Chapter 14

Lauren

The blonde doctor showed up at the clubhouse soon after Bo had left her at The Dal only to discover the building completely empty. "Bo? Kenzi?" She screamed to the empty dwelling, hoping someone would answer. After a few more calls, she realized she was there alone.

Lauren stood awkwardly in the doorway debating whether or not to wait for Bo; she'd figured the succubus was probably feeding and wouldn't be home for another hour or so. She desperately wanted to repair things with Bo and figure out what was plaguing her and the only way she could do that was if she was persistent.

The doctor nodded to herself and sat down on the couch, idly watching TV and counting down the minutes until Bo would arrive. She was meticulously going over the facts she had about Bo's recent behavior changes, what she'd learned at the lab, how to broach the various topics without having Bo implode with anger.

After four hours of sitting there with the TV on some uninteresting show, she finally turned it off and ran through her hypothetical conversation with Bo. Granted, she'd gone through the conversation about fifty times since she got to the clubhouse, that didn't stop her from trying to anticipate the various twists and turns it was going to take. She needed to be prepared for anything and everything that would result from their talk. She needed to be there for Bo and that meant knowing how to respond to whatever she would learn.

The blonde doctor loved Bo with all her heart, even after their horrendous and quite hurtful fight. She couldn't deny how much her heart ached for the succubus. Bo was her safe place, where she felt like nothing bad could touch her. When she felt scared, alone or hurt just being around Bo made her feel safe and warm. No matter how badly they fought she would always have Bo's back; that's what love is.

Lauren wiped the single tear that journeyed down her cheek and stared off into the darkness of the clubhouse, patiently waiting.

She wasn't sure what time it was when Bo finally got back but she knew it was pretty late into the night, or more accurately, morning. She heard the succubus walking towards the stairs but panic and fear seized her body and kept her from forming the words she'd practiced a hundred times in her mind. She was frozen on the couch, staring at the blank TV with a suddenly dry mouth.

Lauren mentally chastised herself for freezing up and willed herself to say something before Bo walked upstairs. The doctor composed herself and went to talk but just as she opened her mouth Bo turned and noticed her.

"Lauren? What are you doing here?" Bo asked, her smooth voice suddenly breaking the anxiety spell Lauren had just been under.

The doctor started to talk but her words seemed to get caught in her throat. She had been prepared to use her no-nonsense attitude to get answers from Bo but seeing the succubus covered in blood with holes and tears in her clothes made any practiced conversation starters die instantly. Her heart started to beat wildly, her eyes widening in fear.

She forced herself to blink and clear her throat, trying to process what she was seeing but before any logic entered her mind her body was already leaping off the couch and into the air, sending her barreling towards the injured succubus.

As she reached Bo a flurry of questions tumbled out of her mouth as her hands started moving to assess the damage, and when she made eye contact with Bo, the wide eyes she saw on the brunette made her even more scared. As Lauren pushed the fear down and started to lift Bo's shirt to check for any substantial injuries, Bo shot backwards.

Even though Bo mumbled she was fine Lauren couldn't help the nagging suspicion that it was anything but. She watched helplessly as the brunette ran up the stairs; probably to change and wash the blood away. Lauren just stood at the bottom of the stairs trying to figure out how to handle this situation.

A truckload of questions were floating through her mind, adding to the already lengthy conversation she had wanted to have with Bo. Maybe, just maybe, Bo would open up to her and they could tackle whatever was going on together.

That idea was soon squashed when she watched Bo run out the door with a handful of clothes only to come back five minutes later smelling faintly of smoke. She ignored Bo's queries as to why she was there and went straight for the obvious question. "Bo, why were you covered in blood earlier?"

The tell tale signs of distress were evident on the brunettes face as Lauren watched her flinch at the question and avoid eye contact. She knew Bo well enough to know the next thing the succubus was about to say was a flat out lie. Lauren wouldn't be pushed away, not this time. She was determined to get to the truth so she called Bo out on her lie.

She focused on the succubus and watched her features as she gave her 'real' reason and Lauren couldn't see any of the obvious signs of lying. Though, hearing Bo tell the story so calmly was a little odd and was definitely something she would take note of.

Upon hearing that she'd been nearly beaten to death her heart sped up again and she couldn't help but ask a flurry of questions to make sure Bo was okay. She rushed towards her and started examining her face for cuts or wounds, then her arms and moved to check the rest of her body. She was forced to stop when Bo grabbed her hands.

Lauren stilled immediately, feeling that electric shock that only Bo's touch could give her. She'd only been away from Bo for a few days but it felt like eons since they'd touched, since they'd kissed. Feeling her strong and velvety soft hands on her own sent and shiver down her spine and made desire burn in her stomach. She wanted to close the distance between them and melt into her, to lean up and press their lips together and just get lost in one another but she knew that wasn't a possibility at the moment, so she resisted the urge.

Just as Lauren clamped down the surge of desire that was coursing through her veins Bo lifted her shirt to expose her taught and uninjured stomach. She could only watch as the succubus twirled effortlessly to show how perfectly healthy she was. There was something so familiar about it that Lauren couldn't help but smirk, but as quickly as the semi-smile hit her lips it was gone. The real reason she had come to see the brunette snapped back to the front of her mind. "I know it's late but I really do think we need to talk. I know something is going on with you and I have some important things to tell you about."

She'd known Bo had been a bit off since coming back from her trip and the more time she spent around her the more things she realized were different. The succubus had gotten a huge influx of power, her mood had been all over the place since coming back but now it was like she was different. She didn't have that heat or passion she usually had, her voice was eerily calm and for Bo, that hardly ever happened. Her emotions ruled her so it was almost an impossibility for her to be this calm. Not to mention all the things she'd been hearing about the succubus. While she chalked most of it up to the Fae rumor mill she couldn't help but believe some of them.

She'd heard about Bo meeting with the Morrigan about something important, about Bo getting into fights with people in bars, drinking excessively and using her powers on humans without thinking of the consequences, and then there was the incident with the dead Light Fae assistant.

Lauren could agree with Bo on one thing in their argument; she had in fact been naïve. Never once did she think anyone would go snooping around her lab and even if they did she had been sure to wipe the database of any tests or results from when she tested Bo's blood against her own. She didn't know until it was too late that someone had accessed the information mere seconds before she had wiped the data from the servers.

Lauren had been thinking of ways to try and repair what damage she had done but by the next morning news had hit that the Fae who had accessed the information was dead. Somehow, she'd known Bo had done it and if she hadn't killed her then she found someone else who could.

While part of her wished that wasn't true Lauren knew what knowledge of Bo's powers could do and she couldn't blame the succubus for tying up loose ends. Especially considering it was Lauren who had put her in that predicament.

Even though Lauren knew that Bo had done what was necessary to survive a small part of her wished it wasn't true. She wanted to believe that Bo was a good guy; that she wouldn't jump to killing someone just because they knew sensitive information, that maybe she would have tried to find a way to rectify the doctor's mistake without taking a life.

But, as was typical Bo, she got the brush off and couldn't even explain to the brunette that even if the rumors were true she would still be there for her. She wouldn't judge Bo because she knew that the succubus wouldn't kill or harm without reason.

Lauren let out a sigh as she watched the love of her life walk up the stairs. The doctor hesitated a moment before walking up the stairs and sliding into bed next to her former lover. She might have done some stupid things in the past but passing up a chance to be this close to Bo again was not something she was about to screw up.

The moment her body melded to Bo's she felt home, all her worries and troubles rolled off of her and she drifted off to sleep. Relishing the close contact and dreaming of nothing but their love.

When Lauren woke it was to an empty bed with the smell of brewing coffee wafting through the room. She quickly brushed her teeth and started down the stairs when she heard Bo talking to someone. Giving in to her curious nature she halted her steps and strained her ears to hear what the succubus was saying.

She caught the strange pep talk the succubus was giving herself and then something about food. Lauren furrowed her eyebrows as she tried to process what Bo was mumbling about but she honestly had no idea. It had something to do with Bo's feedings but that was as far as she got.

Hoping to catch more Lauren waited on the steps making sure to make no noise, unfortunately that didn't matter because after a few beats of silence Bo surprised her by walking stealthily over to the stairs and confronting her.

Lauren lied easily, saying "I was just coming downstairs to get some coffee. Who were you talking to?"

Upon hearing Bo's reasoning that she had 'been on the phone with a contact' she knew immediately that she was lying. Not only did Bo not have a phone anywhere in her hands but after the brunette ran up the stairs Lauren rummaged around the kitchen and didn't see a phone there either.

The doctor also added that fact to her growing list of things to discuss with Bo. Lauren was determined to get answers this morning. No matter how hard she had to pull the truth from Bo, she would get them.

To pass the time and go over her conversation points one more time she busied herself by making a cup of coffee and staring at the succubus's choice of 'breakfast' in distaste.

When Bo finally came back downstairs Lauren didn't waste any time asking her first question, "Bo, what's been going on with you?"

The blonde stared into Bo's eyes, waiting for an honest answer. "Nothing has been going on with me. I've changed. People change."

"You're right, they do. But not like this, not like you have."

"Lauren, just let it go. Nothing is going on, I'm still me. Stop looking for problems where there aren't any."

Lauren deep sighed and persevered. "I'm not an idiot Bo; I know something is wrong with you. For starters you've never snapped like that during an argument, second of all I know you were talking to yourself earlier; third of all you've been distancing yourself from everyone. That doesn't seem like nothing."

"Distancing myself? I haven't even been back that long! How in the world can I distance myself from everyone when I've only been back a few days? And as for the talking to myself thing, I do it a lot. I know it seems like we know each other pretty well but there's a lot you don't know about me and I'm sure there's a lot I don't know about you. As for the argument we had, you're one hundred percent right. I snapped and I said some things I shouldn't have. But don't act like some of it was merited."

Lauren couldn't help but scoff and roll her eyes. "You were gone for weeks and then as soon as you get back you start pulling away and staying out all night, that seems like distancing yourself. And I wasn't the one who ended things between us; you did that during your argument. I just want to be sure you're okay. I worry about you Bo." She pushed back the lump in her throat and blinked the tears in her eyes away.

"I know you worry but there isn't any need for you to. When I need help I'll ask for it. And we weren't really an 'us' to begin with. We always just sorta…I dunno, happened. We can't be a couple if we've never even been on a date Lauren." Lauren watched as the succubus shifted uncomfortably and couldn't help but reach out and hug her. Taking in the scent she had missed so much, the scent that was a combination of so many things but was simply, Bo. It was also comforting to know that while Bo initially tensed up she eventually relaxed into the doctor's grip.

Lauren closed her eyes and just absorbed the moment before pulling away. "I want things to be fixed between us but I've got a lot going on right now. I just need some time to sort some things out. Just please trust me and let me get through this and then I'll tell you what I can. I know it's asking a lot but it's all I can offer right now." Bo pleaded.

Lauren didn't trust her voice so she only nodded. After getting her emotions in check she looked earnestly at the succubus, "Alright Bo, but please promise me you'll talk to me about this. I can help; you just have to let me."

"I promise."

Lauren finished her coffee, grabbed her belongings and left the building. In her gut she knew they hadn't even scratched the surface of what Bo was going through but she held on to the hope that Bo would confide in her again, like she had the night they spent together. Lauren let out a sigh and walked to her car.

A/N: You're reviews were most appreciated, so thank you all. And since the general consensus is that you all don't mind getting your inboxes bombarded with updates, I'll keep up with the multi-chapter uploads if I can.

Next chapter should be well worth the wait, lots of stuff going on. Anywho, thanks for sticking with me. :)