SNOWSWEPT

by CuddleFae

Dr. Lauren Lewis has been assigned to oversee the opening of a new hospital. Overwhelmed by all there is to know and learn in an unfamiliar land, she crosses paths with a mysterious woman with a dark past - a past that has caused her to live by one rule. Trust no one. Thrown into a desperate struggle, can they overcome the barriers between them in their fight to survive?

17. Chapter 17: Bo Does Boston

A/N: Hi Everyone who's still reading LG fics! I hope this chapter finds you all well and coping with these strange times. Thanks for the DM's that reminded me I have something else to do other than cook, clean, stare at a screen and sleep! Went through a little writer's block – although I think figuring out this new normal was actually the block. So, let's get back to it! I'll try to keep the chapters coming more regularly with this so I can get back to the short sequel to FOW. Best wishes and good health to you all. Virtual hugs! Cuddles

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Chapter 17: Bo Does Boston

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Boston Municipal Courthouse, Beacon Hill

The pair traveled in silence, Lauren glancing occasionally at Bo whose leg was bouncing nervously as they drove through South Boston.

"Why are we going this way? I checked the map. This is the worst way to get to Beacon Hill." Bo commented.

Lauren smiled, "It's okay, Bo. I know a lot of Southie's. I'm a doctor, remember?"

"At a rich lady's hospital."

"Bo, Southie's are not bad people."

Bo turned to Lauren, "Really? You know I saw the movie The Departed, Lauren."

"You went to a movie?" Lauren asked, a bit shocked considering how long ago that movie would have been in theatres."

Bo shrugged, "Warm theatre, I can sneak the dogs in through the doors closest to the screen and they have soft pretzels with warm cheese and hot chocolate with mini marshmallows."

Lauren chuckled, "Mini marshmallows, huh?"

"What? I like them. And the dogs like the pretzels and cheese. Well, Harper likes the cheese but the dogs like the pretzels."

Lauren grinned, "There is always another surprise around the corner with you, Bo Dennis. It's just another reason I love you." The doctor leaned over and gave Bo a kiss on the cheek, but the brunette wiped her cheek,

"I'm serious, Lauren. We shouldn't be here. Why in the world did your lawyer put his office here?"

"He's not a wealthy lawyer, Bo. He left a massive law practice and was in breach of contract by doing so… not to mention the riff he caused by taking me as a client. My Dad practically owned his old boss. It cost him… dearly." Lauren lowered her head, "It's called affordable rent, Bo. Plus, he wants to help clients who can't afford lawyers of his caliber. Clients like me and the other doctors will pay him a great salary and he'll be able to turn around and pass savings on to the 'little people' that men and women like Evony and my Dad take advantage of."

Bo sighed, "I guess that makes sense. But I hope he got better security people."

"His people are from here, Bo. There are none better to work in this neighborhood than native Southies."

Bo shook her head, "You do remember I made quick work of two guys that were at least twice my size… each?"

"I'm well aware, Bo. But I highly doubt they'll be taking on anyone with your skills. Please. Try to relax. It's just another mile."

Bo leaned against the door jamb, Lauren watching as she would catch occasional glimpses of the brunette checking for the knife beneath her dress slacks. The doctor sighed, recalling Bo's reading of the list of worst cities in Boston. They were going to pass through three of them, so Lauren was pretty sure Bo wouldn't be relaxing any time soon.

They'd had quite the shouting match when the brunette had strapped her knife to her leg before leaving. Lauren still wasn't sure how she would make sure Bo wasn't arrested at the security checkpoint at the courthouse. She had brought Bo's passport and driver's license, hopeful they would help to explain her paranoia… paranoia… hmmm... there's an idea. She pulled out her prescription pad and began to write while Bo kept vigil over their trip.

It was about thirty minutes and a whole lot of traffic later that Lauren looked up and finally recognized that they were on Columbia Avenue approaching Beacon Hill.

"Are you okay, Bo?"

The brunette glanced at Lauren, "I'm fine."

She turned back to the window before adding, "And you don't have to keep asking me if I'm okay. I feel fine. I feel… normal… which is strange because this place is anything but normal."

Lauren laughed, "Well, my first experience in Alaska was a run-in with a polar bear. I found that anything but normal as well."

Bo looked at Lauren, "Really? You're trying to compare intelligent beings who are taught right from wrong, but still do horrific things to a polar bear who is simply looking for food, so he doesn't starve to death? Never mind the fact that those intelligent beings taught right from wrong are the ones making it impossible for the polar bear to find the damn food to begin with."

Lauren nodded, sorry that she had used the comparison to begin with. She offered a tight smile and a nod, but decided that she would try again to distract her girlfriend,

"Would you like to go out to lunch after this meeting?"

Bo sat back in her seat, her eyes settling on the seatback in front of her, "I'd rather catch a plane after this meeting."

Lauren nodded, "Well, depending on the outcome of this meeting, we could do that if you'd like to."

Bo's head snapped towards Lauren's, "Really?"

Lauren smiled, "Really."

"We?" Bo asked.

Lauren shrugged, "I mean, I can fly back separately if you want me to, but whether or not the sale of the clinic is settled today, I have every intention of returning to Alaska, Bo. Losing my career in medicine is an acceptable loss in comparison to losing you and the family I've gained back in Talkeetna." She laughed, "Haven't you been paying attention?"

Bo sat still, staring at Lauren, "I have, but… well… I guess I'm still a little… I don't know…"

"I understand that you're still working on trusting me again, Bo. It's okay. We'll see how the meeting goes, okay?"

She nodded, "Okay."

A voice from the front of the car spoke, "We're here, Doctor Lewis."

Lauren nodded, "Thank you Henri. Give my love to Greta and the kids."

He smiled, "I always do."

Lauren smiled, handing him a lollipop. He grinned, "You never forget about Thea."

"She's my favorite patient." Lauren smiled.

"I'll bet you say that to all the Dads of little girls you save."

Lauren laughed, watching as Bo exited the vehicle, looking quite nervous. She stood by the door, looking right and left, making sure it was safe. Lauren turned back to Henri when she heard his voice,

"She'll be happy to know that you're back. I have to say, she's not a big fan of Doctor Anastas."

Lauren scowled, "Well, I can certainly refer you to other doctors."

"That would be fabulous. I know that Greta is not a big fan either."

Lauren nodded, "And you?"

He shrugged, "Well, we put our trust in you from the very beginning – even before the transplant. When we met before you left for Alaska, you recommended Anastas for follow up care. She may not have a great bedside manner, but if you recommended her, I trust that she's the right doctor for the job - that my daughter will be well-cared for… that she'll live."

Lauren offered a tight smile. Honestly, she was unsure if Thea would be well-cared for by Nadia. Recent information suggested that her ex was more interested in power, contracts and money than her patients. Of course, the money was incentive enough for her to work hard to save her. She wasn't always like that. After reading Nadia's statements in preparation for the mediation today, she had tried to go back and trace the specific moment that Nadia had become an elitist rather than a doctor. It bothered her that she couldn't pinpoint the time when everything had changed.

Lauren continued, "Still, I want you all to be comfortable. Thea will have to meet with a cardiologist for the rest of her life, Henri. Because at some point Thea will be older and responsible for her own care, you and Greta will no longer be making the decisions. For that reason, I really must insist that her doctor be someone smart, young and dedicated, as well as someone with whom Thea is comfortable."

Henri nodded, "Well, since you're back, can't we just see you again? I mean, you did the surgery."

Lauren exhaled, "You know that I would love nothing more than to have Thea as a patient again, but I'm afraid I'm only here for a short while. I'm going back to Alaska – permanently."

"Oh. I see." Henri replied, his eyes down and sadness in his voice.

Bo had been looking through the open door. She didn't like to eavesdrop on Lauren's professional conversations, but when she'd heard that Lauren had pawned off a young patient on Nadia, she couldn't help herself. She wondered if Lauren regretted it – if this patient might sway her decision to return to Alaska.

Bo watched the two reach out and shake hands, lingering a bit as Lauren placed her free hand on top of his. In that moment, her heart broke for the young father. It was obvious that her girlfriend had served a very special purpose in his daughter's life. How many other people was Lauren leaving to be with her in Alaska? Bo was starting to understand why Lauren had felt a pull to come back here. Bo now wondered if she was being selfish in her unwillingness to consider a life here in Boston? After all, why shouldn't she make the move for Lauren?

She sighed, looking up and down the streets again. There were very few situations in her life where Bo could say she had been afraid, but being here… being in this strange world, she had to admit… her fear was at a nine or ten most of the day, every day. But here, her fear was a bit less. They were in a completely different setting here in Beacon Hill among the wealthy. This was Lauren's neighborhood. Evony had bought her a house here as one of the perks of employment. Honestly, it gave her one reason to be grateful for Evony's bribes of the younger version of her girlfriend.

She looked at the young father whose eyes were tearing up as they said their goodbyes. Bo's eyes brimmed with tears as well. Maybe Lauren had been right not to return her calls. She could do so much good here. Maybe this is where she belonged. The question was, could Bo make a life for herself here if she stayed?

Lauren smiled, "If you're ever in Alaska, please look me up. I would love to show you my new world. I know Thea would love it and I'm sure you and Greta would as well."

He smiled, "Who knows – maybe Thea will be well enough to go to college one day. She can apply to University of Alaska so she'll have her favorite doctor nearby."

"I'll never reject her as a patient. I know it's no fun for her to be in the hospital, but it certainly makes my day brighter when she is." Lauren lowered her eyes, "I'll miss her… I miss all of you. Doctor's aren't supposed to get emotionally attached to their patients, but we'd be robots if we didn't get attached to some."

He nodded, "You know, the drive over here has been quiet, but you seem… I don't know… a bit sad, but still… somehow… lighter. You look like you're not carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders anymore."

Lauren laughed, "You mean I'm not carrying the weight of an entire cardiothoracic surgical department on my back. You're right. I'm not and honestly, it feels fantastic. I can refocus on my research and improve the procedures and techniques we use for transplants and cardiac patients everywhere. As much as I love my patients and saving young lives like Thea's, I've missed research and studying cutting edge methods to improve the care and longevity of all patients."

He shrugged, "Until now, I'd never thought about what it must be like to be you. To have to choose between your dreams and saving lives. It's a massive responsibility."

She smiled, "I guess I've never thought of it that way. Research is what I've always wanted to do, but my boss decided that saving lives was more important than conducting research. While the surgeries I perform can be stressful, saving a life is the greatest reward for a days' work that a person can experience… in my opinion. It's not for everyone, but I've certainly enjoyed it."

"Well, I'm sure I speak for many, many patients when I say that we've enjoyed having you care for our loved ones."

Lauren smiled, "Thank you, Henri. Now, we really have to be going or we'll be late."

"Sorry I can't drive you further, Doctor Lewis. I still can't believe the luck of running into you when you were heading down the street to the subway. I honestly thought I was seeing things."

Lauren smiled, "Well, I was actually concerned about my friend getting on the subway, so I appreciate the above ground ride."

"Not a fan of tight spaces?" He asked.

Smiling, the doctor explained, "Being from the wilderness areas of Alaska, this is all a bit unnerving for her."

Henri nodded, "She does look a bit… stiff." He replied, looking up at Bo as she stood gripping the door frame, her knuckles white.

Lauren smiled, "We'll be fine. We have enough time for a brisk walk, and it will do her good to get some of that nervous energy out. Now don't forget about that standing invitation. Alaska is probably the last place most people think to go for a vacation, but I'm telling you it's more beautiful than you could ever imagine."

"I'll make sure that Greta adds it to our list of vacation spots."

"Take care, Henri. Give my best to the family." She slid to the seat that Bo had now vacated and looked back at the driver, "And don't eat Thea's lolly."

He laughed as Lauren exited the vehicle where Bo was nervously waiting, "Ready?"

Bo nodded, her posture stiff. Lauren took the brunette's hand, steadying her nerves as they began to walk down the street towards the Boston Common,

"Breathe, Bo. It's just a walk down the street – just like in Talkeetna. There's just more people, more cars…"

"… more of everything." Bo finished, "This world of yours is… I don't know… I mean, I come from a place where there are creatures who could jump out and attack at any moment, but they're predictable. Here, the dangers hide in plain sight. I mean… is that guy there cold or is he about to rob a bank? That bulge at his hip tells me he's got something under his shirt."

Lauren smiled, "That small wire hanging from beneath his shirt tells me he's got an insulin pump."

"A what?"

Lauren chuckled, "It's a device that's implanted to provide a synthetic version of insulin – a chemical in our bodies that regulates the levels of sugar in our blood. Some people have too much sugar because their bodies either don't manufacture enough insulin or their body doesn't use it properly. That device fixes it. Knowing that he's an insulin dependent diabetic also tells me he's likely cold because they usually have circulatory issues."

"Okay, so now I feel bad for accusing a sick guy of being a bank robber." Bo frowned.

"It wasn't my intention that you feel bad. I just wanted you to realize that most people on this street are just going about their day… going to work, coming home from late shift work, going to a meeting, going to visit a friend, going to check on a sick parent or friend or maybe going to a romantic rendezvous." Lauren chuckled.

"Or they're a doctor hurrying to get to a sick patient who needs them right away." Bo suggested, her eyes set on the people in front of them.

"That may be true as well. Of course, some doctors are on their way to a court mediation."

Bo nodded, quiet for a long moment before she spoke what was on her mind, "I never thought about what might happen to all of your patients if you went back to Alaska. I guess I was being selfish."

Lauren smiled, "Bo, you saw the list of surgeons that Evony has access to - and that's just her hospital. There are many talented cardiothoracic surgeons in Boston and beyond. There are these things called medical helicopters that can move patients to the doctors if they can't come to them. They'll be fine without me."

Bo scowled, forcing Lauren onto the path that took them into the Common. Lauren looked at Bo,

"Sweetie, we don't have time for a recreational detour. We'll be late."

Bo nodded, "I know. I've gone over the route to the John Adams Courthouse in my head at least thirty times on my way here. Listen, Lauren… I want you to think about what you're giving up here. I don't want us to be in Alaska ten, twenty, thirty years from now and have you regret all you gave up for me."

Lauren pulled the brunette into the grass and gripped her shoulders so that she was facing her,

"Bo. Please listen to me, because no matter what else you hear, I promise you that this is the truth… my truth… one hundred percent."

Bo nodded, as Lauren released her, "Okay."

The blonde led her to a bench so the two could sit down. Lauren placed her hand on the top rail of the back support behind Bo, facing her,

"When I was an undergrad at Yale taking my first college biology class, I would beg my professor for lab time so that I could physically analyze the things we discussed in class. Eventually, he hired me on as a lab assistant when he realized I had a gift with a microscope."

Lauren smiled, "Over the years, I fell madly in love with the science of cells, pathogens, diseases and eventually, cellular anatomy and physiology of the human body. I used my early research of plants and other organisms to see if there were natural cures for diseases of human cells and tissues. I spent a summer with a professor who was in the Amazon on a research grant. It was one of the greatest educational experiences of my life. I was so happy while I was there."

Lauren looked down at her hands, "When I returned to campus that fall, one of my favorite professors fell ill in one of the hallways of the research building. I found her, did CPR and got her to a hospital where I met Doctor Stephen Archer for the first time."

She looked out across the Common, "I didn't realize I would have him later as a professor in medical school, but when he told me I saved her life by doing CPR, there was just this… I don't know… thrill of gratitude that I felt for having the basic skills to do something to help her. I felt lucky that I happened to have to pee and went into the hall and found her… and I felt a strong curiosity about the disease that had affected her heart."

She turned back to Bo, "She had cardiomyopathy and would eventually need a transplant. I went to see her regularly. It was a way for her to continue teaching during her extended stay in the hospital. She would give me lab assignments, quiz me on various pathogens and just… well, talk about life. She was my first mentor."

"It looks like you loved her very much."

Lauren looked up at Bo, "Well, not in the way you might think. I mean, I wasn't dating anyone officially back then. I knew Nadia and we hung out on occasion, but it wasn't serious. I was more interested in petri dishes than girl parts."

The pair shared a laugh as Lauren continued,

"I followed her case with Doctor Archer explaining things to me every step of the way. It was all so interesting, and I guess that's when I fell in love with the heart."

"Did she… did she make it?"

Lauren grinned, "Stephen wouldn't have had it any other way. That's when I learned my work ethic. Watching the master – the one, the only, Doctor Stephen Archer at work. He wouldn't give up on her. After the day I saved her, she almost died three other times before a donor heart was finally available."

"So your first mentor led you to your second mentor." Bo concluded.

Nodding, the blonde replied, "And my first love – research – was sacrificed for my second love – cardiothoracic surgery."

"Research was your first love?"

Lauren nodded, "You never forget your first. Especially when they're the one you love the most. I've never loved anything as much as I've loved doing research, curing diseases. Quiet nights in my lab – finding cures for diseases and solutions for debilitating conditions… it was my thing, Bo. My success as a heart surgeon thrust me into a world that I was ill-prepared for as a young, shy, socially awkward doctor. I was never comfortable in the limelight. Evony put me there to suit her purposes. I never asked to be there."

"But Lauren, think about the gift that you are to the world and what the world would be losing?"

"Bo, in my current role at this hospital, I'm one surgeon who barely has time to pee let alone develop and share new and improved techniques with other doctors who are working towards the same goals that I am. If I go back to research – even from Alaska – I can still do surgeries at any of their hospitals when I choose but spend most of my time doing research that I can share with residents and doctors alike. There are so many cardiothoracic conditions we can't cure or at least treat. Someone has to find a way to go beyond our current capabilities. I know what's missing, I know current limitations. I want to chase the next surgical techniques and treatments. Then, I can become a mentor and teacher to all of my colleagues, Bo. I can be the global surgeon. Yes, I'm trademarking that and making T-shirts."

The pair laughed, Bo falling silent first, "I just want you to be sure, Lauren. After listening to that Dad who drove us…"

"Bo, there are hundreds of Mom's and Dad's who are grateful to me and I love each and every one of their children. But there are also hundreds of patients we haven't saved because the doctors who were operating on them didn't have the best equipment and techniques. I can change that, Bo. Once I'm free of Evony, I can change that. I can live my lifelong dream and have you too. We can both live our dreams and we can do it together, Bo. Don't you want that for me? For us?"

"Yes, of course, Lauren. I just don't want you to have any regrets."

Lauren stood, extending her hand to Bo, "My only regret will be if we're late for this meeting and Evony decides to leave. She said this was our one and only chance to settle this out of court."

They began to walk at a brisk pace towards the courthouse, but Lauren knew it wasn't fast enough. Bo was dragging her feet. The doctor knew Bo didn't want to deal with Evony, but there were other incentives she was sure Bo hadn't thought of…

"Bo, Evony has the money to keep this tied up in red tape for a decade. If we're late, she'll drag this out, keeping me here as her employee. Do you really want to be apart for that long?"

"No, of course not." Bo replied, looking at her watch, "Maybe we'd better run?"

Lauren nodded, "Agreed."

They ran across the crosswalk, laughing as they chased the clock to their destination.

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John Adams Courthouse, Boston

Their rush down Beacon Street took about five minutes – a new record for Lauren Lewis. She supposed it was thanks to Bo practically dragging her half the distance due to her desire to be off the streets. It was still tourist season, after all and this area of Boston had a lot to see and do, so the crowds were big.

Lauren gave a great pull and heaved open the large wooden doors to one of her favorite historic buildings and headed inside. She smiled, looking up in awe at the grand entryway of The Great Hall. She took a moment, reminding herself that she was standing in a space built in 1894 at a cost of 3.8 million dollars. Lauren couldn't help but think it must have been considered a grand achievement for its day.

She looked up, gazing at the seal of the Commonwealth painted on the ceiling. She focused in on the image of the Native American at the center. He held an arrow pointed downward which her Mother had taught her was a gesture of peace. She went to explain the drawing to Bo when she realized she wasn't with her. She turned left, then right,

"Geezus. Where the hell is she?"

Lauren rushed to the door, throwing it open and rushing onto the sidewalk. Again she looked left, then right, before looking across the street. She pulled out her phone and turned back to the courthouse, glancing up for a moment to see Bo sitting on the concrete in the corner just to the left of the door. She was curled up like a freezing cold homeless person on a January night.

Lauren moved slowly to her and squatted down in front of her.

"Bo?"

"Too many people… too big… big… building… huge."

Lauren could see Bo's anxiety taking complete control. She was in the middle of a full-blown panic attack. She checked her watch. They had ten minutes to be in the conference room, but she couldn't leave Bo out here… not like this.

"Bo? Can you hear me?"

She gave a single nod, yielding some sense of relieve in Lauren. She pulled out her phone and dialed, hoping that despite the time difference, she was awake.

"Hello? Lauren? What's wrong?"

"Faith, hello. I'm sorry to call so early in the morning, but Bo and I were on our way to a court-ordered mediation with Evony…"

"I heard you're suing the pants off of that bitch on behalf of my neighbors. Thank you, Lauren."

Lauren nodded, "You're welcome, but if I don't have Bo inside this courthouse in nine minutes, that won't happen any time soon. She's in a full-blown panic attack, Faith. I don't know what to do."

"Put me on speaker, Lauren."

Lauren did as she was asked allowing Faith to work one-on-one with her client,

"Ysabeau? It's Dr. Gray. What's going on, child?"

"Too. Big."

"Okay then. Let's make it smaller. I want you to look at Lauren. Can you do that?"

Bo did as she was told. She looked away quickly, but Lauren placed two fingers beneath her chin and lifted her eyes back to her own. The blonde's heart broke at the sight of pure terror in her girlfriend's eyes.

"Now Bo, I want you to look at Lauren's right eye, then her left eye, going back and forth. Each time you switch eyes, count up by one until you reach fifteen."

Bo focused on Lauren's right eye, "One.", then her left eye, "Two.", then back to her right eye, "Three.", then back to her left eye, "Four.".

Lauren could see the expression on Bo's face change over the count of fifteen. Her eyes softer by the time she'd finished the count.

"Good, Bo. Now, I want you to tell me about five of Lauren's features… from the neck up, please… that are most familiar to you."

Bo smiled, "Big brown eyes. Broad smile. Beautiful blonde hair. Long slender neck. Little cleft in her chin. Tiny bump on her nose. Flawless, lightly tanned skin. Little tiny ears. Perfect lips… soft, very soft. Calming voice."

You could hear the smile in Dr. Gray's voice when she spoke, "That's a good many more than five. I think I get the picture. I suppose you love her very much, Bo?"

"More than anything." Bo said, a small smile breaking across her face.

"Take five deep breaths with Lauren. Let her guide you. Take a deep breath in, hold it for a moment, then exhale out fully before breathing in again. Focus all of your attention on Lauren, Bo. She breathes, you breathe. I'll hold."

Lauren did as Dr. Gray asked, leading Bo through the breathing exercises. As they did them, they drew closer to each other until, by the fifth breath, their foreheads met and Lauren felt Bo relax.

"We're finished, Dr. Gray."

"Good, Lauren. Now, how do you feel, Bo?"

"Better. Thank you. I don't know what happened." She spoke, her eyes set firmly on Lauren.

Dr. Gray replied, "Well, we've discussed these panic attacks, so I think you do know what happened. For now, we're going to put that in a box, lock it up and put the key in your pocket."

Lauren watched as Bo closed her eyes for a while. Dr. Gray did not speak. She guessed that this was a mental exercise that the doctor had created for Bo to stow away her triggers so that they couldn't disable Bo in the present and she could discuss them with her later.

Bo opened her eyes, "Done."

"Great. I'm going to need you to focus on Lauren's eyes for the rest of the day. When you get nervous, if you're able, take her hand and let her be your anchor to the very small space the two of you actually occupy. The space where you can feel her near you and nothing else. If you can't hold her hand, I want you to focus on some very small feature of hers. Stare at it, focus on it, remember who is attached to it and remember your love for her and her love for you. Okay, Ysabeau?"

"Yes." Bo replied.

"Okay then. How 'bout you go kick some Evony ass on behalf of everyone doing business with that bitch from here to Talkeetna and back."

Bo smiled, "Yes, Ma'am."

"Good luck, Lauren."

"Thank you, Faith. Appreciate the assist."

"Always here for you and Bo."

"Thank you." Bo said, taking Lauren's free hand as she helped her to a stand while putting her phone back in her pocket.

"You and me… together." Lauren said.

"Together." Bo replied with a nod.

They entered the building to the sound of Evony's voice yelling at Patrick. Something about being stood up and Lauren not taking this seriously enough to be on time – that she probably wasn't even sober. Lauren looked down at her watch. Feeling Bo's hand tighten in her own, she gave it a squeeze and moved to the stairway. She figured the four flights up would help, plus she could yell to Evony if she had to before she hopped the elevator to come down.

The two rushed up the steps, Lauren issuing a challenge to the top. The brunette released the blonde's hand, taking them two at a time,

"That's not fair! You're not in low heels!"

"I'm not the one who chose fashion over function!" Bo called back with a laugh, keeping her focus on the task so that she didn't notice the size of the building.

"Bo!" Stephen called out as he saw Bo's head just before she had made it to the top of the stairway.

The brunette looked up, out of breath, "Elevator wouldn't come down. Sorry we're a few minutes late."

Patrick grinned, looking at his watch, "You're actually thirty seconds early."

Lauren crested the steps behind Bo. She went to speak, but Stephen spoke first,

"Bo told us about the elevator not working. I'll call maintenance."

He waved the group back inside the fourth floor Social Law Library where they had everything laying out on a table. Evony glared at Bo and Lauren as they walked past her, Lauren offering,

"Good morning, Evony."

The blonde then saw Nadia and had to turn away to avoid throwing her fist into her jaw. Bo watched the brief interaction, pausing for a moment to take her eyes from Lauren's jaw, laying them firmly on Nadia's. She turned to face her, leaning in and whispering to her,

"You're on the wrong side of this. She would have stayed with you even though she didn't love you because of how you treated her. She never would have initiated a divorce. If you had done this the right way, you would still have the friend you had in Lauren from when you were young. Now, you'll be alone, and you won't even have her in your life. I'm guessing she was good for you… made you good… just by being in your life. That's what she does for me. Now, because of the choices you've made, you will lose the respect of every nurse, doctor and wanna-be-doctor in the hospital. You won't have anyone except Evony. Are you sure she's the horse you want to be stuck with in the end?"

Bo pulled back, smoothing some fuzz off of Nadia's shoulder, "Just sayin'."

She followed Lauren through the wood and glass entryway, across the yellow tiles spotted with brown diamonds, turning left onto the carpeted area that contained areas of tables amongst rows and rows of bookshelves. Finally, they arrived at a room in the back where Patrick invited Lauren to sit beside him and Bo beside her. Penelope took a seat on the other side of Patrick. Stephen sat beside Bo, and Betsy beside him.

On the other side of the table, sat six men in suits, three on one side of Evony and Nadia and three on the other side. Lauren immediately recognized the power play and the even bigger power play when six large boxes where placed on the end of the long table.

"Okay, let's cut right to the chase. You, Doctor Lewis, signed a contract that was legally binding."

Patrick shook his head, looking up at Evony's lead attorney, "John?"

"Evony, should we step outside?"

"No, we should not step outside. I'm going to have my say."

Lauren spoke, "Let her. I'd love to hear what she's learned."

"I've learned that you are an ungrateful, closet alcoholic who wouldn't know loyalty if it bit her in the left tit!"

Bo burst out laughing, but as her eyes traveled the expressions of the faces in the room, she took a deep breath, held it and said a quiet,

"Sorry."

"And you! If it weren't for you, we wouldn't be in here!" Evony spat, her glare focused on Bo.

"Me?"

"You sunk your claws into my doctor and…"

After the word you, Bo's temper skyrocketed and she cut Evony off,

"And what, Evony? Do you really think that a doctor as brilliant, self-confident, independent, hard-working, resilient and dedicated to her craft as Lauren didn't know that she was being taken advantage of by her boss? You were a means to an end, Evony – nothing more."

Bo took a deep breath, "Lauren wanted to save lives by giving people the best care. She thought that meant that she had to have the most money, so she took your shit so that she could have access to the best possible tools to give the best possible chance to do what she does best – save lives. It's you who took advantage of her. It's you who wasn't loyal to her and her cause. It's you who held no gratitude for what you had – the best cardiothoracic surgeon on the planet. Even Nadia has to admit that. Now, you've lost her and you want to sit here, blame me for that loss and cast stones at her?"

She shook her head, "I'm an Iditarod Champion… several times over. It's the hardest race in the world and I'd challenge anyone in your Boston Marathon to come out and try it if they don't believe me. In that race, I have a team of dogs and back up dogs that I rely on. My best dog is named Harper. She was the first dog that I raised on my own. I've always showed her love and respect. I've fed her before I've fed myself. She always had everything she needed, even if it meant I went without. Why? Because she was pulling the sled. I was just along for the ride to give orders. In that way, you and I are in the same jobs, Evony. The difference is – I prioritize my workers."

She stood, moving behind Patrick. She picked up the big bound document that she guessed was all of the lawsuits and tossed it in front of Evony,

"You want to cast stones? Call Lauren a drunk? Well, let me cast the next stone and many, many, many boulders. You want to hold every doctor hostage to your wants and needs, yet you have zero knowledge about how to stitch a cut let alone transplant a heart. Being an excellent physician and surgeon takes a compassion… heart. You are the complete and total opposite of that. You are an ice-cold bitch and medicine and unfortunately, you are leading Nadia down that same path. Doctor Lauren Lewis is the best because she has patience, caring, compassion, integrity, ethics and a desire to do what's best for a patient no matter what it takes from her… or your bank account."

She looked at Nadia, "I'm guessing you knew all of that at one time, otherwise, Lauren never would have been attracted to you much less loved you enough to marry you."

She turned back to Evony, "Lauren made you… she built your health care company. It was her qualities as a doctor combined with her skills and reputation as a surgeon that made you. She didn't care about the contract because in the end, her patients won. But now, she wants to make choices that have you worried about losing your golden fleece. So, rather than negotiate a fair agreement that gives her the freedom to choose, you tightened the noose and threatened her with loss of her medical license so that in the end, not only does she lose, but the patients lose as well. Guess what, Evony? You've pushed her too far this time and she's doing the only thing she can do to do right by her patients. She's making sure that you lose this time around."

She turned back to Nadia, "I met the father of a patient named Thea today. She doesn't like you. That poor little girl doesn't like the woman who is literally holding her heart in her hands. Her Mother, Greta doesn't like you and her Father, Henri doesn't like you either, but he trusts Lauren. Doctor Lewis told him you were the best for the job, so Thea became your patient in her absence. I would hope that as a doctor who cares for hearts that you would understand that very same necessary element to be Lauren's replacement. I'm not sure why or how it happened, but somewhere along the path of saving people's hearts, you sacrificed yours for money… for Evony."

Bo looked around the table at the faces of Evony's team, then her own team. Finally, her eyes found Lauren's. The blonde had a proud smile on her face.

Bo blushed, "Uh… sorry… I just… got caught up in the moment." She crouched down and hurried back to her seat, waving to the group, "Carry on."

Patrick grinned, tapping his pen on the empty space in front of him, "Well, I think Bo has pretty much summed up the crux of this meeting and my opening statement better than I could have. Apparently, she has a future in law. I would like to mention that the scope of Miss Fleurette-Marquis' transgressions extends to contracts across the scope of her company. We have contacted more than two hundred and sixty-seven employees of the over twelve-thousand people that Evony employs. Every contract has loopholes that permit… shall we say… indiscretions… on the part of the employer. There are eight federal laws in these United States that protect employees. We have found violations in seven of the eight laws among the existing documentation. Ms. Penelope Stackhouse is still reviewing financial statements to clear any issues with Social Security Act indiscretions."

Reaching across the table and opening to the purple bookmark in the document, he pointed to the page before folding his hands in front of him,

"Infractions thus far include, the 2009 Fair Labor and Standards Act that provides for minimum wage pay for all employees, The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 that minimizes dangers in the workplace, refusal to pay Unemployment Benefits to those unemployed for reasons outside of their control as required by law, violations of OSHA's Whistleblower Protection Program which allowed most of these complaints to pile up over the past decade, violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, Violations of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title VII Act, the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act of 2009, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the ADA or Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and – finally, the most ironic, is a Health Care Corporation violating the Affordable Care Act of 2010."

Evony began, "I would call into question…"

But Patrick cut her off, never lifting his head to acknowledge her voice,

"We are still looking into Social Security violations, but there are clear violations of contract law as well. One of many examples, is how you give fifteen personal days, ten sick days and three weeks' vacation per year. It looks like a perk – especially considering those personal and vacation days must be used for the required continuing education doctors and nurses are required to have to maintain a license to practice – yet, every single contract stipulates that taking said days is up to the discretion of the employer. Thus, Lauren has accumulated more than six months of personal and sick time in addition to almost a full year of vacation time."

He nodded towards the form Penelope was sliding across the table, "This is a log of all of the hours that seven different surgeons used during the early morning or late evening hours to complete online courses to maintain their license. Hours that should have been logged as sick or personal time, but you told them they had a job to do, so they should 'squeeze in their courses' on their free time as needed. You also reminded them that not doing so could cost them their license and therefore would void their contracts with you."

Penelope slid a stack of emails at least three inches thick to Evony as Patrick explained, "These are copies of the emails verifying your refusal to allow doctors to take personal time for course completion – a clear violation of their contracts and – if they were to lose their medical licenses – violation of the unemployment acts and grounds for legal action against you."

Evony crossed her legs, sat back and crossed her arms over her chest, "Also in their contract is a right to decide the time they could take off. By allowing them to do that, I've made sacrifices too, Sir. For example, having to block out three consecutive days on Doctor Lewis' schedule means three days that our operating room is open and not holding surgeries. Of course, more to Bo's opening statement and likely more important to a sappy soul like hers, it's three days where people are dying because Lauren's time isn't being spent saving those lives."

Bo leaned forward to speak, but Patrick held up a hand, and replied,

"We are all very much aware that you can twist an argument to meet your needs, Evony, but the point that your lawyers are painfully aware as they cringe beside you, is the ethical conflicts in these contracts. We are in a Social Law building for a reason, Evony. You are not doing right by your employees and if you are not willing to create fair agreements, three things are going to happen. First, they will unionize, and you will have employees punching a clock and largely unavailable to patients who walk in with needs the doctor on clock may or may not be able to handle. Your mortality rates will plummet, and you will be just another crappy hospital that no one wants to use unless they're on death's door outside of your door. With the only patients coming to you being those who are likely to die even with intervention, your hospitals will be out of business in rapid succession."

He smirked, "Second, all of these lawsuits will begin, costing you billions of dollars. You will be forced into bankruptcy and your businesses will fold one after another – not just your hospitals. You will also be forced into foreclosure on your many properties as well as the buildings that currently hold the businesses of some of the top Fortune 500 companies in Boston. I'm sure they will not look kindly upon these foreclosures and sue you in kind or buy the property well under value."

He took a deep breath, "Finally, the two hundred plus employees will gossip… as is the environment you created within your businesses. It's unprofessional, unethical and falls under harassment laws if it is continuous and creates a volatile work atmosphere for the employee. Further, if gossip is incorrect and creates a negative image of the employee, it falls under the laws of slander. Under these laws, they may choose to sue you personally as well as professionally… something both Doctor Lewis and Miss Dennis have grounds and are prepared to do immediately."

He reached over and pulled the red tab of the large document in front of Evony, "Other examples of this are covered in the statements of the listed interns, residents, doctors, nurses, custodial staff, technicians, secretaries and volunteers provided. You spread rumors that Doctor Lewis was an alcoholic. You insinuated that she was behaving in an unethical manner. You also suggested that she was neglecting her surgical duties and set up sting operation to try to get her to bed one or more of your interns while drunk. Those statements stipulate that you were going to pass students regardless of performance if they could get dirt on Doctor Lewis – their attending physician. You should have read all of these documents – or at least your legal team has – and you should have been advised that all of these offenses can land you in jail for a very long time."

John spoke, "She has been so informed, and she has been advised to cooperate on all of your demands. However, she is refusing on two counts."

"And they are?" Patrick asked.

"She is not willing to bend on Bo's contract for the hospital in Alaska."

Patrick nodded, "Then Bo wishes to be released from her contract as do all of the other workers in Alaska."

Evony laughed, "You can't possibly know that, nor would they do that. They need those contracts. They need the money."

Lauren could see Bo's jaw clench as her eyes remained set on her hands in front of her. Lauren reached under the table and placed a hand on Bo's thigh, causing her to flinch before she looked up at her. Lauren closed her left eye, then her right, then her left, then her right as she whispered, "One, two, three, four…"

Bo placed a hand on Lauren's before she finished the count, leaning over to whisper, "Patrick does know that she's right, doesn't he? I need those contracts to make ends meet and I'm pretty sure everyone else does too."

Lauren whispered her response, "I know that he knows that. I'm guessing he's bluffing. He may be counting on your help."

Bo nodded, quietly turning her eyes back to Patrick, listening for a path into the conversation,

"You believe that the workers of Alaska will allow you to take advantage of them because you're paying them a salary that is well below their cost of living? It costs almost four dollars for a single bottle of water up there, over ninety dollars for a case. It costs thirty dollars for a bag of diapers, nine dollars for a box of cereal, forty dollars for a bottle of laundry detergent and over thirty dollars for a bundle of toilet paper. That doesn't even begin to cover the costs of food."

Evony laughed, "Are you trying to make my point for me? They need the money. They won't sacrifice the contracts."

Bo stepped in, "You're wrong, Evony. Release me from my contract. I don't need your money."

"Maybe not, but your employees certainly do."

Bo shook her head, "I have other contracts."

"Not for a building of this size that will make them as much money over this much time." She smirked, "I've got you, Bo and you know it. You WILL keep that contract and you WILL continue to work as I see fit until that hospital is fully built." She laughed, "And after that, I'll hand you a punch list a mile long, keeping you working for me – for free – for the next ten years!"

She sat back and laughed before Patrick looked up at John who shook his head. Patrick stood and moved to the end of the table, clicking the stop button on the recorder before pulling out the tape and loading another. He hit record and handed the tape to Penelope,

"Six copies, please."

"Right away, Patrick." Penelope smirked, exiting the room.

"At this time, I would like some time to confer with my client."

Patrick nodded, "How much time would you like?"

"Tomorrow morning? Same time, same place?"

Patrick picked up the phone to check in with the receptionist as to the availability of the room. Evony, looked around the room,

"Wait! We aren't done yet! You haven't gotten to the countersuit!"

"Evony! There is no countersuit!" John replied.

"I told you to find a way to countersue! Now get me my countersuit or you're all fired!" She yelled, waving her hand at the group.

"Evony, you could hire a million different attorneys, and no one would be able to find a way to sue any of your employees except possibly the interns who were willing to take your bribes! However, because they are not your employees, but students of an educational institution, their cases would be referred to said institutions for disciplinary action. They would likely be kicked out of medical school."

Lauren's ears perked up at the sound of that, "And I would write letters for each and every one of them telling them that you threatened them and gave them no choice but to accept what appeared to be a bribe…" she adjusted herself in her chair, leaning forward, "… because you and I both know that you would have strung each and every one of those kids over a barrel, making them your indentured servants for the rest of their careers."

Evony laughed, "Because I'm that good at holding on to employees."

"No. You're that good at trapping employees like you did me and countless others." Lauren replied.

Patrick turned back to the group, "We're a go for tomorrow morning."

"Thank you, Patrick. We'll be ready to settle at that time."

"Settle? We're not settling!" Evony yelled.

Patrick nodded to John, "You should know that I plan to have an officer of the court here to take your client into custody if she is not willing to settle."

"It is your right. We will not protest. We are simply looking for a fair and equitable settlement here."

"We are not looking to settle! You're fired! You're all fired!" Evony said, pushing back from the table so hard, that her chair tipped back, tossing her knees overhead onto the floor.

Bo and Lauren couldn't help but laugh and they only laughed harder when they heard Betsy snort. Evony stood, pulling down her short, tight skirt. She left with an exasperated groan as she put her phone to her ear and began calling for a new lawyer. John nodded to one of his partners to go after the brunette while he turned to Patrick,

"As I said, fair and equitable."

Penelope slid a document across the table, "Here is our settlement proposal… minus the new charges born of Evony's most recent threat against Miss Dennis that was just caught on tape. Here is your copy." Penelope slid a copy of the tape across the table.

John nodded, gulping down some water, "I'll have a look at this document tonight and try to reason with my client."

Patrick stood, shaking his hand, he nodded towards Bo and Lauren, "John, I'm guessing your contract is very similar to theirs."

He laughed, "One of my interns used a standard client agreement. Evony made some changes in writing and initialed each of them. The intern then put the contract in my 'reviewed, to be signed' tray. I signed it without reviewing it. Rookie mistake, huh?"

"Anything I can do?"

He smirked, "If she does fire me, I'll be sitting on your side of the table as a client tomorrow."

Patrick smiled, "I'll be happy to take you on as a client… all of you. You okay financially?"

"She has kept me so busy that I've been unable to take on additional clients. When she goes down… and you definitely have her by the thumbs… I won't have any clients and my resume will only include her – a crook. Of course, I drafted the contracts."

"You didn't do the write-ins that make the contracts unethical, immoral and legally questionable."

John nodded, "I didn't. But when I received the signed contracts back, I didn't review them. I didn't know any of this was happening. I just slid the contracts to interns when they were up and had them redraft the same thing and have them signed. At that point, the hand-written parts were typed write into the contracts. The interns didn't know any better and I thought they were using medical contracts. I just had no time to review every written agreement she created… none of us did."

Patrick nodded, "What were you doing if she was your only client and you weren't writing the contracts?"

He laughed, "Whatever that bitch told me to do. Getting coffee, scheduling manicures and pedis… I've been her damned personal assistant for over a decade and it sucks."

Patrick smiled, "Well, if you want to get back to being a lawyer, we may have an opening for you."

"And my team?"

He looked at the row of young suits, "I'm sure we can find work for them… if they're willing to actually read contracts before they actually present them or file them."

John nodded, "I think we've all learned that lesson."

Patrick smiled as the rest of his team nodded in unison. He shook John's hand once again, "We'll talk when this mess is over."

"Thanks, Patrick. I'd better go try to talk some sense into her… actually, I'm going to call Judge Waters and see if he can talk some sense into her. It's his case, after all."

"Good call. I'm pretty sure he doesn't want Evony in his courtroom again, so I'm pretty certain he'll do… whatever is necessary to… see the light." He replied, watching John and his team stand all smile as they exited the room. He reached across the table and picked up all of the documents left behind by the man's team and handed them to Betsy who carefully placed them back in the file boxes for tomorrow.

Bo turned to Lauren, "So, I guess we're not heading back to Alaska."

"I'm so sorry, Bo…"

"Lauren, it's okay." Bo said, placing a hand on Lauren's, "Actually, while we've been sitting here… well, you were sitting… me, disobeying all of Patrick's rules and shouting my guts out at the room…"

"I noticed." Lauren laughed, "What was that?"

"I have no idea. I'm sorry I embarrassed you."

"Embarrassed me? Bo, you made me proud." Lauren smiled.

"You made me look like an idiot. My opening statement wasn't anywhere near that good." Patrick smiled, placing a congratulatory hand on Bo's shoulder for a few seconds.

Lauren noticed that rather than flinch, Bo looked up at Patrick and smiled. Progress, she thought before the doctor asked, "So I take it what Evony said to Bo was bad?"

Patrick nodded, "Yes. Very bad."

"The rest of the copies, boss." Penelope said, handing a box of tapes to Patrick, "John has the one copy you saw me give him. I ran out to get a missing signature from him. Boy is Evony pissed."

"Because she's not getting her way." Betsy commented.

"What's going on?" Bo asked.

Patrick explained,

"She verbally blackmailed you right here in this conference room knowing the meeting was being recorded. There were seven attorneys, a licensed contract law accountant and a retired contract law attorney all present to witness the threat. She's not getting out of it. More importantly, you will be free of Evony. Of course, we'll have to find a new buyer for the hospital, but I'm pretty sure that there are plenty of people who will want to assume control of Evony's empire. We just have to make sure they're the right people. She's got people so far in her pockets they would be willing to be silent partners to help her rebuild her empire."

He shared a wink with Stephen and offered a smile to Betsy and Penelope before locking his briefcase,

"Well, that's it for today then. Tomorrow, same time, same place?" Patrick asked.

Lauren looked at Bo who took a deep breath and asked, "We have to come back even though she's caught?"

Betsy nodded, "There are a lot of forms that need to be signed in the presence of the attorneys, Bo. Sorry, but you'll have to come back if you and your town want to be free of Evony."

Bo lowered her eyes to her hands, took a deep breath and nodded, "Okay then. I'll be here."

Lauren took one of Bo's hands and gave it a squeeze, "And I'll be here with her. Together."

Bo looked at Lauren and smiled, "Together."

Patrick smiled at the couple, "So you two were on the late side today and I know the elevator was working. What happened?"

Lauren shrugged, "Bo said it. I ran into the Father of a former patient. We got held up."

"Lauren…" Bo said, her eyes still on the table, "That's not the whole truth. We were late because of me. I couldn't get on the subway, so we walked a while. Lauren's former patient's Dad happened to be near there and happens to be a driver. He brought us as far as The Common. We ran from there and – well, when Lauren opened the door and I saw the size of the building, I had a panic attack. They're really… well, I can't move when I have them. I got stuck outside the doors. Lauren had to call my doctor to lead me through an exercise to get me in here."

The room remained silent, all of the adults looking at each other until Penelope spoke up,

"Well, you recovered nicely with that speech you gave as an opening. It put the lawyers right back on their heels and really got Evony in the mood to serve herself up on a silver platter for the Alaska deal. You should have panic attacks more often, Bo."

Penelope laughed, giving Bo a thumbs up.

Bo smiled, but shook her head, "Actually, it was just dumb luck that she pissed me off enough for me to not give a single fuck about who I offended." She realized the language she used and cringed, "Sorry for my language. Anyway, I'd rather not have more panic attacks. They sort of suck." She cringed, "Sorry for my language again."

Penelope clicked her briefcase shut, "Trust me, honey, that language is nothing. You have to be around Betsy when she's reading Evony's contracts. The single most creative use of cuss words known to mankind. She can string them together like Christmas lights."

Lauren laughed, "Oh really now?"

"I have a gift." Betsy smiled.

Stephen clapped his hands together, "Okay. What next?"

Patrick sighed, "I hate to say it, but we'll need to adjust the Alaskan contracts based on Evony's rant. I need Betsy and Penelope."

Stephen nodded, "Okay. That gives me some time to stop by my office. How about dinner at the Oyster House? Say around six o'clock or so?"

"We've eaten there three days in a row, Stephen." Betsy sighed.

"I know, but Bo has never been there." He looked down at the brunette, "It's a historic restaurant that serves great oysters, Bo. You can't visit Boston and not eat there at least once. Lauren can keep you busy until then."

"Uh… okay?" Bo replied, looking up at Lauren as the group headed for the exit, "Is it… far?"

Lauren nodded, "Focus on me, okay? There are some things I'd really like to show you. Besides, you can't go home to Alaska without gifts for our friends, right?"

"Gifts?" Bo asked as she stood and took Lauren's hand.

"It's customary to bring loved ones gifts when you go away on a big trip."

"It is?"

Lauren smiled, "Yes, Bo. It is."

"I've never brought gifts back before."

Lauren laughed, "First, other than flying in and out of the airports in Seattle and Vancouver, you haven't traveled. Second, you've never had family and friends to buy for until now. Get in the giving spirit, Bo Dennis. I promise I'll teach you."

Bo smiled, "As long as you teach me that thing you do with your tongue later, I'll buy gifts."

Lauren slapped Bo on the ass, sending her through the exit. They headed towards the front of the library, through the doors to the elevators. The rest of the group had taken a previous ride,

"Stairs?" Lauren asked.

Bo nodded, "I'm not a big fan of elevators, so that would be great."

As they walked down the stairway, Bo held tight to Lauren's hand. The blonde pointed at the ceiling,

"This place dates back to 1894. That's the seal of the Commonwealth up there."

"I recognize that." Bo said, stopping on the staircase.

"You do?" Lauren asked.

Bo nodded, "My Mom had me study native cultures when we were growing up. She wanted to be sure that when we went into Canada, that I knew all of the clans, their history and their languages so that I would understand their customs."

"I didn't know you knew all of that." Lauren said.

Bo analyzed the drawing, "If memory serves, the Native Indians of this state were the Pequot, Mohican, Nauset, Nipmuc, Pocomtuc, Nauset, Wampanoag, and the Massachuset. From the markings on the guy's skin at the center, I'd say he's supposed to be Massachuset, but the artist had possibly just intended him to be a general representation of Native American Indians."

Lauren nodded, "Wow. I never knew all of that."

Bo smiled, "See how the arrow points downward in his hand?"

"I've got that part – it's a sign of peace, right?"

Bo grinned, "Yup. A+ Doctor Lewis! Do you see the blue ribbon surrounding the Native?"

Lauren nodded, "Yes. That phrase… I've always wondered what language it was. Is it from one of the tribes?"

Bo shook her head, "Nope. When the white man came to these lands, they brought their languages with them. Anything built or designed by them will likely carry a name derived from their language. The original names were likely lost to their cultures. They were many, we were few."

Lauren nodded, "Like your home village changed its name from Barrow back to Utqiaġvik."

"Yes. Now that phrase up there, I believe is Latin," She said, looking up at the ceiling.

"Of course! I didn't realize… human anatomical terms and medical terms are mostly derived from Latin. I should have recognized that long ago." Lauren said.

Bo smiled, "Come here that often, do you?"

Lauren chuckled, "Rarely." She replied, looking up at the ceiling, she attempted to read the phrase, 'Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietam' – what does it mean?" Lauren asked, "I mean… I wonder what it means. I don't expect you to know Latin. I only know Latin terms as they apply to science. I did take a basic…"

"By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty." Bo replied casually,

"You know Latin?" Lauren asked, shocked.

Bo smiled, "I do. It was a required language in my school because so much of white man's culture was derived from the ancient language. That phrase, however, is not something a Native would say."

"Why not?"

"You cannot find peace at the tip of a sword and they weren't liberated. They were killed or forced to follow the white man's ways."

Lauren could see the anger boil up in her girlfriend, "I will always regret the action of my ancestors with regards to your people."

Bo nodded, "And I will never blame you for what happened to my people… and I'm sorry if my referring to Caucasians as white people is offensive to you."

Lauren shrugged, "It's a way to referring to all of the people who invaded your land and it's pretty accurate, so no, it doesn't offend me… the way my ancestors treated you, however, is quite offensive."

Bo nodded, "Well, there's not much we can do about them or the Evony's of the world. All we can do is take a stand when we can and move forward with our lives, right?"

Lauren nodded, "That's a very mature perspective, Miss Dennis."

"Why thank you, Doctor Lewis." Bo smiled when Lauren leaned in and kissed her cheek before she continued, "Just keep in mind that… well, I'm not a Native American. I'm a Native Alaskan. We were under the control of Russia before we were sold to your ancestors."

Lauren nodded, "True. But I dare say my ancestors didn't treat you any better."

They resumed their trip down the stairway and to the exit. Before Lauren opened the door, she turned to Bo,

"The noise is just cars and the collective voices of people on the street. So, do you think you can handle some sightseeing with me? I have three places I'd like us to go."

"Three places?"

Lauren nodded, "Well, three things I think you'll enjoy."

"Are these three things hard to get to and in crowded places?"

"No guarantees, Bo. This is Boston, it is tourist season and things are pretty crowded. I will promise to be by your side the entire time. If you're willing to gaze into my eyes and focus on just me, the rest of the world won't exist."

Bo smiled, "When I look in your eyes, Lauren Lewis, you are all that exists."

Staring into each other's eyes, they walked through the exit and out into the world.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

New England Aquarium, Boston Harbor Islands National and State Park

Lauren had been careful to watch for cues as to Bo's mental state as they made the trip to the Aquarium. After seeing Bo's reaction to the whales on the tour they'd done, she decided that the Aquarium might be a place the brunette would enjoy. Lauren wasn't particularly keen on these facilities, but the Boston Aquarium was more animal hospital and research center than public entertainment. The admissions fees paid the bills and most animals were sent back to sea after they were healed. Of course, that wasn't always the case, but there was always a good reason if they were retained.

They had taken an open-air trolley so that Bo wouldn't feel closed in. It seemed to work well with Lauren holding her hand the entire time. The blonde also took a page from Doctor Gray's book and kept Bo focused on one thing at time. She pointed out familiar shops or restaurants when the driver wasn't speaking about the historic stops along the way.

Bo was clearly a history buff. She seemed to enjoy the driver's tour, so Lauren was grateful for that. When they stepped off the trolley, Bo stopped short, causing Lauren to bump up against her. The brunette jumped, but Lauren was quick and wrapped her arms around her, whispering in her ear,

"It's just me, Sweetie. You stopped and I ran into you. Can you walk forward to the sidewalk for me?"

Bo nodded, doing as asked, reaching back for Lauren's hand. She wrapped her other hand around Lauren's arm as soon as the blonde was beside her.

"So the water over there is part of the harbor. There's a lot of good restaurants around here, so if you want some lunch, we can eat anywhere."

Bo nodded, her eyes focusing on the water rather than all of the activity around her. Lauren led her towards the large white building,

"Come on, Bo. We're going to go to a very special theatre and aquarium."

"You're taking me to a movie?" Bo asked.

Lauren grinned, "Not just any movie."

Approaching the ticket booth outside of the facility, they stood in line, Lauren pointing out the various things to see in the area. Luckily, the timing was perfect for the opening of the doors to the theatre. Lauren bought them some popcorn to share as well as two bottles of water before they entered. The blonde watched as Bo's mouth dropped open,

"What the…"

"This is an IMAX theatre, Bo. They'll tell you all about it before the movie starts. The best seats are in the middle, but we can sit on an aisle if you'll feel more comfortable. Because it's air conditioned, it's usually quite packed in here."

Bo nodded, "Can we sit down in the front near that railing so at least there's no one in front of us and we're near an exit in case I have to… you know…"

Lauren smiled, "Of course, Bo. Whatever you need. I want you to be comfortable enough to enjoy this."

"Right." Bo replied, though she had her doubts.

She followed Lauren down the stairs, past rows half occupied by visitors. When they reached the front, there were two seats available right at the bulkhead. Lauren had Bo sit at the end while Lauren took the seat next to the little girl who was happily eating a box of Swedish Fish.

"Okay, so when they tell you to, you have to put these glasses on." Lauren said, handing Bo the 3D glasses.

"Uh… no. Those things look ridiculous."

Lauren laughed, "Don't be a spoil sport, Bo. Everyone in the theatre will have them on. Just please – trust me? They'll make the movie more fun to watch."

Bo shrugged, "Fine."

"Here. Take this before I eat it all."

Bo looked into the container, "Geez, Lauren. You ate half of it already!"

Lauren threw a few more pieces of popcorn into her mouth, "Sorry. Besides, I only ate about a third."

"And you've only had it for about five minutes."

Lauren shrugged, "What can I say? I love popcorn and I just can't stop eating it once I have it. You can be the popcorn controller."

"Good call. You'll ruin your lunch and dinner."

"Trust me, I'll be fine with eating both. I pretty much starved myself since leaving Alaska, remember?"

"I remember and it was scary when I first saw you. So you are getting your appetite back?" Bo smiled.

"After watching Evony implode back there, yes. But honestly, knowing that I have you and will be free to do research is enough to make me feel like there's a bright future ahead."

"I'm glad to hear that." Bo replied.

A woman walked out onto the stage, "Hello everyone and welcome to our IMAX Theatre!"

The audience applauded politely, giving Bo cause to twitch. Lauren took her hand, giving it a squeeze as she leaned over and whispered,

"It's customary in the Lower Forty-Eight to applaud for a lot of reasons."

"Is she the entertainment?" Bo asked.

Lauren smiled, "No, Bo. She's just here to remind us of where the emergency exits are…"

"Why would we need to know that?"

Shrugging, Lauren replied, "If there were a fire or a storm or a power outage. It's just a precaution."

"Or one of those mass shootings I've read about since I've been here. I'm telling you. This place is crazy train."

Lauren shook her head, "Well, you see that bulkhead to your right? If anything like that were to happen, I'm sure we could get under cover quickly. She's also going to explain that when a signal comes onscreen, put on your glasses. The rest is just general information about the theatre, coming shows and then there's a preview."

"Preview of what?"

Lauren replied, "Of shows that people might like to see after the one we're seeing leaves the theatres."

"Oh. And what are we seeing?"

"It's a surprise."

"I don't like surprises. You know this."

"This is just a little surprise and I guarantee it's one you'll like."

"We'll leave if I don't like it?"

"Promise." Lauren replied, "But you'll love it."

"How do you know?"

"Because I know you."

"Oh." Bo replied.

"If you were going to take me to a movie, what would it be?" Lauren asked.

Bo laughed, "That's easy. Anything scientific. It could be about anything from two scientists falling in love over their microscopes to aliens invading from outer space. You've watched that Star Trek show about twenty times since you got to Alaska."

"Well, it's not like we had any sort of streaming or TV service. I had to go with what I had on my laptop. Besides, I've watched other shows."

"They were all space shows."

Lauren shrugged, "Science fiction or Sci-Fi and I suppose that's true."

The pair smiled, their eyes trained on each other until the lights went down in the theatre. Bo leaned over to Lauren,

"Do I put these on now?"

"No. I'll let you know when. This is just the preview."

Lauren turned her attention to the screen and Bo followed suit. After a few seconds, Lauren looked over to check on Bo. She could only smile seeing the look of amazement on Bo's face as the preview for a coming feature called Amazon Adventure 3D.

"Wow." Bo said aloud, "That's so cool."

Lauren couldn't help but laugh as several people commented on her speaking aloud. The doctor leaned over and quietly whispered,

"Bo, it's considered impolite to speak aloud during the show."

Bo turned to Lauren, "But it's just the preview."

Lauren grinned, "You're right, but people want to hear the preview as well."

"Okay. Sorry."

The preview finished and Lauren waited in anticipation of the start of the feature film… or more accurately, Bo's reaction to it. She truly hoped she would like it because Lauren was looking forward to it as well. Finally, the title appeared, causing Bo to sit up. She smiled in anticipation as the introductory credits rolled over a deep dive into the ocean. Finally, the signal to put on the glasses came on. Lauren nudged Bo, telling her to put on her glasses. The doctor could see her struggle to adjust at first, but when a whale appeared in the depths and began to climb towards the surface, Bo held onto the arm rests of the seat and – when the whale breeched and seemed to fly over their heads – Bo put her hands up and let out a loud,

"Whooohoooo!"

She wasn't alone as the children in the theatre all shouted as well. Bo leaned over to Lauren,

"You know me so well. This is going to be incredible!"

Lauren nodded, "It's awesome! Watch the screen! You don't want to miss anything."

Bo turned back to the screen while Lauren took a few moments to lower her glasses and watch her girlfriend. If this was the only experience that she loved while she was in the city, it would be well worth it. She was happy and that was all that Lauren ever wanted for Bo Dennis. The fact that she was the one who was able to put the smile there by bringing her to this theatre made it just a bit sweeter.

Slowly, she lowered her glasses to the bridge of her nose and turned her head to the screen. She felt a surge of warmth when Bo once again took her hand, interlocking their fingers and giving it a squeeze before leaning into her and relaxing back against the seat.

"Thanks, Lauren."

"You're welcome, Bo."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Outside the theatre, Bo couldn't say enough about the movie. She was so excited that she didn't even notice the crowd they were traipsing through as they walked towards the aquarium. Finally, Lauren took her hands to get her attention,

"So, you've seen Humpbacks and other little sea creatures on the biggest screen available. Now, you're going to see them in actual 3D real life."

"Huh?"

"Well, not the Humpbacks – they're too big for this and besides, you already saw those when we were on Elijah's ship. You ready?"

"Really? To see live sea life? Do I need a bathing suit?"

Lauren chuckled, "Nope. Come on."

Lauren led Bo through the crowd to the doors of the Aquarium. She paused for a moment, checking to be sure she was still okay, but Bo's eyes were locked on what was ahead, reading signs and searching for her sea creatures. As they entered the facility, they turned left and entered a dark corridor with tall and long tanks filled with glowing blue and purple jelly fish.

"What the… what are those?"

"Jelly fish. These are all different species of jelly fish illuminated by black lights."

Bo moved as close to the tank as her nose would allow, "None of our jellies in Alaska look like this. Well, at least I don't think they do. I haven't seen many of them since I don't spend a whole lot of time on the ocean anymore, but… wow… these are amazing."

"Yes, they are." Lauren said, watching Bo as she watched the creatures float up, then sink down.

They continued along through the tunnel, Bo stopping at each and every tank, moving right, then left and sometimes backwards when she realized that she'd missed a tank. Lauren watched as Bo regressed to a child-like state. She was giddy and curious, but most of all – again – she was happy.

They went through the small animal hospital where Bo asked a lot of questions. Bo placed her hand in the touch pool and handled starfish and sea urchins. She took a lot of pictures of penguins and gave Lauren a few lessons of her own on a species she was quite familiar with. They went outside to see the seals and walrus, then back inside to the large center tank surrounded by a spiral ramp. She noticed the small sharks almost immediately and was mesmerized by the fact that they didn't attack each other. They all got along which led Bo to comment on how she wished humans could be more like the fish in the tank.

Finally, they reached the top where Bo met Myrtle, the Aquarium's celebrity green sea turtle who has lived there since June of 1970. Bo learned that they estimate her age to be between 90 and 95, her weight more than 500 pounds. She eats lettuce, broccoli, brussel sprouts and the occasional squid with vitamins injected. She has two friends who are loggerhead turtles, named Retread and Carolina.

"So why has she never been released?" Bo asked Lauren, "I mean, they're sort of a rehab, so why not Myrtle?"

Lauren nodded, leaning over the rail of the tank, "They took possession of her from another aquarium that was closing. They apparently tried to get her ocean-ready, but they feared she would not survive in the wild. So, she's now their research subject. They should be able to learn how long a sea turtle survives which might help them to know how they're doing with measures they're using to save them."

"They need saving?"

Nodding, the doctor explained, "Each year, Cape Cod water temperatures drop in a very short period of time. If the turtles haven't gone south with the rest, they strand themselves. Hopefully, any number of wildlife rescue organizations are notified and are able to pick them up and return them to warmer waters or accommodate them until the spring warm up."

"Wow. I had no idea."

Lauren nodded, "It's very sad. They're such gentle giants. They don't deserve the oceans we're giving them. Many turtles mistake pieces of plastic for food when they're young and don't make it to adulthood. Still others get tangled up in fishing nets cut loose from boats and wrapped up in plastic fasteners for six packs. I just hate what we do to these adorable, sweet creatures."

"She is adorable. Should we be worried that she's going really deep? How long can she hold her breath?" Bo asked.

"Come on. I'll show you where she's probably going."

"So you come here a lot?"

Lauren nodded, "I'm a member… actually, a donor. I come here during my lunches a few times a month = sometimes more if I'm stressed. It's relaxing to watch these magnificent creatures floating in their silent world."

Arriving at a coral overhang, Lauren stopped, "I think she's coming down here. She naps a lot. I mean, she's old, so that would make sense. To answer your question, she can hold her breath for about two hours when she's at rest."

"Two hours?" Bo asked, shocked, "That's ridiculous!"

Lauren smiled, "Their bodies are amazing. Look up – here she comes."

The pair watched as the large turtle swam slowly down in a spiral circle, settling gently atop the coral shelf surrounded by long, flowing strands of seaweed. Lauren watched as Bo slowly raised her hand, measuring the size of her human limb against that of Myrtle's.

"She's magnificent, Lauren."

"She is."

Lauren smiled, her eyes set on Bo. Again, her girlfriend was happy and everything was right with the world.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Boston Harbor

For a lunch activity, Lauren wanted some privacy with her girlfriend. To achieve that end, she had picked up some takeout and told Bo they were going to walk down to the harbor to have lunch. Bo was fully on board with the plan since her stomach had started to growl about an hour into their visit at the Aquarium.

When they arrived at the Harbor, Bo asked where they were going to sit, and Lauren motioned towards the large boat running at the dock.

"We're going to sit on that?"

"Yup."

"But, it looks like it's leaving."

"It is."

"Uh…"

"Come on, Bo. You've trusted me this far. Give it a go?"

Bo smiled, "Of course."

She took Lauren's hand and boarded the boat where a man named Carson introduced himself and led them to the tables at the rear of the boat.

"Do you need anything else, Doctor Lewis?"

"No, thank you very much, Carson. Are we waiting on other passengers?"

He shook his head, "Captain said he owes you one. You wanted privacy, so privacy you'll get. He said he was sure your boss was running you ragged since you returned from Alaska, so he asked that I do whatever it takes to help you and your guest have a relaxing trip."

"Thank you, Carson." Lauren smiled.

As he walked away, Bo turned to Lauren who was already unpacking their takeout, "You sure do know a lot of boat captains."

Lauren chuckled, popping a chip into her mouth before passing Bo's soup and sandwich to her, "I love the water. It's relaxing. Of course, my new favorite body of water is the river behind your house. I love the sound of the current and the backdrop is the ultimate scenery."

Bo grinned, "It is pretty special, isn't it?"

Lauren nodded, passing Bo her sunglasses, before putting on her own. The boat began to pull out and Lauren watched Bo's expression change. She decided Bo needed a bit more information,

"So, the harbor is one of the most relaxing spots in Boston. We won't leave the harbor on this ride, but it will be about a three-hour loop unless you want to go back sooner. If it's too hot, we can go below deck. He has a large screen TV with movie theatre seating. On the next level up, there's a lounge with sofa's and recliners as well as some tables. It's up to you how we spend the time. Apparently, we have the entire ship to ourselves other than the personnel running the boat. I suspect the Captain will stop by eventually. If not, we can go meet him if you'd like."

"For now, I'd just like to eat our lunch and then we'll play it by ear."

"That sounds perfect."

"This whole day has been perfect. I mean, I could have done without this morning's Evony drama, but you sure did make up for it with our three adventures."

Lauren nodded, "Actually, that was only two. The IMAX and the Aquarium were a single ticket purchase. We still have one more stop. I hope you still have some energy left in those fantastic legs of yours because we'll be doing some walking."

Bo smiled, "As long as I'm walking with you, I'll follow you anywhere."

"I was hoping you would say that." Lauren replied with a smile.

She watched as Bo took a spoonful of soup into her mouth, moaning at the goodness roaming over her taste buds. Lauren laughed, her eyes remaining on Bo's as she continued to enjoy her lunch. Maybe she was just overly hungry, maybe she truly loved the flavors… whatever the case, Lauren was just happy that again, Bo was happy.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Faneuil Hall and Marketplace

It was just past four-thirty when Bo and Lauren arrived at the marketplace. Since it was late summer, the sun was hot, and the walk had turned into another trolley ride just to catch a bit of a breeze. Now that it was a bit later, it was cooler, and the marketplace was alive with performers… and people… lots and lots of people.

Lauren could see the nerves creeping back in as Bo clung to her hand. Lauren searched for a place they could sit down and watch a juggler. She spied an empty stairway and led Bo to it.

"There's some shade here. Does this work?"

Bo nodded, "It's pretty crowded."

Lauren nodded, "Everyone comes for the food, shopping and performers. Look over there."

Bo looked towards the circle of onlookers who were watching a man on a unicycle who was tossing objects in the air… many, many objects,

"How is he doing all of that?"

Lauren smiled, "He's a juggler. He practices a lot and that's how he's able to do all of that."

Bo nodded, "I would crack my skull."

She turned to Lauren, "Although I might be able to do it with axes. I flip them over in my hands all the time and I have handled two at once. I've never tried three."

"Well, how 'bout sticking with two? I'd rather not have to sew your hand back on. I rather enjoy your hands."

Bo looked at Lauren who was looking at her seductively. The brunette laughed, "I cannot wait to get you back to… well, wherever it is we're staying tonight."

"We could get a hotel if you'd like."

"We don't have any clothes."

"We need clothes?" Lauren asked.

Bo rolled her eyes, "For tomorrow, silly."

Lauren laughed, "I know. We can buy something new here."

Bo shrugged, "Are you anticipating coming into money?"

Lauren smiled, "I've already come into money, Bo. I can afford to buy us clothes."

"Right." Bo replied before looking at Lauren, "Am I going to be a kept woman?"

Lauren laughed, "Only when you want to be."

Bo smiled, "Maybe you can keep me on special occasions. It would be nice not to have to worry about being completely independent once in a while."

"Of course, you say that now, but then I actually try to do it and you get stubborn."

"Just slap me and remind me I said I wanted to be a kept woman on special occasions."

Lauren smiled, "Is this a special occasion?"

Bo nodded, "I'm in Boston and you love me. It's very special."

"It is." Lauren smiled, leaning over and giving Bo a chaste kiss on the mouth, "Shall we go pick up some clothes?

Bo looked at the juggler, "But he's just getting started."

Lauren shrugged, "Well, we have to be at the restaurant to meet the others for dinner in just over an hour. The Oyster House is just on the other side of the marketplace, so it's not far, but we really should get moving. Plus, you want to get some gifts for the family?"

Bo nodded, "Okay." She looked around, "Just… keep talking to me, right?"

"Together, Bo. You and me."

"Together."

Lauren was happy that Bo was able to walk the marketplace without incident. Of course, she stayed close to her girlfriend and at times, she pulled Lauren into open space just to 'catch her breath' for a moment. They found souvenir T-shirts at the indoor area where vendors sold their goods off of carts. They also got some toys for the three younger girls. It took a while, but they finally found something for Bo's main sled team and Lauren's three dogs.

After picking up some clothing for the next day as well as a suitcase to pack their gifts in, they headed to the Oyster House. They were going to be a bit late, but Lauren had sent a text to Patrick to let him know. As it turned out, he was running late as well, but had said he would call Betsy to let her know they were running late so they would take a seat at their booth.

When they finally arrived, Lauren introduced Bo to the history of yet another building before introducing her to the historic Oyster Bar. After a few lessons, the owner allowed Bo to shuck a few oysters, complimenting her knife skills. Lauren had wanted to tell the man he didn't know the half of it, but she didn't want to scare people if Bo decided to demonstrate her skills.

Bo had never had oysters before. She described them as salty and slimy, stating she preferred clams before whispering to Lauren,

"Your clam."

The blonde blushed, temporarily losing her ability to speak as memories of riding Bo's face on the tall ship filled her mind. In that moment, she decided she was going to make very quick work of dinner and get Bo back to a hotel as soon as possible.

While Bo used the bathroom, Lauren watched the suitcase of their new valuables and called her friend at the Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center to see if she had any rooms available. Of course, she would also ask for her discretion as they had met in somewhat unsavory conditions. A one-night stand that turned into a true friendship, Maddie was someone Lauren could always turn to when she wanted someone to be real with her. They had a lot in common despite the fact that they lived in very different worlds. Maddie didn't drink, so Lauren could always count on her for activities other than barhopping.

As it turned out, Maddie had a suite with a water view and told Lauren she would get it ready for her. When Maddie asked if she wanted to hang out, Lauren told her about Bo… that she'd finally found the one. Maddie's voice over the phone drew Bo's attention as she came out of the bathroom, so Lauren put Maddie on speaker phone so she could tell Bo herself how happy she was for them.

Bo grinned as Lauren's friend gushed over her, thanking her profusely for making the doctor so happy. They finished the call with Maddie promising to send a car to pick them up at precisely eight-thirty so that they had an excuse to leave in an hour and a half. Lauren was concerned that it would seem rude, but Maddie – as always – reminded Lauren that she had a right to be in love and want to enjoy her final nights in Boston with Bo. She also reminded her that she would see all of them bright and early in the morning so they could catch up before she had to leave. If they won the case, they would likely be celebrating with a big lunch anyway.

Bo and Lauren ended the call and headed upstairs to the Kennedy booth where Lauren suspected Stephen would already be waiting. Sure enough, he was there ready to greet them both. Betsy and Penelope had just arrived with Patrick who was parking the car.

They sat down and the mood was immediately light. Lauren was grateful they avoided talk about the legal battle ahead of them in the morning. Patrick did mention that John had called and said that Evony was still resistant, but he hoped that she would allow them to hold the meeting without her present so that she didn't get emotionally involved in the deal. As of that conversation, Evony was still considering her options while on a call with the judge. Apparently, he was working his magic.

The food came and was devoured by the hungry group. They shared stories about their youth, life in Boston for Bo's benefit and discussed potential visits to Alaska. When they parted ways, it sounded like Betsy would be dragging Penelope with her to the great northwest so that she didn't have to travel alone.

Finally, the call came that a car had arrived for Doctor Lewis and guest. After politely excusing themselves, the pair headed downstairs to the car and were off to the waterfront once again. The drive was quiet, both women tired from a busy day that had allowed little time for rest. When they pulled into the hotel, Bo's mouth dropped open,

"Uh… this is what it means to be a kept woman?"

Lauren smiled, "We're splurging. Special occasion, remember?"

"Damn, Lauren. This must cost a pretty penny."

Lauren smiled, "Actually, Maddie charges me the friends and family rate. That's why I called her."

"Oh. So you're going cheap on our date?"

"I assure you, despite what I'm paying, this place is top-o-the-line."

Bo laughed, "Okay, Doctor Lewis. Lead the way."

They entered the hotel to a smiling Maddie. She had arranged a perfect room for a perfect night for a perfect couple. Personally, Bo thought the woman was laying it on a bit thick, but Lauren seemed to appreciate her effort, so she thanked her and followed Lauren to the elevator.

When the bellhop opened the door, Lauren waved Bo in first. The brunette entered the room and immediately moved to the window to see the view of the water just a few floors below. Lauren had told Maddie that Bo wasn't a huge fan of heights, so she had gotten them a room on the third floor. It really was perfect.

The young man brought their suitcase inside, nodding politely as Lauren paid him a generous tip. He closed the door and Lauren locked it for the night. She walked over to Bo, wrapping her arms around her waist,

"Ready for bed?"

"I really am. I'm exhausted, but this is a beautiful view. It's strange to me – all of the lights, but they twinkle on the water and it's really cool. I didn't realize how much I missed having nighttime until just now."

Lauren nodded, "I forgot about that. You're in twenty-four hours of light right now."

"You did get a small taste of it." Bo reminded.

Lauren shrugged, "I suppose, but there were at least those sort of dusky evening hours."

The doctor wrapped her arms tighter around the doctor, placing light kisses on her girlfriend's neck. Bo leaned back, smiling before capturing Lauren's lips in a gentle kiss,

"I'm torn between going to bed or putting out the effort to move the bed over here so we can have this view."

Lauren shrugged, "Well, I would be a bit concerned about being in the bed with how close we are to the ground. People can see us through the window – especially with the bright lights on behind us in the room."

"Oh, shit." Bo said, fumbling with the rod that allowed her to slide the curtains in front of her. Lauren laughed, watching Bo shift from relaxed and confident to panicked and embarrassed.

The brunette turned to see her girlfriend laughing and picked her up, throwing her onto the bed. She pinned her arms down and straddled her trunk,

"You're laughing at me? Is that any way to show me you love me?" Bo asked.

"You're absolutely right. I've still got some work to do on making my 'radio silence' up to you, huh?"

Bo offered up a devious grin, "Mmmm… you're absolutely right. It's going to take at least a year for you to make that up to me."

"A year, huh? When you said I had some work to do, I didn't think you would be holding a grudge."

Bo chuckled, "I'm sorry, but you were a bad, bad girl, Doctor Lewis. I'm going to have to punish you."

Lauren tried not to laugh as she replied, "Do what you must, but I have to ask… will there be spanking?"

Bo laughed, "For sure."

"Well, first, I'm going to give you something I think you will really enjoy. I know how much you love good food, so I had something sent up for us." Lauren said, giving Bo a quick peck on the lips.

"Food?" Bo asked, suddenly hungry.

"Dessert, actually."

Bo grinned, rolling off of Lauren, "I was wondering why you wouldn't let me order the cheesecake. Incidentally, it's not polite to separate a Bo from a dessert."

Lauren chuckled, "I didn't separate the two of you. I just… delayed… your union. Have a look over at the table."

Bo hurried over and turned on the light in the kitchenette,

Lauren laughed, "I'm wondering if I should be hurt by the fact that you so easily left a bed with me in it at the mere mention of a dessert."

Bo giggled, "I'm sorry, my darling love but desserts are my first love and like you said earlier – you never forget your first."

Bo opened the lid, her eyes going wide when she saw the incredible display,

"Oh. My. Gawd. I've died and gone to heaven."

Lauren sauntered over to her girlfriend and trailed kisses down her neck before whispering seductively in her ear,

"No… that's later. For now, a bit of heaven right here on earth." Lauren replied, picking up one of fifteen small dessert plates stacked in a perfect pyramid, "Let me introduce you to the Global Desserts Pyramid, created by yours truly."

Bo sat down, nodding her head and motioning to the display, "Really? Please… I'm all ears."

Lauren grinned, picking up a fork. She sat down at the table, sliding the plate in front of Bo. On the plate was a tiny glass pitcher. She slowly poured it over a white chocolate ball. Bo watched as the white chocolate melted at the top causing the white shell to break, revealing a dark chocolate cake inside.

"This, my love, is my dear friend the white chocolate ball cake that I was introduced to while in Germany. I was there to teach a class on transplant techniques that rapidly increase blood flow to the heart when a chance meeting resulted in this now long-time friendship. I got the recipe for Maddie and she had her staff put it on the dessert menu."

Lauren carefully inserted two tongs of the small dessert fork into the moist, warm cake before swiping it through the warm strawberry and white chocolate sauce. She lifted it to Bo's lips, the brunette wrapping her mouth around it. Lauren watched as her tongue slipped from her mouth and over her lips, a moan emanating from her throat as the warm tasty treat caressed her taste buds,

"Oh, my. Maybe a flight to Germany wouldn't be so hard." Bo said, her eyes closing as she savored the glorious aftertaste left by the first bite.

Lauren smiled, "Now, I believe I deserve a good-dessert kiss, yes?"

Bo grinned, leaning over and kissing the blonde – at first gently… then deeper. When she heard a soft moan come from the blonde, she pulled back turning to face the remaining plates on the tower, "What's next?"

Lauren frowned, "Hey! You could at least give me a taste of what I gave you!"

Bo smiled, "Sharing, huh?" Bo took another bite of the chocolate ball, chewing and swallowing the treat before leaning in to capture Lauren's lips in a delectable kiss, the brunette offering her a taste of the remaining scents and flavors that remained from dessert number one. When the blonde pulled back, she smiled,

"Mmmm… that's much, much better." Lauren grinned, turning to the tower, "Okay. Now, dessert number two is from a trip to the Netherlands where I not only learned to grow a tulip from a bulb, but also learned how to grow a skin graft – one that could potentially be grown from cardiac tissue cells to replace damaged tissue caused by a myocardial infarction."

"A what now?" Bo asked, but Lauren laughed, instead pulling one of three plates from the top and placing it in front of Bo whose eyes were wide, "Wow. It's kind of… pretty."

Lauren smiled, "It is."

She lowered the small dessert fork, puncturing a half cherry, blueberry, a small bite of cake and a swipe of lime green sauce to build the perfect bite and offered it to Bo as she spoke,

"Het lekkerste recept voor Cherry Chapel."

Bo looked at Lauren as she chewed, catching a drip of sauce with her pinky finger and offering it to Lauren. The blonde accepted, taking more than just the tip of the finger and sucking it slowly clean. Bo watched, her gaze unwavering as the blonde licked her lips. Bo bit her own bottom lip before she asked,

"What did you say?"

"Well, my Dutch wasn't very good when I was there five years ago, so it's even worse now, but I hope I said something like – this is the best recipe for Cherry Chapel." Lauren picked up a cherry with her fingers and took a bite, "It's one of my favorite desserts from that trip."

Bo gazed across the room, "You know, there's a nice sized refrigerator over there."

Lauren looked over her shoulder, "You're right. There is."

"I'd think we could put these plates in there for a while, share the flavors of the first two desserts over there in that bed for a while and then come back to them."

"I think you're right… if that's what you want." Lauren replied, pulling another plate off of the tower, "Or you could try a bite of this red velvet bite-sized round, dusted with a light powdering of sugar. The sugar cane toothpick piercing the chocolate truffle over the cake is meant to be taken all in one bite, eating the toothpick and all. A bit of sweet crunch with a velvet sugary red cake climaxing in a soft bite of soft milk chocolate."

"I get a climax, huh?"

"Not as good as the ones I plan to give you until you fall asleep, but a climax nonetheless." Lauren smirked, holding the fragile toothpick in front of Bo's mouth. The brunette stared at the dessert longingly, taking only a short moment to take it into her mouth – all in one bite as Lauren had directed.

The blonde smiled victoriously as Bo groaned at the flavors swirling around her palate, "Oh my gawd! Lauren this is… oh gawd!"

"Better than sex?" Lauren chuckled.

"Yes!" Bo said, savoring the taste until she realized what Lauren said, "No! I mean… not sex with you! I mean…"

Lauren laughed, "Bo, I'm not offended. Relax, it's amazing, right?" She handed Bo the fork, the brunette immediately licking it clean,

"It is." Bo smiled, "Want a taste?"

"Right now, I want you in that bed." Lauren said, leaving Bo at the table with the desserts.

Bo stared at the tower, searching for another bite of the same dessert, but she saw only more and more variations of desserts… many delicious looking varieties. She stood, her eyes still on the desserts until she heard Lauren clear her throat. She turned, swallowing hard when she saw the blonde laying on her side, completely naked, a small strawberry shortcake in front of her with a can of whipped cream in hand,

"Want some?" Lauren asked, using her thumb to pop off the cap.

Bo licked her lips, swallowing hard, "Gods, yes."

"Don't be shy." Lauren said, "Come and get some."

Bo nodded, her head turning slightly sideways, then back to Lauren, "Shouldn't we put these in the fridge before…" she dropped the fork she was holding, "Oh, screw it."

She rushed towards the bed, stripping as she moved. A few awkward moments of her shorts stuck on her foot and top stuck on her earring had Lauren laughing until Bo finally arrived at the bed. She slowly moved around to the other side, sliding in behind the blonde. She slid her hand up Lauren's thigh, over her hip and around her waist while her lips trailed kisses along her shoulder,

"Can I have a taste?" She whispered.

Lauren smiled, rolling onto her back, "Of this?" Lauren asked, pointing at the small plate.

Bo pushed the plate from the bed, the can also rolling from Lauren's grasp, "Desserts be damned."

But the blonde was quick, snatching the can of whipped cream before it rolled from the mattress, "Except this… I have plans for this."

Lauren placed her finger on the white spout. Grinning, she pressed down and started a stream of cool, creamy ripples, moving in an arc from her left shoulder, down to the cavern of her breasts, back up to her right shoulder and down over her right nipple, continuing down to the spot just above the center of the neatly trimmed hairline above her legs. She then traced the path back over her left breast to her shoulder, finishing with a touch of cream in her mouth.

Bo grinned, watching Lauren toss the can off of the bed before capturing her mouth to share the taste of the fluffy treat. She then looked up at Lauren and smiled,

"For me?"

Lauren chuckled, "All for you."

Bo grinned, "Lucky, lucky me."

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