I know, I know, it's been awhile...a big thank you to those of you following and supporting the story. Thank you for giving something different a try, for accepting other possibilities...cheers...Dee
Chapter 25
"Kenz, what's the deal with you and Hale? Are you a couple or still just doing the wild thing?" asked Danny from the back seat of Bo's car.
"A girl never kisses and tells," commented Kenzi, always cautious about revealing her true feelings.
"Just looked like there was a lot of heat going on the other night at Trick's," replied Danny watching the trees flying by along the side of the road as they drove to the investigation site.
Bo teased, "Kenz has a boyfriend."
"Shut it Bo," growled the human.
The Fae women were still laughing when they approached the abandoned house with Kenzi shouting hateful things at them. Bo slid a quick peek at Danny in the rear view, glad to have her back, thinking about how their relationship had evolved.
Bo parked near the end of a very long gravel driveway and climbed out of the car. She scanned the decrepit property searching for signs of trouble. The house was in a heavily treed area about 30 minutes outside the city, more an acreage than a house. Discarded farm equipment littered the yard and a few collapsing buildings groaned as if the light breeze was more than they could handle. Bo absentmindedly reached under the driver seat pulling out a six inch dagger that she slid into the sheath strapped to her thigh.
"Love what they've done with the place," grumbled Kenzi cautiously surveying her surroundings.
Danny stretched breathing deeply and tasting the fresh country air. The place looked abandoned and she was uncomfortable being in such a remote area but her acute senses couldn't detect any rational concerns. "So why are we here?"
Bo glanced at Danny having learned to trust her instincts, and not noticing any signs of distress, she proceeded to walk up the drive toward the house. "There have been sightings of a strange creature terrorizing a neighbouring town and they believe it lives here."
"Who's the client?" Danny asked curiously.
"The Ash, asked us to check it out," replied Bo still studying the house.
Danny tensed just thinking about The Ash. "Isn't that kind of strange? This is Dark Fae territory in the middle of no where."
Bo shrugged, "a little strange, but given the situation with the Morrigan and us I guess they didn't feel they could ask."
"What are we getting paid for this?" questioned Danny, still trying to satisfy the validity of why they were there.
Bo's eyes lit up, thinking of the new boots she wanted, "a lot."
"I don't know Bo," argued Danny hesitantly. "Things just don't add up. He's paying you a lot to get rid of a creature terrorizing Dark Fae?"
"So, we're pest control people now?" groaned Kenzi, pulling her jacket tighter, the chill on the air increasing as the late afternoon sun dipped behind the tree line.
The Goth woman's face lit up with a thought, "Maybe we can get a job at Vexcon with Billy the Exterminator." Seeing the blank stare on Bo and Danny's face, she added impatiently, "the guy on TV?"
"You know. 'Whoa, Golly Man! Dude almost bit me in the privates! Hey Ricky…,' offered Kenzi in her best Louisiana drawl.
Bo slapped Kenzi's arm, "quiet."
"Geez,"winced Kenzi rolling her eyes.
Bo cautiously opened the front door with Danny and Kenzi peering over her shoulder into the dimly lit building.
"Ugggg, what's that smell?" gasped Danny, covering her face with her sleeve.
"Dude something seriously died in here," complained Kenzi, her nose wrinkled in disgust.
"Looks like you're right for once," agreed Bo standing over a decaying body. The winged creature was black with red stripes, and it's mouth hung open revealing a sharp row of teeth.
"Dead?" asked Danny shivering, thinking it would be terrorizing for any neighbourhood.
"Long dead. Let's get out of here and call Lauren. She can tell us what it is," replied Bo.
Danny frowned. "I donno, she's been really busy lately. The Ash has her chained to the lab and I've hardly seen her at all."
"I'll call her," suggested Bo pulling out her phone. "She won't be able to resist this."
"I don't think it's a good idea, we should just get out of here. That thing won't be terrorizing anyone anymore," argued Danny.
Ignoring Danny's suggestion Bo pulled up the doctor's number. "Lauren, we need you to come out to an investigation site." Bo listened and nodded before adding, "Yes right now."
"Is she okay?" asked Danny when Bo ended the call.
"No, she sounds grumpy," replied the succubus leaning against the car, settling in to wait.
"Oh great," sighed Danny. "Thanks for that."
Bo smiled, "she'll get over it when she gets her science mojo going."
"Should we call Dyson and Hale?" asked Kenzi.
"Hmm bet you'd like that," smirked Danny ducking to avoid a swat.
"They're on a case, but I'll leave them a message just in case," offered Bo. "We can meet them later, back on Light Fae territory."
"I'm going to go take a look around," advised Danny, needing to distract her nervous energy.
"Don't wander too far, this place gives me the creeps," instructed Bo protectively.
Danny was heading back from some of the out buildings when she noticed the black sports car coming up the long drive. The doctor pulled her specimen kit from the back seat and headed toward the house already irritable. The Ash had been relentless and she knew Danny's assessment that he was punishing her was likely correct. She loathed the man and couldn't help but dream of a life that she was free to live, to love and be loved.
Danny smiled, her heart warming at the sight of the blonde, and met her part way across the yard, "Hello, beautiful. How are you?"
"Just fine," she growled pushing past Danny. She hesitated staring at the ground chewing her lip and eventually turned. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean.." she sighed, "rough day."
The good natured wolf flashed her amazing grin ignoring Lauren's bad mood and caught the doctor around the waist pulling her close pressing well placed kisses against her neck.
"Mmmm," Lauren chuckled almost giddy with the affection.
"Maybe you need another massage tonight, glass of wine perhaps?" suggested the wolf between kisses glancing up at the doctor from below her long dark lashes.
Lauren involuntarily smiled, never having the power to resist Danny's grin. She sucked in her bottom lip remembering the evening while her slender fingers toyed with the collar Danny's shirt. "I would like that a lot actually," replied the doctor more seriously.
"Okay, come on Doc, the sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can pour that glass of wine," encouraged Danny sweeping her arm behind the doctor's waist.
When they reached Bo and Kenzi, Lauren impatiently asked, "Where's the vic?"
"Just inside, toward the west wall," directed Bo, glancing at Danny as Lauren brushed past her.
Danny shook her head, her eyes meeting Bo's and shrugged, "I warned you."
Lauren squatted down close to the carcass, poking her pen into some goo that used to be flesh and advised, "Looks like a Caper."
"Nasty creatures, they are non-discriminatory and have no conscience. They drain humans of blood much like vampires, and they tend to be involved in undesirable behavior," stated Lauren continuing her assessment.
Danny couldn't help but examine the creature, even in death it appeared conflicted; while not overly big, a broad chest and lean abdomen exhibited strength, and despite there rows of razor like teeth you couldn't help but notice beauty in the perfectly chiselled facial features.
"This one died of a gunshot to the head. I'll collect some samples and call it in to get the body brought to the lab," offered Lauren leaving to make the call.
"Let's take a look around," suggested Bo, snaking her cool slender fingers around Danny's wrist.
"I think I'll just stay here," replied Kenzi searching the refrigerator, looking for anything edible to stave of her growling stomach.
Danny and Bo walked toward a room near the back of the house where a door was open a crack. They peered in the room and could see stacks of what looked like drugs and possibly another Caper that was barely alive. Bo pushed the door open meaning to interrogate the Caper, but as the door opened she heard a click and saw a timer counting down 10 seconds.
"Everyone out of the house now, move!" shouted Bo shoving Danny back from the room. Danny ran, grabbing Kenzi's wrist on the way by, pulling her toward the front door.
"Lauren! Get down," yelled Danny, as they exited the house. They launched themselves off the porch, and rolled onto the lawn, just as the house exploded, sending debris in every direction.
"Everyone okay?" coughed Danny, brushing away debris, quickly surveying the situation. She noticed some material covering Lauren and scrambled over to free her.
Danny helped the doctor to her feet and used her sleeve to dab at a small cut above her eye. "Are you okay?"
The doctor nodded unable to speak.
"It's gonna be okay," reassured Danny, her fingers stroking the doctors cheek, knowing she was out of her element. Lauren winced, feeling discomfort in her stomach, but was distracted by Kenzi's frantic shouting.
"Bo? Bo!" choked Kenzi brushing her hand over her shirt while she furiously scanned the area.
Danny's attention immediately turned to searching for the succubus. "She was right behind me."
"She must still be inside. I'll look for her," shouted Danny, pulling Kenzi behind her. "Stay here!"
"Danny be careful," yelled the doctor, her voice tight with dread as she helplessly watched the wolf running into the burning building. She anxiously paced, seconds feeling like forever as she zipped up her leather jacket to stave off the chill of the impending night air.
"I can't wait any longer," blurted Kenzi, starting toward the house.
"Kenz." Lauren grabbed her by the wrist, her soft brown gaze meeting the blue tormented eyes of the Goth. "It's too dangerous, you need to stay here. Danny will find her," assured the doctor wrapping her arms around the woman. Kenzi sunk into the warmth of Lauren's arms, gripping the doctor tightly, regretting ever calling her Dr. Freeze.
"Bo!" yelled Danny, shading her face from the intense flames, her anxiety rising with each passing second.
"Bo, where are you," she called moving further into the house, dodging flames and falling debris.
"Bo!" shouted Danny recognizing the figure lying motionless. "Bo wake up," begged Danny, anxiously shaking her. With no response Danny lifted the lifeless succubus in her arms and made her way back out to the lawn, gently laying her in the soft soil.
"Dammit Bo" whispered Lauren. The doctor's heart was racing, and her hands trembled examining the succubus.
For the second time in just over three months someone she cared about deeply, was lifeless. She quickly checked for a pulse and an airway while Danny kneeled next to her, her eyes darting over the injured woman.
"No pulse, start compressions Danny," ordered Lauren as Kenzi held Bo's lifeless hand, tears streaming down her satin cheeks.
"Please Bo don't leave me, I need you," sobbed Kenzi realizing she was in real trouble. "Can't we do the succubus thing?"
Lauren shook her head, "She needs to be breathing to feed."
"Let's get her in the car and take her to the clinic," blurted Danny.
"We can't move her because we can't stop doing compressions," replied Lauren biting her lip, trying to hold back the tears that were just about to cascade over her eye lids.
"Kenz. Kenz, look at me," begged Lauren, "I need you to calm down." Kenzi took a deep breath trying to compose herself. "I need you to call the clinic and get them to send the ambulance, ask for Katie and get her to use the GPS off my car for the location. Can you do that please?" Kenzi nodded pulling out her phone.
"Anything?" asked Lauren, turning her attention back to Bo, worry etched on her face, emotions unravelling. Danny shook her head, her eyes focused on the succubus.
"Kenz I need your belt," breathed the doctor, pulling a syringe from her bag and prepping it. The distraught girl, handed the belt to the doctor, her eyes filled with terror watching her friend so still. Kenzi watched in disbelief her mind racing. It was inconceivable. How could this happen? This was Bo, she could just take someone else's energy when she got in trouble.
Lauren tightened the belt around Bo's limp arm and when a vein became obvious she pushed the syringe in sending Epinephrine to her heart much like she had done a few months before for Danny, only this time there was no crash cart, only manual compressions and Lauren knew the chances for survival given the circumstances were poor. Their best hope was to keep her alive until the ambulance got there and even then she was unsure of the damage she had sustained in the blast. Her organs could be damaged and if they couldn't get her to feed, her injuries could be too great for human medicine to repair.
Danny was breathing rapidly, "come on Bo," she whispered, relentlessly working Bo's chest, while tears slowly drizzled down her cheeks, glistening in the evening air.
"It isn't working," breathed Danny after several more minutes, glancing at the doctor for direction who was searching for a visible trauma causing Bo's heart to stop. There was no apparent injury and aside from Danny pumping her chest, she looked like she was sleeping.
"What else can we do?" gasped Danny, searching Lauren's features seeing despair rising.
With her heart hammering in her chest, Lauren scrubbed away salty tears that were blurring her vision. "This is all we can do until the ambulance gets here."
Kenzi's wild eyes, darting between Danny and Lauren, "she's going to be alright, right?" The Goth woman was trembling by Bo's side, searching her face, waiting for her to wake, "Come on Bo Bo, please."
Lauren barely moved her head but Danny knew there was nothing, and her chest tightened, feeling the crushing weight of her emotions.
"I tried Epinephrine. We're doing compressions and breathing for her. I can't do anything more until we get her back to the clinic," whispered the doctor helplessly, despondence creeping with each second ticking by.
"Let me try something," suggested the distraught wolf, fighting to maintain her composure.
"No," replied Lauren taking over the compressions, "we can't stop." The doctor continued CPR for several more minutes with no improvement in Bo's condition. Kenzi was coming unravelled and the ambulance was still at least another 10-20 minutes away, if they didn't get lost.
Danny put her hand over Lauren's, her auburn eyes meeting the doctor's, sharing a desperate glance. "Tell me we aren't running out of time."
The doctor's bottom lip quivered, her facial muscles contorting in an effort to hold it together. She shook her head, "I can't."
"Then let me try," whispered the wolf.
Lauren looked up the sky, the afternoon light fading quickly, feeling déjà vue. They had gotten lucky with Danny, and being a scientist she was typically very fact based, but she knew in this case they were temping fate.
Lauren's eyes returned to Danny's seeing the determination and resolve despite the dire situation; the wolf had never failed her and she trusted her completely. Danny was right, nothing was working thought the blonde barely breathing, unable to contain her emotions.
"Okay," she agreed finally. With tears trickling down her cheeks, she stopped compressions and backed up from the injured woman. With science exhausted, she was hoping for a miracle to save a woman she still cared deeply for, someone she loved.
"No!" screamed Kenzi. "keep going, don't stop."
Lauren grabbed Kenzi, drawing her close pulling her back from Bo's lifeless body, whispering in her ear, "just let her."
Danny kneeled beside Bo tucking her feet under the back pockets of her jeans, and squeezed her eyes shut. She raised both her hands in front of her chest, pressing them together as in prayer. She took deep breaths breathing in and slowly pushing out. She opened her eyes and Lauren could see a power she had never seen before, her eyes glowed a dark shimmering gold. Danny slowly placed her hands over Bo's heart, closing her eyes again.
"What is…" started Kenzi.
"Nothing's happening," whispered Kenzi, tears still streaming uncontrollably down her cheeks.
"Just wait," breathed Lauren. In awe, the doctor stood silently witnessing a soft glow emanate from Danny into the succubus' chest.
Danny's hands trembled, feeling the power coursing through her body, as she focused, channelling her life force. She pressed her hands to Bo's chest, feeling the succubus gasp, her shoulders pressing up under her palms.
"Oh my god," whispered Lauren, her jaw fell open, as her eyes filled with wonder, staring at the wolf.
"Holy shit!" squeaked Kenzi. "That's new."
Bo took a few more unsteady breaths with Lauren gently shaking her. "Bo! Breathe honey, breathe."
"She needs to feed, now," gasped Lauren. "She'll suck the life out of Kenzi and I." She glanced anxiously at Danny who appeared exhausted from the effort to start Bo's heart.
"Danny you need to do it," suggested Lauren, knowing there was no choice but not really wanting Bo to feed on her.
"Yeah," panted Danny trying to recover, "the whole succubusing thing kind of scares me."
"I'll do it," blurted Kenzi.
"We can't Kenz, she needs more than you or I can give," soothed the doctor.
Kenzi shook her head defiantly. "I don't care, I'd do anything for her, and I will not let her die."
Lauren placed her hand on Danny's bicep making intense eye contact, "she will die."
Danny swallowed hard and nodded.
Lauren helped Danny straddle the succubus, who was barely breathing slipping in and out of consciousness, unaware of her surroundings. Danny leaned toward Bo feeling her weak breath on her lips.
"It's not working," uttered the wolf.
"You need to get the sexual energy going for her," replied Lauren, hating just the thought of that, REALLY not wanting to watch.
"Ah shit," whispered Danny nibbling her lip, studying Bo's features. She timidly nudged Bo's lips with her own, uncertain what to expect. She pulled back again, nervously running her hand through her hair, taking a deep breath.
Danny's unsure eyes met Lauren's, "she needs you," whispered the doctor. "It's okay."
The wolf nodded knowing there was no choice, Bo would die if she couldn't feed, there was no doubt in her mind. She took a deep breath and pressed her soft lips on Bo's tentatively. Danny pressed deeper, getting more aggressive, slipping her tongue between succubus' lips, teasing her mouth. Danny was struggling to relax, feeling awkward, and trying desperately to generate sexual energy.
Kenzi nervously watched and quipped, "Wolves, Succubus', Capers…that shit is all surprisingly normal. Kissing your unconscious Sister who happens to be your girlfriend's ex, in front of your girlfriend,... you just can't make that shit up."
Lauren glared at Kenzi not needing to be reminded of what Danny was doing. "Not helping."
Danny cleared her mind and focused on the kiss, knowing Bo needed help and that she had to get past the awkwardness. Her lips moved gently over Bo's, her tongue tickling the succubus' mouth with growing confidence. She slipped her hand up to Bo's cheek kissing her deeper, passionately, her mouth moving rhythmically as if with a partner.
Without warning, Bo's eye lids flew open, her eyes blazing with an undeniable hunger. She pulled Danny toward her with incredible power, catching the wolf off guard. She wrapped her fingers in Danny's unruly hair, soaking in the incredible chi that was Danny's special flavour, a life force like no other Bo had ever tasted. Bo's wounds were healing rapidly as she rolled on top of Danny pinning her to the ground, kissing her more than she was feeding.
Danny pushed Bo back, gasping while Kenzi pulled the aggressive succubus off her, wrapping her arms around the dark beauty.
"Jeez Bo," gasp the wolf trying to catch her breath.
"I'm sorry," apologized the succubus.
Lauren looked at the dark sky, her lips turned up at the corners, taking a deep breath, knowing they had just eluded fate, again. She sighed, her eyes meeting Bo's dark gaze, sharing an affectionate glance with the succubus who was still in Kenzi's embrace. The doctor pulled her phone out of her pocket, noticing The Ash had called twice, and quickly called Katie to call off the ambulance.
"Danny are you alright?" asked Lauren kneeling beside her, staring intently at the wolf laying on her back, her chest still heaving.
"Really tired," breathed Danny. "Is Bo okay?"
"I'm fine, better than fine actually," gushed Bo escaping Kenzi's grasp to squat next to Danny. She reached for the exhausted woman's hand and pulled her to a sitting position. "Your Chi is, like wow. So much more... than." She hesitated noticing Lauren staring at her. "I mean, thank you."
Danny nodded still unsettled from the experience.
"We were set up," growled the succubus changing the subject.
"So what now?" asked Danny leaning against the doctor.
"We need to get in touch with Father. I'll talk to Trick and see if he can facilitate," replied Bo.
"Am I the only one who wants to know what the hell just happened?" asked Kenzi. "Besides the succubusing, which unfortunately, you just cannot unsee."
Danny looked at her hands silently, shaking her head, "I don't know."
"She was dead. D-E-A-D," said Kenzi spelling it out, and you brought her back with your bare hands."
"I don't know," replied the wolf, getting to her feet unsure why she was feeling defensive. "Can we just go home?"
"Of course, I have to get back to the lab anyway. The Ash is looking for me," agreed Lauren brushing her hand tenderly across Danny's shoulders. The doctor flinched feeling discomfort in her abdomen.
"What is it?" asked Danny, wrapping her fingers in the smooth leather of the doctor's jacket, seeing the strain and fatigue etched on the doctor's face.
"It's nothing," replied Lauren. "Indigestion or something."
"I'm not sure it's a good idea for you to be anywhere near The Ash until we find out what's going on," replied Danny. Bo nodded in agreement.
"I don't really have a choice," sighed the doctor resigned to the fact that she was owned by the man. Danny gazed sadly at the woman she loved, trying to hold back the slow burn that was rising in her chest.
Bo wrapped her arms around Danny, burying her face in the nape of her neck, breathing in her scent and whispered, "Thank you."
Danny replied, "I'm just glad you are okay."
"Will you be okay?" asked Bo.
Danny nodded toward Lauren, "I'm in good hands."
Lauren wrapped her arms around the leather clad beauty and held her tightly, her embrace filled with love. Bo returned the embrace always eager to feel the love that still burned for her.
"You scared me," whispered the doctor squeezing Bo tighter before pulling out of her arms.
"I'm sorry."
The doctor collected her bag and headed to the car resting her hand on Danny's back.
"Let's go," said Bo affectionately hanging an arm over Kenzi's shoulders.
Kenzi chattered all the way home and Bo was struggling to tune out her Goth friend who had just witnessed a miracle.
"I get it Kenz, I was gone, you said that like 12 times already," growled Bo irritably. Bo was lost in thought when they pulled up to the club house. Danny's energy was incredible, like a sweet catnip and the exchange itself was electrifying. She felt awesome, better than normal as she sauntered in the clubhouse to find Dyson waiting for her.
"Bo, are you alright?" asked Dyson concerned, noticing Bo's clothes ripped and torn.
"I'm fine," she smiled, draping her wrists over the detective's shoulders, and capturing his lips.
"What happened?"
"Mmmmm, that, well she got herself blown to bits, died, Danny got all shaman on us, saved her ass and then Bo had an erotic experience with Danny, sucking her Chi. Does that about sum it up?" Kenzi asked, turning toward Bo.
Bo shrugged, "yeah, pretty well I guess."
"Died?" uttered Dyson, the only word that stuck.
"It's nothing to worry about. Come on let's go upstairs and I'll tell you all about it," smirked Bo grabbing Dyson by the arm.
Kenzi rolled her eyes, "could you at least "talk" quietly," she asked flopping on the couch and turning on a video game.
Bo smiled wickedly, "I'll try."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The ride home was quiet, Lauren's mind was analyzing what she had observed and was trying to remember if she had ever read about anything similar to what she had seen. The wolf was setting new limits for what was possible and she smiled feeling lucky to be part of her life.
Danny for her part, was just exhausted, more than tired, beyond tired, just drained, but she wasn't sleepy. The wolf disappeared into herself, her mind searching the depths of her conscious, desperate for answers that were not forth coming.
"Danny?" asked Lauren.
"Hmmmm," replied the wolf in a haze, not realizing they were on the door step to Lauren's condo.
"Are you alright?" asked Lauren unzipping her jacket, a frown beginning to furrow in her brow as they entered the front door.
"Huh," grunted Danny shaking away her distant thoughts. "I'm fine, but you don't look like you are."
"Come, sit," said Danny pulling the doctor to the couch suddenly realizing Lauren was bleeding.
Lauren protested, "I'm fine, I need to get back to the lab."
"If you were fine, you wouldn't be bleeding. Where's your medical bag?" asked Danny. Lauren pointed slowly toward the hall closet, her eyes following the wolf, suddenly having trouble comprehending what was going on.
Danny returned to couch to examine Lauren who was leaning back holding her side. The Fae kneeled in front of the blonde, reaching up with a wet cloth and tenderly wiping the blood from above her brow. She cleaned the wound and applied a dressing.
She helped the doctor sit up so she could push her jacket off her shoulders. She studied Lauren, noticing her normally white button down shirt was dirty, and there were traces of blood splatter, as well as a red stain forming under the doctor's hand.
"Let me look at it," suggested Danny, her worried eyes connecting with Lauren's while she unbuttoned her blouse. Lauren grimaced, moving her hand from her side, her eyes lowering to examine why she was in pain. Danny's mouth opened slightly, seeing the puncture wound that appeared to still have a piece of glass in it from the explosion.
"Why didn't you tell me you were hurt?" asked Danny, her voice wavering slightly, trying to stay calm.
The doctor thought back. "I zipped up my jacket after the explosion...I guess with the adrenalin, I didn't… notice…. pain with everything….," replied the doctor, her speech slow and deliberate. "got…. worse... I'm ccc old," shivered the blonde. Danny grabbed a blanket off the back of the couch, gently draping it over Lauren's shoulders.
"Lauren honey, we need to get you to the clinic," advised Danny as calmly as she could, trying not to panic the doctor. The concerned Fae gingerly brushed the tresses from the doctor's face, her hand caressing her cheek affectionately. "It's going to be okay."
"Danny, I'm so cold and I..." the doctor's head fell back against the couch weakly.
The wolf quickly built a donut to go around the glass shard and then wrapped gauze around the doctor's waist as tightly as she dared. Glancing up she noticed the doctor's eyes had closed. Frantic, she shook the doctor trying to rouse her back to consciousness. "Stay with me. Lauren, you need to stay awake."
"Lauren!" shouted Danny desperately.