Author's Notes:
First of all, I'm SO sorry for the long period in between posts. Real life, being away on vacation and a horrible bout of writer's block all played a role. With that said, thank you so much for being ubber patient; I hope that you didn't lose interest in "Time".
This is my longest chapter to date; consider it a gift for keeping you waiting.
A quick shout out to my Beta, Neytiri's Heart now known as LostGirlz - congratulations on your house! Enjoy your new home.
And lastly, a very special thanks to Spcecadet who wonderfully agreed to temp Beta for me while LostGirlz has been getting settled. I seriously can't thank you enough for all your advice, recommendations, keen eye and patience. Thanks Grasshopper!
Chapter 14 – "Finally"
The Dal - Trick's office (day 43)
Bo and Kenzi had been in Trick's office for over an hour. The Succubus had been restless all morning and they both figured that if she were going to pace a hole through the floor, it might as well happen at the Dal. Granted, waiting was never Kenzi's strong suit but she had to stay calm in order to keep Bo's anxiety levels as low as possible; as it was, she had given up on telling her fidgety friend to sit down and relax 45 minutes ago.
The unaligned Fae glanced nervously at her watch for the umpteenth time as she paced back and forth within the den. These last 14 days had passed at a snail's pace but Bo had been patient throughout, it was only when they received Hale's text last night, that she became too restless to sit still or sleep. All dreams of finding Lauren were finally going to become a reality - a reality that Bo wanted more than anything yet also dreaded. These last two weeks, she clung to the fantasy of finding Lauren; of having her run into her arms, forgiving her and giving them another chance. Even though she knew it would never be that simple, it provided her with hope and comfort. Unfortunately, each minute that passed since Hale's text, her fear grew. Fear that he may not tell her what she wanted to know; or even worse, fear that he would and when she found Lauren, her fantasy would be shattered into a million pieces.
The Succubus sighed. The future was unknown and she would have to deal with it when the time came. She could only deal with the present and any minute now the Siren would arrive and hopefully, give her some answers.
The clock in Trick's office struck 12 and with it, Hale walked into the office. The Blood King had told him that they were already there so it wasn't a surprise. Shutting the door behind him, he greeted the two women. "Bo. Kenzi."
"Ash." Bo replied, politely using his title; to say that things were a little tense between them since their last meeting would be putting it mildly.
Kenzi was aware of this and decided to move things along gently. "So what's the word?" she enquired on Bo's behalf.
The Siren appreciated the Goth's attempts to soften the situation but he still hadn't made up his mind about what he was going to do – he was torn between helping Bo, helping Lauren and thinking of the sick Fae in Brazil, as well as the potential fall out to him. The Succubus had proven that she could stay out of trouble. Granted, it had only been two weeks but on a scale from one to ten, with ten being the shit storm of problems that she had been causing; Bo dropped to a zero almost immediately, which meant that she was more than capable of putting a brake on her recklessness.
Hale needed further clarification and wanted to observe Bo's reaction and response to his questions before he finalized his decision. The Siren looked straight into Bo's eyes, "I need to ask you a couple of questions first."
"Ask away." Bo replied, doing her best to remain calm.
"Tell me why I should let you know where Lauren is. And I don't want a bullshit answer."
Bo actually wasn't surprised that Hale had asked her this - she probably would've done the same if the shoe were on the other foot. However, she knew that she had to cast aside her pride and be honest if it meant getting Lauren's location.
Holding the Siren's gaze, she spoke honestly. "You have every right to not tell me where Lauren is. I fucked everything up - not just with Lauren but with everything I did after she left. I hurt myself and those around me for which, I am truly sorry. I accept full responsibility but I know that I can never make up for it all."
The Succubus closed her eyes momentarily to compose her thoughts while Hale's silence encouraged her to continue. "I know that Lauren is in South America trying to save sick and dying Fae. She's doing this thinking that she was never enough for me; that I never loved her; and that I was going to leave her for Dyson or Tamsin…. All of which are furthest from the truth but I still made her feel that way."
"I really want to respect her wish of needing time but it's killing me knowing how much she's hurting… and that I, the person she trusted the most, am the cause of it." Bo let down her guard and allowed Hale to see the pain, sorrow and regret hidden behind her eyes; her chocolate brown orbs shimmering, trying to keep her tears at bay.
"The reason is simple, Hale. I am in love with Lauren. She's everything to me and I took her and what we had for granted. I was inconsiderate, insensitive and selfish and she deserved so much more than that." Bo shook her head and quietly sniffed back her tears.
"I can't express how difficult it has been, knowing that I lost her… her love and trust and that I've caused her so much pain. I need to let her know how sorry I am and if she gives me another chance, I will make things right. I will let her know how loved and wanted and special she is, because she is to me."
Hale was moved with Bo's admission but couldn't let her see that. "And what if she doesn't want to give you another chance?"
This question had always been in the back of her mind and she knew that it was a very real possibility. Bo's voice wavered as saying it out loud would make her fear all too real. "It's her decision to make and if that's what she wants, then I will honour it."
Hale heard and felt the sincerity in her voice. It was the first time that Bo wasn't hiding behind her bravado, anger and pride. This was what he wanted to see – the Bo that he knew; the Bo who was in love with Lauren and would do anything for her; the Bo who respected Lauren and her work and who would protect her.
"I'm impressed that you stayed out of trouble these last two weeks. I've also heard that you've provided financial compensation for damages that you caused within the Fae community."
Bo nodded and gave Hale a sad smile. It took everything within her to not break down in front of him as her admission had her left her feeling raw and vulnerable.
Hale continued. "You kept your end of the bargain, so I'll keep mine. However, before I continue, there are some stipulations which you will not like but they are non-negotiable. Do you agree to these terms?"
Bo maintained eye contact with the Siren and said yes, nodded her understanding.
"Lauren is in Brazil."
Bo let out the breath that she didn't know that she was holding. "Finally." She thought; feeling relieved to be getting some answers.
"I'm assuming that Kenzi will be going with you?" Hale asked.
Kenzi rolled her eyes, "Duh! Ash-ness, do you really have to ask? Who else is gonna entertain Succubum here when Hot Pants is getting her geek on in the lab?"
"I kinda figured." Hale smiled; it had been a long time since Kenzi used a playful nickname for him. He hadn't realized how much he had missed her.
Bo broke out of her temporary haze as the realization struck her that she didn't get a complete answer. "Where in Brazil?"
Hale steeled himself before continuing. "As I said, there are some stipulations. Before, I give you Lauren's exact location; I need you to promise that you will wait till I've dealt with all the protocols before you leave."
"Protocols? What protocols?" Bo was starting to get frustrated; even though she blindly agreed to Hale's terms, she had a feeling that she would have to jump through hoops.
"Permission is needed from the Ash in Brazil before you can go to their Compound." Hale tried to explain.
Bo's patience level was rapidly declining. "Are you kidding me?!"
Hale was trying to be patient and curbed his frustration. "You can't just show up there Bo. You're unaligned and from a different country. Your showing up unannounced at their Compound is just not done; and worse yet, it could be construed as an act of aggression. Besides, it would go a lot smoother if they knew that you were coming – you would then have access to Lauren."
Bo bit her tongue. She was going to say something that she would most likely regret so she reined in her temper. Kenzi put a reassuring hand on her shoulder supporting her wise decision.
Hale recognized this and continued in a calmer tone. "I know you Bo. If I tell you where Lauren is right now, you will be on the next plane to Brazil before I have everything sorted out.
"What if the Ash there doesn't agree to my coming?" she asked in frustration.
"The Ash won't deny your visit as Lauren is my Ward and it is my right to check in on her or have my delegate do so, on my behalf. With that said, it is still a courtesy. If I were going there, I would have to request it for myself – it's no different."
Bo took a deep, cleansing breath and exhaled. "Fine! I promise I won't fly off to Brazil until everything is arranged."
The Siren relaxed his shoulders a bit, releasing some of his tension. "I'm glad that you understand. Lauren is in Brasília, the country's capital. I will contact Ash Medeiros this afternoon to let him know that my delegate, Bo and her assistant, Kenzi will be visiting to see how Lauren is progressing. Okay?"
"Okay." Bo responded grudgingly.
Hale exhaled deeply; he had cleared one hurdle however, he knew that the next one wouldn't go over well but he had no choice. "With that said, your visit cannot be indefinite."
"What time frame are we talking about?" she asked in an uncharacteristically calm manner.
"Three weeks."
And just like that, all semblance of tranquility vanished. Bo felt as if there was always something preventing her from getting to Lauren or from being with her. "What!? Why only three weeks?"
"There are a couple of reasons for this: Firstly, your presence there will seem as if I lack faith in the agreement that I made with Ash Medeiros, even though it is within my right to check on Lauren. He will agree to you both being guests as a courtesy, however, it will feel as if I am looking over his shoulder. If you stay too long, it would be like a house guest that has overstayed their welcome. Secondly, I have to provide a status report to the Light Fae Elders in just over three weeks. Your being there as my representative, to observe Lauren's progress, is fortuitous. Upon your return, you will be able to provide me with a verbal report so that I can present an update to the Elders." Hale explained.
"It's still not enough time!" the Succubus complained.
"Three weeks is all that you will have." He said with finality in his voice.
Hale was sympathetic to Bo's situation but he had his own problems to deal with. "I'm putting my ass on the line here, Bo. I didn't want to get into this but the main reason for the short time frame is that the Elders don't know about this arrangement. I'm trying to keep this under the radar as they do not like nor trust you. You are unaligned; your recent behaviour hasn't gained you any popularity votes; and if they knew that you were planning to go to Brazil, they would do everything within their power to stop you from going or once there, get you extradited." The Siren exhaled. "Because of this, we have to keep things on the down low – there is no other way."
Bo folded her arms across her torso as if she were trying to contain her anger and keep herself together. The Siren took a deep breath, released it and continued to explain in a softer tone. "Look, I know that this is not the ideal situation but I'm fairly certain that you would rather go and leave there on your own terms than removed early and against your will. The whole point of this is to see Lauren, apologize and try to make things right. Do you really want your visit to be cut shorter than it already is by not having access to her?"
Hale paused to see if what he was saying was getting through to the Succubus. "If I could have you stay longer, I would arrange it but this is the best I can do given the circumstances. Three weeks - take it or leave it Bo."
Bo considered everything that Hale said. She was incredibly frustrated but also knew that she didn't have many options. "I'll take it." She said.
"Good but I need your blood oath that you will not stay there past three weeks." Hale demanded. "There's more at stake here than you and Lauren."
"You have my blood oath Hale. I will not stay there beyond the agreed three weeks." Bo promised; taking a deep breath to calm herself down. She wasn't frustrated with Hale; it was the situation that upset her and she didn't want to take it out on him.
"Excellent! I'll talk to Ash Medeiros and when I get the go ahead from him, I'll let you know. Just hang tight and be patient."
The brunette was a bit calmer when she looked at the Siren. "Thanks Hale. I appreciate what you've done and what you're continuing to do for me. I know that you're going above and beyond. And for what it's worth, I truly am sorry for being such a royal pain in the ass." She said genuinely.
Hale smiled and nodded. "Water under the bridge."
As the two women turned to make their way out of Trick's office, the Siren caught their attention. "I almost forgot… I can't pay for your flight as the cost will raise a flag with the Elders - they go through all my expenses seeing that they consider me to be a Temp. You'll have to find your own way there."
"That's fine; I wasn't expecting you to pay our way. With all the cases we've taken, we can afford it." Bo said confidently. "Anything else I need to know?"
"Yeah, make sure your passports are up to date."
Bo hadn't said a word after they left the Dal, wearing a pensive look on her face as she drove them home. It didn't take a genius to figure out that Bo's thoughts were of a certain doctor but Kenzi thought that her best friend would at least be happy. The Goth planned on enquiring what was going on when they screeched to a halt in front of the Shack. Before the petite girl could open her mouth, Bo quickly opened the car door, slid out from behind the wheel and sprinted towards the front door.
By the time Kenzi made it inside, she found Bo semi-kneeling in front of their defunct fireplace, her arm reached up inside it searching for something. The Russian didn't want to interrupt as she was obviously focused on her task, so she stood back and observed her friend. A few seconds passed before Bo pulled out a brown leather pouch that she had hidden within the chimney. Standing up, she promptly unzipped it and rifled through it till she found what she was looking for. Kenzi used this opportunity to quietly make her way to the couch and wait for her friend's explanation.
"Fuck!" Bo suddenly exclaimed, flinging the leather pouch to the floor in frustration; the contents scattering everywhere. The Succubus' outburst startled the Goth and made her jump in her seat. "What the hell Bo?! Talk to me."
The unaligned Fae made her way to the couch and plopped down on it; she let her head fall backwards dejectedly and mumbled to the ceiling. "I'm normally more on top of this shit. When I was always on the run, I made sure everything was good to go…"
Kenzi turned her body sideways so that she could look directly at her friend. "You're losing me here Succubum. What are you talking about?"
Bo turned her head to face the Goth. "My passport Kenz! When Hale mentioned it, it was nagging at me. I just checked and it expired six months ago." Bo lifted her hand that held the expired document before letting it fall uselessly on her lap.
"I had my passport renewal hastened by paying extra. What's the big deal?" Kenzi questioned.
Bo's shoulders were slumped as she sighed out. "I didn't get my passport legally before I came to Toronto and I don't have those contacts here. I also don't have a birth certificate or anything, so getting a new passport will take some time… time that I can't spare right now."
"Is that all? Here I was thinking it was something dire like what awesome birthday present to get me." The Goth leaned forward and playfully mussed her friend's hair. "Leave this to me BoBo. I gots me connections!"
Bo perked up instantly. "You. Are. Awesome!"
The thief smiled and took the expired passport out of her friend's lap before getting up from the couch. "Lemme make some phone calls; in the mean time, start pricing tickets to Brasília. When Hale gives us the thumb's up, be ready to pay for our flight!"
Bo's eyes followed her friend as she made her way towards the stairs. "You know, at this rate I'm going to owe you my first born."
Kenzi turned around to face the Succubus and winked. "I'd be happy if you just named them after me. Little Kenzi Jr. and I would make a great team. Until then, make sure to put us in First Class or Business Class. My ass is too sweet for economy!" And with that, the tiny Russian turned around, wiggled her ass for dramatic effect and quickly went up the stairs.
Half-way up, Kenzi stopped and called down to her bestie. When Bo appeared at the bottom of the stairs and looked up at her, she said genuinely "You can be pretty awesome too when you aren't being an ass. Just don't let it go to your head!" Before Bo could respond, the Goth turned and sprinted up the remainder of the stairs and went to her room, leaving Bo smiling and thinking how lucky she was to have such a wonderful friend; and how human, grounded and loved Kenzi made her feel.
Over the next few hours, the petite Russian contacted her cousins in the 'business' as well as, friends and old acquaintances from her days of being on the streets. She reached out to anyone from her past that could make the necessary arrangements for Bo. Eventually, her sweet talking and calling in of debts paid off.
"Bo! Get this!" Kenzi yelled as she ran down the stairs excitedly. As she alighted from the bottom step, she stopped suddenly, shocked by the sight in front of her. Bo was in the kitchen and had dark red stains on the front of her white tank top. But what was even more startling was the fact that she was hunched over the stove and was using the appliance for what it was intended as opposed to it being a place to stack empty pizza boxes. The kitchen looked like a war zone, with the carcasses of chopped up vegetables haphazardly strewn about the counter while the Succubus was stirring something within one of the pots.
"Woah!" The Goth said with her mouth agape, pausing a few moments before closing the distance between her and her friend. "Hello Rachel Fae, are you cooking?" she said, stunned seeing Bo be domestic.
"Yes, I'm making us supper." she said proudly. Truth be told, she needed to occupy herself while Kenzi was upstairs trying to sort out her passport dilemma and she really wanted to do something nice for her. Seeing that the best way to get to her friend was through her stomach, she decided to cook them a meal.
"Ouch!" Kenzi exclaimed as she rubbed at the welt forming on her arm. "I had to pinch myself to make sure I wasn't dreaming."
Bo made a face at the thief. "I'm going to ignore that. What's the big news?" she said deflecting the attack on her cooking skills.
The Goth couldn't hold back the grin that formed on her face. "We have a meeting tomorrow at 7 P.M. with one of the best forgers in the area! A friend of a friend of a friend got us in." Before Kenzi could say another word, Bo grabbed and enveloped the petite woman in her arms, hugging her tight and kissing her repeatedly on her cheek. "You are the bestest best friend a girl could ever have! Thank you! Thank you!"
Kenzi couldn't suppress the huge smile that grew on her face as she hugged her bestie back. She was so happy and proud of herself for being able to help Bo. But what was even better was that Bo truly needed and appreciated her help. It had been awhile since she felt that she played a necessary part in her life. It was definitely a good feeling to have their sisterly connection again.
Before Kenzi could make some kind of sarcastic remark to cover the sappy emotions that were overwhelming her, her cell phone buzzed. Bo pulled away so that the Goth could check her phone. "It's Hale." she announced.
The thief was silent as she read the texts and Bo grew worried when she saw her friend frown. "What'd he say?"
Kenzi relayed the Siren's message. "He said that he contacted Ash Medeiros but got his assistant instead. There has been a Fae-load of attacks on the Light and the Ash has been out of the compound dealing with it. His assistant will relay Hale's message and will contact him ASAP. Hale will keep us updated."
Bo furrowed her eyebrows and was about to release an expletive but Kenzi calmly cut her off before she had a chance. "I know what you're thinking BoBo. Just let Hale do his thing and we'll do ours. It'll work out. Before you know it, we'll be in Brazil with your Lady Lurve."
"I hope so Kenz. I just don't like the idea of these Dark Fae attacks – if the Ash is concerned, it gives me reason to worry. I just hope that Lauren is safe."
"I'm sure she is Bo." Trying to alleviate Bo's concerns and distract her friend. "Now get me my food woman! I'm starving. And it better be delish otherwise, I'd have to trade you in for a new Succu-chef." With that comment, Bo gave her a look and lunged towards her, sending the Goth running up the stairs screaming like a little girl; the Succubus right behind her, chuckling.
Industrial Business Park (day 44 - evening)
Bo and Kenzi made their way out of a nondescript warehouse after their meeting with the forger. "So, five days for the passport?" she asked, uncertain about the 'processing' time.
Kenzi nodded her head calmly. "The fact that he is incredibly busy but still squeezed us in is a damn good turnaround time."
Bo let out a heavy sigh as they walked towards the Camaro, "So, I guess all we can do now is wait to hear from Hale and then we can book our flights."
"That's the semi-positive spirit!" Kenzi said sarcastically as she patted Bo on her back. "Now, we have time to kill. I'm thinking Vodka or Tequila or both! I'm not fussy."
Before Bo could respond to Kenzi's time-wasting solution, the Goth's cell buzzed. "It's Hale. He wants to meet us." the petite Russian said.
Dal – Trick's office
Forty minutes later the two women walked into Trick's office to find a tired looking Siren. Hale smiled when they entered the room and Bo could've sworn that he was subtly checking out Kenzi. The Succubus had other things on her mind and decided to file that observation away for later.
Looking at Bo, he smiled and said, "I've got good news. We have the go ahead from Ash Medeiros! He's expecting you both within the week."
Bo felt the tension in her shoulders release instantly and the smile that lit up her face was also reflected in her eyes. She was speechless. This was finally it. She was going to see Lauren.
Hale continued to speak, alternating his attention between both women, "Once you book your flight, give me the info and I'll forward it to his assistant, Carlos. He will arrange to pick you up at the airport and take you to the Compound where you will have a place to stay. But most importantly, you will have access to Lauren and everywhere that she has access to."
Bo felt relieved. "Thank you Hale, for everything. I mean it." She said sincerely.
The Siren nodded. "I hope that things work out. You won't get another chance with her."
"I know." she said softly. "Thank you again."
She went to hug Hale to show him how much she appreciated his help but at the last moment decided that it would be awkward and instead placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him a gentle squeeze.
During these past two weeks, Kenzi was internally evaluating her situation with the Siren; realizing that things weren't as black and white as she had first thought. On the one hand, he was a total asshat to her when she needed his help but on the other hand, he went out of his way to help Bo and Lauren. Despite the cold shoulder he gave her, he seemed to be the same Hale that treated her with respect; that she enjoyed hanging out with; and who was her friend. Once the whole situation with Bo and Lauren was sorted out, she would make sure they would sit down and have a serious talk now that she was willing to hear what he had to say. Nodding her head at him, Kenzi gave him a warm, genuine smile which silently conveyed her appreciation. "Thanks Hale… Talk when we get back?" she asked hopefully.
"Looking forward to it 'lil mama." He said softly and returned her sincere smile.
As they walked out the Dal, Kenzi gave Bo an affectionate elbow nudge. "I don't know about you but I'm hungry. There's some delicious spaghetti at home calling my name."
Bo winked and gave her a friendly hip check. "Told you I had skills."
Light Fae Compound, Brasília – Lab (day 45)
Lauren had spent most of the morning pouring over the completed test results from their recent excursion at the second Base Camp in Mata Atlântica. There were still numerous samples yet to be processed but she had hoped that conducting an initial comparison between these results and those collected at the first Base Camp would perhaps provide some information into the disease that was spreading further among the jungle's Fae population. Unfortunately, nothing was jumping out at her.
Rubbing her eyes, Lauren decided to take a break from the numerous pages of data as everything was starting to blur together. With a sigh, Lauren got up from her chair and moved her head from side to side, causing her neck to crack loudly and earning a contented grunt. Walking aimlessly about her office, she unconsciously massaged the back of her neck while her mind whirled, contemplating the various factors and possibilities of the epidemic's common denominator. She had a gut feeling that she was missing something and that it was most likely simple and staring her right in the face. Standing in front of a map of Mata Atlântica, Lauren's eyes fell on the location of the three Base Camps and their surrounding villages. She stood there staring at the map when an idea popped into her head. Going back to her desk, she grabbed the binder that held all the locations of reported outbreaks and using that information, placed coloured pins in the map, charting the initial outbreak and later manifestations for each village.
An hour later, Lauren bolted out of her office and made a beeline for the Empath, the tail of her lab coat billowing behind her as she ran across the lab. Nayara was in the midst of reviewing some reports when a wave of excitement washed over her. As she looked up from her desk, she saw an elated blonde come to a screeching halt just inside her doorway. "Lauren? What's going on?" Nay asked with a puzzled expression on her face.
"I think I'm onto something but I'm not sure. I need a second set of eyes for confirmation." Lauren said excitedly.
The Empath quickly followed Lauren into her office while the human doctor explained what she did, directing her attention to the map that was now covered with a plethora of multi-coloured pins. "I charted the locations of the outbreak; the initial breakout reports are in red, subsequent reports are in yellow and the more recent – within the last couple of weeks – are in white. From the visual representation, I can see a pattern forming around the villages surrounding the two Base Camps. I am curious to know if you see what I see."
Nayara shifted her attention from Lauren to the map and focused on the colours. Backing away slowly to get a clearer view of the entire map, she reached her hand out so that her index finger just hovered over the pins, tracing imaginary lines in the air. The human doctor stood to the side and observed Nayara; if the Empath came to the same conclusion as she did then they may have found a possible hypothesis as to the source of the epidemic. Lauren waited quietly, anxious to hear her friend's opinion.
A few moments later, Nayara's voice broke the silence; her eyes still glued to the map. "From this charting, the outbreak seems to be more prominent around mangrove swamp areas."
"That's my hypothesis as well!" Lauren exclaimed as she displayed a toothy grin.
The Empath turned towards her friend, her eyes were wide and she was trying very hard to contain her excitement.
Lauren understood her friend's hesitancy. "I know that we're not scheduled to go to the third Base Camp for another week but is it possible to go there tomorrow? We'd restrict our visits to villages near mangrove swamps; so it should only take a few days to get samples."
Nayara couldn't suppress her excitement any longer and gently gripped Lauren's forearm, smiling, "I'll make it possible! Get your things ready for tomorrow morning – we'll meet up with this week's shift and have them help with collecting samples. I'll figure out which villages fall within this category and will make the necessary arrangements."
Lauren smiled brightly; it was difficult to not be excited about what this could mean. "I know that this may be nothing but…" she trailed off not wanting to be pessimistic.
"I know… but it's our first lead in a long time; it's too important and exciting to not investigate further." The Empath replied, understanding all too well that this endeavour could easily lead to disappointment. "But if it doesn't pan out, then it's one less theory that we have to deal with, right?" she said trying to be optimistic.
Lauren nodded her head; placing her hand on top of Nayara's she gently squeezed it in response. "I'll let Serena know. She'll be happy to head back out into the field."
Serena was pleasantly surprised when Dr. Lewis told her that they were heading back to the field the following morning. Whenever they were at the Compound, she felt as useful as a solar powered torch. This unscheduled trip to the Atlantic Forest would be a wonderful reprieve from the tedious monotony; besides any opportunity to do her job was welcomed.
Normally when she provided her daily SITREP to Ash Santiago, it was straightforward - provide him with an update and clarify any questions he had. However, today when she told him that they were headed back into the field for a few days, he dropped a bombshell on her - one that she never would have expected. He told her that the unaligned Succubus and her human Ward would be arriving in a few days, acting as his delegates, to check on the doctor's progress. He then directed her to inform Dr. Lewis of their three week visit so that it wouldn't be a surprise.
Walking out of the video conference, Serena felt conflicted. She knew that their unscheduled trip back into the field was very important from how excited Dr. Lewis was. She also knew that the Succubus was a delicate topic and she was certain that the doctor would become upset and be distracted once she was informed that Bo Dennis was coming to Brazil. The Ignis had seen the positive transformation in the doctor since they arrived in Brasília and sensed that this reunion would be very unpleasant for her. Even though she would follow her orders, Serena did not enjoy being the bearer of bad news for the good doctor.
After pondering the situation, she decided that she would do what was best for her client and not inform Dr. Lewis until they were finished their task at Base Camp. Serena reasoned that if this trip back into the field was as important as it seemed, the doctor would want to be focused, therefore, it would be senseless to upset her in advance and affect her performance and concentration. Ultimately, as long as Dr. Lewis was made aware of the Succubus' visit before she returned to the Compound, she would have successfully carried out the Ash's orders.
The Dal (day 47 – early afternoon)
Over the last couple of days, Bo and Kenzi had their bags packed and were ready to leave at a moment's notice; they knew that they would be on a plane to Brasília as soon as Bo received her passport and they could book their flights. Until then, they just had to occupy themselves and stay out of trouble.
Ever since Bo acknowledged her issues, she began addressing the external problems that affected her relationship – problems that she had ignored. Unfortunately, her failure to address Dyson's, Tamsin's and Trick's opinions of her relationship with a human sent the message that Lauren and their relationship were not important or a priority. In order to change this perception, Bo made her feelings and intentions very clear to both detectives. However, there was one last conversation that needed to occur in the hope of making things right. That's why she was at the Dal.
After they each downed a shot of Tequila, Kenzi told Bo that she would wait for her and gave her a reassuring pat on the back. The petite Russian watched her friend make her way towards Trick's study and sighed. The Goth knew that her friend had been postponing this discussion ever since she started 'cleaning house', with Bo expressing her concerns about her intended talk with her grandfather. As much as she valued Trick's opinion, she wouldn't let him sway her. Bo needed him to understand how she felt and what her intentions were with Lauren.
Kenzi watched Bo disappear downstairs. She honestly hoped that their talk would go well otherwise it would create a rift between them; Bo would be hurt greatly seeing that Trick was her only known living relative. While the Goth waited, she decided to get comfortable on the worn leather couch with a bottle of 'the good stuff' that the bartender unsuccessfully hid from her.
Forty minutes later, the petite human's Fae-watching was interrupted when she saw her best friend emerge from Trick's study with a serious look on her face. She stood as Bo approached and nodded her head towards the door, indicating that it was time that they left.
Cradling the bottle in her hand, Kenzi was quietly patient, waiting till they were in the car before bombarding the Succubus with questions. "So, how did it go? What did you say? What did he say? Are things good between you two? Am I ignoring him or talking to him? Do I still have a free lifetime of booze?" Kenzi asked without taking a breath.
Bo sighed as she sat behind the wheel of the Camaro. "It went as well as it could have I guess. I told him that I knew how he felt about human-Fae relationships but that I was in love with Lauren; that I was going after her and would do everything I could to win her back."
"What did he say?" Kenzi asked.
"He argued that she was human and I was Fae; then continued about the short life span of humans and that I would outlive her. Then he said that even though it was difficult for Succubi to be in relationships, it was possible, however, it would never work with a human because Lauren couldn't sustain me. It would be best for me to pursue a relationship with another Fae."
Bo took a breath and continued to relate her story. "I explained about my improved control since the Dawning but it didn't seem to make a difference to him."
Placing her hands on the steering wheel, Bo unconsciously ran her hands over it. "At this point I had had enough and told him that I wasn't seeking his permission or blessing. I just wanted him to know my intentions because when Lauren returns, regardless of how things work out between us, I want him to treat her with respect. She deserves that much after everything she had done for me and for the Fae."
The conversation with her grandfather had taken its toll on her and Bo was feeling exhausted. "I also told him that as much as I respected him, it works both ways. If he couldn't appreciate my relationship and feelings for Lauren, he would lose mine."
"Wow! How did he react to that ultimatum?"
"It was strange, Kenz. He just sat there forever, with that crinkle that he gets in his forehead. Eventually he sighed and said that he would try to move past thousands of years of engrained thinking. He continued to say that he always held a great deal of respect for Lauren and his opinions have nothing to do with her personally. And that he didn't want to lose me after we just found one another."
"So, how did you leave things?"
"He hugged me and wished me luck with Lauren." Bo sighed out.
"Well, that's a good start isn't it?" Kenzi asked trying to sound optimistic.
"I think it's the best that I'm going to get from him. The important thing is that he is willing to try."
Kenzi was proud of her friend for sticking to her guns. "You did good BoBo. How do you feel?"
"Relieved. I'm glad that I talked to him. I should've before while Lauren and I were together… but at least he knows now." Bo said, rubbing the back of her neck, her regret of not acting sooner, weighing on her.
Kenzi sensed this and tried to lighten the mood. "Let's go home. I found some of Trick's good stash which he lamely tried to hide. It would be a shame not to enjoy it." The Goth smirked as she wiggled the bottle in her hand.
Later that afternoon, Kenzi received a text that Bo's passport was ready a day earlier than expected. Bo couldn't contain her excitement. They rushed over, paid the forger, collected her very authentic looking passport and picked up some Chinese food as per Kenzi's request.
Driving back to the shack, the smell of their take out food filled the car and had both women's mouths watering.
"I'm starving." Bo admitted. "Now that I have my passport, my appetite has returned."
"Speaking of appetite, are you gonna feed and 'top up' before we fly out?" Kenzi asked.
"I wasn't planning to."
"Maybe you should. You don't want to go there hungry and then have to snack as soon as we arrive. It may not send the right message to Hot Pants, you know?" Kenzi reasoned.
Bo nodded her head and let out a sigh. She hated that she was a slave to her Succubus nature but Kenzi made a valid point. She couldn't afford any mistakes or slip up's there.
"I'll make sure that I'm 'full' before we leave for Brazil."
As soon as they got back to the shack, Bo booked their flights. She wanted to ensure that they were on the first available flight to Brasília and was able to book them on one at 7:45 P.M. the next day. It would be a long 11 hour flight and she made sure to get them seats in Business Class, otherwise she wouldn't hear the end of it from Kenzi. Bo was one step closer to Lauren and she was excited and nervous at the same time.
Now that they had passports in hand and their flight booked, all they had to do was wait. Bo looked at her best friend who was in the midst of relaying their itinerary to Hale and decided that she should relax and enjoy the evening with Kenzi. And so began a night of good food, excellent company and a great deal of talking and laughing into the early hours of the morning. Despite her anxiety over her upcoming reunion with Lauren, Bo realized that this was the happiest and most alive that she had felt since the doctor left; this realization allowed her to quickly drift off to sleep with her best friend cuddled next to her in her bed.
Thousands of miles in the air (Day 48)
Bo thought that once she was on the plane and en route to Brasília that she would feel better but instead, she only felt more nervous. All positive thoughts about how her reunion with Lauren would play out, was plagued with doubt.
Once she finished her second mimosa and the excitement of being treated like royalty in Business Class had faded, Kenzi noticed that her seat mate had been preoccupied and was very quiet. "What's up BoBo? Don't tell me you're afraid of flying?"
"No, just thinking."
"About…." Kenzi prompted.
"I've been waiting for this moment – to find Lauren and now that it's happening, I'm nervous and seriously worried about how she's going to react when she sees me." Bo admitted.
"Well, for what it's worth, it's normal to be nervous. In fact, I'm not surprised that you are. Hot Pants has been the only person to make you react this way… I've never seen you nervous with Dyson or Ryan when you were with them."
"Kenz, no offense but when are you going to get to the pep part of your talk?" Bo said sarcastically.
In a serious tone, the petite Russian said, "Bo, you're used to being smooth, calm and in control but when it comes to Lauren, you're not. She turns everything upside down for you but in a good way and that rattles you. She affects you like no one else does. So, it's okay to be nervous just as long as you keep your shit together."
The Goth paused to frame her words properly. "I'm not gonna lie chica, it will suck ass at first, so put on your big girl panties and take whatever Dr. Freeze throws at you. Be honest with her and maybe with time and patience, she'll thaw out and become Dr. Lukewarm."
For the first time since they boarded the plane, the tension in Bo's shoulders diminished. "You're right. I guess I just had to hear it out loud. I know that she'll be upset and angry but I'll just have to take whatever she dishes out at me, be patient and ride it out till she's willing to talk and listen."
Kenzi was about to say something and paused for what seemed like an uncharacteristically long time to Bo; the silence hanging heavily between them before she took a deep breath. "Before we land and things get crazy, I just wanted to say…" The Goth didn't finish her sentence and looked away.
"Say what?" Bo prompted.
"It's okay. Nevermind." She deflected.
"Since when don't you say what's on your mind? Out with it." Bo pestered, poking Kenzi in the ribs with her index finger.
"I'm just… I'm glad that you're back to your normal self and that we're back to being sisters. I've missed you. I've missed you needing me and I've missed us being an important part in each other's lives." The Goth said softly, dipping her head.
Bo reached out and gently lifted Kenzi's chin so that she had no choice but to look at her. "I'm so sorry Kenz." She said with genuine sadness in her voice. "I know I was a complete jerk but even when I was a mess, you were there for me. Even back then I recognized that. I was just too caught up in my own drunken self-pity haze to tell you that you were the only thing that kept me going and that I really appreciated your love and patience."
Bo's eyes were glistening with tears as she held Kenzi's gaze. "You're the sister I never had but always wanted. I'm sorry that I made you feel that you weren't important but you are. You always will be important to me and I'll always need you. That will never change, so don't ever forget that. Okay?"
Kenzi nodded as tears flowed down her face. She quickly wrapped her arms around her best friend and held her tight; crying tears of joy and relief. The Goth hadn't realized how much she had needed reassurance from Bo. It had been a difficult year with the Norn, the Kitsune, getting Bo ready for her Dawning and finally Bo's depression; all of which had taken its toll on her.
Bo eagerly returned the hug, feeling at last the familiar connection that had been missing with the younger woman. She chastised herself internally for letting things get to the point that Kenzi felt that she wasn't needed or important. In that moment, she realized that she had done the same thing to Kenzi as she had done to Lauren. Holding her friend even tighter, Bo vowed that it would never happen again. As much as her heart belonged to Lauren; Kenzi was her family and best friend and she knew that she would be lost without her. She would make sure that the Goth would never doubt her worth to her again.
Brasília – airport (Day 49)
Even with the one hour time difference, it was still too early in the morning for Kenzi to function, much less cope with the wall of heat that they slammed into when they disembarked from the plane. Their hot summers in Toronto were nothing compared to these temperatures. Bo and Kenzi felt the sweat trickling down their necks and under their regular attire of leather pants, vests and boots; clothing which they realized wasn't the wisest choice for Brazil's extreme temperatures.
The petite Russian estimated that it was another 30 metres or so to the terminal entrance and griped. "I don't think I can make it to the entrance. I'm melting!" She whined. "That's it; I'm heading back to the plane!"
Bo quickly grabbed her friend by the arm before she could retreat. "I'm uncomfortably hot too Kenz. I'm sure it'll be cooler inside." Bo hoped.
As soon as they stepped inside the terminal, the cool air swirled around their sticky bodies and the relief was immediate. They both sighed contently. "Oh sweet, sweet AC; how I love thee!" the Goth exclaimed to herself.
Normally Bo would make fun of her friend but she was too busy enjoying the cold air to be sarcastic.
Mata Atlântica
The scientists arrived at the village and spread out into teams of two, taking samples from the swamp water, mud, soil and vegetation as well as blood and bodily fluids from the villagers.
Serena stuck to the doctor like glue; she gave her room to work but always ensured that she was never more than a few paces away. As the Ignis watched Dr. Lewis collect and label her samples, she dreaded having to tell her about the Succubus' visit. Her only windows of opportunity would be on the hike back to Camp or when she was in her tent, packing up her belongings. The helicopter would be too loud and would not afford any privacy, so she didn't want to leave it till then. Regardless of when she told her, Serena knew that the doctor would be upset.
Light Fae Compound
Everything was arranged as Hale had explained it would. Bo & Kenzi were picked up at the airport and driven to the compound where they were greeted by the Ash's assistant. Carlos relayed his Ash's regret in not meeting with them but he was still out of the area, visiting parts of the city and countryside where Light Fae were attacked and properties destroyed. He also explained that Dr. Lewis was in the field and that she would be back at the Compound around 11 o'clock.
The Ash's assistant was very efficient as he had their building security passes ready for them upon arrival and arranged for their luggage to be delivered to their rooms while he gave them a quick tour of the compound – focusing on the labs, gym and dining hall. Upon completion of the tour, he escorted them to their adjacent apartments and in accordance with Ash Santiago's request, were given accommodations that connected through a central door located within their respective living rooms.
Right before leaving them to settle in, Carlos handed over their keys and used the opportunity to give Bo his personal mobile number in case she needed anything at any time of day or night. Meanwhile, Kenzi had quickly disappeared and was exploring her apartment like an excited school girl. Even though this was temporary, she had never lived in an apartment this new and modern before. By the time Bo shut the front door, the Goth was already settled on the couch flicking through the channels on the 46" flat screen TV with their connecting door wide open.
Mata Atlântica
The team had collected samples from the village; completing their task within the allotted hour and were hiking back to Camp. Serena noted that Lauren's and Nayara's energy levels never once dissipated during their three day stint in the forest; and subtly smiled at how excited they were as they discussed the various tests they would perform under controlled conditions.
The Ignis didn't want to put a damper on the doctor's mood but decided that she shouldn't put off the inevitable any longer. Walking up behind both women, Serena waited till there was a lull in their conversation before interrupting. "Dr. Lewis, may I speak with you for a moment?"
Lauren and Nayara exchanged looks for a moment before the Empath excused herself, walking ahead to give them some privacy. "This sounds serious." Lauren smiled at her body guard.
Serena gave her a tight smile, which looked awkward coming from the normally stoic Fae. "Before we left, Ash Santiago gave me specific orders; however I held off on carrying them out as I didn't want to interfere with your task here."
Lauren's smile faded. "Should I be worried?" she interrupted.
She tried to assure the doctor. "No, there's nothing to be worried about. I just wanted to-" Serena stopped in mid-sentence as a sound caught her attention. As she looked up the path, she saw that the rest of the group had continued walking ahead and were almost a football field away, with Dr. Hernandez half way between them and the team.
Lauren looked at the Ignis, puzzled by why she didn't finish her sentence but chose not to interrupt her obvious train of thought.
Serena, not seeing or hearing anything out of the ordinary was about to turn her attention back to Dr. Lewis when she heard a hissing sound, followed by a loud explosion and then a cloud of smoke formed and rapidly engulfed the group.
"Ambush! Get down!" she yelled out to the entire group, hoping that they heard and would take cover and be able to defend themselves. Serena quickly grabbed Lauren and pulled her off the path and into a thicket of trees. "Stay here and keep down!" she ordered. She then ran back to the edge of the path and kept low, vigilant of any attackers and looking out for members of the team. She waited a few moments and was about to head back to the doctor when she saw a terrified Nayara emerge from the edges of the smoke, running away from the screams and strange flashes of light contained within; making her way towards her.
Getting her attention, Serena waited till Nayara was next to her before they both ran towards the cover of trees where Lauren was hiding. Serena looked at the two women, enquiring if they were hurt. Once it was determined that they were fine, she took charge and gave them directions. "I need you both to stay calm and stay behind me. We have to get back to Base Camp."
Time seemed to stand still as Lauren looked to the area where the rest of the group had been swallowed up by the eerie, lingering smoke. Loud, anguished screams and sounds of gun fire periodically broke through the silence and were the only indication that anyone was still trapped in there. "What about the group? We can't just leave them." Lauren implored.
"Your safety is my priority. Seeing that it's an ambush and none of our people have emerged, I would assume that we are outnumbered. That means that the odds are in their favour. Once we get back to Camp, we can get more guards out here. Until then, we are sitting ducks and we have to get to safety. Do you understand?"
Both women nodded yes; trying not to let panic set in.
"We have to go wide and around the ambushed area." The Ignis pointed out the route. "The Camp is a 20 minute hike beyond here. We can make it in less than that as long as we are quiet, careful and move quickly. You with me so far?"
They both nodded their heads.
"I need you to stay calm and stay behind me no matter what. However, if at any point I tell you to run, I want you to run as fast as you can and not look back. Just stay with one another. Is that clear?" They both nodded yes.
Serena looked into their eyes to gauge how they were coping. It was obvious that they were scared but they were alert and calm, which was important. As long as they moved quickly and quietly and didn't panic, they would be fine.
The Ignis took another quick look in the direction that they were going to head towards scanning for the enemy. Seeing that it was clear, she asked. "OK, are you ready?"
"Yes." They said in unison.
"Good. Stay low and follow me. " Serena ordered as she steered the women away from the attack and hoped that their assailants wouldn't follow them.
Light Fae Compound
Bo was sitting comfortably on the couch trying to distract herself with a Portuguese television show while Kenzi was rummaging through her kitchen cupboards for food, surprised that they were actually stocked. "BoBo, can you believe this? They actually have food in here!"
The Succubus chuckled at her friend as she excitedly found something that looked like chips. Returning to the couch, she offered the opened bag to Bo, who politely declined. Looking at the picture on the packaging, she said, "I don't think those are potato chips Kenz. They look like dehydrated banana slices."
Not one to pass on food, Kenzi grabbed a handful and shoved them in her mouth. "Mfffph. Noth bad." She said with her mouth full.
Bo shook her head and was about to respond when there was a knock at the door. Both women immediately stopped what they were doing and looked in the direction of the sound. A few seconds passed and there was another knock, this time, more insistent. Bo knew that Lauren wasn't due back until 11 A.M. however her heart jumped just thinking that it could be her. She quickly made her way to the door but before she had a chance to open it, she heard Carlos' voice.
Opening the door, a visibly upset Assistant stood before her. "I'm sorry to inform you but we just received word from the Base Camp. The team of scientists were ambushed as they were making their way back to Camp; there are heavy casualties and some deaths." Carlos said sadly.
Bo tensed up immediately as the thought of Lauren being injured or dead popped in her head. Her eyes flashed blue in reaction. "No, she has to be alright. Lauren is tough." she said to herself as she shook the negative thoughts out of her head.
At the mention of the word 'ambushed', Kenzi had quickly jumped up and made her way to her friend's side and grabbed hold of her hand. She could only imagine what her friend was thinking; all she could do was provide support and keep her calm in case Succu-bitch emerged. Fortunately, the connection to her friend was enough to ground Bo and make her eyes revert back to her normal colour. "Do you have any word on Dr. Lewis?" Bo asked hesitantly.
If Carlos was startled by the quick flash of blue in her eyes, he didn't show it. Instead, he calmly answered her question. "I'm sorry, no. Just that the group that she was with is currently enroute via chopper and should be here some time after 11."
"Can't you call them up on the radio to find out?" Bo asked anxiously.
"Unfortunately, radio communications have always been weak in and above the forest; there is always poor signal strength and interference. The information that I just relayed to you was all that we got before losing comms."
Carlos saw the anxiety in Bo's face. "I'm very sorry. All we can do is wait and see who arrives on the helicopter and get the details from them. If you wish, I can escort you to the ICU wing of the medical lab where you can wait?" he offered, trying to be helpful.
"Yes, thanks." Bo said softly; not letting go of Kenzi's hand as they followed Carlos through the Compound.
The Ash's assistant showed them to the waiting room and brought them some coffee. "I'm going to check to see if there have been any further developments and will let you know if there are."
Bo nodded in acknowledgment and Carlos left them alone.
Kenzi broke the silence. "Bo, Lauren is tough. She's going to be okay." The Goth tried to reassure her best friend and herself at the same time.
Bo only nodded and held on to the Goth's hand. She couldn't lose Lauren.
Bo and Kenzi waited anxiously as an hour went by and still there was no update. The Succubus was slowly going crazy as all the worse case scenarios played through her mind. The Goth lost track of how many times she looked at her watch while the Succubus continuously paced back and forth; the sound of her boots on the tile echoing. Kenzi found it unnerving but didn't want to say anything to her friend as she knew that she was trying to cope.
Carlos suddenly burst through the doors, startling them and causing both women to run towards him, questions evident in their eyes.
In an excited tone, he said, "The helicopter just landed and three women were rushed to ICU!" Sensing what the next question was, Carlos continued to speak. "Before you ask, no, I didn't get a chance to see or talk to anyone. The doctors whisked the patients away for immediate treatment and the pilots had to take off to refuel as they have to return with additional security ASAP."
Bo exhaled loudly. "You are sure that Dr. Lewis was on that chopper?"
The Assistant nodded. "According to the original message from the Base Camp, she was."
Bo turned to her friend and hugged her. Lauren was here and she was injured. Part of her was relieved that she wasn't lying in the middle of the forest hurt but the other part was beyond worried about what state she was in.
Carlos turned to both women. "Why don't we sit and wait. The doctor will come out as soon as there's word."
Both women nodded and sat next to one another, holding each other's hands. It was going to be a long wait.
Another hour had passed before a doctor came out to speak with them. Everyone stood up suddenly, afraid and anxious to hear what he had to say.
Before Bo could say anything, the doctor spoke. "One of the patients required surgery as she had extensive internal bleeding and several broken bones. She is currently stable but in critical condition – we will monitor her carefully for the next 48 hours; only time will tell. The other two women have several cuts and lacerations - they have been treated and are fine."
Bo spoke up. "Can we see them?"
The doctor nodded, "Yes but not for long; they all need their rest. Follow me."
Bo, Kenzi and the Assistant followed the doctor down the long, white hallway. To Bo, every step was heavy and laboured; the thought of Lauren lying in a hospital bed with broken bones and internal bleeding made her heart ache. As bad as it sounded, she hoped and prayed that it wasn't Lauren that went through the surgery.
As they reached the room, Carlos and the doctor entered but Bo remained behind in the hallway. Kenzi didn't know what to say to her friend so she stood close and put her hand on her shoulder. The Succubus closed her eyes and cleared her thoughts; she needed to gather her courage in case she needed to prepare herself for the worst. Taking a deep breath, Bo exhaled and opened her eyes; giving Kenzi's hand a quick squeeze, she released it and opened the door.
Standing in the doorway, Bo's focus was on the bed, unfortunately her view was completely blocked by the doctor and Assistant who were standing on the side closest to the door talking quietly, while a nurse was on the other side, leaning over the patient's head and torso, adjusting various tubes. Willing her feet to move, the Succubus inched inside and slowly made her way around the men, manoeuvring herself to the foot of the bed so that she could get a clear view of who was lying within it. As her eyes looked at the form hidden under the sheets, her eyes travelled upwards from their feet, over their legs and torso to their face.
Bo released the breath that she didn't realize that she was holding. To her relief, the woman lying in front of her wasn't Lauren.
The Succubus was about to ask the doctor where the other two women were when he bent forward to adjust the patient's bandages. In that moment, Bo's heartbeat started to race. She was so focused on the person lying in the bed, that she didn't pay attention to her surroundings. When the doctor was standing, he blocked her view of the far corner of the room; now that he wasn't in the way, the first thing that she saw was a head of blonde hair.
There Lauren stood holding another woman tightly, providing comfort. As they sat down next to each other, Bo was able to see how tired and haggard they looked - their clothes were torn and whatever skin was exposed was either covered in blood or abrasions. The Succubus could only imagine the hell that they went through.
Bo then saw the brunette take Lauren's hand gently into hers while Lauren leaned in and rested her head on the other woman's shoulder. Though non-sexual, the act was intimate and inferred that Lauren was very comfortable with this woman. Bo felt all the air rush out of her lungs and her eyes flashed blue.
"Lauren?" she said hoarsely.
The blonde looked up when she heard her name. Her first thought was that it was Serena even though she knew the Ignis was unconscious. As her eyes slowly looked past the doctor and Carlos to determine who called out to her, Lauren's body stiffened.
"Bo? What are you doing here?"
TBC