Sorry this took a bit longer than usual... I deliberated over what was going to happen quite a lot. Let me know your thoughts as ever!

"Is it bad that I want you to drive faster?"

"Yes, unless you want me to get a ticket?" Lauren laughed. "Are you really that eager to pose for me?"

"Pose is some kind of euphemism, right?!"

Bo's phone started to ring again. The sound almost making Lauren jump for the second time, "Bo, aren't you going to answer that?"

Bo sighed and looked at the phone, "Damn, it's Crystal again… I suppose I had better take the call." She answered the phone, and the immediate sound coming from the other end of the phone immediately spilled over into the car. Lauren frowned wondering what was going on to create the din she was hearing. Bo raised her voice, "Crystal? I can barely hear you! What's going on? What?" She glanced over at Lauren.

Lauren saw the look of concern on Bo's face. "Is everything okay, Bo?"

Bo didn't speak, just shrugged her shoulders, and frowned. "Crystal, I can't hear you. Who's that shouting?"

Lauren was finding it harder to concentrate on the road ahead. Seeing Bo getting more agitated was distracting, and starting to worry her.

Bo covered the bottom of the phone with her hand, so that she could speak to Lauren, "Babe, I hate to do this more than you could ever know… but can you drop me off at the bar? I'm worried!" The pained expression on Bo's face told her everything she needed to know.

"Of course! Don't stress about anything, we can be there in ten minutes."

"Crystal, I'm on my way over." She hung up.

"What did she say? What's going on?"

Bo was still frowning, "I have no idea, I couldn't hear a word she was saying. But it kinda sounded crazy at the bar, and she hardly ever calls me when I'm not working."

"Try not to stress Bo, I know that's not easy… but we'll be there in no time." Lauren leaned over and gently squeezed Bo's knee, making Bo smile back trying to hide her worry.

Lauren put her foot down on the gas, and managed to make good time getting to the bar. As she speedily pulled up, Bo was already opening the door almost before she'd stopped.

"Bo! Wait!"

"Lauren, stay here! It sounded crazy, I don't want you getting involved or hurt!" Bo raced off into the Dal.

Lauren sat for a minute, strumming her fingers on the steering wheel, looking anxiously towards the door of the bar. She had no idea what was going on, nobody else had gone in or come out since Bo had disappeared through the entrance. From what she could hear by the sounds coming from Bo's phone, all hell was breaking loose. And now, just staring at the door, everything appeared calm, and quiet. In retrospect it was making Lauren even more uncomfortable about what she'd just let Bo walk into alone. She watched the clock on the dashboard move up another digit. She couldn't stand it any longer, Lauren slammed her hands defiantly on the edges of the wheel in an attempt to grip her uneasiness, but realized it wasn't going to work. She opened the door and stepped out, not looking at the car as she locked it with the remote key.

"Damn it, Bo! I'm not sitting back here!" She took long strides until she was walking into the bar in a determined fashion.

The immediate noise level hit her, as she wasn't used to being in the Dal Riata when there was so much going on. There seemed to be a lot of movement in every corner of the room. Lauren quickly darted her eyes around, looking for Bo, seeing her finally near the back door, on the phone to someone.

Lauren noticed some glass on the floor, towards the pool table. It actually looked like several bottles had been smashed. Two men were grappling over the pool table, and another group of men were looking on, shouting various obscenities towards the men fighting. One of the men appeared to have more control in the situation, and was finally, firmly pushing the other man's body into the table.

Bo looked at Crystal as she hung up the phone, "Hale's on his way… just stay out of it as much as you can until he gets here."

"I'm so sorry Bo, I have no idea what happened or how it got out of hand so fast." Crystal looked as though she was about to burst into tears.

"Crystal, you did the right thing. Hale's coming over, unofficially… he knows I'd rather keep the authorities out of this. I think Rainer has got it under control."

"He seems to have, now at least. He was great actually."

Bo saw Lauren standing just away from the bar, "Lauren?! I told you to stay in the car! It's kind of crazy in here. Stay away from all of the assholes on that side of the room." Bo grabbed Lauren's hand and led her behind the bar, where they were in easy reach of the door to the back room if needed as a quick escape.

"Bo? What's happening?"

"Nothing to worry about. I think Crystal freaked out a bit. The guys over there came in and started a fight. Rainer stopped them, and a few of them jumped him, but it seems like he managed to get a handle on things. The guy he's pinned to the table is apparently the one who started it, and the others have stopped fighting back since he was restrained."

Lauren glanced back, behind her at the men by the pool table, Rainer had his hand behind the other man's neck. He turned towards the bar, seeking out Bo again. "Bo? Is Hale on his way?"

"Yes, he'll be here in minutes." She shouted back.

"Hey, hey, hey! We don't need to involve the law!" The man under Rainer's hands stuttered. He suddenly relaxed under Rainer's grip, and held up his hands either said of his body, showing surrender. "Me and the boys can just leave quietly, and we can forget this ever happened."

"I don't know about that?! You certainly weren't playing around before…" Rainer responded.

"Please! Come on! We've all had a bit too much to drink!"

Cautiously Rainer lifted his hands, maintaining a slightly defensive posture, as the other man regained his balance and shook himself a little. He gestured to the other men to head to the door, and they all started to leave. A few of them throwing aggressive glances towards him, and muttering insults under their breath. Rainer didn't respond, he flexed his biceps a little and grinned in defiance as they passed him.

He turned, towards the bar, and started walking back towards the women, with a slight swagger in his step.

Lauren turned back to Bo, and saw her smirk at Rainer. Looking back at the man, she could only see the cockiness in his attitude, making her instantly irritated.

"Well, at least you're good for something, Adam!" Bo laughed.

"It's not the only thing I'm good at, and you know that!" His voice boomed suggestively, completely unfazed by the rest of their audience.

"Thank you so much!" Crystal added, "I'm sorry Bo, I shouldn't have let it get to that point. And I should have dealt with it myself."

"It's okay. I'd rather you call me, than deal with it yourself."

Lauren just watched the three of them interacting and recounting what had happened between each other. She wasn't really listening to what was being said, just observing the comfortable way in which they interacted in the moment.

It was then that Hale, walked in. He observed the lack of any danger or even mild trouble, and instantly walked up to Rainer, holding his hand up in a high five style. Rainer grabbed his hand and they pulled each other in. Lauren observed that the two clearly knew each other and this must be some sort of symbol of their brotherhood. She sighed a little at the sudden realization that she was feeling like an outsider with a group of close friends, despite knowing that wasn't exactly the case, it was how it made her feel. She shifted her feet uncomfortably.

"So, how about that drink then Bo? We can catch up on old times!" Rainer smiled.

Lauren saw Bo return the smile, making her feel even more uncomfortable and awkward in the situation. Then Bo's glance quickly turned towards her. Bo opened her mouth but before she could say anything, Lauren interrupted. "You two go catch up, I need to go anyway."

Before Bo could say a word, Lauren was already heading towards the exit, and through the door.

Bo just stood open mouthed. "What the?!" She muttered softly.

Lauren sat in her car and immediately started the engine. She was quickly trying to process her own reactions to what had just happened. And she decided that she just wanted to get out of there. She started to reverse the vehicle, just as Bo emerged through the door. Bo waved her hands, for Lauren to stop, but Lauren ignored her and sped off down the alley.

Bo watched the car leaving, almost expecting Lauren to stop and come back for her, but she didn't. Lauren had looked her in the eye as she had raced outside from the bar, so she knew that it wasn't that she hadn't seen her. She was trying to piece together what had made Lauren race off so suddenly and with such a determined attitude. She felt somewhere between an anger and an annoyance at the other woman's sudden escape, and then realized that she was also now stranded at the bar.

"Fuck!" Bo exclaimed in frustration, slightly stamping her foot into the ground beneath her.

Lauren arrived back at her home, throwing the car keys on the table. She sat down on the couch, and put her head in her hands, stifling a sob. She had no idea why she'd had the sudden outpouring of emotion, but she just knew that she'd had to leave the bar immediately so that it didn't show in front of the people there. Whatever it was that she'd witnessed between Bo and Rainer had upset her to a point that she didn't quite understand. But right now, she didn't feel like self analyzing it either. She felt like ice-cream. She went to the kitchen to get the tub. That's when she heard the door open, and a loud voice.

"No, Hale, I'm fine! Thank you! I'll speak to you later." Bo almost slammed the door shut.

Lauren shook herself out of the initial shock of Bo barging in to the room, "So is knocking beneath you now?"

"What the hell was that?" Bo angrily placed her hands on her hips. "Lauren? Stop looking at me like that, and answer me, damn it!"

Lauren felt her eyes start to fill, and stifled a small sob.

"Lauren?"

"Bo… please, just go. I'm fine. Go be with Rainer."

Bo frowned, "Rainer? Why the hell would I want to be with Rainer?" She saw the tears fill Lauren's eyes, and softened her stance and her voice slightly. "Lauren, seriously, what's going on? I'm here because I want to be with you! I wanted to come back here, but you ran away for some reason." Bo took a few steps towards her. "Do you want to talk about it?" She noticed that Lauren looked small and fragile, and she suddenly had no idea what she should say or do next. "Do you want me to leave?"

Lauren shook her head, and suddenly ran forward into Bo's arms. The unexpected movement almost unbalanced Bo, but she regained her posture, and wrapped her arms around the other woman. She slowly brought her hand up to Lauren's hair, gently brushing it away from her eyes. She placed a soft kiss on her forehead, and gently steered her to the couch.

Easing them both down, she cradled Lauren tenderly, letting the other woman calm down in her own time.

After a few minutes, Bo spoke gently, "What's wrong babe?"

"God, I feel so embarrassed. I'm sorry."

"Don't feel embarrassed. Just explain to me, what just happened?"

"I… I… I don't know. I saw how you and Rainer interacted, and I guess I just thought that I was in the way. You and him have history."

"That's right we have history. One that I'm not interested in repeating. Whereas I think that I've quite clearly stated to you lately that I am interested in being with you and giving us a go."

Lauren tilted her head and look up at Bo, "I'm sorry. I think I just freaked out, seeing you with an ex who's chasing you… and I guess I'm worried… you know, that I might lose you."

"You're not losing me. I'm here, aren't I?"

"I know… It just reminded me of how quickly things can go bad, and how someone can interfere with something that you think is going well. I just don't want to get my heart broken again."

Bo gently pushed Lauren's shoulders, easing her back so that she could see her face fully. "Am I stealing your heart? Finally?"

"I think that you can take this as a maybe…" Lauren smiled coyly.

"Maybe?" Bo looked at Lauren's lips, not able to hide her sudden need to claim them with her own.

Lauren edged closer, until she was a fraction of an inch within Bo's face, her breath tickling the brunette's senses. She brushed her lips slightly against Bo's. "That's a yes."

Bo's breath hitched, "A yes?"

"It's a resounding, yes. But if you need me to prove it?" Lauren gently pulled at Bo's bottom lip, between her teeth. Bo let out a soft moan. "Then you'll have to let me work first…"

Lauren stood up, pulling a shell-shocked Bo with her.

"What? Wait? Lauren, I need proof!" Bo laughed, "Seriously… that's way too much of a tease! I actually need evidence. I need proof." She slumped her shoulders and allowed Lauren to pull her upstairs.

"And I need to work. Work comes before play." She winked.

"Then get to work quickly, because play is desperately waiting." Bo almost groaned. "So, what exactly are you painting me as?"

Lauren led her into the bedroom, letting go of her hand, and immediately pulling over a chair from the corner of the room. She positioned it close to the full length mirror. "Well, I wanted a Warrior Queen." Lauren went to the bed and picked a piece of magenta coloured voile from the bedpost, untwisting it, she pulled it down.

"Do you see me as a Warrior Queen?"

Lauren draped the fabric over the chair and returned to Bo. She smiled, and placed her hands on Bo's shoulders, subtly positioning her fingers under the black leather jacket. She pushed the jacket back, and off of Bo's shoulders. Bo shrugged, allowing Lauren to remove it from her completely.

"I see you as a beautiful, strong, courageous, empowered, sexy individual… You have a passion and a strength that's extremely attractive, and that's what I would like to inspire my Warrior Queen."

Bo pursed her lips, "Are you wanting a seductress?"

"Yes." Lauren answered flatly as she took the edges of Bo's tank top. Her hand touched Bo's skin underneath, and she felt Bo briefly shudder at the contact. "Can I?" she inquired, in a silky soft voice.

"Please do." Bo adjusted her body to let Lauren remove the top completely, leaving her standing in her black lace bra and leggings.

Lauren couldn't help that her eyes scanned Bo's semi-clad body, and she knew that she had made it unintentionally obvious, although there was no escaping Bo's glare. Swallowing heavily, Lauren gently steered Bo back a few steps until she sat down on the chair.

"Stretch your left leg out, and bring the right one back." She helped adjust Bo's leg. "Bend at the knee, and use the right leg as some leverage in the pose."

"I'm a sitting warrior?"

"I want a reflection after battle. But a definite strength remaining."

"I battled naked?"

"No. And you're not naked."

"No, but why would a Warrior Queen battle in her underwear? Which Warrior Queen am I anyway?"

"To answer your first question, I may still paint you naked, I'm undecided. It's quiet reflection after battle. Strength versus vulnerability. To answer your second, Boudicca."

"I don't mind if you want me to remove the rest of my clothing. No need to be bashful, assuming you are a professional of course!" Bo winked. "I mean, can I trust you to keep your hands to yourself? And who?"

"I'm a complete professional, I can assure you, as much as that may disappoint you." Lauren smirked slightly. "Have you heard of Boadicea?"

"Yes."

"Well her name was actually Boudicca, misspelled by scribes, and repeated by the masses."

"Okay, well I always think of her with red hair."

"Me too actually, I'm improvising that. I just need you, not your hair. Well, at least not the colour of your hair. Now drape your arm slight over the back of the chair." Lauren eyed the posture, and then moved slightly to her right to get a slightly different angle. "Look over to my right. Just slightly. As though you're looking into the distance." She changed her position again as Bo slightly adjusted her posture. "There! That's it! Stay like that."

"I must say I find it distracting when you're in the room, you know, this not looking at you thing."

"Just be quiet for a while Bo… even Kenzi managed it."

Bo huffed in response. "Well if Kenzi managed it…."

"Shhhh."

Lauren had her easel already set and quickly positioned everything she needed. The canvas was fairly big, and she chose to stand to paint this one.

Bo found it quite difficult not to move, or to speak. She had modeled many times before, mainly for photographers, but the only thing she could put the difficulty this time down to was that it was Lauren doing the work. She wanted to speak, but didn't want to distract her from the work. She also wanted the work to be over quickly to allow whatever fun Lauren was willing to accept to commence.

Bo felt the muscles in her body going tense, and was worried they were going to lock up. She felt like she'd been sat like this for days, when in reality it could have been for no more than a few hours. She'd managed to stay silent, and had remained as still as she possibly could, only adjusting her posture once or twice when the cramp in her limbs became too much. Lauren hadn't said a word, and Bo only heard the occasional sound come from her, which she put down to something going right, or wrong with the painting. Bo hadn't realized how dull the experience would be, and it certainly wasn't living up to the fantasy of the situation that she'd played over and over in her own head.

She decided to break the silence. "How's it going?"

There was a few moments of silence, and then finally Lauren responded. "Okay, I think… but there's still something missing."

"Care to share?"

"It's not feeling tribal enough… Do you mind if I try something else?"

"No, I guess not."

She heard Lauren stand, and walk over to a cupboard, where she brought out some more paint, and brushes. She walked over to Bo, and set them down on the floor.

"Okay, remember how you're sat…. but you can bring your legs together again for a breather, and sit up."

Bo slowly repositioned herself, "Ouch… pain, pain, pain…"

Lauren bent down and kissed her forehead, "I'm sorry, babe. But I really appreciate this. Okay…" she bent down to pick up the mixing tray and the new set of paints, "now, I want to try painting some designs on you…"

Bo raised her eyebrows. "As long as this isn't like permanent marker pens?!"

"Of course not, it'll all wash off."

"Will you wash it off?"

"Bo… just let me." Lauren edged closer. "And maybe."

Bo sighed loudly, "You really are not helping me maintain my focus here!"

Lauren ignored the comment and dipped a small brush into some dark blue paint. "Sit back a little."

Bo eased back and Lauren positioned herself in front of her knees. She eased back the strands of hair falling in front, to behind Bo's shoulders. She moved the brush slowly, and positioned the bristles to just above the collar bone.

"Look up." She reprimanded Bo for trying to see what she was doing. Bo shuddered as the brush touched her skin. Lauren smiled a little. "Try to keep still."

"It tickles!"

The brush made a quick swirling motion, and curved its way down towards the edge of her bra. Dipping the end of the brush in the paint again, Lauren quickly mirrored the brush movement on the opposite collar bone, eliciting the same reaction from Bo, who slightly sipped in more air in an attempt to not react to the tickling sensation.

"I'm worried that I'm going to get paint on your clothing." Lauren paused slightly. "Can I remove your bra?"

"Ummm, sure? You're still painting on me, right? This isn't some kind of awkward foreplay?"

"Yes, I'm still painting you… I could see Boudicca painting her chest, and I think that would look awesome, if you're good with it?"

Bo nodded, and Lauren reached around, fumbling a few times with the bra hooks, until she managed to unclasp it. She gently eased the straps off of Bo's shoulders and moved the bra away from the other woman's body. Lauren, despite trying her hardest couldn't help but admire the woman's physique. The fullness and firmness of Bo's breasts managed to steal more than a passing glance. Bo noticed Lauren's pause in continuing.

"Something wrong?" she teased.

"No, no… just wondering where to paint next?"

Lauren opted for a slightly thicker brush with firmer bristles and a red paint, placing the brush in the center of Bo's chest she moved it downwards in a swift and determined motion. Bo let out a small gasp as it ended just above the belly button.

"Didn't I ask you to not move?"

"I can't help it! It tickles!"

"Well maybe I need to hold you down then?" Lauren stood, and quickly straddled Bo's legs, sitting on the ends of her knees to give herself room to paint. They were eye to eye, and Lauren saw the surprised look in Bo's eyes, from her sudden and unexpected action.

She quickly glanced down, placing the larger brush down and grasping the smaller one again. Looking back, directly into Bo's eyes, she dipped it in the blue paint. Lauren didn't have to look down as she knew exactly where the paint was. She smiled at Bo, before lowering her gaze, and the brush directly onto the right nipple. Immediately on touch, Bo squirmed a little, feeling the sensitive skin react to the texture and unexpected impact of the painting. Lauren drew a steady circle a few times around the area.

Bo was intently staring at her lips, and watching as Lauren gently bit down on her own bottom lip. The brunette wasn't sure if it was in concentration or almost anticipation, but she felt the desire in herself building rapidly.

"Well it seems like I've upset some balance here…" Lauren moved her tongue over her bottom lip, and again bit down with her top teeth. "I think I should help a little."

Before Bo could ponder exactly on what Lauren had meant, she felt a hand enclose over her left breast and squeeze gently. Lauren fingers gently circled the nipple, before squeezing firmly. Bo could feel her own body immediately start to react, and she cried out a little, her thighs tensing. Lauren gently pressed against the bucking of Bo's hips and rocked herself forwards a little, bringing their bodies even closer, now only inches apart.

"Shhhh… easy now, don't get too excited. This is work, remember." Lauren's hand squeezed more firmly, this time pushing into Bo's chest a little more urgently.

"We're still painting?" Bo breathed out huskily.

"Yes…" Lauren hissed, before moved her hips forwards in a grinding motion towards Bo's body."

Bo felt Lauren's body push down, and realized the intent was getting harder to control for both of them.

"Ditch the brushes… fingers are good."

Lauren dropped the palette and grasped either side of Bo's face, crashing her lips onto the brunette's.

Something seemed to unleash in the blonde, and she started to fumble with her own clothing, missing buttons and desperately trying to find them again. After managing to unfasten the top five, while urgently trying to kiss and breathe at the same time, Lauren brought her head up and away from Bo's mouth. She brought her lips to Bo's ear, "I'm not entirely sure I can remain professional any longer."

Bo, frustrated at the lack of contact, started to help unfasten the rest of the buttons on the shirt, then hastily pushed it off of Lauren' s shoulders. Bringing her mouth towards her chest, she gently bit down. Suddenly the understanding of where this was heading hit her, and reluctantly she pulled herself away, eliciting a small groan from Lauren. "Lauren?"

Lauren just pushed down with her groin to emphasize her immediate frustration.

"Lauren, look at me."

Lauren frowned, "What?"

"Are you sure? You wanted to take this slow?"

Lauren gripped Bo's head again and sighed, "Bo, I want this. I want this now. I've never been more sure. I want you, and I want you to know that I want you. I need to know that it's me that you want, because I don't think I can do this to then lose you to someone like Rainer… or anyone else."

"I'm sure. I just wanted to make sure that you were."

"Just shut up and show me!"

Bo gripped Lauren hard, and despite her previous issue with muscle spasms in her legs, managed to easily get her balance and stand. Lauren firmly gripped her legs around Bo's waist as Bo carried her to the bed, somehow managing to miss the easel in the process. She lowered Lauren onto the edge of the bed.

"Aren't you worried about your artwork?" Bo gestured to the body paint.

Lauren pulled at her hand, dragging her on top of her. "No, I'm experimenting with a new method of applying the paint." When Bo was fully on top of her, she managed to catch her unawares, flipping her over, and again for the second time straddling her lap. "So let's start with preparing the canvas." Lauren purred.