Author's Notes:

Hey there, first thing first. I can't seem to get this story out of Bo/Dyson. All I wanted to do was to add Dyson and Kenzi to the list of characters in the story. And for SOME reason, it shows up AS Bo/Dyson. I thought: "OH... it does this alphabetically." So I deleted both Kenzi and Dyson but it hasn't changed. I'm not sure WHY. And I'm sorry if this has caused any confusion. I had done this once before, and I was able to change it back, but now I think it's stuck.

Bummer.

On the brighter side however, it's a LONGER update. And if you want to see Jacob, go to my twitter account. I have photographs of the actor I'm using for Jacob.


CHAPTER 29

Jacob wanted to go after Thornwood. He could sense this situation was one the detective never saw himself in and anger made many people and Fae do things they wished they could take back.

He knew he could get Thornwood's address from the medical database – if only to keep an eye on him for the foreseeable future.

And Jacob did not want Miss Dennis; Bo, to place herself in harm's way not in her present condition.

He still had connections all it would take was a phone call or two.

"Jacob may I have a word please?" Trick asked.

"Of course." he nodded. "Will you excuse me momentarily?"

"Knock yourself out." Kenzi replied as she reached for the bottle of Buckthorn, only to have Trick take it off the counter. "So close." she muttered dejectedly.

Jacob followed the Blood King into his office.

"Have a seat Jacob." Trick said as he brought out the way station sign in book. "Let's see..." he mumbled as he flicked through the pages. "Here." he said turning the book in Jacob's direction. "You signed in over two years ago..."

Jacob, or rather Salus could see his signature, with the date next to it. "Yes I did."

"But I haven't seen you in all that time, why?"

Jacob took a deep breath. "As you know Madeline and I were close at one point."

Trick nodded. "Yes, I cannot express enough how much the Fae community lost with her tragic death."

Jacob clenched his hands tightly as he thought about the pictures he had seen of Madeline's remains. He had gotten quite sick and if the Warden of Hecuba prison had not been killed by the guards and inmates alike, he would have prepared something special for the warden.

He had no qualms about using his vast medical knowledge to avenge Madeline's death had he had the opportunity.

But the Blood King was not going to ask him about that. He knew this day would come sooner or later and Jacob was surprised to have kept his identity a secret for as long as he had.

"Thank you." he said softly. He cleared his throat. "We... Madeline and I were talking a few years ago and she brought up Dr. Lewis."

"Lauren?" Trick asked surprised.

"Yes..." Jacob smiled. "She - Madeline - was quite fond of her and she said I should get out of the forest one day and seek Dr. Lewis out. Speak with her."

"I see." Trick said. "And this explains why people are calling you Jacob instead of Salus how?"

"As you can tell." he said gesturing to the book. "I arrived not long before the attack on the Light compound." He could see the muscle in the Blood King's jaw twitch at the thought of what Aife had done. "I had made a few inquires about Dr. Lewis prior to arriving and I wanted the opportunity to see her in action, so to speak." he shrugged.

"But why not as yourself?" Trick asked. "Why all the subterfuge?"

"As I explained to Lauren..."

"She knew who you were and she didn't say anything?" he asked shocked. A healer of Salus' caliber should not have been hiding in plain sight. He should have been afforded the accolades he deserved.

"Yes, but, I would not have allowed her to say anything. Please allow me to explain?"

Trick nodded.

"You know as well as I do, humans are not seen for the remarkable species that they are. For most of the Fae population, humans are simply used and thrown away without a second thought for the possible potential that may have been lost."

"That's true." Trick agreed.

"Dr. Lewis would have been subjugated to the Light sooner or later. Don't you agree?"

Trick thought for a moment. "Yes. Her medical knowledge and intelligence would have eventually been brought to the Ash's attention." Trick concurred.

"Exactly and had she been born Fae, she would have had the medical community bowing at her feet, instead of having to bow down herself. It's a travesty of the highest magnitude." Jacob said angrily. "She should have been feted with honors befitting her accomplishments, not just for her work in the Congo, but for everything she has done since then." he shook his head. "She will never be recognized beyond her position at the medical lab."

"No she won't." Trick sighed. "She'll never reach your or Madeline's stature."

"Simply because she's human and that's all. If I had made an appearance as Salus Quintus her position would have been in jeopardy and I could not in good faith take that from her."

"I see..."

"I truly hope you do."

"So, now that I know you're back?"

"I must beg your indulgence your Majesty."

"Please call me Trick."

"Of course." Jacob nodded. "I must ask you not to let anyone know who I really am. I have been working side by side with Dr. Lewis for two years now and Madeline was not wrong, she is astonishing and it has been a pleasure to have seen the leaps and bounds she has made..." Jacob said beaming.

Trick laughed. "You are aware she is seeing my granddaughter?"

"Trick, you know I am old enough to be her great great grandfather many, many times over and I am quite aware that she only has eyes for your granddaughter."

Trick smiled. "I appreciate you answering my questions. Puts a troubled mind at rest; it has been a long time old friend."

"Yes it has and perhaps now I can come by and have a drink now and then."

"I will be glad to see you." Trick stood up and noticed the frown on Jacob's face. "Is something wrong?

"I am reluctant to ask, but, how well do you know Thornwood?"

"Dyson? For quite a while now, why do you ask?"

"I am worried about his reaction to the news. Frankly, I don't trust him."

Trick scoffed. "He'll be fine. He just needs time to think things clearly. He'll do what's right in the end."

"Although he is in love with your granddaughter?"

"Yes. He knows time is on his side in all this."

Jacob frowned. "Do you really think it's as simple as that?"

"This entire situation will blow over – no one can say that Bo will carry the child to term." Trick said.

Jacob was flabbergasted.

He had not expected this type of reaction from the Blood King. Surely he had misunderstood, considering their conversation about Lauren moments ago.

"Lauren and I will do everything in our power to insure Bo does." he told him.

"Bo's welfare is my only concern," Trick replied. "I'm sure you understand that?"

"But..."

"Do I feel sorry for Lauren and what has befallen her? Yes, absolutely, but that does not change the facts. The child Bo is carrying is not hers therefore it is no kin of mine." Trick walked up to Jacob. "This infatuation Bo has for Lauren is fleeting in the life of a Fae. You know that as well as I."

"Do you think so little of Bo's feelings towards Lauren? That you consider it a simple infatuation on Bo's part? Something she'll get over fairly easily. Or are you worried she may love Lauren as much as you loved your wife? Are you afraid that she'll never recover? That she'd rather spend the rest of her life alone with Lauren's memory, as you have done so with your wife's? That Bo considers Lauren irreplaceable?"

"That is uncalled for!"

Jacob saw that he had struck a cord. He took a deep breath before slowly lowering his head. "I overstepped my bounds, my sincerest apologies your Majesty."

Trick closed his eyes – Jacob's comment hurt more than he thought. The depth of emotion he felt for his beloved wife was boundless. Surely Bo could not feel the same for Lauren.

He was sure Bo would love again; if that's what she considered her feelings for Lauren to be.

She would be in pain, but she would and could move on.

She only had to realize it.

Lauren was hers for a single lifetime; if that, and nothing else.

"We shall not speak of this again." Trick said.

"Of course." Things had become suddenly more complicated. He followed Trick out of the office and made his way back to the bar.

He saw Bo and Lauren huddled together at a table speaking in hushed tones.

"Yo! Jake!"

He smiled.

He did rather enjoy Kenzi's company – she was a breath of fresh air to him. "Miss Kenzi..."

"Have a seat." she told him patting the empty bar stool next to her.

"Thank you." he said sitting down.

"So... what's your angle?"

"Excuse me?"

"I see Hot Pants trusts you – Hell, I want to trust you, but I don't know you."

Jacob nodded slowly. "You wish to know if I have any ulterior motives."

"Listen Jake." Kenzi reached out and patted him on the shoulder. "You seem nice and all, but I won't let you hurt them. I've already done that in spades..."

Jacob was curious. What had she done? Perhaps he had missed something while he had been waiting in the car earlier.

"VymenyA panimAyete?"

"Da, Ya vas haroshO panimAyu, Miss Kenzi." he answered very seriously.

For some reason, Kenzi was not surprised to hear him reply in Russian when she asked him if he understood.

He probably knew more languages than she could name. Still, she searched his face for some indication; some hint he might to harm any of them.

She was not kidding when she told him she would not allow him to hurt any of them.

She wasn't sure when and it had to be when, Bo or Lauren would forgive her but she was going to do everything she could to protect her family.

Especially as there was a baby involved.

Jacob sat perfectly still. Kenzi was gauging his worthiness and it was slightly unnerving, but he knew she was well within her right to do so as Bo's best friend.

The only time he had felt like this was when he was asking Count Ludovico Sforza permission to court his daughter, Giovanna, during the Italian Renaissance.

Kenzi relaxed. "Good, as long as we're clear." she finally said.

"Did I pass inspection?"

Kenzi cocked her head to the right. "Jury's still out – however... it can be bribed." she said holding up her empty glass.

Jacob smiled and nodded. It was not going to be that easy, he knew that. "Another Buckthorn please... Trick."

"Kenzi..." Trick rumbled.

"Hey! I did not say in so many words..." she told him. "But if offered, who am I to refuse such splendid libations?"

"It's fine, please." Jacob interjected.

"Thanks Jake." Kenzi told him when Trick went to get the bottle again.

"You're welcome." Jacob replied. "Miss Kenzi?" he said slowly.

"Yeah." she replied cautiously. Her spider sense was starting to kick in. She knew it. Something was going to happen. "Shit!" she muttered under her breath.

"Would you allow me to escort you to dinner one day?" he asked.

Kenzi jerked back. 'What the huh?' She wasn't expecting that. "Are you asking me out dude!?"

"Don't friends go out together?" he asked. 'Surely people still do that now?' he thought. "I believe as we will be seeing quite a bit more of each other as Bo's pregnancy progresses, we should get acquainted. And it would give Bo and Dr. Lewis the chance to have some privacy."

Kenzi pouted. She hadn't given that much thought. BoBo and Hot Pants would probably want some alone time. They'll want to talk about things... things she would not be a part of. Not that she should want to be a part of them... 'Right.' she thought. As it was, she'd be lucky to be included in anything now.

"Miss Kenzi?"

She sighed deeply. "Fine. But no funny business."

Jacob laughed out loud. He placed his hand over his heart. "I have not, nor will I ever force myself on anyone. You have my word."

"Well, don't go all Princess Bride on me and say 'As you wish.'"

"I shall do my best Miss Kenzi..." He would have to find out about the Princess Bride reference.

"And knock off the Miss Kenzi." she used air quotations. "Shit already. It's just Kenzi for crying out loud. Only Mumford called me that."

"There is so much about you I would like to know... Kenzi."

She flicked her hand out. "Yeah, whatever floats your boat."

"Hey Kenz!"

Jacob watched in silent awe as Kenzi's face brightened.

"Yeah BoBo?" Kenzi replied hopping off her seat, the glass of Buckthorn Trick had poured while she and Jake had been talking, forgotten.

Bo walked over to Kenzi, nodding in Jacob's direction. "Come on, let's go home."

"Really?"

Bo looked down momentarily, and then brought Kenzi's slight frame into her arms. "Kenzi you are my family and I love you... but pull that shit again..."

Kenzi relished the warmth of Bo's arms around her. She held on for as long as she could before letting go. She wasn't completely forgiven, but it was a start. She took a deep breath, letting it out shakily. "Did Lauren finally tell you?"

Bo knew what Kenzi was asking - the pregnancy. That was what they were talking about privately. "Yeah she did. And she's right, it's complicated."

"Only you Succubitch could make having a kid complicated."

Bo nudged Kenzi in the shoulder. "Jacob..."

"Yes Bo?"

"Lauren wanted to speak with you."

"Of course." he replied, dipping his head slightly. "Excuse me."

Bo and Kenzi watched as Jacob walked over towards Lauren.

"Polite isn't he?" Bo asked.

"Got that right."

"Good looking too." Bo muttered absentmindedly.

"Hey!" Kenzi said hitting Bo in the arm. "Keep your pants on!"

Bo looked at Kenzi. "Window shopping Kenzi, I'm just window shopping."

"You need to feed BoBo." Kenzi surmised when she noticed her bestie's eyes flash briefly.

"I am a bit peckish." Bo said licking her lips.

"Oh come on Bo! Not Jake!" Kenzi whined.

Bo kept staring in Jacob's direction. "Well, he did offer."

"HOT PANTS!"