like she did Kenzi. Seemed a little bro's before ho's and... well... I hate that phrase! I hated the way Bo treated Lauren and never truly thought she 'earned' Lauren's love.

Lauren, on the other hand, drove me out of my mind. She was kind, dedicated, sweet, and the perfect victim... victim of her past and victim of the Fae/Ash. It bugged the hell out of me that she never seemed able to stand up for herself or communicate how she felt, in her relationship with Bo, thereby allowing things to fester to the point where she felt she couldn't be with Bo because she wasn't a priority or not enough because she was human. I wanted more Lauren moments like the one where she stood up to Lachlan and ripped off the necklace as well as the one where she stood up to Bo in her bedroom when she was with Rainer... the "... everything I do is for you..."

Anyway, my take was that Lauren's character was flawed because of many internal conflicts... first, she was likely an awkward teenager which is in keeping with how she is portrayed in most fanfics as a child. Second, she was clearly harboring a great deal of guilt from killing 11 people in the bombing incident. Third, she was wanted by Interpol, so probably used to keeping a certain degree of secrecy and mistrust around others. Fourth, she probably saw some serious shit in Afghanistan, as she was reluctant to discuss it with Kenzi at all. Fifth, she was a slave to the Fae and was probably taught early on to hold her tongue.

In short... I was shocked by the Doccubus ending because none of their issues ever seemed to be resolved... while I was always pulling for them, it seemed the relationship would forever be doomed because they were never on the same page.

So, going forward in this story which is outside of canon, but in keeping with my take on how truly flawed they are in canon, I want to make them deal with their own shit and become healthier individuals. I hope that you'll realize that I, personally, am not doing anything to Lauren or Bo... they do this back and forth stuff to each other. Sure... I'm the puppet here, but I'm trying to stay true to their respective natures. Bo lashes out and Lauren runs... we've seen it over and over in canon... and in this story.

All of that said, let's see how thing progress...

Cuddles

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

CHAPTER 12: TOUGH GOODBYES, FRESH STARTS

The flight back to the States had been smooth going until now. Lauren sat with Maverick on a bench well away from the luggage carousel having a conversation while Bo paced back and forth, her eyes glancing occasionally to the conveyer that brought the luggage down. The Professor stood still with his arms crossed, watching items go round and round, hoping that the precious cargo would soon appear and his protégé would have reason to calm down. After fifteen minutes of waiting, the belt shut down and he knew his wish hopes had been dashed.

"Maybe you should go see the luggage captain, Bo."

"Ya think?" She asked, aggravated. Looking at the Professor's expression, she heaved a sigh, "I'm sorry. You've been nothing but supportive and patient and I shouldn't take this out on you. The airline, however, is something entirely different. This is why I hate traveling without Kenzi. She has powers of persuasion that always get my luggage here safely... especially my competition boards and now..."

The Professor moved to place a gentle hand on Bo's shoulder, "We'll find them, Bo."

"I have another competition next week."

"We have the specs on our boards, Bo. We'll build new ones."

Bo sighed, "Look... I didn't want to tell you because I didn't want you to worry, but... well there was a big storm while we were away. The insurance has covered everything and they've already started repairs, but the tropical storm that was forecast before you and Lauren hit, became hurricane-force winds and... well... the workshop was a total loss."

The Professor walked Bo behind the drop chute where they were hidden from the eyes of their companions and pulled the brunette into a hug. Bo let go a sob, covering her face with her hands,

"I just can't catch a break."

"Well, let's see... are you referring to your near drowning, your evil physical therapist, your arch enemy, the psychopathic abuser of your yet-to-be-labeled relationship with a certain blonde, her sudden departure, the two broken boards prior to the Fiji Pro, the hurricane that wiped out your life-long dream in what was probably three minutes or this particular unfortunate loss in the face of an impending competition which can make or break your standing in the championship?"

"Well, when you put it that way, my life is pretty damn good."

The Professor laughed, "I'm sorry to make a joke out of your misfortune, Miss Dennis, but I find that when life throws us a string of bad luck, it's best to step away from it all, take some time on your own and reflect on your life. Clearly, life feels you owe it something and I believe you need to find out what that is."

Bo pulled back, her face creased with deep frown lines as she put her hands on her hips and spoke,

"I'm a bitch... I'm a controlling, impulsive, bitch who has been running through life angry at the world for my circumstance. I need to grow the hell up and face the fact that you get what you give in this life. I've been dishing judgment while never taking the time to look at myself and my own choices."

She looked up and pointed at the conveyer, "This is just one example. Kenzi warned me to have my boards shipped home or make a deal with a luggage agent, but I was too worried about saving money, so I put them in with the rest of the luggage. I should listen to my little sister more often. She's more of a mom than I ever was."

"Oh, I'd say that isn't quite true. That spunky little gothic-style sister of yours is smart, skilled and a savvy businesswoman. She's got a great relationship with a woman she clearly loves and takes good care of our students. She's on track for an equally great surfing career while finishing a degree she began many years ago. She didn't come by her motivation and work ethic by accident, Bo... she is the best parts of her big sister... the woman who raised her."

"Yea, well... thanks, but I think she learned more from my mistakes than my example."

"She still learned and you can still learn as well. Bo, if you learn nothing else from me, please learn this... the beauty of life is that you can choose to reinvent yourself ever single moment of every single day. Right here, right now... what you like to change? Who would you like to become?"

Bo sat down on the bench behind her and looked at the luggage carousel in front of her as it came to life once again.

"Would it to be too much to ask that my surfboards come down that chute right now or do you think that's the luggage of the next incoming flight?"

"We'll soon see. In the meanwhile, I'd like you to answer my question... you can do it now in conversation or you can write me a five-page essay tonight, due tomorrow as an assignment for our class."

"An assignment?"

"Well, seeing as we've lost our classroom..."

"You aren't serious."

"Look at my face Bo... have you ever seen me look more serious?"

He was right. Bo had never seen him look more stern and... well... professor-like since the first day she had him for class.

"Fine... well... I'd like to be more like Kenzi in my professional life. She's... well... everyone likes her and likes working for her."

"And you don't think they like working for you?"

"I think they like it okay, but we don't laugh while we work... it's all business. Kenzi's employees actually get shit done while they work. She has fun, they have fun... it's like they don't really work for a living... they just play all day at things they love to do."

"That's a helluva job if you can find it." Professor Meade smiled.

"Have you found it?"

"You mean you can't tell?"

"You look happy enough." Bo replied.

"Miss Dennis, I am very happy as an employee of Kenbo Corporation. Why do you think I'm retiring from teaching? I'm making a livable wage for playing in the woods with nature while getting to teach kids about all of the things I love."

Bo nodded, "You know, I'm ashamed to admit that in all of these weeks that you've been working with us, I never once stopped to ask you how you liked working for us. I need to be more conscious of how my employees feel... especially the ones that reside here. They need to have lives outside of the school and I'm not sure they all have a chance to have that if they're residential employees."

"Okay, so you want to be a better boss. That will be the first goal in the reinvention of Bo Dennis program."

"I'm a program?"

"A project?"

"I'm your project... that's all I am to you?" Bo said sarcastically with a laugh.

"In truth, you're becoming more and more like the daughter I never had, Miss Dennis. My wife would have loved you."

"Well, I sure could use the father-figure. I'm sorry I never got to meet your wife."

"Me too, Bo. And you should know, that you've always been a project to me... you have great promise and helping you towards achieving greatness... well... isn't that what teachers are supposed to do? You just happen to be my favorite project... you will be my greatest achievement!"

Professor Meade laughed, wrapping an arm over Bo's shoulder,

"Okay then... what else do I need to move on to greatness?"

"Ah, I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you. The secret of greatness must be discovered. It is not a secret to be shared by those of us who have already achieved it."

"I never knew how modest you were. It's refreshing." Bo smirked, "Okay, so I have to discover my greatness. What does that mean?"

"Greatness is not bestowed on a person because of what they accomplish. It's bestowed on a person because of who they become and how they positively impact or influence others. So... who must you be to become great?"

"Kind, understanding, hardworking, compassionate..." Bo thought for a moment. She knew many great people, but why did she consider them great? She thought of Pops,

"Well, Pops Torrent... he's great. He is an amazing engineer, so I guess that means you must possess knowledge in your area of expertise. All of his employees, including me, have a genuine respect for him... I guess because he respects us... both personally and professionally. He respects our effort, our time, our knowledge and the fact that we have things outside of work that are important to us."

"That's a good start... do you really think we can cover all of this while we're sitting here?"

Bo's shoulders sank, "You really want the essay, don't you?"

Professor Meade nodded, "I do, Miss Dennis. I think it would be good for you."

"You're probably right. Besides, I should probably go see the luggage captain and get the process of finding my boards started."

"Agreed. Besides, I think our two companions are probably wondering what we're doing over here."

"True."

The pair stood to move over to the luggage department when Bo stopped them, "Professor?"

"Yes, Miss Dennis?"

"Thank you for your patience and dedication to me and my mess of a life. I promise... I'm worth your time and energy. I want to grow and... well... I want to be a better person... for me, for my friends, my family, my students and to be a better representative of my sport."

"I hadn't heard you mention that goal before."

Bo shook her head, "Another awareness moment... I seem to be having a lot of those lately."

"It's called growing up."

"Well, it's about time I did that then." Bo sighed, "After my second wave in the competition, I was sitting on the back of the wave runner and Dyson told me to look at how huge the crowd was. We were excited that so many people had showed up to watch because we're always trying to grow our sport. Anyway, I noticed how many young kids were on the shoreline and realized that many of them were young girls. In that moment, it just got in my head that I wanted them to see more than boobs and bikinis on the beach. I wanted them to see women who were secure in their body who could kick ass on a board without fear just like them men."

"A worthy goal."

Bo nodded, "Anyway, I thought of those girls holding a surf magazine with me on the cover and thought... I'd want them to see beyond my physical appearance... I'd want them to see the traditionally man-oriented world I live in and know that they could do it too. They could build surfboards, be an engineer, rock the surf world and survive without a man taking care of them in house. I'm not saying they have to be gay, but it would be nice to know that they don't need a man who can swing a hammer. It's just as important that they man be able to open his heart."

"Amen." The Professor smiled, "Now, let's go find your boards."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Once Lauren and Maverick's bags had come down the carousel, they'd moved the luggage cart over to a bench so they could sit down. They'd had a busy day in and on the water yesterday, leaving the little boy exhausted. They had all hoped Mav would sleep on the plane, but he had begged and begged for Bo to get him a tour of the cockpit and eventually, she'd caved.

It turned out that most of the flight staff were surfing fans from Fiji and recognized Bo. From there, it had been an easy exchange of autographs and one phone call to the co-pilot's daughter to get Maverick a tour of the precious driver's seat. After two hours, he was returned to the adults and had spent the next three hours telling them all about his visit. After that, he had taken the map of the area where they were flying and traced their route, looking out of the window to try to figure out where they were. Despite Lauren explaining that they were too high up to know exactly where they were, he played a guessing game based on the Professor's knowledge of aircraft speed and distance calculations.

The boy had finally fallen asleep for the last three hours of the flight and the adults followed soon after, exhausted by their youngest companion's energy. When they departed the aircraft and headed to the baggage claim, Maverick was silent. When they'd gotten the bags and found that Bo's boards were missing, Lauren thought it best that the young boy be removed from the possible anger that would spill over should Bo's boards be missing. They had just sat down on the bench across from the conveyor when Maverick opened the conversation that Lauren had dreaded,

"The airport in Colorado is really big... sort of like this one."

He was quiet for a moment, but continued, his tiny legs rocking back and forth under the bench,

"I mean... well... there's a lot of airports but I only know four of 'em. I guess it depends on if you fly into Denver, Grand Junction, Leadville or Colorado Springs... but... well, duh... I guess you're flying into Colorado Springs."

Silence once more consumed the space between them before the question came,

"Why are you going, Lauren? You can be a doctor anywhere. If you don't like your job, you could get another one here." He asked, his big eyes staring up at Lauren, his expression one of sadness.

Lauren's eyes went wide at the question before she gave a slight smile and replied, "Well, I can't work with the entire United States Olympic Team just anywhere, Maverick. This is a chance for me to work with athletes that are going through what I went through to get my gold medal."

"But can't you just fly back and forth like Bo and Kenzi do when they have to go to do their surfing jobs?"

Lauren smiled, "Well, they don't have to do them all day every day, Mav. I would have to fly seven hours to work in the morning and seven hours home at night. That's half of the day spent in the air."

Maverick hung his head, "Can I go with you?"

The blonde's eyes went wide, "But I thought you wanted to be a surfer? And wouldn't you miss Bo and Kenzi? And what about the Professor? You two are like best friends."

"Truth?" Maverick asked, crossing his heart and extending his hand to Lauren.

"Always truth between you and me Maverick." Lauren smiled, crossing her heart and taking Maverick's hand, thumbs interlocked, then hands, then fingertips before they high fived.

"I miss living in Aspen with my family."

Lauren nodded, "I see. And have you mentioned this to Bo?"

Maverick shook his head, "No. I mean... I know the courts gave her custody of me and... well... she's a surfer and she needs a beach and... well... her home is there so I can't ask her to move just for me but... it doesn't stop me from missing my old house."

"Why don't you tell her?"

"I don't want to make her sad. She seems sad a lot lately."

Lauren sighed, "Well, she has a lot on her mind, Mav."

"I know and... well... I heard her talking on the phone to Kenzi this morning. Something bad happened back home but I don't know what it was. They were all really worried before we left. There was a big storm coming and...well... I don't know. Anyway, this is just more for her to be sad about so I don't want to make her even sadder by telling her I want to leave her... I mean... I don't wanna leave her at all. Bo is so cool and we have a ton of fun together and she teaches me a lota cool stuff and she tucks me in every night and reads me stories and... well... she's sorta like my mom but not my mom." He looked up at Lauren, "Ya know?"

Lauren smiled, running her hand through the young boy's hair, "I think so. I still think you should talk to Bo about it, Mav. She'll understand."

"So... will you stay?"

Lauren frowned, "I can't stay, Maverick. I need to go."

"But why?"

"Do you remember when you first came here and you were really sad and your head was filled with all kinds of memories and thoughts?"

"It was hard. It still is sometimes but you and Bo and the Professor and Kenzi make it better."

Lauren nodded, "Well, Bo told me that sometimes you just wanted to get away from everyone and sit by yourself. Why?"

Maverick lowered his eyes, "I just didn't want to talk about why I was at the Kenbo School and all the kids and even some of the teachers wanted to know. I didn't wanna talk about it at all."

Lauren nodded, "So what did you do when you were alone?"

"I just... I just sat to think... sometimes I would cry. I liked crying alone because I could cry as hard as I wanted to. I would talk to my parents and my sister. I would tell them I was sorry I didn't do something to save them. Bo told me there was nothing I could have done to save them. Do you think she's right?"

"I do." Lauren said with an emphatic nod of her head.

"It was quiet and the water was pretty and sometimes I would sit alone at night... until Bo would come and get me. I think she was worried."

"I know she was worried. She cares a great deal about you, Maverick. She wants you to be happy. She always wants you to remember your family, but she also wants you to go on and have a happy and successful life. She wants you to be everything your parents hoped you would be."

"She told me." Maverick nodded, "An I want to do all that too but... well... I just... I want things to stay like they are."

Lauren nodded, "I can understand that, Mav... I really can. Change can be a really scary thing sometimes and you've had a lot of change in a really short amount of time, but change can be good too. You changed sitting by yourself a lot and now that you sit with other kids, you're making some new friends."

Maverick sat, considering what Lauren said, so the blonde continued, "And just like you used to sit and think when things weren't going well for you, things haven't been going well for me and I just need some time to be on my own. I really wish I could do that here with you and Bo, but I need to go and think about some things that have happened in my life... I need to figure some things out."

"But you'll come back, right?"

Lauren shrugged, "I don't know yet, Maverick, but I can promise you that sometime soon, Bo is going to help you to come and visit me in Colorado. Would you like that?"

"Really?" Maverick's eyes went wide as he sat up straight and smiled.

Lauren laughed, "Really. We both know you miss snowboarding so once the surf season is up, Bo is going to get you out to Colorado."

"For Christmas? It's great having Christmas there!"

"Well, it's pretty great here, too." Lauren said, unsure if Bo would be willing to let him come there for Christmas. Right now, Lauren hoped that the whole gang would be together for the holidays, but she knew that Bo probably wouldn't be willing to leave the school for their first Christmas as a community.

"Christmas without snow?"

"Christmas isn't just about weather, Mav... it's about family and you have a big family here."

"I have a family?"

"Family doesn't have to be people related by blood. Family is a group of people who love and care for each other. Who support each other and their choices whether they agree with them or not."

"Is Bo your family?"

Lauren nodded, "And Kenzi, Tamsin, Pops and Moms, Ciara, Hale and Chief. They're all family to me."

Maverick looked up, "It looks like Bo's gonna be sad again. She's coming over without her surfboards."

Lauren shook her head and mumbled, "Shit."

The pair stood, greeting them, "Well, you're empty handed, so that's not good."

Bo shrugged, "It's all good. They'll find them and have them delivered before my competition in Oahu on Saturday."

"You have a competition at home?" Maverick asked, his face showing all of the excitement that came with the surprise news.

"Yup... and the whole school is coming to watch. How's that?"

"Really? Lauren, did you hear that! It's so cool! Are you gonna win again, Bo?"

Bo laughed, "I hope so, Maverick, but we've got a lot of work to do if that's going to happen on Saturday."

"You gotta get Nick with you every day and work really hard, Bo. It's our beach and nobody beats Bo on our beach!"

Maverick spun in a circle doing one of the Hawaiian native dances he'd learned from Akamai, the native history teacher. The three adults laughed at the young boy before Bo shut him down,

"Okay, okay... that's not exactly what I meant, but... well... before we leave, you and I need to talk for a minute."

Maverick's face grew worried as Bo sat on the bench and lifted him onto her lap. The Professor wrapped an arm around Lauren's shoulder and gave her upper arm a squeeze, whispering in her ear,

"You'd better listen to this as well. She should have told you, Lauren. I'm sorry... I didn't know she didn't or I would have told you myself. She didn't want you to stay because of the news."

Lauren looked at the Professor before looking back at Bo, who was smiling at Maverick

"It's okay, Mav. It's all going to be okay, but when we get back home, things are going to be different for a little while. You know that storm we were watching in school before we left?"

"The Tropical Storm Daniel?"

"Yup. That's the one... well... it turns out Daniel was a bit of a troublemaker and he turned into a hurricane... a pretty big one."

"Are my friends okay? Did anybody die?"

Maverick's face was covered in worry, tears filling his eyes, but Bo quickly interrupted,

"No. Absolutely not. No one died. Tamsin has a broken arm and Pops has a concussion. They were working and a roof caved in, but they're fine now... Dr. McCorrigan and his staff fixed them all up. The funny part is that nothing happened to the school... the boats got tossed around, but everything there is fine."

"So what's different?"

"Well, my workshop... well, in Kenzi's words... it looks like it got run over by a truck."

"Wow... it must be really flat."

Bo shook her head, "Not anymore. They already started rebuilding it."

"Your surfboards?"

Bo shrugged, "Toothpicks."

"Bummer."

"Yup." Bo replied, "I guess Poseidon didn't like the design. I guess you, me and the Professor are gonna have to build new ones."

"We can change the name... call them Boken!"

"You want my name in front of Kenzi's?"

"No... Boken... get it... like... broken but without the 'r'!"

Bo laughed, "Well, that's very clever! You've obviously been spending too much time with Kenzi."

"She said I gotta learn a good comeback for when kids tease me. She said the best defense against a bully and their mouth is a good offense."

Bo smiled, "Yup... that's Kenzi."

"So, what about everything else? The Back Bay? The place you train?"

"I'm not going to lie to you, Maverick. There's a lot of damage, so things look a lot different. We're rebuilding everything, but you and the other kids are going to have to help out."

"It's our home, so it only makes sense that we have to help put it back together."

"Thanks, Maverick. I knew I could count on you."

Maverick jumped off of Bo's lap and walked to Lauren, pulling her down to him so he could whisper in her ear,

"I'm not gonna be able to go to Colorado. Bo needs me here... the whole family needs me here. You can go if you wanna, but I gotta stay and help rebuild our home."

Lauren nodded, her eyes filling with unshed tears, "You're a good man, Maverick."

"Yup. It's the kind of man my family would want me to be."

Lauren wrapped her arms around the young boy and gave him a long hug, her eyes glancing up to find Bo's looking back at her. They smiled softly at one another before Maverick pulled out of Lauren's arms,

"What was that for?"

Lauren pecked his nose with her finger, "Just for being you, Mav."

"Can we go now, Bo? We got work to do."

Bo nodded, opening the pull bar on her luggage while the others all did the same. She grabbed her gear bag and turned to go before an older man came running towards them,

"Surf lady! Surf lady!"

Bo looked at Maverick whose face was laughing at the man, "Well, I've never been called that before."

The little boy giggled as Bo turned to the man she now recognized as the manager of the bag claim who had been too busy with other issues to talk to her earlier.

"Yes?"

"We found your surfboards. They were put on a return flight to Fiji."

"But... we were in Fiji."

"Yes. They were on a plane that was going from the States to New Zealand with a layover in Fiji. Some of those passengers deplaned in Fiji rather than continuing on. When they took the luggage off, they accidentally put your boards on that plane."

"So where are they now?"

"They're in New Zealand, but will be returning to Fiji the day after tomorrow. They're going to take them off the plane in Fiji and put them on a plane bound for Hawaii. We called your manager's number as you asked and she is arranging for them to be picked up when they arrive on Friday."

Bo nodded. That was cutting it close. If the airline failed to come through, she would have nothing to use in competition. She was going to have to build new boards for Saturday since Kenzi's... while not destroyed in the hurricane... would be in use since she was surfing in the same competition. Still, Bo thought about her conversation with Professor Meade from earlier and decided to stay positive. You get from life what you give to life... positivity would surely yield positivity, so she was going to focus on that... change number one.

"Thank you for the update. Hopefully they'll arrive on time. If not, I'll make sure I have a back up plan."

"Yes, ma'am. Hopefully they're in on time. I apologize on behalf of the airline for the inconvenience."

"Inconvenience? It's her living!" Lauren began, but Bo cut her off, shaking her head while looking down at Maverick.

Bo looked up at the man, "It's okay, really. I'll figure it out. Life always works out somehow, right?"

The man smiled, "Right."

He handed her two ticket folders, "These are two round-trip tickets for you and a companion to anywhere in the world for as long as you wish to stay. It's the least we can do for your loss."

"Wow... thanks."

"Of course. I'll let you go." The man nodded and turned to walk away.

Bo turned to Maverick and knelt down before him, "You know what these are?"

"I heard him, Bo! That's SO cool!"

"They are. Now, I don't know who will take you yet, but someone will use the other ticket and we'll get you out to Colorado to visit Lauren, okay?"

Maverick looked up at Lauren with a huge smile on his face, "Really? I can come? Can I really?"

Lauren nodded, "If your grades are good and you're keeping up with your chores, it's fine by me if it's okay with Bo. She'll pick the time and you'll have to travel with someone from the school."

"I know... the laws because I'm minor."

Bo took Maverick's face in her hands, "You, my dear boy, are major! In the eyes of the law, you are a minor child, in that you are too young to travel alone."

Maverick smiled, "Well, come on... we got work to do!"

The youngest member of their party headed for the exit, the wheels on his luggage spinning fast while the Professor followed behind him,

"Wait up, Maverick! Look for Kenzi's car!"

"Bo..." Lauren began, but the brunette shook her head,

"It's okay, Lauren. I would have told you if everything wasn't under control. The construction crews are there, insurance is covering mostly everything and no one got hurt... well... everyone is alive anyway. It's okay, so don't worry."

Bo smiled, "Come on then, Kenzi is probably pissed we made her wait for so long."

Lauren stared at Bo as the brunette walked towards the exit, her conscience feeling the weight of leaving her friends and family behind when there was so much to do. She wondered how the Chief was doing at the hospital.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nothing could have prepared Bo for the scene that was before her when they pulled up to the campground to drop off the Professor. Exiting the car, the older man pulled his baseball cap off of his head and rubbed the back of his neck,

"Well, I guess I could pitch a tent on some of those palm tree branches."

Bo's eyes scanned the scene as Maverick ran up next to her, "Wow. It looks like a tornado went through here. I mean... I only saw 'em in movies, but yup... looks the same."

He walked over towards an overturned picnic table and picked up a branch, then dragged it over to the old campfire pit. Dropping it in place, he repeated his action while the three adults watched. Finally, he stopped and looked up,

"What you guys?"

Bo asked, "What are you doing?"

"Well, it's not gonna get cleaned up by itself. Come on, Professor. You gotta get your house done again."

Professor Meade looked at Bo and shrugged, "I guess he's right about that."

"I'll get a room set up for you at the school, Professor."

"It's okay, Bo. I'll handle this. If I can get another portable bed, that would be great. I'm just going to run down to the camping store later to get a new canopy shelter. Tomorrow, we should have this all cleared out and be ready to put up the tents again. I'll talk to Hank about delivering fifty new ones as soon as he can. I can put it on my credit card and you can pay me back whenever the insurance money comes in. Okay?"

Bo nodded, her eyes still roaming over the path of destruction the storm had laid through their property. She'd never seen storm destruction on this part of the island before.

"I'll see if there's any guys around to..."

"Already on it, BoBo. I called the school and he has ten of the juniors from the environmental club coming over to help out the Professor and Maverick."

Kenzi came out of the car, marching with her hands in the air through the debris-filled area, tripping in her high heels once or twice before she arrived by Bo's side.

"Great. Thanks, Kenzi." She looked down at her sister's feet, "Think this is the best place for heels?"

She shrugged, "I drove to the airport. A girl can't be at the airport without happy feet. Besides, this place is depressing and I needed a pick-me-up."

"That bad?"

"Nah... it's under control. Just a little... jungle chiq for now."

"Great." Bo replied.

"Well, get used to the joke because the kids are playing the soundtrack from Jungle Book to keep the younger kids from reverting to nightmares about the storm. It has definitely lightened the mood, but get ready to hear 'Trashin' the Camp' play over and over and over and over in your head."

Just then, a truck full of teen boys and a few girls pulled up, the music blaring. There were a few boys Mavericks' age as well who were being led in song by the older kids. They were all smiling as they pulled rakes, shovels and trash bags off the truck.

"Shooby doop dobby dop dobby doop dobby dah dah doo dap, Shooby doop dobby dop dobby doop dobby dah dah doo dap..."

The driver of the truck jogged over to Kenzi, "Where do you need us, Miss Dennis?"

"Judge, I told you do NOT call me Miss Dennis!"

The young man laughed, "I'm just messin' with ya, Kenzi. You're not stressin' are ya? We told ya. We're all alive and that's all that matters, right? No stressin'... we got ya."

His eyes traveled towards Bo, "Oh hey, Bo! We didn't know you were back! I thought you were staying in Fiji for another week."

"Well, I wanted to be here to see Lauren off."

"Oh, hey Doc. We heard you were leavin'. You'll be missed around here... sorry about your project."

Bo cringed as Lauren's face dropped, "I'm sorry?"

"Well, the Back Bay took a pretty big hit and..."

"It's okay, Judge. I'm going to take Lauren by there in a bit."

Actually, Bo had not intended to take Lauren there at all. She'd hoped to drop her off at the Torrent Estate so she could pack. Her flight was leaving in less than twenty-four hours and she knew that Lauren would want to say her goodbyes at the hospital as well.

Bo watched as Kenzi turned the group over to the Professor, allowing him to organize the group's recovery effort.

"Bo? Is it okay if I stay with the Professor and Judge?"

Judge stood behind Maverick and smiled at the brunette, "I got him, Bo. I promise I won't let him get into any trouble."

Bo smiled, "You'll listen to Judge and the Professor?"

"I promise, Bo."

"Okay." Bo looked up at Judge, "You know how to check the trees? I don't want anyone around any tree that doesn't have a strong root system."

"I know, the Mr. Bonsall gave all of the team leaders lessons in how to check for instability in the trees, plus we have Professor Meade here and he's an engineer. We're good, right Professor?"

He nodded, giving Bo a nod, "We're good, Bo. You've got other places to see."

"Okay. Thank you Professor. Stay alert, Judge."

"You got it, Bo." He waved her off before turning back to the other kids, wrapping his arm over Maverick's shoulder as he began to delegate duties.

The three women got into Kenzi's car and headed down the main road. As they traveled, Bo's mind grew wearier at the sight before her. There were roofs and siding off of various structures, trees down everywhere, debris littering seemingly every foot of beach lining the property and pieces of sails, kayaks and surfboards. Kenzi pulled up to their house,

"See? It missed." Kenzi smiled.

Bo's eyes went wide as she slipped out of the car and turned to face their home, leaning on the roof of the car,

"Shit, Kenzi. I'm so glad you weren't in there."

"Yea, our beloved shack has a palm tree on it, but our new snooty home survived, go figure."

"I guess Poseidon wants us to live the high life." Bo joked.

"Well, if this is the high life, I'd rather go back to living in a shack that withstood a hundred years of tropical storms."

Bo laughed, "I guess they don't make 'em like they used to, right?"

The pair moved to the trunk to pull out the bags, Kenzi whispering,

"You do realize that Hotpants is still sitting in the car, right?"

"Yea, I guess she's a little surprised."

"You didn't tell her?"

Bo's silence was all the answer Kenzi needed, "Bo! I told you..."

"I KNOW... Kenzi... I know. I should have told her, but things were good yesterday and... look, I'm sorry if I wanted to try to have her leave without dealing with any of this."

"Bo, no matter where she goes, she's going to deal with this... look around you!"

"Kenzi, I had no idea it was this bad. You know how much you like to exaggerate!"

"I told you I wasn't exaggerating! I told you the numbers, Bo... I told you about the battle with the State and the insurance company! Did you really think I would have called in financial support if I was exaggerating?"

"How is the Torrent Estate?"

"It's fine. The tree that hit their house just sort of grazed it. The construction crew just finished the roof yesterday and the new windows were supposed to go in today. Tamsin is supposed to be here soon. She was overseeing things at their house and then running over to the construction site at Lauren's."

Bo nodded, "Did they find Mittens yet?"

"Oh, gawd! I forgot to tell you! She was in the tree that landed on the house! I guess when Moms let her out of the bathroom after the storm, she crawled into Lauren's room and out onto the tree limb that came through her window."

Bo shuddered, "I'm so glad she wasn't in that room when the storm hit."

"I know, right?"

"The storm hit the Torrent's home?" Lauren asked, her eyes traveling between the two women.

Kenzi waved her arms, "It's A-okay, Hotpants. Everything is fixed, kitty white shoes is fine and all Torrents peeps are present and accounted for, although Tamsin is gonna be a lefty for a while."

"Sucks to be you." Bo whispered.

"Perve." Kenzi replied, smacking her sister, "Besides, I haven't noticed a difference. The girl's got skills."

"Over sharing." Bo quipped.

"Better than being overly loud." Kenzi replied, pulling the gear bag from the trunk and heading towards the house, "See you ladies inside the part of the house that has a roof."

"Bo, this is... everything is not okay and... well... what happened with the Back Bay project... and your workshop?"

"Well, we'll be starting from scratch, but between funds from the state government and the insurance, we'll be able to rebuild everything just as it was... well... with some adjustments that Pops is insisting on to help the structures hold up against hurricane force winds."

Lauren was quiet for a moment, "I should stay."

"No, Lauren. You are not staying. You have a plan and you're sticking to it. This isn't your problem. You've given us all of the tools we need to finish the emergency training site. Besides, without a building and equipment, there's nothing you can do to help us. Maybe in a month or so we'll call on your services but right now, you need to follow through with your plan."

"But Bo, I..."

"No... you're not doing this, Lauren. You've made your decision and I'm not letting you back out."

Lauren watched as Bo closed the trunk, "I don't want to go."

Bo looked up and looked at the blonde, "Right now you don't... maybe for the next day or two as well, but you'll see... you'll settle into your new environment and be fine. I'm not letting you back out of this, Lauren. As much as I'd like you to stay, what would be left for you once the clean up is done? What progress would you have made in achieving your goal of finding yourself and becoming this independent person you want to be. I want that for you as well... you know I do, Lauren... so I'm not going to let you stay... not for me and not for this place."

The brunette shook her head, "I'm putting you on that plane, Lauren. I don't care if you fly back here the next day, but you're getting on that plane just to give you seven hours to think about what you're doing and why you're doing it. You can call me anytime, you know that... just know that... well..." Bo raised her arms, looking around them, "Just know that I may be pretty busy for the next little while... and so will you."

Lauren nodded, "I suppose that's true."

Bo noticed Lauren wringing her hands and frowned, "What's bothering you? Really."

The blonde sighed, "I'm upset with you for not being honest with me. I'm feeling unsure about my decision to leave my current job. I'm feeling... I'm worried... about the learning curve in this new job. I know Indoor and Beach Volleyball... I've learned a little about surfing. I know a little about track because I ran the 110m hurdles in high school, which was eons ago. Other than that, I've been a spectator at other track and field events, soccer games and college gymnastics but... I don't know all of these summer sports and I know even less about winter sports. What am I doing, Bo?"

The brunette laughed, "You're a doctor, not a coach, Lauren. You're going to do exactly what you know best. Take care of emergencies and the physical condition of patients."

"Yea... right."

"I'm going to take my stuff inside and drop it off. Can you move your suitcase over to my car and I'll take you home?"

Lauren nodded, pulling her suitcase from Kenzi's car. Bo closed the trunk lid and headed in towards the house, "See you in a minute."

The blonde nodded and walked over to Bo's car, noticing a small scratch in the side. She leaned back against the trunk, releasing her suitcase. She looked around the grounds and shook her head. It looked like ten giants had come through the neighborhood, pulled up twenty trees, swung them around like baseball bats knocking things around, then dropped them to the ground and kept walking.

"Ready to go?" Bo asked as she jogged out of the house, "I've really got to get back here and help out. I've been gone for most of the cleanup."

"Bo, I can stay and help."

The brunette shook her head, "Kenzi said that Doc McCorrigan is expecting you at the hospital and Moms Torrent is making dinner for everyone."

"Bo..."

"You are not skipping out of her farewell dinner, Lauren so just suck it up and deal. That woman loves you like a daughter... hell, she told me she did adopt you as a daughter. You aren't seriously going to..."

"No, no... of course not. I'll be there for dinner. It's just... I don't want everyone to make a big deal out of..."

"Lauren, come on! This IS a big deal! You are leaving everyone that cares about you whether as a daughter, sister, friend, mentor... or more. They need to say goodbye and you need to let them... I mean... I'm not trying to tell you what to do, but... well... if you're trying to find yourself, I sure as hell hope your new self has some common manners when it comes to those who love you."

Lauren laughed, "Well that sort of puts it all in perspective. You're absolutely right. I'm sorry... I'll be there. I just... I'm just not used to people openly expressing their affection for me."

Bo smiled, "What, I didn't openly express my affection enough for you the past two nights?"

Lauren blushed, "You did."

The blonde was quiet for a moment, "Do you... do you have any regrets?"

Bo shook her head, "If it had just been angry sex or desperation sex then I would, but... well... it felt like love... and... goodbye."

"I'm glad I'm not the only one that felt like last night was goodbye."

"Maybe it won't be."

"I hope not."

The two stood silently in each other's presence, neither daring to look up. Finally, Bo spoke,

"Are you ready to head home?"

"Yea."

The pair quietly turned towards the car, Bo loading Lauren's suitcase into the trunk. Getting into the vehicle, Lauren placed a gentle hand on Bo's thigh as they pulled out of the driveway and headed down the road.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Pops Torrent cleared his throat from the head of his grand dining room table and stood.

"So, we all know why we're here this evening. One of my daughters is leaving us for a new opportunity. Why she would want to leave the company of such a handsome gentleman as myself, I can not explain but alas, she has made her choice and I must live with the pain of that rejection."

"Run, Lauren... Run." Tamsin deadpanned.

"You see, Lauren? You leave and I'm left with this ungrateful lump of a daughter instead."

Everyone laughed, including Tamsin before Pops continued.

"Lauren, you are a daughter to me and Moms, a sister to Tamsin, a dear friend to most gathered here, a dedicated and skilled physician to Chief McCorrigan is still in tears every day over the loss of his prized ER doc and... well... a mentor to many of the kids down at the school. I would say you will be missed, but that word is somehow inadequate to express the void that will be left for all of us once you are gone."

Moms leaned over and pulled Lauren into a sideways hug, planting a kiss on her temple as Tamsin smiled over at her long time partner and friend. It was in that moment that the slightly older blonde realized that Lauren really had been like a sister to her and the depth of her absence hit her all at once. Tears welled up in Tamsin's eyes as she leaned into Kenzi who gripped her hand beneath the table.

"Good Poseidon save us all from the flood happening 'round this table, Pops! Finish the toast already before the Doc has to save Bo from drowning again." Vex yelled from the other end where Lauren's eyes were drawn to a weeping Bo who was being comforted by Ciara.

The blonde's eyes were drawn back to Pops as he finished, "We wish you nothing but happiness and success in the future, Lauren... but excuse us if we just harbor a bit of hope that you will absolutely hate Colorado, fail miserably and come running back to us to find that happiness and success."

He held up his glass as everyone laughed and chimed in, "To Lauren! Cheers!"

Glasses clanged and words were exchanged between all as they downed their champagne,

"Feel free to help yourself to refills!" Pops said, topping off his own glass with the nearest bottle to him, "There's also wine and beer if you prefer." He said, pointing to the drink bar behind them.

"Okay, dig in, everyone!" Moms said, waving at the massive spread of food at the center of the table.

Bowls and dishes were passed, the food being plated and consumed over the course of the next hour where conversation flowed easily and stories of Lauren's life were recounted and retold. The blonde was made to feel embarrassed, proud, courageous and... most of all... loved. It was surreal to sit and watch all of these people... some she'd known most of her adult life and others for mere months... celebrate her accomplishments... as well as laugh at her more clumsy moments. Everyone smiled and laughed and... for the first time in her life... she felt a part of something. Truly, this was the family she'd always sought, but never realized she'd had until this very moment.

"If you'll excuse me. I need to go relieve myself." Lauren whispered to Moms who placed a hand on her cheek,

"You okay, dear?"

Lauren took her hand, "I am, Moms. Thank you for all of this... it's great, truly great. I really am so grateful."

"We all love you, Lauren."

"I know, Moms. Now... I really need to pee." She laughed, as did Moms.

Bo watched as Lauren turned down the hallway after leaving the dining room. Her gaze moved to Moms who smiled and gave her a 'thumbs up', mouthing, 'she's okay' to the brunette. Bo nodded, grateful the blonde wasn't having an emotional breakdown. She didn't think she could hold it together if she had to talk to Lauren when she was crying... truth was, as the hours ticked away, Bo was struggling to keep her own composure. The moments of sadness seemed to fall heavily in waves every hour or so. She was dreading what was coming and she knew it would come... it was inevitable.

"Bo, you alright?" Ciara asked.

Bo nodded, giving the blonde a smile, as she wondered what Lauren was up to right now. She was concerned that she was going to have to talk her into getting onto the plane tomorrow and the truth was, that right now, Bo just wasn't sure if she would have the strength to make Lauren go if she tried to stay.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Lauren knew she should go back inside... the party was for her, but right now she just needed a little alone time. This was the last time she would see a beach in a long time. The view from her own home was great, but this view from the Torrent Estate family home, gave a view of the entire coastline. She was grateful there was a dark sky tonight. The stars were amazing, the ocean breeze was cool, but not unbearable and best of all, other than the crash of the waves on the shore, it was quiet.

She sat for a long while, her mind filled with thoughts of why she had made the choice to leave for Colorado. Sure, the job was an incredible opportunity, but in truth, it had been one incident with Bo. Instead of waiting and talking about the events of that night... instead of waiting for Bo to process her confusion and anger, she'd made a rash decision... an emotional decision... to run... to hide from the shame of the footage others had seen... footage she had actually given permission for them to see... well... not all of it, but she did insist Bo be alone in the room. She might have known it could happen... maybe deep down inside, she'd wanted it to.

She sat for a moment as the thought hit her that she may have actually intentionally sabotaged her own relationship. But why? Of course she knew why... she never truly believed that things would work out with Bo. Years and years of Nadia telling her how worthless, unattractive, unwanted, unlovable and useless she was had sunken in to her heart and mind. She realized that she had never actually believed that Bo had a reason to love her... or stay with her. She'd cut her losses and run.

"Wow... so glad I figured that one out... too late. Well done, Lewis."

She curled her arms around her knees and sat, "Well, Hawaii... this is it. Honestly, you've been good to me. I had a great training ground for my career as a physician. Doctor McCorrigan was a great mentor for me. He helped me grow and gave me confidence. I had a great training ground with a lot of great people around me. I loved my house and although I would never consider it a home because of... the circumstance surrounding it... I had a spectacular view of this beach."

She sighed, "You gave me new friends and you gave me Bo. I hope this isn't the last that I'll see of you." Lauren chuckled, "Frankly, I'm not very fond of snow and ice so I'm pretty sure I'll at least be back to visit."

Her eyes brimmed with tears, "Please take care of her... take care of her heart... cradle her in your ocean and keep her safe... keep her happy... sweet Poseidon, please let her smile every day."

She paused, "I love her... I want her happy and if that means you bring her a new love who can give her what I could not, please give her a love that will fill her heart and soul."

"I had that... but she lost her way for a while. Right now, she's taking a little trip to go get it back. I'm hoping that she won't be too disappointed if she comes back and I'm still waiting for her to fill my heart and soul again. You see, I've got this sort of empty feeling in the pit of my stomach and this ache in my heart... I don't think anyone else can take that away, so for now, I'll have to let memories and hope fill the gaps."

Lauren never turned around to look at who spoke. The voice was familiar and the words were spoken firmly and with an honest determination that she had heard many times before.

"You know, the night that I made the decision to go into the inpatient facility, I heard the same resolve in your voice. You sure do know how to convince a girl that you're okay."

Bo came to sit beside Lauren, brushing the sand from her feet. Lauren looked at her and asked,

"So are you? Okay, I mean?"

"Define okay." Bo replied.

"Yea... me too."

They sat in silence for quite a while before Bo said, "You know, everyone is wondering where the guest of honor got to. We drew straws to see who would come after you."

"You lost?" Lauren asked.

"I won." Bo smiled.

Lauren hooked her arm into Bo's elbow and leaned her head on her shoulder, "I was talking to Hawaii on your behalf."

"The whole state?"

"Yup."

Bo chuckled, "Can I ask what you requested?"

"That she take care of you, keep you safe and take care of your heart... whatever you need."

Bo nodded, "Right now, I need my school to be healed from the storm and I need the woman I love to trust that we're doing the right thing here... splitting up."

"We?"

"Yea, I've decided that since I haven't really gone all-in trying to talk you out of this, that the decision was made by both of us. I could have talked you out of it."

"You think so?"

"I can be very persuasive."

"So you think I'm a push-over, huh?"

"For me? Absolutely."

"Cocky."

"So I've been told."

"I'd like to think of it as confident."

"That sounds much too admirable for me."

"I do admire you... your strength, your determination, your courage... all of that mixed with love and compassion... you have a fierceness about you that I've never seen in a woman before... a good sort of fierce."

"Sounds like you in the ER or you on the Volleyball court."

Lauren smiled, "I wish I could have that all the time. Do you ever think I'll be able to feel... I don't know... normal... again?"

Bo kissed the top of Lauren's head, "What is normal, Lauren? Whose definition of normal are you trying to achieve, sweetie? Mine? Kenzi's? Tamsin's? Ciara or Hale's? I think that society has expectations for what normal is, but our country has spent most of its existence trying to squash normalcy to allow people to just... I don't know... be."

"Well, I guess I'll know I'm normal when I feel it."

"You are normal, Lauren."

"I'd hardly call myself normal, Bo. I am... flawed... horribly flawed."

"Tragically flawed, Lauren... just like the rest of us. I think we've both hung on to our pasts for too long. Maybe during this time apart, we'll both figure out how to put our pasts in perspective, learn to be adults and accept each other for who we are... whoever that is... if and when we find our way back to each other."

Lauren wrapped her arms around Bo, squeezing her tightly, "I don't want to lose you, Bo."

"I know, Lauren... and I don't want to lose you either. Hold on to hope, okay?"

Lauren nodded, pulling back and returning her head to Bo's shoulder, "Okay."

They sat quietly for a long while before they heard a drunken Vex's voice calling for them,

"Oi! Where's the guest of honor! Don't you two be bangin' naughty bits yet! Bo! We get Lauren for a little while longer! Give her back!"

Bo laughed, "At least there won't be a Vex in Colorado. Are you sure you don't have room for him in one of our suitcases?"

"You can send him FedEx. I'll bundle him up and send him on a dog-sledding expedition when he arrives."

The two looked at each other before they both began to laugh. Bo smiled, "Is it bad that we both actually considered that for a minute?"

"We are SO bad!"

"Come on... let's go back to the party." Bo stood, extending her hand to the blonde before walking her back to the house to join their family and friends.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

The party was in full swing for the remainder of the evening with various members of the hospital and school staff showing up to send Lauren on her way. By the time the last of the guests left, Lauren was exhausted and she hadn't finished packing yet. She and Bo had made the decision not to spend the night together since Bo needed to go back to the school and tuck in the younger kids. Many of them were still having trouble sleeping. Many were also unwilling to get into their beds alone, worried that another storm would come and hurt them.

Kenzi had informed Bo that many were now afraid to get in the sailboats or enter the water after seeing how the waves had pounded the shore. They not only had the physical damage to contend with, but the mental and emotional aftermath as well. They'd requested additional social workers from the State as part of the storm relief and they were granted, but that support was trickling in as the new staff was asked to pay their own plane fair. It really didn't matter where you were in the other forty-eight states of the U.S., getting to Alaska or Hawaii was always a more expensive flight.

Now, Bo sat outside of the dorms in a single lounge chair on the dock, looking out at the sea. Her mind was going a million miles a minute about Lauren's imminent departure, but she was still acutely aware of any cries or conversation coming from the open windows of the dorm rooms behind her.

She sat in silence for quite some time, trying to reconcile the blonde's departure with her heart, before she heard quick footsteps making their way outside. She smiled, knowing it was probably Emma who she had just finished reading five stories to before tucking her in and promising her she would be right outside.

"Bo?"

The brunette smiled at the sound of the small voice, turning to see the expected guest. She had to laugh to herself. The tiny child looked like Cindy Lou Who from the TV movie she watched as a child at Christmas.

"Emma, what's the matter, sweetie?"

"I can't sleep."

"Well, I'm right here, just like I promised. I see you brought Theodore the Bear and your blanket. Do you want to sit on my lap?"

"Can I?"

"Come on, then." Bo smiled, holding her arms out to the little girl who smiled and ran straight into the brunette's arms, "I can use the company anyway."

"Are you ascared too?"

"Nope. You see, I know that storms like the ones we had here don't happen very long. You'll be older like me by the time we have another one of those."

"Are you sure?"

"I am."

"But how do you know? Reggie says you can't know acause your not a weatherman."

"I'm not, but I listen to the weather on TV and you should tell Reggie that people who tell us about the weather are not always men. Sometimes they're girls!"

"Really?"

"Yup."

"Could I be one of those one day?"

"A weathergirl?"

"Uh-huh."

"You can be whatever you dream to be one day, Emma."

"I wanna be a rowboat Captain!"

Bo laughed, "Wow! A rowboat, huh?"

"Uh-huh!"

"Why not a bigger boat like the ones that take you out for science class?"

Emma was quiet for a moment.

"Emma? What's the matter, sweetie?"

"Well, those boats all got turned into pieces in the storm. The rowboats... they're all still good. They're better boats. I wanna be a captain of a rowboat."

"I see." Bo replied, watching as the little girl yawned, "Here, let me have your blanket."

"No!"

"Hey... I just want to cover you with it. I don't want you to get a chill out here. It's a little cold, okay?"

"Okay. You can share it."

"That is very nice of you. Thank you." Bo replied as she draped the blanket over the little girl. She watched as Emma tried to spread the edges over her shoulder and torso.

"Kiss Theodore goodnight." Emma said, her eyes growing heavy.

Bo did as she was asked, then pulled the little girl close to her chest. Stretching out her legs, she reached up over her head and pulled down the blanket that she had brought out for herself. Unfolding it with one hand and awkwardly working to spread it over her legs and then up over her body and Emma, she finally got comfortable. She lay back, allowing her body to sag into the seat cushion and closed her eyes. For now, with the mission of protecting this young child, maybe her dread of tomorrow would pass for long enough for sleep to take her.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Nick and Kenzi stood poolside, watching Bo fight the expert wave formation the pool techs were throwing at her.

"Snap, Bo! You need more snap!" Kenzi called out to her.

Bo groaned, working the unfamiliar board beneath her feet, trying to get it to feel like her other boards. She continued to work as her sister continued to coach her, trying desperately to get the older Dennis to true form. Finally, Bo sunk into the water and paddled to the side of the pool.

"Your turn, Kenz."

"My turn? You look... mushy!"

"Mushy? Is that a technical term?"

"It's a Kenzi term from the Kenzi Dennis School of Surfing. It means you're surfing like an old lady. What's wrong?"

Bo sighed, "What's not wrong, Kenz? Lauren's at the hospital, her packed bags are on her doorstep and she's leaving in eight hours. My boards are gone and this thing feels like a square piece of plywood beneath my foot. The workshop isn't in working order, so I have no tools to make new boards."

Bo shook her head, "I'm sorry, Kenz... I'm just... off my game."

Kenzi nodded, giving her sister a little space. She knew this was going to be a rough day, but at the same time, she had a competition this weekend that was crucial in the standings. She'd worked too long and too hard for this opportunity and she was not about to let it go.

"Just remember that you have had dream your entire life to get to where you are right now in surfing. This weekend is important, Bo."

"I know, Kenzi!" Bo snapped, then looked at her sister and sighed, her face showing all of the helplessness she felt in that moment, "I know."

She took a deep breath, "I'm going to go for a walk... shake this off... maybe find a better board that somehow got tossed into some tall brush by a strong wind." Bo joked, not truly expecting to find anything. She just needed some alone time to clear her head. The last thing she needed was to get hurt because she wasn't focused and concentrating.

Once she was through the exit, Kenzi picked up her cell phone, "Yea. You need to get over here now."

The room was silent, all eyes on Kenzi as she listened to the other end of the conversation, then replied,

"Because your timing sucks and we need a win this weekend."

Kenzi hung up and then looked at the tech, "Left to right wave, please."

The tech nodded as the group watched the younger Dennis sister climb into the pool and begin her workout. After about ten minutes, Bo came back into the facility and stood by watching her sister's efforts. She smiled, as Nick walked up and stood next to her, leaning on the railing.

"She's getting better every day. Kelly hung out until he had to go to Fiji. He's really helping her... really taking an interest."

"Her moves are like silk... effortless. I can see why they took her for the Olympic Training Squad. She's a great investment. Can you imagine how good she'll be in four years?"

"Well, they took what they could get."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Kenzi didn't tell you?"

"Tell me what?"

"They came for both of you, Bo. They want you too. She told them you were retiring, but she would do what she could."

"So that was what the whole conversation was last night at the party and this morning while we were stretching."

"Look, she probably has two or three Olympics in her career, but only one of those could possibly be with her sister. She knows that your heart isn't really in it anymore, but she would really love it if you were with her for 2020."

"Why didn't she just ask me?"

"She said she'd tried before to get you to do it, but you'd told her you had new goals and dreams."

"Yea, well that was before my girlfriend decided to move to Colorado to find herself." Bo didn't mean the words, but they'd slipped out before she said them, "I didn't mean for that to come out the way it did... at all, really. I support her decision it's just..."

"A rough day?" Nick asked.

"Yea... the roughest." Bo replied.

"So you would consider the 2020 games?"

"Only if I don't have to train at the Olympic Training Center."

"Why is that?"

"It's complicated... I just... I can't be there." She turned her attention back to Kenzi, as she felt the conflict enter her mind again. It would be nice if she could go... it would be a great opportunity for her to have one last hurrah in the surf world, be with Kenzi and... she and Lauren wouldn't have to be apart for four years. The question now is how Lauren would feel about it. For now, it was a discussion for later.

"Nick, the group that Kenzi is going in with... it's not actual training, right?"

"Nope. It's the group they're using to create the facility and the training regimen. They're basically guinea pigs for the athletic trainers, nutritionists, sports psychologists, conditioning coaches, exercise physiologists, physical therapists and coaching staff.

"Wow... that's a lot of staff."

"Yea, it's a miracle you've accomplished what you have without all of those people, huh?"

"Well, in truth, as far as my training goes, drowning was a blessing in disguise. All of this happened because I was connected with the right people through rehab and surfing. I'm stronger, more agile and in a better head space than I've ever been... well... except for today... and maybe tomorrow..."

Nick nodded, "Lauren stuff."

"Yea, it's going to be an adjustment."

"Well, adjust quick because you've got to surf this weekend, Miss Dennis."

Bo nodded, "I hope my boards are found. This thing really is a piece of plywood."

"Maybe you could come and check out my neighbor's house? He builds furniture. He may not have everything you need, but he has a workshop... or... uh... a garage and a basement... well, the basement actually has a boat in it right now... actually for about six years..."

"A boat? He's building a boat? Then he would have everything I need!" Bo's eyes went wide, "Call him! Oh, please Nick! Call him! I'll autograph his whole house! I'll finish the boat with him!"

"Don't tell me that... he would definitely take you up on that offer."

"I would totally do it! I've always wanted to build a boat... I actually have drawings!"

"You do?"

"Yea... I mean... they're from when I was like twelve or something, but I have drawings of the boat I wanted to build!"

"Okay, so I'm not going to ask how Bo Dennis, future engineer went from the dream of boat building to the dream of surf board manufacturer, but... okay... I won't ask."

He pulled his phone to his ear just as Kenzi walked up to Bo, "What's up, Boobala?"

"Nick knows a guy that might have a space where I can make a few boards!"

"Great! Can you fire up a couple for me too?"

"Probably... if you can cover things here day and night... I'll need every minute between now and then to get them finished. How many boards do you need?"

"Two of mine were inside, so just one?"

"Okay. So four boards in five days... from scratch... what do you think?"

"I think you should take the Professor with you."

"Agreed."

"Uh... you have company." Kenzi said, nodding towards the door.

Bo looked over her shoulder to see Lauren standing in the entrance to the pool area, her blonde hair hanging loose over her shoulders,

"Hey."

Bo took a step towards the blonde, "Hey. What are you doing here?"

"I thought I'd stop by... see the pros in action one last time before all I get to see are snowboarders."

"Yea, I guess there won't be a lot of sunshine, bikinis and beaches up north."

"Nope. You'd think I would have been smart enough to go somewhere tropical." Lauren smiled.

Bo's attention was pulled to Nick, "You're up, Bo... and I got you an appointment for tonight at eight... he has to work until seven."

"That's great, Nick. Thanks. Set me up for left to right... be there in a second."

"Do you mind if I watch?" Lauren asked, curious about the appointment Bo had for tonight, but decided it was better not to ask.

"Uh... sure... I'm surfing on a piece of plywood, so it's not pretty, but a workout's a workout, right?"

"Here ya go, Bo. Kenzi picked a new board for you. She wants you to try this one." Nick said, "Oh, hey Lauren. Great party last night."

"Yea, it was quite a night."

Bo motioned over her shoulder, "I'm just gonna go..."

"Right... I'll be right... here." Lauren said, motioning to the spot where she was standing as the two awkwardly parted company.

Kenzi came to stand next to Lauren, gripping her by the elbow and pulling her away from Nick, "Girl talk." She said to the therapist who put up both hands and bowed in her direction.

Once alone, Kenzi spoke, "She sucks, Lauren. Now, she helped you get your dream... you fix this hot mess on a wood out there. She's not snapping her tricks, her focus is off and she's got the competition of her life on Saturday... minus her personalized board!"

"Kenzi, I'm not sure what you expect me to do, but..."

"I expect you to show me a little of that magic that you're going to be working on the Olympic athletes in Colorado. Consider yourself on the clock now, Head Doc in charge."

Lauren sighed, turning her attention to the pool where Bo was catching her first wave. She watched as the brunette did what Lauren thought she always did, but Kenzi quickly squelched her optimism,

"See that? She how slow her turns are?"

Lauren had no idea what Kenzi was talking about, but nodded anyway.

"There's a 180... she usually easily throws a 360."

Again, Lauren listened and watched, but had no idea what Kenzi was talking about.

"Snap, Bo! Snap!"

Lauren desperately wanted to understand what Kenzi was seeing, but she just didn't know. Kenzi elbowed her,

"See how..."

"No! No, Kenzi, I don't. I don't understand surfing and no one has every taken the time to explain it to me. All I see is a hot girl on a surfboard staying above water and wiggling around on occasion."

"W-wiggling around?"

"See? No knowledge!" Lauren replied, moving her hands all around her head.

"Wow... you really have no clue. And they hired you as the Head Doc for all of the teams in our country? Scary, Doc."

"Tell me about it... but I'm not a coach, Kenzi. I'm just putting the bodies back together. I don't need to know the sports to do that."

"Well, I guess but at least you could know some of the lingo."

"Are you going to teach me?"

"What? Like... now?"

"If you want me to help with whatever it is she has going on, then yes."

Kenzi stood for a moment before she reached over to her bag and pulled out her phone. Lauren watched as the younger sister moved her fingers swiftly over the screen until she finally said,

"Here. This is footage of Bo's training session pre-Lauren's Colorado announcement. Hold this up to the pool and compare the two surfing personalities of Bo Dennis."

Lauren did as she was asked, comparing live action Bo to video Bo. It took only about a minute or so before she began to notice the difference. Looking at the live version, she could see that the brunette was... off.

"Do you see it?"

"Yea, but... well, she was complaining about the board. Could that be it?"

"That's definitely part of it, but what if she doesn't get her boards back?"

"Why would she not get them back? The baggage manager..."

"Doesn't know for sure, Lauren... that's why they gave her the two round trip flights."

"Really?"

"We've lost equipment before. It's why I always bribe someone at the baggage check or ship our boards via FedEx. I don't take chances with standard claim anymore."

"So... what do we do?"

"You, get on a plane... me... I deal with the aftermath of your departure. Thanks for that, by the way."

"Kenzi..."

"No, it's okay. Bo told me all about your talk and how she agrees with you going, but that doesn't mean that she's not going to suffer for it... I just think it's really shitty that you made the decision to leave before she'd had a chance to achieve her goal. She stuck by you – even when you were being a cast iron bitch to her – just so she wouldn't rock the boat when you were so close to getting your gold. Hell, even Tamsin stepped back from me so you would be okay... so you wouldn't have to be around a dreaded Dennis sister."

Kenzi sighed, "You know what? You're right... it's best you go. If you stay, she'll just know that you're going to leave and won't be better anyway. If you go, she'll start getting through it."

"You know what, Kenzi? I don't deserve this... Bo's a big girl, we've talked about this and we have both made the decision to..."

"No, Lauren... you made the decision to..."

"KENZI!" Bo stood dripping wet, hands on her hips glaring at her sister as she walked towards Lauren. She took the blonde's hand and gave her a kiss on the cheek, "Can you give us a moment? I'm finished for the day... I'll be right with you."

Kenzi stood quietly, as Lauren walked away, then she began, "Bo, you're not doing well and it's her fault!"

"Kenzi, I'm going to say this once... I am not doing well in there because the board beneath my feet feels like wood... like a chunk of wood. I can't turn or maneuver because it's stiff and I can't feel the motion beneath my feet. I have a meeting at eight with this guy that Nick knows. With any luck, I'll have a place to make boards. In the meantime, I called Val this morning and she's trying to get her hands on one of the boards I shipped to other stores in other countries."

"You're going to buy back one of your own boards?"

"Kenzi! If that's what it takes for me to be able to win this weekend, then that's what I'm going to do. You know, sometimes I think you don't want me to win or have a relationship. A little support would be great once in a while."

The dark haired younger sister stood for a moment, but Bo wasn't liking it,

"So what? Now you're going to give me the silent treatment?"

"Well, you clearly don't want to hear my opinion. You're all about defending Lauren's honor while she's clearly fucking with your head!"

"Kenzi, I told you this morning. She's made a decision that I agree with. It's what's best for both of us and like it or not, when you go to the training center, she's in charge so you better get on board with Team Lauren or you and I are going to have a problem. You have no idea what she's been through..."

"Oh, and I haven't been through the shitter in life?"

"Kenzi, don't even begin to compare what we went through with what she went through. We have never been exposed to abuse of any kind. We had a kind and loving home until we were teenagers and even after that, we still had each other. Lauren has never had that and... look... you know what? We're done here. I do not have to explain my relationship with Lauren to you or anyone else. We are doing what's best for us, no matter what the consequences. She needs this, Kenzi. And I've finally realized that I'm willing to give others... including you... all they need from me, but for some reason, I've been holding Lauren to a different standard..."

Bo took a breath, running her hands through her hair, "Well, that ends now. What she needs from me, she will get because I know that if she were mentally and emotionally capable, she would do the same for me."

"Bo..."

"No, Kenzi... back off... you're pushing too hard where Lauren is concerned. Leave it alone and if you have nothing nice to say to her, don't talk to her at all. I mean it."

Kenzi put her hands up, signaling she would do as Bo asked, "I'm going to spend the rest of the day with Lauren and then get her to the airport. After that, I have to go to this meeting that Nick set up for me. Can you handle things here or do you need me to NOT do one of those three things?"

"Fine."

"Thank you... and I'm sorry if I was harsh, but you really upset me, Kenzi. Lauren doesn't deserve to be talked to that way and I think you know it. If you do and you figure it out before she leaves, you might want to apologize."

Kenzi stood nodding as Bo grabbed her towel from the rail and gave Nick a wave, "Text me the address?"

Nick nodded in reply and pulled out his phone while Bo headed towards where Lauren was standing awkwardly by the door.

"Can you drive me by my house so I can do a quick shower and change?"

"But don't you have to..."

"I'm yours until you leave... if you want."

Lauren smiled, "I'd like that."

"Good. Let's go then."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Bo and Lauren had finished running the blonde's errands, some of them being stops at various locations where there were people she wanted to say her goodbye's. After they'd finished, they went for a walk on the beach and shared some light chatter. They ate in town and enjoyed the atmosphere of a restaurant where, although everyone knew them, they pretty much left them alone.

Naturally, word had traveled fast that the local doctor and Olympian who had brought such pride to the community was leaving, so there were a lot of well-wishes and goodbyes shared. They smiled through the occasional well wishes and continued on their way.

Finally, they happened upon a tattoo parlor where Bo joked about getting each other's initials tattooed on their asses so they wouldn't forget each other. They both decided it was a bad idea just in case things didn't work out. Instead, they went a few more shops down and decided to see their friend Akoni, the jeweler.

They decided that since Bo wore the Pakololio necklace her Mom had given her and Lauren wore the necklace Bo had given her that they would get bracelets for each other. They each spent a little time with Akoni and were told to come back in an hour. Smiling, the two left the store and headed to the local ice cream parlor to have a sweet treat. While there, Bo opened up about the meeting tonight to hopefully find a place to make new boards for now.

Lauren explained the altercation with Kenzi, so Bo decided she would give her what she needed to know to be able to get started with the Olympic Training Center. Knowing the modalities of movement was what she really wanted to know since having that knowledge would help her to know where the vulnerabilities for injury would be during practices and competitions.

Before they knew it, they'd lost track of time and they were late getting back to Akoni's shop. They walked in, each paying their respective bills. Bo watched as the big man engulfed Lauren in a hug, giving her a sincere goodbye and then the two left.

"I guess it's time, huh?" Bo asked, looking at the time on her cell phone.

Lauren nodded, "We have about a half hour. Can we stop by the beach over by the airport? I'd like to give this to you there rather than in an airport with thousands of camera phones around."

Bo laughed, "You're right. I didn't even think about that."

The drive to the beach was filled with loving glances, watery eyes and interlocked fingers that resulted in the occasional squeeze of the other's hand. Finally, they were at the beach. Exiting the car, the pair walked hand-in-hand to the water's edge and took a seat.

"I'm definitely going to miss the beach. It will be so strange to not be able to see it."

"Yea, but you'll have equally beautiful views... just... different."

"Cold." Lauren countered, "So... here's your bracelet. I hope you like it."

Bo took the offered square box and opened it up to find a sterling silver bracelet with a single charm on the end... a heart. Bo flipped it over and read the engraved word, 'hope' before breaking out in hysterical laughter.

Lauren frowned, "It's... funny?"

"Oh God, Lauren I'm sorry... it's just that... well... we shopped for each other separately and... just open yours... please? I'm sorry for laughing, but you'll see why in a second."

Lauren nodded before she opened her box and pulled out a sterling silver bracelet. While the style was a slightly more delicate design, it had a heart charm with the word 'hope' engraved on it.

Lauren couldn't help the laughter that escaped,

"We seriously purchased almost identical bracelets for each other?"

Bo leaned over and kissed Lauren lightly, "Well, at least we know we're on the same page going into this separation."

Lauren nodded, "Will you help me put it on?"

Bo smiled and did as asked before Lauren helped her with the twin gift. They both sat, spinning the bracelets on their wrist before looking up at each other.

"If you don't want to wear it all the time, I understand. Being a doctor and all, I know you sometimes take your jewelry off."

"On my wrist, yes but the necklace always stays on, Bo. It's my strength when you're not around or when I'm afraid."

"I really hope you can overcome your fears, Lauren... I just... I have so much hope for you. I want you to be happy and healthy. I love you... and I'll miss you... so much."

Bo pulled Lauren to her, their embrace lasting a long while as both women allowed the tears to flow. Finally, Lauren pulled back,

"I don't want to do this, Bo."

"Please, Lauren... don't do this... I don't have the strength to make you get on that plane. Please be the strong one right now... I don't think I have it in me to let you go if you don't."

Lauren nodded, "Come on."

The pair walked the distance hand in hand back to Bo's car. The ride to the airport was quiet, each holding on to the other for dear life the closer they got to the destination.

Baggage check was a breeze and before they knew it, they were in the airport at the security checkpoint ready to say their final goodbyes. Lauren pulled Bo over to a bench and sat her down,

"You take care of yourself. Don't get crazy on that damn surfboard. I need you safe and alive and in one piece, you hear me?"

Bo could only nod as the tears flowed freely down her cheeks.

"Take good care of the kids... especially Maverick. He keeps asking when he's coming to see me. I told him you would call and let me know, so figure it out and let me know. You can call me anytime, Bo. If I don't answer, I promise I'll call you back as soon as I can. Just remember that I'm going to be very busy the first week trying to figure out my head from my ass."

Bo only nodded.

"Do well this weekend. You've worked too hard for this for too long. I will not accept you using me being in Colorado as an excuse for you not winning, you hear me? You get out there and kick ass because I'll be looking for the headlines on Twitter."

Bo nodded again.

"Good luck getting the campus back together. If you have any questions about the emergency training project, have someone call. I'll do what I can from a distance."

Lauren pulled the brunette into a hug again, feeling the pain tug at her own heart. She knew exactly what Bo was feeling because she was feeling the same thing.

"You'll check on Trick for me once in a while?"

"I will." Bo replied, her voice cracking as she lowered her eyes.

"I've got to go now, Bo."

"Oh God." Bo squeaked.

"I know, baby... I know. We're going to be okay, right? I'll call you tonight, just remember that I'm four hours ahead of you, okay?"

Bo nodded, using her hand to wipe her nose and face.

"God, you're a mess, baby." Lauren frowned, "How am I supposed to leave you when you're like this."

Bo knew she had to pull it together, but she realized that being strong for Lauren all these days, she had just gone into a state of denial. Well, that little defense mechanism could no longer protect her. The time was here and Lauren was leaving... she was leaving. She took several deep breaths and pulled herself out of Lauren's embrace,

"I'm okay... I'll be okay. Call me when you land so I know you got in okay. Don't worry about the time. I'll probably be awake."

Lauren lifted Bo's chin so her eyes would meet her own. Looking into the dark chocolate orbs, she shook her head, "I'm so sorry for putting you through this, Bo. Hell, I'm sorry for putting myself through this. But know that I love you and I have hope for us... please hold on to that."

Bo nodded, "I love you, Lauren... so much... and I have hope for us too... even though right now I look like a helpless, hopeless mutt."

"Speaking of mutts... I hope that Mittens is okay."

"She'll be fine, Lauren. I saw a lady checking a big hairy cat... one of those smash-face ones. She called it Cali... maybe Mittens will make a new friend."

Lauren smiled, "Maybe."

The blonde stood, bringing Bo to her feet with her. They held each other for a long time before Lauren gripped both sides of her face and kissed Bo passionately, not stopping until the need for oxygen became so crucial that they were forced to stop.

"Goodbye, Bo."

Bo's eyes welled up again, "Bye Lauren."

Lauren turned and walked to the security check. Dropping her belongings onto the belt, she walked through, holding her arms up while the wand was run over her body. She stepped through and picked up her belongings and then looked back at Bo. She smiled and waved,

"I love you."

She called out, unashamed of who heard the words. Bo responded,

"I love you. Be happy."

"You too."

With that, Lauren turned and walked away as Bo watched her turn the corner and disappear from view. Bo collapsed onto the bench, her face in her hands as her body shook with the sobs that wracked her body. Her phone buzzed in her pocket and she sighed, pulling herself together so she could read the incoming text. Looking at the screen she laughed when she saw the message from Lauren,

'Get your shit together and go home. You've got work to do and a meeting at eight. I love you... now don't be a baby.'

Bo laughed and replied,

'Thanks, I needed that... have a safe flight. I love you too.'

Bo sighed, feeling a little bit better after Lauren's text. She stood and headed out of the airport, determined to do all that she needed to do for the rest of the day... for Lauren.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Three Weeks Later...

The cleanup for the Kenbo Community was coming along nicely. The two sisters took the early morning to sit out on the side porch of their home to discuss what was coming next,

"Well, you can see grass and sand now, so that's certainly something." Bo smiled, taking a sip of her coffee.

"All of the buildings are framed out, the electricians and the plumbers are already here, and all of the windows that needed to be replaced have been." Kenzi added, shoving a mouthful of cereal into her mouth as she spoke.

Tamsin laughed, "The Professor has completed his 'upgrades' to his campground." The blonde used air quotes to describe what was still a very minimalist approach to living.

"Well, he does have running water now, so it's a little more... civilian?" Bo suggested, though she wasn't quite sure for herself.

Kenzi shook her head, "There is no hot water so it is definitely not more 'civilian', sis."

"Well, at least there are toilets and showers."

Kenzi laughed, "Yea, showers that will make the poor little boys' junk shrivel up into nothing. Next thing you know we'll be dealing with nightmares that evil spiders are sneaking into their sleeping bags at night and stealing their pee-pees."

Tamsin and Bo just laughed, "Well, anything is better than dealing with the ongoing nightmares from the storm."

The blonde turned to Bo, "How's little Emma doing?"

"Well, I managed to get her back into her bed last night. I can't keep sleeping on that lounge chair. I could barely turn my head when I woke up this morning."

Kenzi nodded, "Yea, well T-Bear or I will take the Friday shift this week. You can't afford to screw up another competition after the last one."

"I did not screw it up," Bo defended, "I got second on a board that I'd never practiced on."

"Too bad that guys garage workshop didn't pan out."

"Yea, well at least we got a boat maker out of it."

"Yea, in exchange for you giving up your free time."

"Kenzi, he's going to pay for all of the materials to build our sailing fleet. He's a millionaire with a crapload of time..."

"...and money..." Kenzi inserted,

Bo shook her head, "Don't judge. The man lost his wife, he had no kids and he needs a project."

Kenzi shook her head, "Yea, well from the looks of his basement, he's started a lot of projects but never finished one."

"Well, we both know that now he has to finish them. Anyway, I traded him surf lessons for his contributions. I didn't say I would be the one giving them." Bo smirked.

"Oh, you little trickster!"

"Yea, I gave him to Pono. She'll whip him into shape... and hopefully bring the poor guy back to the land of the living."

Tamsin laughed, "Is that code for dust the cobwebs off his junk?"

Bo scowled, "Ew... what is all the talk about guys' junk with you two?"

Kenzi shrugged, "Just a topic of early morning conversation."

Tamsin laughed, "Right... we should talk early morning woodies!"

Bo stood, grabbing her coffee cup, "Okay... this is not my idea of a morning business meeting."

"Sit your ass down, Boobala. We'll stop. We still have to talk about the replacement tools and materials we lost."

Bo sat down reluctantly, sipping her coffee, "I gave the tool and chemical list for the workshop to Manny when he was in last week. As far as I know, he ordered everything from his supplier in California. Dr. Mansfield is handling all of the lost supplies from the emergency site."

Bo frowned as thoughts of Lauren rushed to the surface. They always did when the discussion turned towards the Back Bay.

"Have you heard from the Doc this week?"

Bo shook her head, "I got a text late Monday night. She said she's really busy and promised she would call me tonight or tomorrow night."

Kenzi was silent, looking at Tamsin who put her head down.

"What?" Bo asked.

The couple looked up and simultaneously replied, "What?"

"Okay, now that isn't suspicious at all. What do you know?"

"Us? Nothing." Kenzi replied, "Why would we know anything about Hotpants?"

"Lying." Bo said, pointing her finger between the two.

Tamsin sighed, "Fine. She called me last night. We talked for about an hour and a half."

"An hour and a half! She hasn't talked to me for that long since she left!"

"She's working through some stuff, Bo. Don't read more into it than is actually there. You guys were taking some space... she's doing what you agreed to."

"You know, the first three days, we talked or texted every single day. Then I didn't hear from her for three days. The second weeks he was gone, I talked to her three times all week and she barely responded to any texts. Now I'm getting the run around this week. What is going on? Did she change her mind? Did she meet someone? She met someone, didn't she."

"No, Bo! She is focusing on her work, getting out, learning about the winter sports that Colorado has to offer and settling into a new environment. Everything for her is new and she's excited about it... she was excited to share it with someone so we talked about it for a long time."

Bo's reply was quiet, "She could share it with me."

"Not like you can a best friend, Bo... it was girl talk."

Bo repeated to herself, 'I'm not gonna ask', I'm not gonna ask', I not gonna ask... "Did she ask about me?" Shit, I asked, Bo thought, feeling pathetic.

"Yes, Bo. Of course she asked about you. She was disappointed to hear you didn't win your last event and I was surprised you didn't talk about it."

"Why bother? She's already gotten the word from Mitch, the traitor."

Tamsin laughed, "He's not a traitor, Bo."

"He's the one who told her to take the job!" Bo argued.

"Bo, it's not like he was thinking she would take it and leave you behind. It was a career opportunity for her and he let her know about it. He just assumed that at some point, it would give you the push you needed to... Ow!"

Kenzi elbowed Tamsin, giving her a glare. The blonde cleared her throat, "Wow... look at the time. I have to get to the overlook."

"Spill, Tamsin. Mitch assumed I would what?"

Tamsin looked at Kenzi and shook her head, "Look, Shortstack. You know you are my world... my beginning, my middle and end, but I am not getting between the sisters. This is your shit show and you know it. Own it, girlfriend. I'm going to Lauren's house. The electrician is coming to fix the mess he made and I have to be there to make sure his ass doesn't create a house that's going to go up in flames the minutes someone turns on a light switch."

Bo nodded to Tamsin who picked up her bowl, gave Kenzi a kiss on the top of her head and walked into the house. Bo sat looking at her younger sibling, her fingers rapping on her mug as she waited for the goth to speak.

"Fine!" She said, her perfectly manicured fingernails, spread wide at the side of her head, "I was asked by the WSL to convince you not to retire at the end of this season. They think your popularity is just starting and they predict it will peak in time for the Olympics. They want the Dennis sisters... the full Kenbo package going into the 2020 games to help drive up the popularity of the sport so our exhibition year becomes a reality."

Bo shook her head as Kenzi continued, "Look, Bo... this will build our sport and you know it. We've all wanted surfing to become a part of the Olympics for decades. Hell, our sport is older than most of the sports in the games! We deserve a shot and every country is doing its part to pull out all of the stops to get the IOC to recognize surfing's legitimacy. Surfers who retired last year are coming back for the 2020 games just to lend famous names to billboards in their countries so people will watch!"

Bo sighed, still unconvinced. Kenzi sighed, "Look... just come out to the training center next week with me. You don't even have to stay for the three full-week testing period. Just... check out the facility and give them your input. At least let the WSL see that you're at least considering it!"

"I can show them I'm considering it in 2018 or 2019 if I make the choice to do it, but I'm not going where I'm clearly not wanted!" Bo stood, picking up her mug and Kenzi's empty bowl before heading into the house.

"Not wanted? They weren't going to take me without you! I only got in because Kelly Slater saw me working out in his wave pool here!"

Bo stopped, "What do you mean they weren't going to take you without me? You're the fucking future of surfing in this country! I'm a has-been, Kenzi... I couldn't even pull off a win last week."

"Oh no." Kenzi said, "This is worse than I thought. She really took you with her, didn't she?"

Bo turned and dropped the dishes back to the table as her tears fell. She sat down on the end of the deck and allowed her head to drop into the elbows propped up on her knees. Kenzi came and sat beside her,

"Bo?"

"My heart hurts, Kenzi. Everything here reminds me of her... everything... it shouldn't... I mean... everything is different... but it's still the same. My workshop is an outdoor lean-to, but when I'm making a board, I think of her... I run my hand along the wood of a long board and I laugh at the first time she stood up and cheered for herself. I go to the Back Bay and all I can see is her standing on the water's edge, her blonde hair flowing in the wind. I go into town and see the tattoo parlor and remember the day she left and how we..."

"Oh my gosh! You guys got matching tattoos?"

"No! I mean, we talked about it, but... no... we go these."

Bo pulled the bracelet out of her pocket and handed it to Kenzi. The younger sister examined it and smiled,

"Why didn't you show it to me before?"

"I thought you would think I was an idiot. You weren't exactly the most supportive voice in the room the day she left."

"I apologized."

"What?"

"When she talked to Tamsin the night after she left, I got on the phone with her and apologized. You were upset and she as upset so... well... I decided she didn't deserve my shit on top of all of her other shit."

"Thanks."

"So... the bracelet... it says 'hope'... like Mom and Dad used to say?"

Bo nodded, "I told her the story... how we learned it was the most important thing to hold on to when it seemed there was nothing left to hold."

"Can I ask why you're not wearing it?"

"I got it caught in the edge of the sander the day after she left... it's a little dangerous for me to wear when I'm working on boards."

Kenzi nodded, leaning down to her sister's ankle. Opening the clasp, she wrapped it around the lower limb and attached it securely, "I think you need to wear it... you have skinny ankles, so it works."

Bo sighed, looking down at her ankle, "Do you think Lauren is wearing hers?"

Kenzi opened up her phone and flipped through a few photos before spreading her fingers over one particular image,

"That's Lauren's arm in the way of a picture of her new office. See the dangling heart from her wrist?"

Bo smiled, "She's wearing it."

"And this is from Monday night. Here's another thing I think might make you feel better." Kenzi said, pulling the phone away and moving the image around, then handing the phone back to Bo.

"Hey! That's one of my surfboards in the corner." Bo smiled.

Kenzi nodded, "It's one of our autographed boards, but that's not what I want you to see... look on the bookshelf."

Bo squinted, looking at the top of the shelf for a long moment before she pulled back with a shocked look on her face, "Is that..."

"Yup... it's a picture of you and Lauren sitting on a long board together. You're looking pretty cozy there, BoBo."

Bo took in the sunset behind her and the other board leashed to her ankle that floated beside her,

"That was the night we went out together. You remember?"

Kenzi nodded, "I took the picture and sent it to Hotpants' phone. I guess she printed and framed it. I sent her a bunch of pics, but I guess this was the one she liked the best."

Bo smiled, "It was a special night."

The two sat in silence for a while as Kenzi pocketed her phone and Bo leaned on her shoulder,

"I miss her... I just feel so... empty."

"I hate to say it, Bo... but this is why you two are apart. You said you wanted Lauren to be able to be a strong, independent woman... well, what about you? You're a shell of yourself without her and I'm not sure that's a good thing. I mean, I appreciate you wanting to pine away for your lost love, but it seems sort of like you're not living up to that bracelet if that's all you do."

Bo nodded, "You're right. I've got a lot to do. I'm going to head to the workshop and get started on the board inventory. I've got thirty-seven finished. Did more orders come in?"

"Bo, more orders are always coming in. That's what you get for making a popular surfboard! I will tell you that I've got fourteen special orders from WSL members. I thought maybe we should fill those first?"

"I'll look at the promised dates for the others and do them first only if it won't make the other orders late. I'm not just catering to WSL members, Kenzi. They all have other boards to use until we get ours to them."

"Well, the longer they're using the other boards, the less advertising for us."

"What good is more advertising if I can't fulfill the orders?"

Kenzi sighed, "We really need the workshop back up and running."

"Your lips to Tamsin's ears!"

"Bo, she's working as fast as she can... the entire company is. I think Pops has put almost all of his other contracts on hold to get Kenbo Community back up and running... he even took five guys off of the job at Lauren's house."

"Well, it's not like she needs it right away." Bo pouted, then thought better of her statement, "Sorry. I'm being such a baby." She sighed, "And there it is... another reminder of Lauren... she told me not to be a baby."

"Well, she's right now get up!"

"Kenzi, about the Olympics thing... I don't want to invade Lauren's territory right now. It's too soon into our break."

"Well, why don't you let Lauren be the judge of that?"

Bo shook her head, "Okay, it's too soon for me. If I see her now, I'll just have to go through losing her all over again."

"You haven't lost her, Bo."

"Not yet." Bo replied, "But you heard Tamsin... she's out getting acquainted with her new environment. What if she's getting cozy in front of a warm fire with some hot snowboarder chick?"

"What if she's sitting at her desk staring at the picture of the two of you right now wishing she could pick up the phone but afraid you don't want to talk to her?"

"That's ridiculous! Why wouldn't I want to talk with her?" Bo asked.

"She told Tamsin that you told her that she needed to take time to herself, Bo... she's doing what you told her she needed to do and doing it quite literally!"

Bo slouched, "Great. Me and my big mouth."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Come on, Doc! Just like we showed ya!" Corey said, yelling up to Lauren from the bottom of the hill.

Lauren looked at the group of women gathered to her right, their goggles up on top of their helmets as they smiled in her direction.

A voice from over Lauren's shoulder whispered, "Remember, Doc... you are fearless."

Lauren looked over her shoulder for a moment, and then quickly looked back down the hill. She could have sworn she saw Bo's face... heard Bo's voice. When she turned back around, she saw the dark brown eyes of her new friend, Tess.

"Ready?"

Lauren nodded and Tess gave her a gentle nudge, following down behind her. The blonde could feel the speed picking up as she concentrated on balancing on the board, her eyes never leaving the crowd gathered below.

"Steer left, Doc!" She heard Tess call out.

When Lauren didn't turn, she called out again, "Engage your rail! Engage your rail!" The blonde wobbled and Tess called out again, "Swing your back foot! Your back foot!"

What felt like an eternity ended in less than three minutes and Lauren was at the bottom of the hill with a cheering group of snowboarders!

"You did it, Doc!" Congratulated Cody.

"You had us nervous for a minute there, Doc. Who would put you back together if you broke something!"

Lauren smiled as Tess skidded to a stop in front of her. She pushed her goggles up on her helmet and gave Lauren a brilliant smile and a wink,

"See that, Doc? We'll have you off the bunny slopes in no time!" Tess beamed at Lauren, giving her a hug, "Ready to go again?"

The blonde nodded with a smile, "I think it's going to take a few more tries to get me swinging my back foot to turn instead of my front. My instinct was..."

"Yea, yea... I saw you wobbling. It's okay, Doc... your gal Tess is here to help you get it right."

"Surfing really is different than snowboarding." Lauren smiled at the other blonde.

"Yea, well we'll have you forgetting all about surfing in a few hours. Those surfer girls in Hawaii got nothing on Tess. Come on."

Tess bent down and unclasped Lauren's bindings, allowing the blonde to step off the board. As they made their way up the hill, Lauren took in the surroundings. The air was thin, but clean here. The sky was a deep blue and the mountains were covered in snow other than the deep green pine trees that surrounded them. The smell of the outdoors was fresh and crisp. Lauren felt... new... and it was a great feeling.

The group did several more runs down the hill, all of them encouraging Lauren who got better and better with each run. As she was able to move away from worrying about staying alive, she was better able to concentrate on what muscles were being used so she could better serve the athletes at the facility.

Finally, they wanted to go to their usual spot and get in some extreme runs. Lauren was quite surprised when four of the snowboarders jumped into a helicopter and headed up to the top of one of the highest mountains within view. It was quite some distance from Colorado Springs, but Cody and Tess assured her she was quite safe and she would be able to watch them from where the helo parked.

Once the four were ready to go, they wiggled their thumb and pinky finger at the pilot, signaling they were ready to bale. He set down at the top of the hill and waited while they all hopped out.

Tess spoke loudly to Lauren, a huge smile across her face, "You're gonna love this, Doc! Don't worry... our packs have emergency gear in them! Just stay with Jack... he'll take good care of you. You'll want to jump up there in the passenger seat so you have the best view."

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Lauren asked, looking at the steep descent they were about to do."

"This is the world's greatest playground, Lauren. Going down this mountain like a bat outta hell makes me feel more alive than most anything I have ever done! It's almost as great as sex!"

Lauren blushed as the woman leaned in and placed a quick kiss on her lips, before pulling back and giving her a wink. The doctor's fingers went to her lips as she watched the woman jump out of the helo and onto the mountaintop. Shaking out her thoughts, she moved to the passenger seat and looked out the window, watching the four plummet down the hill, white powder kicking up behind them.

She gripped the 'oh shit' handle on the door frame with all her might as the pilot lifted off and headed out in front of the group, giving Lauren a perfect view of the crew cutting left and right down the steep mountain pass. They seemed to spend most of it airborne,

"It's like they're flying more than they're snowboarding!" Lauren said into the microphone headset to the pilot.

"Adrenaline junkies. It's sort of their thing."

Lauren looked at Jack, "I take it you don't approve?"

"Hey, I get paid no matter what happens to them. I'm just one of those people who would rather have two skis firmly planted in some tightly packed snow with little or no chance of an avalanche burying me alive. My pace is more the ski resort pace."

"Yea... me too." Lauren replied.

"So why are you out here then?"

"I'm the new Head Doctor at the Olympic Training Center. I'm trying to get a taste of all of the sports and... well... Tess is rather... convincing."

"Yea, that Tess is a wild one."

Lauren simply nodded, her fingers moving to her lips again. The excitement she felt to be around Tess was, in a way, intoxicating but was this really her? She supposed she would have to finish out the weekend with this group to find out. After all, she was here to experience all that life had to offer.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

The group had gone from the slopes to the packed snow of the training center's pipeline where Lauren watched what she compared to skateboarding... albeit with a bigger skateboard with no wheels... on snow. The massive ramp reminded her of the smaller ramps that the kids in her neighborhood used to ride in the park not far from her house. Lauren had skateboarded as a kid, but only as a mode of transportation. She never learned how to do the rails and ramps that some of the kids had the courage to attempt.

She watched as they did various tricks, flying high above the ramp each time they lifted into the air. Tess sat next to her, giving her the play-by-play.

"You know, some day when you retire, you should do sports commentary. If you can make me understand this, you can make the entire world understand it." Lauren smiled.

Tess slid closer to Lauren, pointing to Corey as he did a backside 360. Rather than put her arm back down, she propped it up on Lauren's knee, eventually ending up with that forearm wrapped around the inside of the doctor's thigh. With her hand rubbing up and down the inside of Lauren's leg, the blonde became acutely aware of the surge to her core from the contact. At the same time, she felt unsure if the touch was wanted or not. It was confusing... the entire day was confusing.

"Okay, that's it. You ready to go get some dinner back at the lodge?" Tess said, looking down at Lauren and offering her a hand up.

Lauren smiled and took the offered hand. When she went to pull it away, Tess gripped it tighter,

"I think I'll hold on to this for a while."

"Tess... I..."

"Relax, Lauren. You can have it back soon. I just want to make sure you get off the top of this slippery slope okay. Packed snow is like ice. Stand on the front of my board."

Lauren turned her back to Tess who wrapped her arms around the blonde's waist and leaned forward,

"Here we go!"

Lauren let out a scream as they went down the lip, picking up speed before they went down the center of the pipe and coasted to a stop. Tess held onto Lauren's hand until she dismounted the board,

"That'll give you a tiny taste of the amount of speed we gather from the top to the bottom. If there's a crash, chances are something might be broken, but most of the time it's just bruising since we're all trained how to fall to avoid breaks. Sometimes you just can't help it... especially if you're upside down. That can get gnarly."

Lauren nodded as she trudged along in the snow. Soon, they were joined by the group and all loaded into the two black 4x4's to head down to the lodge. The group was actively chattering about the various tricks they'd tried or wanted to try.

When they arrived at the lodge, the mood was light and energetic. A lot of people from the clinic were there as well as many of the athletes, trainers, coaches and a few administrators.

Lauren sat with Cody, soon joined by Corey, Tess and Pippa.

"So, Doc... what was the month of October like for you? Enough snow?" Pippa asked.

"A lot of snow... definitely more snow than I've ever seen in my life."

"Wait... you've never seen snow?" Corey asked.

"Oh, I've seen it... in Northern California and Canada... I think I might have been in Montana as a child as well. New York and Boston during med school... but remember, I'm a beach volleyball player, so eight to ten months of the year, beach was the required surface."

Tess shook her head, "Wow. You did Lake Tahoe?"

"I didn't ski it, but I saw it."

"Oh... well, we travel all over the world to have snow twelve months a year, but we mostly stay here in the states to do Tahoe and Breckinridge, and usually go visit our neighbors in Whistler in British Columbia. Then we go to Wanaka in New Zealand in the U.S. summer and always find time to go to Hokkaido in Japan."

Lauren shook her head, "I don't think I could ever do that... search out snow year round. I'd miss the beach too much."

Tess laughed, "Well then why did you take on a job in Colorado for the 2018 Winter Olympics? You do know that snow and ice are requirements for winter sports, right?"

The group laughed, as did Lauren, "Yes, I'm well aware. I just... I needed a change of scenery and... well, this is definitely a change of scenery."

"Yea, that's the beauty of our country. Every state gives you something different... different people, different climate, different customs and sometimes a whole new version of the English Language! Right, Cody?"

"Hey!" Cody protested, "I can't help it if you guys can't speak Boston!"

"Yea... hey you guys... where'd you pawk the caw?" Corey imitated his friend.

The entire group broke out laughing, "Yea, well we'll see how all of you look when we head to Boston for Christmas with my family. I love when they all rag on you because of the way you talk."

Tess looked at Lauren, "Got Christmas plans, Doc? It's a great time in Boston."

Lauren smiled, thinking of home, "Uh... I'm not sure yet."

The rest of the group talked while Tess slid a little closer to the blonde, her arm draped over the back of her chair as she leaned in to talk to her privately,

"It's a good time... Christmas in Boston, the city is all lit up with lights... snow-lined streets with the big tree downtown. Cody's family makes a great spread and we all sing Christmas carols. You should think about it... it would be fun."

Tess ran her fingers back and forth over Lauren's shoulder.

"Right. I'll think about it. I may be going home for Christmas. All of my friends and family are there."

Tess looked confused, "I thought you didn't have any family."

Lauren smiled thinking of Bo's words, "Family doesn't have to mean a blood relation. Sometimes it's just people who look out for you... and you look out for them."

"So you left this... family... of yours... just like that?"

Lauren shook her head, "It was the hardest decision I've ever made, but this... well, this is a great career opportunity."

"Career move... I see. Running away, huh?"

"What? No!" Lauren defended.

"Lauren, you're a beach lover... a lifetime beach lover. You come seven hours from your home and leave behind everyone you care about not to mention a great job to live in snow and ice. So... I'm guessing it was a she since you didn't slap my face when I kissed you on the Helo... who was she?"

Lauren pushed her broccoli around on her plate... her first thought was to say Bo, but she now realized that she hadn't run from Bo at all. She'd run from Nadia... from the footage... from the media surrounding the courthouse frenzy that had occurred weeks ago... she'd run from her own life... from her past, leaving her family and friends to deal with it all. Now that she realized it, the weight of her guilt was heavy.

FLASHBACK – FEDERAL COURT, HONOLULU, HAWAII

The large screen television was rolled into the courtroom and the device was turned on. Bo's pulse quickened when she saw Lauren's face for the first time in a week. She looked nervous and the brunette wished that she could somehow get the blonde's attention to let her know she could relax... just tell the truth and everything would be okay. She watched the screen, hoping that Lauren would see her seated next to their attorney at the Prosecution's table.

"If it pleases the court, we will have the doctor identify herself first." The prosecution stated.

"Your Honor, we are well aware of who has been called to testify and that the court has granted special consideration for the oh-so-special Doctor Lewis to testify from a remote location today."

The judge frowned at the Defense Attorney's comment as he replied, "I'm glad you are aware, Mr. Reinhart, but for the purpose of this court, we will maintain protocol and have the doctor identify herself for the jury." He turned to the Prosecution, "Mr. Umberti, please proceed."

Mr. Umberti turned to the screen and spoke to Lauren, "Please identify yourself for the court?"

"Doctor Lauren Lewis, Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine."

"Yes, Doctor Lewis and we understand you are testifying from a remote location today. Can you explain the reason for this unusual form of testimony?"

"My court appearance was rescheduled at the request of the defense and the new date was after I was required to appear for my new job as the Head Physician for the United States Olympic Team. This was the agreed upon solution to the conflict."

"Your Honor, let the record state that Doctor Lewis was forced to testify in this manner because the defense team requested a three week delay in court testimony. They had previously requested that the doctor be required to fly back to testify in person, but the court agreed that because the defense had changed the date, the doctor was not at fault and should not be withheld from starting her new job."

"So stated, please continue."

"Dr. Lewis, your former boss, Chief Fitzpatrick McCorrigan has previously testified that Dr. Evony Fleurette Marquis was unnecessarily hard on you during your term as her subordinate."

"Objection! Vague!"

"Sustained."

"Dr. Lewis, did you feel you were treated fairly by Dr. Marquis?"

Lauren's eyes moved to Evony who was glaring at the blonde. Bo knew exactly what was happening in this moment. Evony was using intimidation to influence Lauren's testimony. She cleared her throat and coughed, drawing Lauren's eyes to her own. She nodded at her and tightened her fist near her cheek, encouraging the blonde to be strong and tell the truth.

The blonde's eyes moved back to her attorney's, "Dr. Lewis?"

"Yes. I was never given a consistent schedule, my shifts constantly changing making it impossible for me to achieve any regular sleep schedule. In addition, I was given the most difficult cases..."

"Objection! The doctor cannot possibly know that she had all of the most difficult cases."

"Dr. Lewis, can you explain?"

"Only a doctor could determine the most difficult and as far as I know, your Honor, Dr. Marquis lawyer is not a doctor. I was given cases where surgically, there was little hope of survival. Evony wanted me to fail... she needed me to fail and told me so repeatedly."

"Overruled. The jury will consider the doctor's testimony."

"Yours was a complicated relationship. I believe your Olympic Beach Volleyball coach was Dr. Marquis' ex-husband?"

"They were in the process of a divorce when he first began as my coach, but yes, Lachlan was Evony's ex-husband eventually. In order to keep the peace with her, he explained that he had to keep our practice schedule in line with the schedule she wished to give me at work."

"And when you say 'our' you're referring to whom?"

"Tamsin Torrent, my partner on Team USA."

"Congratulations on your gold medal, by the way. It was quite a performance."

"Objection! Her gold medal has nothing to do with my clients guilt, your honor!"

Mr. Umberti smiled and replied, "On the contrary, your honor. The fact that Team USA won the gold medal goes to the extent to which Dr. Marquis had gone in order to create both a work and practice atmosphere that would likely hinder her performance in the Olympics which in turn, goes to the state of mind of the defendant with regards to the night of the attempted murder."

"Alleged attempt." The defense attorney spat.

The Prosecuting attorney grinned, knowing he was getting to the defense attorney.

"I'll allow it." The judge replied, "Please continue, but know you have a small amount of latitude here, Mr. Umberti."

"Noted, your Honor. So, Lauren you were having irregular practices and irregular work hours. How was it that you found time to train and eat?"

"It was all I did... train, fuel, practice and work were all I had in my life. There was no time for anything else."

"Now, I'll bring this up because I'm sure the Prosecution will if I don't... you say there was no time for anything else and yet you had time for a relationship with another victim. Let the record introduce Miss Ysabeau Dennis, present in the court today."

"So noted." The judge replied as the court reporter nodded and continued taking notes.

"So, Dr. Lewis, how did you have time for a relationship?"

"I met her on the beach in the middle of one of my training runs. She is a professional surfer for the WSL and had been training out on the water. There was an incident, which I was not witness to, but she washed up near me... unconscious and not breathing. Her sister was there and screaming as I ran into the water and pulled her out."

Lauren's brows knitted together, "It's okay, Dr. Lewis. I'm sure the memory of that day is difficult at best."

"I performed CPR for a little over five minutes, sending her sister for the AED that was near my practice court. When I was finally able to shock her into a rhythm, she resumed breathing and we loaded her into the mobile shock-trauma bus. I rode to the hospital with her and treated her from then until she was handed off to the Neurology department."

"And then?"

"She was discharged from my care, but I continued to track her progress as I do all of my patients until their discharge. We grew... close and she asked to see me." Lauren smiled at Bo who chuckled in return, "I was not willing at first... the professional in me wouldn't allow it and I knew I had very little time... I wasn't prepared for a relationship but... well, Bo Dennis is persistent and she wasn't taking no for an answer. One thing led to another and before we knew it, we were dating."

"So, you saw each other regularly then?"

"Actually, quite the contrary. We saw each other quite irregularly, stealing time between her physical therapy, my work and training schedules and both our needs for food and sleep. Evony had a woman on the inside who further tried to disrupt my life by having her control Bo's therapy schedules to overlap my free time. In addition, the therapist was asked to attempt to come between us so that she could break me mentally."

"Objection! Speculation!"

"Your Honor, the prosecution requests that you submit into evidence the testimony of one Kristy Vale. Her testimony verifies that she was complicit, present and actively involved with Dr. Marquis in her plan to kill Dr. Lauren Lewis, her partner, Miss Tamsin Torrent, Miss Ysabeau Dennis and her sister Miss Kenzi Dennis."

The judge pulled on his glasses and allowed his eyes to roam over the highlights of the testimony before agreeing to admit it into evidence. Mr. Umberti abruptly dropped a copy of the testimony onto the desk of the defense attorney before moving back towards Bo. He again turned to face Lauren,

"So, Dr. Lewis, what was your relationship to Miss Kristy Vale?"

"I did not know Kristy well. I knew that she was a former player on the beach Volleyball circuit who blew out her knee while playing. I knew that she tried to pick up Bo in a restaurant, but was rejected. I later learned from the therapist who worked with Bo in Rio and was provided her therapy records, that Kristy had been intentionally sabotaging Bo's recovery... specifically, making sure that she would remain dependent on a wheelchair, walker, cane and subject to constant risk of seizures by failing to follow correct rehabilitation protocol for dry drowning victims... in short, we later learned that her intention was to assure that Bo would never surf again."

"Objection! The witness cannot know the intent of someone she had never met."

"Actually, your honor, Dr. Lewis was aware of the content of the testimony of Miss Vale which included that information."

The Judge asked, "Why was she given access to testimony?"

"Because she had to agree to the plea deal we offered Miss Vale after her testimony. It was Miss Vale who made the attempt on Dr. Lewis' life which is why the Brazilian officials are requesting extradition of Miss Vale for appearance in their court."

The judge nodded, "I am aware of the Brazilian authorities request for extradition of both Miss Vale, Dr. Marquis and one Miss Nadia Katsaros."

"Can you describe the events of the evening of August 16th for us?"

Lauren took her time, recounting the events as she'd recalled them for the Brazilian authorities, for Tamsin, for Bo, for Hale, Ciara and her attorney several times. Bo noted that Lauren looked like she was on auto-pilot as she recounted the events of the night on her side of town while Bo and Kenzi had been held at gunpoint by Evony. The only part of this that really mattered was the fact that Lauren had been told by Kristy that Evony had sent her and that she had witnessed the aftermath of the scene in the hotel room of the Dennis sisters as well as the hospital visit after that.

Bo cringed when the lawyer brought up the fact that Lauren had entered an inpatient facility for counseling after the incidents in Rio. It was something she had known Lauren wanted to keep private. He asked about the break up of their relationship, Bo assumed to be sure the jury knew how much Lauren had lost due to the actions of one Evony Fleurette Marquis. Knowing where he went with Lauren meant he would likely do the same with her when she took the stand. She didn't care... as long as Lauren was safe, she would tell them the most embarrassing moments of her life.

In that moment, watching the strength that Lauren possessed as she sat there and bared her soul to a room full of strangers, she knew that this woman had the strength of ten thousand women. How did Bo ever see her as weak? With all she had been through in her almost thirty years of life, Lauren Lewis had survived it all. She may not know who she was, what she liked or what she wanted out of life, but the woman was strong and had become a survivor of the circumstance of her life.

PRESENT DAY, COLORADO

"Lauren?"

The blonde felt the hand on her shoulder and turned to see Tess staring at her with a smile on her face,

"Where'd you go, sunshine?"

"My distant past and my not-so-past past." Lauren smiled.

"So are you going to tell me who you ran from?"

Lauren lowered her head, "I ran from my abusive ex... I came here to get healthy... to find myself... to be healthy for the woman I love."

"So you ran from an abusive ex and the woman you love?"

Lauren shook her head, "Look, Tess... you don't want to get involved with me. I have a lot of baggage and I'm very confused about life right now. I just want to experience... well... everything I can and allow myself some time away from everyone who cares about me so that I can learn to stand on my own two feet. They all mean well, but I need to be able to take care of myself without having anyone take care of me."

"I get it, Doc. Look... I'm not relationship material. I'm just looking to have some fun. I don't tend to stay in any one place for very long... I go where the snow is, ya know? I mean... I made a commitment to being an Olympian, so I'm here doing my thing hoping to be selected. In a few weeks, we'll be outta here, heading out to Vermont then flying all over the world to board with the greats from other countries. The world is our party and we go where the fun is... you do know fun, right?"

Lauren laughed, her eyes lowering as she considered her answer, "I actually never really did until I met... well... a certain surfer who taught me how to come out of my shell and try new things."

"Sounds like my kind of girl."

"She hates snow."

"Okay, so not my kind of girl." Tess laughed, "Look, Lauren... I like you and... well... we can have some fun while I'm here. No strings, no expectations and definitely no falling in love... that's something I'll reserve for my forties."

Lauren laughed, "Yea and I thought it was something I'd reserve for my fifties, but life has a way of taking some decisions out of your control."

"That's a funny statement coming from someone who always seems to need to be in control."

"I do not!" Lauren defended.

"Come on, Doc. You had to make sure you looked up the certification level on the helmet we gave you to use today so you could protect that big brain of yours. Then you needed us all to have our seatbelts on in the 4x4, and in the training center..."

"Okay, okay... I get it... I'm a bit OCD, but I come by it honestly. I'm a doctor who saves lives and that includes preventative medicine."

"Well, I'll give you that, but sometimes I think you just have to leave the doctor in the clinic, ya know? Live a little?"

"Are you saying I don't live because I'm a doctor?"

"No, I'm saying you don't live because you worry too much about the what if's. There is such a thing as an educated risk. Do you consider sky diving too high risk to do?"

"Absolutely and so do all of the insurance companies." Lauren argued.

"But if the chute is checked and double checked, the chute is packed and checked by an expert who knows how it should work, the pilot agrees that the conditions are safe for jumping and the person has been thoroughly trained in how to fly, wouldn't you consider it just as safe to jump as if you were getting in a car and driving through rush hour traffic in a car with hundreds of unpredictable assholes who aren't paying attention on the road?"

Lauren shrugged, "Well, when you put it that way... I suppose you may be right."

"Live, Doc... let go of the maybe's and live in the moment."

Lauren laughed, thinking of how many times Bo had told her that very same thing. Looking up at the clock, she wondered what the brunette was doing right now.

"Come on, Doc. Let's shoot some pool with the guys... you do think pool is safe enough, right?"

Lauren smiled, "Safe for me? Yes. Safe for the person playing me? Not so much."

"Whoa! Them's fightin' words!"

The doctor smirked, "I got mad pool skills."

Lauren didn't add the fact that when she was young and her stepfather was responsible for watching her, he would take her to the bar to drink. She would sit there and do her homework, after which, she would watch the men play. Eventually, she started going to her own table, trying to make shots she'd seen the men miss. She wasn't sure how she did it... it was like she could see lines on the table that allowed her to actually follow the path of the ball. Depending on where her cue struck the cue ball, she knew exactly how it would spin and what it would cause other balls to do when it hit.

Tess announced the match, "Okay ya'll! Doc and I are going to take on Corey and Cody! Place your bets."

Everyone laughed, assuming Lauren didn't know sports beyond Beach Volleyball and Tess knew it. She whispered to Lauren,

"So, just how good are you?"

Lauren laughed, "Good enough to clear the table on my first turn after they break."

Tess's eyes went wide, "Shit, really? You could pay my lift pass for our Christmas trip to Vermont at Okemo Mountain! If we go on a run here, you may even pay my airfare to New Zealand!"

"Don't get carried away there, Tess. The minute that they see us win, they'll stop placing bets."

Tess whispered, "Then don't run the table... let them think they have a chance."

"I'm not cheating my athlete's Tess. I will teach them a lesson not to judge the competition by its cover once, though. It's good for them to remember when they go into competition."

"Fine. One lesson then. This is gonna rock!"

The men insisted on letting the women break, so Lauren pretended to be horribly offended by their assumption that men were somehow superior players to women. Regardless, the women took the break after discussing how they would play it. Tess whispered to Lauren,

"Can you pocket the 8-ball on the break for the win?"

"If I hit the balls just right. I haven't played in quite some time, Tess. I can give it my best shot."

"Okay, well... if it works, play dumb... like you don't know what you did."

"Okay."

Tess turned to the boys, putting a finger in their faces, "No laughing. She hasn't played pool since she was young."

Cody crossed his heart, "Scouts honor."

Tess laughed, "You are clearly no Boy Scout."

They all turned to watch Lauren, her tongue hanging out of the corner of her mouth as she closed one eye and moved the pool cue awkwardly between various fingers.

"Time out!" Tess called and went over to Lauren. Leaning in behind her, she whispered in her ear, "If you wanted me to do the sexy pool teacher stance, why didn't you just ask."

She pressed her pelvis into Lauren's ass, while she wrapped her fingers around Lauren's hand, adjusting the pool cue so it sat correctly in her hand,

"There... better?"

Lauren swallowed hard, nodding as her heart raced. The arousal she felt was familiar to her... it wasn't like it was with Bo... it was... she didn't know. She took a deep breath and focused on the cue ball, spotting the eight ball and angling her shot, she broke. Everyone watched as the eight ball rolled slowly towards the corner pocket, teetering on the edge until it finally dropped.

Lauren stood up and looked at Tess who was celebrating wildly. She looked at Tess, "Was that good?"

"Oh, that was excellent, Doc! That's one win for us!"

"Uh... okay... why? Only one ball went in."

Cody looked at the doctor, "You sank the eight ball on the break, Doc."

"Oh... I guess I was just lucky, huh?"

"Yea, sure." Cody replied, looking at Tess, "Double or nothing?"

"Nah, let's just call for bets again."

Cody nodded and called for bets, the crowd all in this time as more people gathered hearing that the Doc had sunk the shot. With all of the money on the table, Cody's friend Pia picked up the money as a neutral party.

Tess shrugged, "Your break, boys."

Corey nodded to Cody to break. The blonde stepped up and took the cue ball in hand. Carefully laying it down on the table, he took his shot, sinking a striped ball.

"Nice break, Cody." Tess smiled.

The women watched as Cody missed his next shot, then Tess looked at Lauren, "Okay, Doc. We have solids."

Lauren smirked, "Okay, so does that mean I'm supposed to hit the little balls in the pockets if they don't have a stripe on it?"

The guys laughed as Tess rolled her eyes, keeping up the act, "Yes, Lauren. Just remember that you can't put the white ball in a pocket and the solid black ball with the number eight on it has to go in last. You also have to call which pocket you're going to put that one in, okay? Oh, and make sure you always have one foot on the floor when you shoot."

"Okay. I'll just ask you before every shot, okay?" the doctor asked.

"I'll help you out, Lauren. Now, which ball are you going to go for first?"

"Well, green is my favorite color, so I think I'll hit that one in first."

Tess shook her head, "Well, you see, the green ball so make sure the white ball – the cue ball – hits the green ball and only the green ball goes in, okay?"

"Okay."

Tess chuckled as she watched Lauren awkwardly line up the shot... the entire place seemed to hold their breath until the crack of the balls and the clunk of the six ball landing in the obvious pocket landed.

"Great job, Lauren! Now, pick another ball!"

Lauren smiled, "Well, lucky number seven makes sense, right?"

Tess nodded, winking at her partner.

The older blonde continued sinking ball after ball until the last shot. There were two striped balls blocking the hole for the four ball. Lauren needed to sink the four before she could go for the eight ball and the win. Tess walked up to her,

"Now what? Just put the cue on a rail?"

"Nah. I'll just jump their ten and eleven balls."

"You can do that?" Tess asked, shocked.

"Well, I could when I was nine... hopefully it's all coming back to me. It would be nice to practice the shot first."

"Time out! Time out!" Corey called.

Tess turned with a scowl, "What? You can't call time out!"

"Well, I'm up next when she misses whatever shot she thinks she might have on the four ball and I have to pee. So unless you want me to pee in your beer, I need a quick break."

"Fine." Tess replied, "Pia, watch the table for us while we go get refills?"

"Sure thing, Tess."

The shorter brunette leaned on the edge of the table while the two women walked away to the bar. Tess called out to a man behind the bar,

"Hey John, can we slip in back real quick?"

"Sure thing, Tess."

"Come on." Tess said, pulling Lauren by the hand to a room in the back.

Lauren coughed when they entered the smoke-filled room, "Geez, Tess. We're gonna get lung cancer in here."

"This is the smoking room... smoking and pool playing room. You wanted a practice shot... here it is."

Lauren smiled and headed over to the empty table. Grabbing the cue ball, she aimed at the base of the ball and jumped it a few times, frowning when she didn't get the right hop or direction on the first few. Finally, she seemed satisfied and set up the shot she'd have to make. Tess watched in amazement as Lauren sunk the shot not once, not twice but three times.

Lauren casually racked the cue and headed towards the door.

"Hey!" Tess called out, "You sure?"

"That's better than I hit it as a kid." Lauren shrugged.

The pair arrived back out at the table with fresh beers in hand just as the guys arrived at the table. Pia stepped aside and allowed Lauren to take the stick again.

"Just make sure you don't put the cue ball somewhere I can make a good shot, Doc." He turned to Cody, "Damn, luckiest beginner I've ever seen."

Lauren looked up at him, "Oh, don't worry, I won't." With a wink and a smile, she laughed before taking the jump shot, knocking the four ball into the corner pocket.

"NO WAY!" Cody yelled.

"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE!" Corey added.

Lauren, for her part, simply moved to the corner pocket, lined up the cue ball with the eight ball and said,

"Eight ball, corner for the win." And sunk the shot.

The entire bar went crazy as the two men stood still, their mouths hanging open. Pia handed Tessa the fistful of cash,

"Everyone bet against you guys... they thought it was a sure thing."

Lauren shook her head, "See what I mean?"

"Okay, Doc... tell the truth... you've played before." Corey said.

Lauren moved to the table and began setting up the balls to try her favorite trick shot from when she was a kid. She wasn't sure if she'd make it, but if she did, it would put an exclamation point on her lesson to the athletes present.

"Yup. I've played, Corey. Now, the question is... what made you think I didn't? Is it because you stereotyped a Beach Volleyball player as someone who wouldn't hang around a pool hall? Or was it the physician's license that made you think I would never have entered such an establishment in my life. Maybe it was because I'm not a radical snowboarder like you and your friends or maybe it's because I'm not a big risk taker when it comes to taking chances with life and limb."

The room went quiet as she eyed her shot. With a quick snap, she sent the cue ball jumping over the eight ball into the four which careened off the side rail, into the six which hit the ten, eleven, twelve before coming back to the eight and putting it into the side pocket.

The crowd went wild as Lauren walked towards the two men, Tess right behind her left shoulder,

"Consider this the first lesson from the new Head Physician of the Unite States Olympic Training Center... NEVER... and I do mean never... underestimate ANY opponent... especially not based on appearance. Doing that could cost you the podium or mean the difference between gold, silver or bronze."

The coaching staff moved to surround Lauren at the table, all of the applauding and nodding before congratulating them on a lesson well taught. After a short time in the uncomfortable spotlight, she excused herself to the fireplace, plopping down on the sofa to enjoy some quiet far away from the crowd in the large room... or maybe not as she heard the voice from behind her.

"You really rocked that, Doc."

Lauren smiled, "Thanks, Tess. It was fun."

"It was... and no one got hurt." Tess came and plopped down right next to Lauren despite the fact that there was plenty of room on the couch.

She handed Lauren a fistful of cash, "Your half... although I should probably give you it all."

Lauren shook her head, "You keep it... go speed down those mountains and live life on the edge... just please don't break your neck."

Tess laughed, "Are you sure?"

"Yea. I can't take that money... I'd feel bad." Lauren replied, taking a sip of her beer and leaning away from Tess to lean on the arm of the sofa.

"Well, will you take me?" Tess asked, her fingers traveling along Lauren's arm.

There it was again... that sensation... arousal, yet not. Tess leaned around in front of the blonde,

"No response, is that a good sign?"

She leaned in and captured Lauren's lips in a kiss. Lauren's mind moved to an apartment... a kiss... her body responded, but her mind protested... her eyes opened... Nadia... the pressure... always pressure to do things she didn't want to do but somehow her body always seemed to respond... the physiological processes intact though the mind and heart felt nothing. Coming into the present, she pulled back, pushing Tess away,

"No! Stop!" Lauren shook her head and moved quickly towards the fireplace, "Tess, I told you... I..."

"You left the abusive ex and the woman you love behind. This doesn't have to mean anything, Lauren."

She ran her fingers along Lauren's shoulder, but the doctor shrugged her off, "Yes, Tess... it does. In order for me to share my body with anyone, it definitely has to mean something. I've had enough mindless sex where I had to shut down to stand it to last me a lifetime. You just need to... back off, Tess. I'm sorry if that's harsh, but... I was in an abusive relationship... I don't do unwanted advances well."

Tess finally got it, "Geez, Lauren... I'm so sorry. I thought you meant you were hit or something... but it was more than that."

"More and for a very, very long time. I'm trying to recover from it so that I can be with the woman I want to love... but all of the shit from my past keeps getting in the way of us."

Lauren shook her head, "I just... look... I don't even know why I'm talking to you about this. I just... forget it, okay? And please don't tell anyone about it."

"Patient-client privilege, Lauren. I would never share something so personal."

"Ha. Ha. Using the doctoring against the doctor?"

Tess laughed, "Actually, I'm using that lesson you just taught the boys out there... the old don't judge a book by its cover lesson. I'm a licensed therapist, Lauren... and I'm here if you need me... well... until December, anyway."

"Uh... that's... wow... that's... something." Lauren smiled, knowing she had just had her own words shoved in her face, "I'm sorry for assuming..."

"It's okay, Lauren. I'm not exactly in uniform. I put my practice on hold to go for gold. My parents aren't happy and its expensive to live as a full time athlete in my sport. I have enough in savings to handle most of my expenses for two years. If I have to pick up private clients, I will but for now, I just want to live with my old friends here and go for the gold, you know?"

"I do, actually. I just couldn't afford to do it without working and... well... frankly, I wasn't willing to give up my job... I loved working in emergency medicine."

Tess nodded, "Are we okay?"

"We are." Lauren smiled.

"I mean it you know... about talking if you ever want to."

Lauren nodded, "I just may take you up on that... something is happening... I mean... when you kissed me just now... I had this flashback to my ex forcing me... well... you get it. My mind would go somewhere else while my body would respond somehow."

"Come on... sit with me." Tess pulled Lauren over to the couch, this time sitting a bit farther away, "I don't know if you've heard of any of the rape cases where a man was raped by a woman and he got an erection despite the fact that he did not want to have sex with the woman?"

"I think I remember seeing a movie about that with Michael Douglass and Demi Moore."

"Yea. That movie was actually based on a case just like that. The physiological responses of the body to sexual contact can be replicated by any intense emotion... anger and fear are just two of them."

"So you're saying my body would response because of my emotional state? I don't recall feeling any emotion."

"Well, over time, victims of abuse shut down their emotions... like a switch... they just turn off, their mind essentially leaves their body and the act happens without them having an sense of feeling. It's a survival mechanism. We see it with veterans of war, witnesses of horrific acts, even survivors of chronic disease. The mind really is an amazing organ... it will protect itself even when the body is being assaulted."

Lauren took in all that Tess was saying. It made sense... how she would shut down during certain events, go into decision making mode without being truly conscious of a decision, run away when she was unaware she was confronting something she couldn't handle.

"Lauren?"

"I'm okay... I was just... putting pieces of my puzzle together, I guess."

Tess nodded, "Anything else?"

Lauren looked up at her, "Thanks."

"Well, I'd like to think that after three weeks together, we're becoming friends."

Lauren smiled, "Friends... I'd like that."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

NOVEMBER – WEEK BEFORE THANKSGIVING

Bo pulled out her cell phone and sent a text to Lauren, then went back to work. She wasn't expecting an immediate response... she'd learned that daily contact... sometimes even weekly contact... was no longer in the cards. If they spoke, their conversations were fairly superficial and relatively short.

So far, Bo knew that Lauren had been snowboarding, seen a mountain from a helicopter, won a big pool game, gone sledding, tried cross-country skiing which she now did almost daily, tried speed skating and been in the Team USA Bobsled. It sounded like she was having a blast and in truth, now that the workshop was rebuilt, the new facilities were up and running and the WSL surfers were beginning to train at their wave pool, so was Bo.

She had decided to pack up the romantic part of her heart and put it on a shelf for safe-keeping. She only needed love for dealing with the kids. Kenzi had told her she was becoming a bit reckless again, but Bo ignored her. If she was only a little reckless, maybe that was just the edge she needed to win the WSL championship next month.

Tamsin walked into the dining room where Bo was heating up some soup for dinner, "Hey Bo. Did Kenzi tell you that Tish from the WSL called you again?"

"Yup."

"And?"

"And I ignored the message like I always do."

Tamsin sat down at the bar counter, "Okay, look... you're going to need to make a decision about this sooner or later."

Bo stirred the soup before ladling it into her bowl, "Want some?"

"Sure, thanks."

Bo pulled another bowl from the cabinet and filled it before handing the bowl and a piece of bread to Tamsin. She put the rest of the loaf in a basket on the counter and came around to sit next to Tamsin.

"So... sooner or later?" Tamsin asked.

"Later."

"Bo, this is a great opportunity."

"For who? I'm retiring, Tamsin. End of story."

"Your decision should not be about Lauren. She knows they're building the wave pool facility and the training center for surfing... she's the head cheese of all things medical!"

"I know and we're supposed to be apart so she has time to be on her own. My presence in Colorado would surely cramp her I'm-fine-on-my-own style."

"Bo, just what do you think Lauren's doing there?"

"Well, she's certainly not returning my calls or texts!"

"I told you, Bo... she's just busy."

"Yea, I know... with Tess. I swear if I hear that woman's name one more time I'm gonna throw up."

"They're friends!"

"Yea, so were we before we slept together."

Tamsin shook her head, "Look, I'm not going to betray Lauren's confidence and tell you anything about her relationship with Tess, but I promise you they really are just friends. She has been getting Lauren out of her shell and helping her process all of her life shit."

"Well, I'm glad Tess can help her with that and honestly... a lot jealous that I couldn't!

"Bo, one person cannot be all that someone else needs... not even when you love each other like you and Lauren do."

"Well, I wouldn't know she loves me because she doesn't bother to return my calls or texts. By the way... text Kenzi and tell her we need resin."

Tamsin picked up the phone and sent the text. Putting her phone down, she took a bite of bread and a return text came through,

"She's on it."

"You see? How long did that take? One bit of bread? A swallow of soup and a bite of bread? She can't take ten seconds to respond when I text her a question?"

"Fine! What did you text her?"

"I want to know if she is still willing to have Maverick come out in November. It's almost Thanksgiving and she hasn't had him out there yet. I'm not letting him go for Christmas. I want him here for that because he's never had one in warm-weather and decided he wanted to try it this year."

"Isn't he going to be here for the Thanksgiving Dinner?"

"I don't know. That's up to him and Lauren but I can't get her to nail down a date or any plans. He's starting to think she forgot about him."

"Bo, you know that's not true, she's just really..."

"BUSY! I know, I know!"

Tamsin shook her head and turned on her stool to face Bo, "Okay... bottom line this for me. What's really bugging you about Lauren?"

"Hope."

"Hope?"

Bo nodded, "I'm losing hope."

Bo pulled up the sleeve on her jacket and showed Tamsin the bracelet, but Tamsin nodded,

"The bracelet... Kenzi told me and she told me the story behind hope for you guys. Your parents were pretty cool, Bo... I wish I could have known them."

"Yea, they were pretty special people." Bo nodded.

"So, why are you losing hope?"

"Because I don't know if she still loves me, Tamsin. The last two times I've said it, she didn't say it back. I know she's spending all of this time with Tess and... well... I'm just worried that..."

"It's not like that, Bo. She's just a good friend. You know, Lauren has never had a friend that she didn't make through work. She met this woman through a bunch of other snowboarders at their lodge."

"Lodge?"

"Yea... a place in snowy mountains where people hang out after a day on the slopes?"

Bo nodded, "I know what a lodge is, Tamsin. I have been snowboarding at Lake Tahoe just like you when you were a kid. She just hasn't mentioned hanging out at a lodge."

"Bo, they're buried in snow up there. If she's not at the training center, she's at home. If she's not at home, she's doing something... well... snowy. If she's not active, then she's probably at the lodge shooting pool or hanging out with the gang."

"She's got a gang?"

Tamsin sighed, "She has friends, Bo... just like our gang here. As far as I know, she is not romantically involved with anyone."

"I'm terrified, Tamsin."

"Of what, Bo?"

"That I'm not enough."

"You're enough, Bo... just be patient." Tamsin held the small heart charm in her hand, "And hold onto hope... trust her, Bo... she's getting better... I can hear it in her voice. She sounds happy."

Bo nodded as she whispered, "What if she's happier without me?"

"Then you'll be happy that she's finally happy." Tamsin said.

Bo thought about it for a moment and then realized that the blonde was right, "Yea, I guess I will... she deserves to be happy."

Just then, Bo's phone buzzed. She picked it up and saw the text from Lauren,

Lauren: 'Hey! I'd love to have Maverick next week. Will you be coming with him?'

"Shit!"

Tamsin dropped her spoon, "What?"

"She wants me to come next week with Maverick!"

"So go!"

"Tamsin, I have a competition!"

The blonde frowned, "I don't suppose you could miss one for the woman of your dreams, could you?"

Bo sat quietly for a moment, "This is the last event, Tamsin. It's the last part of the Honolulu Bay event that was rescheduled because of the storm. If I miss it, there's not way I can win."

Tamsin nodded as Bo pulled out her phone and texted Lauren back,

Bo: 'I'll figure it out and let you know. Maverick will be so excited.'

Lauren: 'Does that mean you won't be coming with?'

Bo: 'Some scheduling issues... I promise I'll figure it out. Do you care what day?'

Lauren: 'Nope, but sooner would be better.'

Bo: 'I know, he's excited to see you too. I'll be in touch as soon as I have our travel plans.'

Lauren: 'Great... I'll be waiting. Gotta run.'

Bo: 'Bye.'

The brunette sat and stared at the screen for a moment, hoping to get a response... maybe an 'I love you', but nothing else came. Tamsin had been looking over her shoulder,

"Kenzi is going to flip if you sacrifice your championship for her."

"I'll figure it out. It's my life, Tamsin." Bo stood and put her bowl in the sink, "Speaking of my life, I've got a training session in fifteen minutes. I'm going to go see just how long it takes to vomit vegetable soup in the wave pool."

Bo ran back to her bedroom. Tamsin pulled out her phone and sent off a text message to her partner... Lauren needed to know what was going on in Hawaii... she'd waited long enough and if Bo wasn't going to enlighten her friend, Tamsin would.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Maverick and Bo got off the plane and immediately felt the difference in temperature from Hawaii. It wasn't that it was ridiculously cold, but they weren't exactly dressed for winter temperatures.

"This is nothing, Bo! Wait until we get to Aspen!"

Maverick had been a little chatterbox the entire way to Colorado. She knew that he loved snowboarding and when she'd texted Lauren the flight information, she'd let Bo that she already had her friends set him up with gear. As they moved through the airport, Bo kept the young boy close by her side, but he suddenly broke free from her, taking off running. When she looked up, she saw Lauren, squatting down, arms open a broad smile covering her face. Bo's eyes teared up as she watched the young boy dive into Lauren's arms.

She slowly walked up to the pair and watched the reunion. Looking up, she met the eyes of a beautiful blonde woman with dark brown eyes. The woman nodded in her direction, which Bo did as well. Her heart was in her throat as she stood there, trying to keep her eyes on the two familiar faces, but her mind just kept wondering if this was the infamous Tess.

"Are you excited?" Lauren asked.

"I've been waiting forever! What took you so long?"

"I'm sorry, Mav. I've been busy getting things set up here and learning my way around. You're here now. That's all that matters, right?"

"Right! So... we're going to Aspen, right?"

"Tomorrow. Right now, we have to get back to the training center because I'm supposed to be at work!"

"Bo says playing hooky is bad."

Lauren looked up at Bo with a big smile, "Well, Bo is right, as always."

"I don't know that I'm always right."

"I do." Lauren smiled, "You were right about me coming here." The blonde said before moving to hug Bo, "I'm happy, Bo... for the first time in my life, I feel happy without having it to be attached to anyone else. I can't wait to show you my world."

She pulled back, her eyes holding a happiness that Bo had never seen before. She was happy for her friend... friend. It looked like she was going to have to get used to that word.

"Come on, let's go... I took off Wednesday through the weekend, so after today, we can play the rest of the week in the snow."

"Awesome!" Maverick replied.

The two turned to walk away, leaving Bo standing there awkwardly standing with the other blonde who offered her hand,

"Uh... I'm Tess."

"Hi Tess... I'm Bo."

"It's nice to meet you, Bo. I've heard a lot about you."

"Really? Because Lauren has told me absolutely nothing about you."

"Yea, that doesn't surprise me."

The two walked in silence towards the baggage claim, but Bo stopped them, "Lauren, we only brought the two carry-ons. You said you had gear for him?"

Lauren nodded, "I do but..." Lauren pulled Bo aside, "Excuse us a second, Mav. This is Tess... stick with her for a minute, okay?"

Maverick nodded as Lauren turned to Bo,

"Oh, I'm sorry I didn't introduce you... that's Tess."

"We met." Bo said, unsure of what else to say. Right now she felt like a fifth wheel and was wondering why Lauren had invited her.

"Where are your boards, Bo?"

"My what?"

Lauren frowned, "Look... don't be mad at her, but Tamsin told me you have a competition in Hawaii this weekend... your last competition... the one you need to compete in to achieve your goal... your dream of being a champion."

Bo frowned, "Some things are more important, Lauren."

"No, Bo... they're not. I am not going to allow you to throw away your dream for me or for Maverick. Does he know what's on the line?"

"No... and don't you dare tell him, Lauren. He has missed you so much, I was not about to say no to this week when you were finally willing to have him come."

"Finally?"

"You told him you would have him out in October, Lauren. He thinks you forgot about him."

"I know, Bo. I'm sorry, I've just been..."

"Busy... yea, I know." She said, looking past Lauren to where Maverick was checking out all of the patches on Tess' jacket. 'Great,' Bo thought, '... she loves snow.'

"You are not missing that competition, Bo so you're going to work out in the wave pool all week."

"Fine. I'll work out in the wave pool while you, Maverick and Tess go off on your winter adventure. Come on, Maverick's waiting."

Lauren frowned wondering what was wrong with the brunette. She would find out later when they had some time to talk. Right now, she had to get back to work and Bo was definitely getting in that wave pool.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Bo! Hey woman! How are you?"

"I'm good Mitch, how are you?"

"Great, great... although I'm hoping you've come to work out here and help me get these wave settings right."

"I thought Kelly came out?"

"Not yet... dude is busy as hell."

"Yea, I know what you mean."

"Hey, I heard about the storm... Damn Daniel!"

"Like I haven't heard that one a million times... It's just funny that the storm happened to be named Daniel, huh? Anyway, everything is rebuilt and we're finally back to manufacturing boards. Did you get the ones Kenzi sent?"

"Yup and I have the perfect one for your little guy there."

Bo ruffled the hair on Maverick's head, "Mav, do you remember Mitch?"

Maverick frowned, "He's the one that stole Lauren from me."

Bo tried hard to hold back her laugh as she looked up at Lauren who was trying equally hard not to laugh. Obviously, the joke was lost on Tess who just stood there looking at Lauren who told her she'd explain later.

Bo brushed aside the emotions at seeing the interaction between the two. She was determined after their ride from the airport in the backseat with Maverick to make this trip about him. She'd never seen him look so alive as they'd traveled through the town with the snow-capped mountains as a backdrop. She felt as if his very soul was calling out... to what, she wasn't sure but she was pretty sure he was probably thinking about his family when he laid his head down on her lap.

Lauren had looked back in that moment and seen the look on his face. She looked up at Bo, a pained expression on her face seeing the young boy clearly torn about something.

"Can I get in now, Bo?" Maverick asked.

"Not until I'm dressed, Mav... you haven't been in a wave pool yet, so we're going to work on some things together first."

Bo looked up at Mitch who tossed her a gear bag, "Already got it all together. Doc knows your sizes and brands like the back of her hand."

Lauren blushed, "We got the Kenbo boards in, but none of the gear except the leashes. I remembered what brands you wore before you went to your own brand and dropped the sponsors."

"Well, that's very observant of you, Doctor." Bo smiled before moving towards the locker room signs. She turned back for a moment, "Maverick? The boards are over there. Mitch, polystyrene core, polyethylene slick bottom, three-laminated wood stringers... it's the Kenbo-Lo."

"He's not on styro?"

"Nope! He's an upgrade... moved to the twelve-year-old class thanks to Kenzi's lessons."

"I can't wait to see the little guy go."

"Just keep the waves to a three, okay?"

"You're going to have to go first and make sure the 'three' is really what a 'three' should be."

"I'll check everything out before I let him ride." She turned to Lauren, "Promise."

Lauren smiled, "Oh, I trust you completely."

Bo smiled and gave her a slow nod, "Well... that's... new... and good."

"It's part of the new me."

"It looks good on you." Bo smiled, heading back to the locker room.

"Lauren? Can you help me... it's... heavy..." Tess caught the board right as it was about to go backwards over Maverick's head,

"Easy there, little guy."

Maverick looked up at Tess, "I'm not little. I'm a intermediate!"

Tess laughed, "Well, my mistake... good for you then!"

She helped him balance the board on his head so that he could walk over to the entrance to the tank where Mitch was waiting. He took the board and lifted him up onto the large stool at the control panel,

"You can sit here and work the panel for Bo, okay?"

"Wow... it looks confusing!"

"Well, you're some kind of engineering genius, right? So let me give you a lesson and then you can unleash Poseidon on your friend Bo."

"I don't wanna hurt her."

"Have you ever seen a wave that Bo couldn't handle?"

Maverick put his finger on the corner of his mouth as he looked up at the ceiling for a long moment. He then smiled and turned to Mitch, "Nope."

"Okay then. This wave pool can't do worse than the ocean, so there's pretty much nothing you can do that would hurt her."

Lauren leaned against the rail, and whispered to Mitch, "You're sure? She's got THE competition this weekend."

"I know and you don't have to whisper around anyone but Bo... and maybe your friend there."

Maverick looked up at Bo, "I'm in on the secret! Shhhh! We're not supposed to tell her until we're on the plane!"

Lauren laughed and whispered to Maverick, "I know! So let me ask you... would you mind if my friend Tess came with us?"

Maverick frowned, "I don't think Bo likes your new girlfriend, Lauren."

"Girlfriend?"

"Yea. I heard her talking to Kenzi and she said you have a new girlfriend. I don't think she thought you would bring her to the airport though... you guys have rules, ya know."

Lauren's brow knit together as she tried to piece together what Maverick was saying, then she remembered Bo's reaction at the airport. Shit.

"Mav..."

"Okay, Mav!" Bo entered the wave pool, her hair pulled up in pony tale. She reached over her back to pull up the zipper, but Lauren placed a firm hand on her shoulder and tugged it up for her, taking a moment to make eye contact with the brunette.

The glance lasted for a long moment, but Bo abruptly broke the gaze, her eyes traveling to Tess as she turned and got into the pool. Shit.

"Bo, I was just telling Mav that you have to test everything before he can get in, so he's gonna work the controls."

Bo's eyes went wide, "Oh yea? Are we sure that..."

"Don't worry, Bo. I never seen you ride a wave you couldn't handle and Mitch said this thing can't hurt you so I'm just gonna work you out hard like Nick does."

Bo leaned over towards Maverick, "Well, I'll tell you a secret... Mitch always worked me out harder than Nick does."

"Mitch saved you from drowning!"

Bo laughed, "Actually, it was Lauren who saved me from drowning. Mitch is the one who got me back on my feet."

"You did that?"

"Well, I think Bo did it, but yea, I sort of led the way and fixed the mess the first therapist created."

"That was Kristy."

Bo and Lauren frowned, but Bo was the first to ask, "How do you know that name?"

"Duh, you guys! I got two ears!" Maverick pulled both of his ears out, stretching them so wide, the adults all had to laugh, "Okay, Bo... it's time to get in the tank! If it's too much, just give me a thumbs down."

Bo laughed, "I'm glad you've been paying attention to the signals."

"There's a surprise for you over on the rack."

Bo walked past the other two women and around to the rack. Browsing through the boards, she found her board,

"It's one of mine! How did you get this?"

"The Professor sent it up as soon as he found out you were coming. He figured Lauren would make you work out and since you're so picky about what you ride..."

"Way to go Professor." Bo smiled, kissing the side of the board as she lifted it over her head and carried it to the pool. She slipped into the water carefully, "It's definitely colder here!"

Everyone laughed before Maverick said, "Don't be a baby, Bo!" Then they all laughed harder, including Bo.

When she was in position behind the wave wall, she called out to the young boy, "Fire it up, Mav!"

Lauren leaned over towards Tess, "You'll want to move around to the side unless you want to get wet."

"Lauren, you didn't tell me your Bo was THE Bo... that's fucking Bo Dennis! She's a fucking legend!"

"Mouth, Doctor! There is a child present."

"Sorry, but damn... she's a hottie and she rocks her board like no other."

"I thought you didn't surf?" Lauren asked.

"I never said I didn't... I said I seek out snow... I just don't like surfing... it's all wet. It's awesome to watch, just not to do. Plus, I don't like the whole drowning thing. I'd much rather get run over by an avalanche or fall to my death."

Lauren shook her head, "How comforting."

Tess looked up, watching the Pro Surfer work the wave, "She's amazing. I've never seen a surfer up close... you were right... the footwork is different."

Tess watched as Bo's feet moved forward, back and center on the board, adjusting to the wave type and height that Maverick gave her. Finally, she gave the sign to cut the wave completely. She sank down into the water and then turned to look at Mitch,

"Something doesn't sound right... something mechanical. Do you have a tech here?"

"Yea, he's over at the build site for the third pool. I can have him here in a few minutes."

"Okay. I'll work in the still water with Maverick until he gets here. I think the hinge needs to be tightened. There's a vibration that shouldn't be there. What was the highest wave setting he used?"

"Six."

"Okay, rock me up once the tech is done. We've gotta see what this baby can do. The Pros are coming right after Thanksgiving, right?"

"I think so, you'd know better than I would."

Bo shook her head, "I'm not coming."

Lauren stepped up, "You're not coming where?"

Bo looked at Mitch, then back to Lauren, "The WSL Pros that are coming after Thanksgiving to help the trainers and coaches right the program are all people who want to go to the Olympics."

"So who is coming?" Lauren asked.

"Well, you'll be very happy to know that Sonjay is coming."

"Oh great." Lauren said, "I'm SO happy about that."

"You see that? I knew you'd be overjoyed." Bo smiled, "Kenzi's coming."

"Really?" Lauren asked.

"Yup."

Lauren turned to Tess, "I've mentioned Kenzi to you, she's Bo's little sister... sort of my adopted little sister. She's an incredible surfer too and I'm really hoping she'll make the Olympic cut."

"I was told they were sending three men and three women, so who is the third woman?" Mitch asked.

"Bo." Maverick said, playing with the knobs on the panel. Mitch stilled his hand as he watched Lauren's eyes move to Bo's.

"You?" Lauren asked.

Bo smiled a tight smile, "Like I said, I'm not coming."

"Why not?" Lauren demanded.

"Look... The WSL wanted me and Kenzi as a package deal... something about PR and growing the sport... our popularity... well, my popularity specifically... and they wanted us to try to help assure that the sport goes from exhibition status to full Olympic sport status... but... I'm retiring and well..."

She leaned in and whispered to Lauren, "I'm giving you your space. It wouldn't be good for me to be here."

Lauren folded her arms over her chest, "I hardly think it's your choice to decide what would or wouldn't be good for me."

"Oh, don't even go there, Lauren. You made this choice... the choice to leave and be here to have your space to find yourself... so don't tell me I can't make the choice to stay away."

"We are not doing this with other ears around, but we are NOT done discussing this, Bo Dennis." She turned to walk away, but turned back to Bo, "And for your information, Tess is my therapist... NOT my girlfriend! It's funny... I thought my girlfriend was YOU!"

The two stood staring at each other for a long moment before Bo leaned in and whispered in Lauren's ear, "Bossy you is really hot."

Lauren pulled back and looked at Bo. She wanted to be mad, but she just had to laugh. Their usual lack of communication had created yet another misunderstanding between them. This really had to stop, but for now, she just wanted to watch Bo and Maverick playing in the water and laugh at how ridiculous they were sometimes.

"Go on... teach Mav about the wave pool." Lauren said.

"Yes, ma'am." Bo saluted, "Mav! Hop in, surfer dude! Let's go over some basics until I'm up again."

"Geez, Lauren... I'm completely star struck here." Tess said, "And she's yummy... are you sure you wont' share?"

"Tess, you are the biggest perv."

Bo shook her head, "And I can hear you two until he turns on the waves."

Tess blushed, "Oh god."

"No, I'm Bo... remember?" She smirked, winking at Lauren.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

It had taken the techs about thirty minutes to fix the wave pool and that was all the time it took for Tess to send one text to one friend about who was in the wave pool. Before Lauren knew it, there were about thirty snowboarders gathered in the bleachers at the wave pool while the one and only Bo Dennis put on a show.

Tess stood at the side of the tank while Maverick kept Bo's wave on three,

"What is she doing?"

"Well, apparently this is a helluva core workout. She has to try to stay in one place on the wave. You can't see it, but right now, Maverick is nudging the wave height and speed from a one to a three continuously... at least, that's what the little guy is supposed to be doing. This is how we got her back on her feet after her drowning."

"So... I have to ask... were you the doctor?"

Lauren nodded, "It was the worst day of my life and the best day of my life."

"How's that?"

"Worst day because she almost died. Best day because I met the love of my life."

"I get it." Tess replied, "So... how do you feel... I mean... having her here?"

"Not seeing her for three months has been... horrible. Forcing myself not to talk to her or text her more than three times a week has been torture."

"Worth it?"

"I feel new, Tess... and, aside from the pouty jealousy I saw when she thought you were my girlfriend, she seems... I don't know... different. Resigned to accept what life gives her, maybe? I mean... I hope she hasn't lost all of her fight, but she seems more accepting."

"And is that a good thing?"

"I don't know. I won't know until we spend some time together."

"So, snowboarding tomorrow?"

"I don't know about letting her go, Tess. She doesn't know we intend to take her to the competition and if she breaks her leg, that's it."

"Are you going to tell her?"

Lauren shook her head, "Not until we're on the plane. She has seven hours to get her mind ready for it. Any more than that and I really think she'll be nervous with the crowd of spectators we're bringing."

Tess looked over her shoulder, "I have a feeling you'll have even more now that they're all going to meet her."

Lauren laughed, "The family just doubled in size."

"Well, you always said she was fearless, so I can't imagine she's going to bow out of snowboarding... especially with Maverick. They're great together."

"Yea... two peas in a pod they are." Lauren smiled.

"Looks like three peas in a pod to me." Tess winked.

They returned their focus to where Maverick was calling out to Bo, "Okay, go big or go home, Bo!"

She moved to the back corner of the pool, hovering over the back side of the wave before a wall of water arose from the pool, a tube of water forming with the same force Lauren had seen at the Pipeline, just not quiet as high.

"Oh shit... these are the ones I hate."

"Lauren... trust her. She's a pro. If she falls, she knows how to fall. Don't go backwards on me."

Lauren closed her eyes and took a deep breath before she heard Tess's voice,

"Holy shit that's cool!"

Lauren looked up at the stands to see the crowd cheering as Bo cut out and up over the top, throwing a 360 atop the wave, then dropping back down into the large pipe that Maverick had created.

"Woohooo! That is SO DOPE!"

Tess and Lauren heard Corey from the crowd and smiled, Lauren saying, "I think they like it."

Lauren watched as Tess again moved her eyes to Bo's feet. She watched as the snowboarder waved Cody down from the stands.

"She's goofy foot... I'm just wondering... do you think she could do a half-cab flip like we do on skateboards?"

"I dunno. I mean, surfers turn the board with the front foot because there's fins on the back... if she caught the water with the fin, it's all over."

"Yea, but here in a controlled environment, she could try it... watch her feet."

Lauren watched as the two analyzed Bo's stance for a long while until Cody said, "Maybe a double kick flip... that way she couldn't have to worry about where the fin ends up."

"Yea, but she could end up surfing on the bottom of the board."

They watched a little while longer, "Kick-flip sex change... that would be awesome. She'd come out of the wave backwards... Lauren, do you know if she can surf with the other foot forward?"

"She used to surf the other way all the time. After her accident, this happened... it was a neurological message thing. She hasn't bothered to try to switch it since she's been surfing fine this way."

Tessa nodded, "Hey, Maverick! Can you cut it? We wanna talk to Bo."

Maverick nodded and lowered the wave, causing Bo to turn and look at him, "Hey Mav! What's up?"

"I dunno, Bo! They wanna talk to you!" He pointed to the snowboarders over by the rail.

Bo swam over to the group and stopped in front of them, leaning on her board, "You rang?"

"Hi Bo, I'm Cody." The man extended his hand to Bo who took it and shook it, "So... we're not sure if you're up for it, but we're just curious if you can do some stuff that we do on skateboards on your surfboard."

"Well, you guys know we steer with our front foot, not our back, right?"

"Yea, we were watching that and when I took Lauren snowboarding for the first time, she kept pressing with her front foot to turn." Tessa explained.

Lauren laughed, "It took me a while to get your surfing lessons out of my head."

Bo smiled, "I'm so proud. So, what do you want me to do?"

"I don't know if you know any skateboarding terms." Cody said.

"I used to skateboard as a kid, but my Dad put a stop to it when I started to surf so I wouldn't have the footwork problem as a pro. What did you have in mind?"

"Well, for starters... maybe a double kick flip?"

Bo's eyes went wide, "Are you kidding me?"

"Well, the board flips over vertically side over side and since you surf goofy foot, we thought it might be something you can do when you're riding the crest like that."

"You do know that a surfboard is about four times the width of a skateboard, right?"

Cody nodded, "Yea, but I'm thinking if you start the trick on top of the wave and land it in on the wall..."

"It wouldn't matter how long the board took to rotate over... especially if it's the last trick I do on a wave."

Tess added, "You have to remember your fins. If they catch the wall, it's all over."

Bo nodded, "Right." She paddled back over to the back side of the wave, "Mav, give me a three?"

They all watched as Bo rose up onto a small wave and rocked her feet back and forth, trying to decide if this was something she could do. Finally, she turned to Maverick,

"Okay, Mav... give me a right to left!"

A giant wall of water arose from the pool with a flat face. Bo entered the wave from the back and moved to the top of the crest. Hanging there for a moment, she walked her way up and down the board before moving the board sideways beneath her feet, trying to get the balance and footing figured out. Finally, she went for it. She lifted up off the whitewater crest, her knees tucked up to her chest as the board rotated, airborne beneath her feet. She easily cruised down the face of the wave and hovered looking up with a bright smile on her face as the group cheered.

She gave a thumbs down to Maverick and sunk down into the water, "That was SO cool!"

Cody's face was lit up with excitement, "You did a freakin' double kick flip on a surf board, girl! That was amazing!"

Bo nodded, "Now, if I can do a combination 360 into the double kick and land it, that would push my point total big time." Bo looked at Lauren, "I could win."

The brunette frowned, remembering that she had made the decision to come here to be with Lauren and Maverick. She smiled at the blonde, "Some things are more important than winning, right?"

Tess looked at Lauren who looked at Maverick, "Hey Mav... come here."

Maverick hopped down from the stool and ran to Lauren. The blonde looked down at him, "Did you see that?"

He nodded, "I can't even do that on my skateboard!"

"If she can do that trick, she could win the whole championship. What do you think... should we spill the secret?"

"She has to practice, Lauren. I think we have to tell her."

Bo asked, "Tell me what?"

Maverick smiled proudly, "We're all going to Hawaii on Friday!"

"What?" Bo asked.

Lauren smiled, "We're all going to watch you win a championship, Bo."

"But... how? I mean..."

"Maverick and Kenzi made the flight arrangements. All of your gear will be in Honolulu when we land. Your new technical advisors will be there as well." Lauren smiled nodding to Cody and Tessa.

Bo smiled, "Thank you... thank you all, so much. Cody... Tess... I may not use it depending on how my scores are, but it's nice to know that I have something I can pull out if I really need it."

"You bet, Bo." Tess replied as Cody nodded.

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