A/N: Can't sleep, thought of this one. So here's a little update for ya'll.

Chapter 38: Love Me In Whatever Way (3x07)

The Dal – Basement

Bo had been down here for hours.

Sitting on an empty beer crate while staring into the eyes of the rabid Satyr who was caged in the cell in front of her. It had been a few weeks since Bo heard about this whole Dawning nonsense. And in those weeks, she'd been thinking about her situation. And more importantly, its end.

There was. I guarantee she'd survive her Dawning. And even if by some slim chance, she did; what would she be then? Who would she be? The whole thought of it terrified her. Her friends had been there to support her; they always came through on that end.

Kenzi was still dealing with being kidnapped. And Bo was also having trouble with the fact that her best friend in the whole world; kept a rather big secret from her. Dyson had his love back. He'd had it this entire time. And not only did Kenzi know; but she was the reason the Norn gave it up.

What did that mean?

All this time living together; Kenzi told Bo she only wanted her to be happy. No matter who she was with romantically. But, if that was true; then why settle herself on Dyson's side and give him the one thing that put him back in the running. It's almost like she wanted Lauren out of the picture.

Bo was getting off base now. This was her problem. She was supposed to clear her mind, and focus on nothing but her training for the Dawning. But how could she do that, when all this drama was unfolding around her. Secrets, jealous exes, relationship problems. It was all suffocating her.

Slowly, but surely.

She sat on the edge of the crate, looking directly at the Satyr. "Does it hurt?" She knew it couldn't answer her. But she still felt like she needed to ask. "Because it looks like it does. Emotionally, at least?" It snarled at her. "If you couldn't pass then what hope is there for me?"

It continues to pull at the iron bars on the cage, drooling uncontrollably. "See, my friends; think I'm gonna pass with flying colours. But I'm not so optimistic…" she sighed. "… I never tested well in High School, why should this be any different right?" She chuckled sadly.

"I feel like I'm a joke to the Universe; you know what I mean?" He didn't. "I mean, I finally get my love life sorted out. I have this amazing Girlfriend who I love and the craziest part is she actually loves me back!" She always found that surreal. "Me!" She repeated.

The Satyr just stared at her, not knowing what she was talking about because it could no longer register with people.

"There's two ways this could all end…" She spoke again. "… I could train my ass off for this thing, and win. I keep my friends, I keep my Girlfriend and I live my life. Or, it could go the other way. I train, I lose…" thinking about the possibility, made her ache. "… I lose everything, and everyone I've ever cared about..." she looked at it again.

It met her gaze, feeling her peer into what was left of his soul.

"… I become you" Bo whispered, picturing it.

That was her nightmare. Not just of becoming this thing. Devolving until there was nothing left of who she was. But actually letting the people she loved, go through that too. Letting Kenzi, Dyson, Trick, Hale, and Lauren; watch her, become a monster.

She couldn't do that; she couldn't put them through that. "It doesn't matter if they have faith in me…" she said. "… It matters, if I have faith in myself. And I don't!" She admitted. "I don't, see a way out of this for me. All I see, is you!" She stood from the crate, "I won't do that to them!" she shook her head.

"I love them too much to put them through it…" Bo took a breath, wiping a tear away from her cheek. "… So, I'm gonna do the one thing I thought I was done with. I'm gonna run" she'd made up her mind, and she was sticking to it. So, she went to turn around and finally leave.

Only to be met by Trick's face. "Can you really do that?" He replied to her earlier statement. "Can you really pack up, and leave everyone you love behind?" She looked away from him. "Without your training, you'll fail the Dawning. And you'll die"

"Wake up Trick!" Bo shouted. "I'm already dead! Training for something that won't work will just waste whatever time I have left. I'd rather spend it as myself, than some robot who cares only about staying alive"

"Why're you so sure you'll fail?" He asked.

Bo sighed, she didn't want to talk about this. "I've never amounted to anything Trick; this won't be any different. Look, this has nothing to do with you…" she approached him, "… You have been the greatest role model I've ever had. Even before I knew the truth about who you were. If you love me, you'll respect my choice to do this"

Trick didn't want to let her go. She was all he had left. "And what about Kenzi? What about Lauren? I can't imagine they'll just let you go without a word"

"Who says they have to know?" Bo didn't intend on telling her friends anything. Yes, it was cowardly of her. And maybe even selfish, but she was doing it to spare them the misery of watching her devolve into nothing.

What Trick didn't know, was that Bo had already made up her mind before coming here. All this gave her, was reassurance. She reached into her back pocket, pulling out five white envelopes. "I'll text you when I'm out of the city. Call them over; hand these out"

"Bo, please don't do this!" Trick held the envelopes in his hands, thinking of how he could even begin to tell everyone that Bo had run off. And all she'd left to say goodbye was a letter.

"I'm doing this for all of you…" Bo said. "… I love you Trick; please, know that. And I'll never forget all you've done for me. Give me your word, you won't tell them until I'm gone. Please" she needed his word.

Trick shook his head at first, but he knew that if this was what she wanted; then he had to respect her wishes. He owed her that. "You have my word, Bo" he welcomed a quick hug from her, then watched her leave. He didn't even get to tell her that he loved her too.

Because he did.

Main Bar – Later

Trick was beside himself, so much so that he closed up for the day. He couldn't bring himself to play present with customers. Not when he'd just suffered such a devastation. His Granddaughter had left him; the only person he had left to call Family. He wasn't ashamed to admit that he cried a little.

How could he not?

As he wallowed in his sadness, he poured himself a large glass of whiskey. The strongest bottle he owned. It must've been at least two hundred years old. If ever there was a time to open it, it was now.

"Trick?" Lauren walked in, seeing her friend looking rather defeated. "Is everything okay?" She asked, not getting an answer. "You've closed up early, considering it's a Friday night. Has something happened?"

He wanted to tell her so badly, but he promised Bo he wouldn't. "No…" he gave a tired smile. "… Just feeling a little under the weather is all"

Looking to his glass of whiskey, Lauren frowned. "And you thought consuming an enormous amount of alcohol would make you feel better?" She chuckled, not understanding. "If you're not feeling well, then maybe I should examine you. Unless you have something else to do?"

"No, nothing…" Trick shook his head. "… Besides, I doubt it's anything serious. With the bar being busy and helping Hale with his Ash duties; I've been spreading myself a little thin. It's nothing a few days rest can't cure" he made it seem like nothing.

Lauren knew when to back off, "Alright…" she remembered what she came here for. "… I was wondering if you've heard from Bo at all? I've been trying to call her all day, but all I'm getting is her voicemail. I know Dyson took Kenzi out for a day of shopping, which's good; she needs to have a little fun after what she went through"

"Yes she does" Trick agreed.

But he didn't answer her question. "So, have you see Bo?" Lauren asked again.

"Today?" Trick pretended to think hard. "No, I can't say I have. I'm sure she'll turn up; perhaps she's out on a case"

Now Lauren knew something was definitely wrong. Trick wasn't his usual charming self, and it wasn't just out of tiredness. He'd been busier than this before and still remained as smiley as ever. Something was up. "She hasn't been taking any cases since she found out about the Dawning. So, I'm gonna ask you again Trick; where is she?"

"Lauren, I really don't know" Trick sipped more of his drink.

"You're lying to me Trick…" Lauren said. "… Can't say you've ever done that to me before. Look, I know you're upset about something. And since you're being evasive whenever I mention Bo; it makes me think that it has something to do with her. Tell me" she wanted to know.

Trick sighed, bowing his head. "She's gone Lauren…" she asked him what he meant by that. "… She's so sure she'll fail her Dawning that she's given up on even trying to beat it. That, and she doesn't want us all to watch her fade away if she fails. She's trying to spare us the agony"

Lauren was utterly shocked. "So, her solution is to leave without saying goodbye?" This hurt her so much. That her own Girlfriend was leaving her. "No, she doesn't get to make that decision! Where is she?" She had to stop this.

"I honestly have no idea; she's probably left the city by now…" he reached into his front pocket, finding the envelop with Lauren's name on it. "… She wrote one for each of us. This one is addressed to you. Perhaps reading it will giving you a better explanation for her reasons" he gave it to her.

Holding it in her hands, Lauren just trailed her finger over Bo's handwriting of her name. "I hope for her sake it does" she took it and left the bar without another word.

Leaving Trick to return to his wallow, and pour another glass of whiskey.

Lauren's Apartment – Later

As soon as she left the bar, Lauren went straight to the Clubhouse. Hoping to catch Bo in the act, but she didn't find anything. And when she checked her Girlfriend's bedroom, most of her stuff was gone including the clothes in her closet. It was true, she'd left.

Just like Trick said.

Not able to do anything else; Lauren went home. The sun had set, and it was getting dark. And she had yet to read Bo's letter. So, now was the time. She got into her apartment. Throwing her keys on the table beside the door and removing her jacket and shoes before sitting on the couch.

She tore open the envelope, pulling out the letter. Unfolding it, she felt her heart flutter as she pondered the things it would say.

Lauren,

I can only imagine the look on your face right now. I don't blame you for being mad; you have every right to be. But, I just couldn't bear to make you watch me fail the Dawning. All I ever wanted was to find someone like you; and now that I have it sucks that something's come to ruin it.

I need you to know; that my decision to leave has nothing to do with you, personally. If anything, it's to protect you. I don't want you to see what I become when I devolve.

Every second I've spent with you has been incredible. I wouldn't trade it for anything. I hope one day you can understand why I had to do this. And also, how much I love you. Because I do; I love you so much. Please, don't put your life on hold because of me.

I want you to be happy.

I love you,

Bo.

As she finished reading, a tear splashed onto the paper as it fell from Lauren's eye. She couldn't believe this was it. She wasn't going to see Bo again. All she had to remember her, was a letter, and her memories.

"I cried non-stop when I wrote that"

Lauren jumped, turning around and seeing Bo emerge from the shadows near her kitchen. She hadn't turned the lights on in there yet. She had no idea she was there. "Shouldn't you be anywhere but here?"

Bo smiled. Yep, she was pissed. "I tried…" she replied. "… Even got as far as the Highway. Then I realised how much of a pussy I was being. Running away, is my default setting. It's all I did for ten years. Before I met you. I thought it was the only answer"

"And now?" Lauren dropped the letter on the couch, wiping her tears. "What do you think now?" She asked, taking steps towards the kitchen.

Taking a deep breath, "I think; I need to fight. Not just for us, or for Trick, or Kenzi. But, for me. I need to fight this, for me" she was so concerned about passing this thing for her family when really the only person she should've been concerned about was herself. It was her life on the line here.

Being able to stay with everyone, was a bonus.

Lauren kept a stern expression, not replying to Bo's realisation. There was only one thing she felt like doing right now. She marched up to her, and slapped her across her face. "That, is for leaving without saying goodbye!"

Bo touched her cheek. Damn, that was a good slap. She was glad to see she'd rubbed off on her. "Wow, and here I thought Doctors did the healing; not the hurting. But, after what I did; I guess I deserve it" she shook it off.

"Damn right you deserve it!" Lauren yelled, then had a total change of heart when she grabbed Bo's face and kissed her as hard and as passionately as she could. "And that, is for realising your mistake; and coming back" she leaned into her.

"I'm sorry" Bo whispered, wrapping both arms around her.

Lauren felt her tears fall. "I know you are; and I'm sorry too…" she sniffled. "… I'm sorry this's happening to you. I know things seem pretty bleak right now. And it doesn't look like they're gonna get better. But the one thing you can't do, is give up. I need you"

Bo nodded, crying. "I just didn't want you to see it happen; you know, if I fail. I wanted you remember the good times we had. The laughs, and the crazy moments…" she sighed, staying close to her. "… I wanted you to remember me" she didn't want her to remember a monster.

"None of that matters Bo; because you're gonna win this. I know you will…" Lauren held her face with both hands, looking into her eyes. "… Listen to me. You are Bo Dennis. The Unaligned Succubus; first of your kind. A loyal friend, loving Granddaughter and an amazing Girlfriend. That, is how I'll always remember you"

It was funny how an hour ago, Bo was almost out of the city. She could've been free of this. But it wouldn't have helped much. Because she would've died sooner or later from the devolution. Her home was here. There was nowhere else she needed to be. "I love you"

"I love you too…" Lauren kissed her. "… But I swear to God; if you ever pull this crap again, devolving will be the least of your problems" she chuckled sadly.

And Bo laughed to, that actually did make her giggle. For the first time today. "Blood Oath…" Bo held her hand up, swearing. "… Who am I kidding? I can never leave you. I'm gonna fight; I promise you" she hugged her tight, breathing her in.

Lauren buried her head into her Girlfriend's neck. "Don't promise me; promise yourself" she wanted Bo to focus on herself for this. She had to if she was going to survive. And Lauren would help in any way she could. That's what she was here for.

A/N: Like I said, just a little something. Hope you liked it. Let me know.