The woman drank her last drink as the bartender eyed his customer and he was hoping as he polished his glass. Although he looked amongst his patrons, he knew very soon it was not the time yet to call for a cab for the woman in front of him.
She raises her hand again for another shot, her face nearly slumps down on the table but caught herself before it happens. She gave herself a big sigh, turns around and was about to leave but had second thought. She slumps herself down the bar stool again, turn back and wave at the bartender for another.
The bartender shook his head and gave her the next drink. This time the woman just looked at her drink – deliberating - whether to finish or to let it go. A ringing of a phone startled her out of her reverie. She held up her phone amid her drunkenness, heaved another sigh and turns it off. She smiled at the barkeep, "Can you please call me a cab?" He finally nodded at the request.
She was waiting outside the bar hoping the cold, night air can erase what's on her mind. Home… An empty place, but not anymore and a big sigh erupted from her. Ever since Nadia had been awakened, they decided to take two weeks' vacation together so they can get to know each other again after five long years. Except in her mind, it was a waste of time. Her heart and her soul knew where it belonged. Bo… That name had elicited so many dreams of the restless nights with Nadia.
The honking of the cab awoken a little of her inebriated state… She pushes herself off the wall walking towards the cab.
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She awoke to the noise of the people coming into her lab, her mouth tasted like she had regurgitated a fur. Her hair she mused is so slimy from the oil it left from last night. Thank goodness the Ash had given me an office with great amenities. Where she sometimes sleeps on the sofa for overnight like she did last night than going home to an empty place. Lauren wanted to go home but she can't face her not when her heart is breaking. Avoiding both is the best thing right now and she knew she can't hide anymore.
She hurriedly went to the bathroom to look at herself in the mirror. Her hair clung to her forehead and she needed to take a shower. Her clothes from last night stank with cigarettes and alcohol. It is a good thing she kept some clothes in the lab, in case she stayed overnight.
After she took a shower, she looks over her cell and found there were numerous calls missed and she knew most were from Nadia. She looked around the place and the self pity started to insert into her well being and she was about to cry. She shook her head that this is not the time or the place. One of the oldie songs kept cropping up in her head: The Sound of Silence kept playing over and over again in regards to her situation.
A couple of hours later, her sigh didn't last that long as she started to look at her microscope and started working on her research. She really lost track of time and her stomach started to grumble for food. She decided to go out to a restaurant nearby just to enjoy some food and do some thinking. She didn't bother letting any of her assistant know where she was heading and if they wanted, they can call her.
Bo walked in the lab an hour later, hoping to find Lauren bending over a microscope, but she only found an empty lab. A nearby attendant came by… "Do you know where Dr. Lewis is?"
"No, I don't". The attendant answered walking away.
She tapped her chin whether to go find her or just look for her the next day. Her phone rang and she saw it was Dyson. She smiled happily, "Hey Dyson." Her body relax while talking to Dyson. She didn't feel any love towards him anymore, just friendship. "No, Lauren is not here." She shook her head as she answered him.
"I'll give her a call. You tried and she hasn't answered your call." That is strange for Lauren not to answer anyone's call.
"I'll text her; she'll answer." Hoping Lauren will answer. Bo hasn't seen Lauren for quite a while now too. She was hoping to catch her at the Dal but had not been showing of late.
Bo turns around and walked out of the lab, twirling in her mind whether to find Lauren or wait for her to answer her call and the numerous messages.
Since she has come back from the trip, she has been so distant that Bo wanted to know the answer. She can't anyway since Nadia has been hanging around her like glue. She smacks herself knowing that Nadia had finally woken up and she should be happy for Lauren. She does. Their separation from each other is dulling her senses, she has been walking around to keep her mind busy. Everyone is noticing how glum she has been for the last months. She's trying to keep herself busy with their P.I. and at night dulling the pain with liquor. Kenzi joined her on her pity party but its not working as she watches how painful to see your love with someone else.
She can't help being selfish, she wants Lauren to choose her. They'll figure a way out of her servitude to the Ash. Since Nadia has awoken from her coma, she is not tied to the Fae world anymore.
She shook her head never mind when the time comes, she'll come around. But she needs Lauren to help her and Kenzi to solve their cases.
As she arrived home, Kenzi jumped up and twirled Bo around because of her hyper activeness and relinquishes to her.
"You know Bo, we have another case on top of what we have now." Kenzi saw how Bo's facial expression. "What Bo? Did Hotpants just blow you away when you saw her?"
"No, Kenzi." Hugging her. "She wasn't at the lab when I went there a little while ago."
Her face had gotten into that expression of worry. She should be the one that's hurting. But it is Lauren's life after all. She gave a happy fake expression only Kenzi knew too well that she's hurting.
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Later that afternoon, Nadia found her sitting at the grass somewhere at the Ash's compound eating nimbly over her food. She looked up at her and smiled the way she used to. Nadia knew the moment Lauren's eyes look at her she knew it was over and the impact was too much for her.
Instead, she put the anxiety of breaking up down; "You know what happens at the end? Both don't end up together." Her voice cracks a bit, Lauren knew their relationship is over.
Lauren absorbed that thought as she chewed her food and was quite surprise of the question that sprang on her and the statement. Being honest to herself, she can deal with the truth that Dyson in the end will somehow win Bo's heart even when he's with Ciara or not. It hurt so much but she can't dwell on it anymore. Sitting up a little higher mustering enough courage, "its okay."
Nadia was about to interrupt but Lauren patted the place next to her. Dumbfounded Nadia stood there for a few moments then she sat down.
Tears were flowing down Lauren's face before she face Nadia. "I cannot lie to you anymore." Picking up Nadia's hands and studying it while caressing her soft hands that can do wonders with memories flooding through her mind. She smiled those sad smiles that have been cropping up every time she and Nadia were always together.
"I've spent so many lonely years to find ways to cure you." She shook her head for Nadia not to interrupt. "To be .." She couldn't continue the truth that was about to slip out. Nadia needed to know the truth even if it hurts her or herself. Lauren explained.
Nadia listened quietly, taking in about her situation which Lauren downplayed some of the truth. "So, you are telling me you are committed to this job forever?" Shaking her head as she had encompassed the place. Lauren nodded to her as she continuously stares at her food. A little hangover but she is determined to swallow her food what's left of it.
"You are only with me…Why Lauren?"
She stares at her food again, "Because you have been in a coma for the last five years." Twiddling with her food, Nadia reach over lifting Lauren's chin and her eyes says it all that she couldn't leave her.
"I can understand the dilemma you were in." Caressing her cheek, "If I were in your shoes, I'd probably do the same." She heaves a sigh for the profound truth Lauren had told her.
'Because, at the time I love you and I couldn't abandon you.' Lauren thought.
"Nadia"
"Lauren" they both lean their foreheads together. Lauren was crying softly as tears were coming down her cheek. Nadia was making shushing sound to comfort her.
Hiccupping between her crying she clung to Nadia for those lost years. They kissed tenderly with slow burning passion until it cinders at the end. They held for the longest moment together knowing once they let go its over.
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Two nights' later, found the same woman who had been coming to his bar for the last month or so. She sat there staring at her drink meditating in front of her.
He walked over, stopping in front of her, "Lady, you've been coming here for the last couple of months." Still polishing the glass, he has been holding for the last five minutes, "Drank yourself as if there's no tomorrow. And now, you stare at this drink as if it's gonna bite you."
For the first time, she laughed out loud. She looked at him in the eye and gave him a wink. He smiled walking away.
Nursing her soft drink, it felt good to let the truth out in the open. Lauren had felt the enormous weight off her shoulder and she felt good. Sipping the soda at a bar seems weird. But she's happy now especially that she and Nadia really talked to what had transpired between her and Bo and her feelings towards Nadia. She's thankful Nadia decided to leave in a couple of days, and she will be moving back to the Lower States for good. That was two days ago and still she kept coming to this bar just to feel a little more human.
"Hey Stranger." Lauren nearly spit her drink; she didn't have to turn around to know who is behind her.
"Hey yourself." Turning around, tilting her head. "You are spying on me, Kenzi?"
"No Doc," looking around the bar. "But this is weird being in a human bar than a fae bar."
"Yep, even for you, it feels like we are a fish out of water for us humans" Kenzi slid into a chair next to Lauren.
Waving her hand to the bartender, "Yo, barkeep! Need a drink here!" Glancing at Lauren's drink, she yelled one more time at the bar keep. "Make mines a whisky. Whatever you have is fine."
"Did you follow me?" Not bothering to look at Kenz.
"Bo doesn't know I followed you."
"Kenzi" giving her side glance. "Why would you want to follow me?"
"Listen Doc I really like you but Bo's been looking for you and it feels like you've been avoiding us...well esp. BoBo." Her expression says know my drift when her eyebrows hooking up.
Lauren smirk at the way Kenzi been acting. "Not avoiding Bo or both of you."
She has left all of the documents on all the autopsies to the receptionist to give them to Dyson and Bo should they arrived.
Yep, she's been avoiding them since for the time being until Nadia has left. Finishing her drink, she turn to Kenzi. "Want a lift to your destination?" Dropping some bills on the counter for their drinks. She wink at the barkeep and he smiled back. Knowing full well she is not coming back. Well maybe?
"At the Dal, Doc? Let me finish this drink first then we'll go." Kenzi down her drink, slam it on the wooden bar making the barkeep look their way. She looked sheepishly then turn her attention to Lauren.
Lauren wave to the barkeep on her way out the door, when her phone rang, she looked who called her and she smiled. "Hey you." Sounded so relax even Kenzi couldn't believe this doc is easy going today; she heard part of the convo "I'm dropping Kenzi at the Dal want me to pick you up on the way? Sure love, see you then." Kenzi took a peek at her noting how her body language. The smile on her face gave way to her mood.
It made Kenzi felt bad for Bo and a little irked at the Doc. But free ride is a free ride.
"C'mon Kenzi let's go." Her voice had the lilt of being happy and Kenzi had wanted to ask her the nature of her happiness.
The silence in the car was really deafening for Kenzi and for Lauren a nice way to collect her thoughts. No more as she blew a wisp of air and Kenz smirk because she could tell the Doc is into her mode.
Nadia was waiting for them outside and Kenzi felt a twinge of anger at her but kept it to herself. Nadia smiled at Kenzi and got in at the back thus surprising Kenzi. Kenzi nodded to Nadia and off they went.
At the Dal, Kenzi bounded in leaving the two behind and she saw Bo at the bar. Nadia and Lauren walk in holding hands laughing to whatever they were talking about. Bo saw them and really felt hurt because it seems she was left out of Lauren's life.
Lauren gave her a dazzling smile as she glanced at Nadia who seem happy. "Hey Bo. Hi Trick"
They were looking at each other just smiling- looking at Bo "Sorry for not having a chance to call you."
"It's okay Lauren. I was asking about what you have found in those samples Hale and Dyson wanted for you to look at." Her tone told her that she didn't care.
"Oh." Lauren sounded dejected, Nadia squeezes her hand and felt bad for both of them. "You know what, we stay for a little while then we'll call it a night." They mingled for awhile and as soon as Hale and Dyson had come in, they all hang together even as the atmosphere was tense with Bo. They waved and left.
At the compound Nadia was packing her clothes while Lauren had stood by the door feeling extremely sad. She had worked her time with the fae just so Nadia could wake up and for both of them to be happy. And Nadia leaving was the best decision Nadia had made for the both of them.
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Bo was angry at herself and at Lauren. They had spent little more time at the Dal then
Kenzi too wanted to go home. "You know Bo. I'm tired." Bo looked at her.
"Sure" Hugging her, "Let's go home."
As soon as they walk in to their home Kenzi linger at the couch. "Bo." It's not as if the Doc told me not to say anything. Bo hugged her waiting for her to continue.
"I went looking for the Doc and followed her at another bar. Having a drink." entangling from Bo "from the little convo I heard between Doc and the barkeep. She's been spending more time there."
Bo couldn't believe to what she heard. "Oh." was the only thing she could say.
"I think she has been spending more time a part from the coma girl."
Bo was lost for words when Kenzi dropped the news. She gave Kenzi that look that she wants some answers now. Kenzi held her for a moment. "You're not the only one who is mystified all about this." She hugged Bo. Bo turn around so fast that Kenzi didn't have a chance to say anything.
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The ringing of the door had Lauren up from the sofa, wondering who would be at this time and hoping it's not Bo. After looking through the peephole her answer was right there. Opening the door Bo strode in while she notice the sofa with bed sheets, Lauren wearing her pajama outfit shorts and her Star Trek t shirt.
Not waiting for Lauren to say hello. "WHAT the hell Lauren!"
She stood there looking at her just as Nadia walks in. She looks at Lauren, Lauren nodded at her and she walked back to the room closing the door to give them some privacy.
She took a deep breath, "What can I do for you Bo?" In her best Doctor's voice.
"Why were you at a human bar?"
"A human bar last I look it was just a bar." exasperatedly as she sat back down on the sofa. "I'm human." Waiting for Bo to continue.
The stand off between the two women are intense, each waiting for the other to give in. Bo just merely looks at her quietly. Bo's mind is spinning with so much questions and the woman in front of her has all the answers.
Lauren sat staring at Bo waiting for her to start talking. Bo finally gave in, "Does Nadia know you have been hanging at a bar for almost every night?" Lauren was thinking of Kenzi and she really care about her.
"Yes, she does. I told her everything."
Bo felt so deflated with this news. Her face shows she's struggling at the realization at the closeness that had gotten between Nadia and Lauren. She felt misplaced in Lauren's life.
Lauren patiently waited for Bo to start talking instead of staring at those soulful, chocolate eyes of hers.
It spoke volumes of the emotional feelings she hid behind her actions and realize she does that too. Lauren stood up walking slowly to Bo while being watch with unguarded eyes. Bo tilted her head to one side trying to figure out how to approach the subject, without Lauren to shy away from the topic at hand. Her body is craving for her touch, and a need to be fulfilled.
Lauren stood mere inches from her, she raises her arm and with her index finger she traces Bo's cheek down to her collar bone slowly and tantalizing her with slow circles. Bo's nipple stood erect at the touch, her body tingle with anticipation...
They were about to kiss just at the slightest touch could send them off to oblivion. A cough interrupted the little escapade they were to have.
Nadia's expression told them that she doesn't mind what they were about to do. "Do you think you can go someplace for what you two about to do?" But deep down she's hurting so much but she can understand if she were in Lauren's place.
Lauren knew Nadia is hurting so she tries to tone down her enthusiasm. Bo saw the emotions playing Nadia's expression. She too downplayed her happiness. Lauren grasps Bo's hand and brought them up to her lips watching Bo as she kiss them lightly. She smiled and turned her attention back to Nadia.
"How about we all have dinner tomorrow night?" Looking between the two women whose bodies gravitated towards each other, "I'll treat."
"Kenzi would like that." Bo was smiling as she held Lauren's hand nervously because she's afraid that Lauren will disappear right in front of her.
"Bo" Nadia walks to her. "Keep Lauren happy." She turn to Lauren, "You." Pointing at her "Let her make an honest woman out of you."
Lauren blush so red that she hid her face at Bo's shoulder. This is a first for Lauren and a first for Bo too.
The End
Epilogue
After Nadia had treated them for dinner her last night, that was the last time Lauren will ever see Nadia again. They both wished each other happiness.
Dyson heard the news and he was annoyed that they were together instead of Bo being with him. After he took a swig of his drink, he slams it down a little more force than he should. Trick look at him a little idly than he had ever wanted to. His granddaughter Bo is happy with whoever she wants to be. Although he was contradicting to his advice to Dyson, he wanted to protect Bo and maybe he made that sound mistake of breaking Dyson and Bo a part.