"That's when she said 'you know Lauren, I think this isn't going to work'. And I was like really ya think, I broke up with you a month ago, you're the one still sleeping on my couch."

Tamsin grinned and nodded her head at Lauren's story.

"I don't have relationships but I can't tell you the amount of times some lame tried to turn a one night stand into a romance. Then when I tell them what I want they're like but I can offer you forever and I'm like a girl only needs ten minutes, if that," Tamsin smirked as Lauren laughed.

The Valkyrie had been back a couple of weeks since being sent away from Asgard by Bo. She was worried but trying not to show it. Weakness wasn't in her nature and after the cry she had with Dyson and Bo; she'd had enough of emotions. So she had been fueling herself with her two favorite things: liquor and humor. It seemed to be working since no one was throwing sad eyes her way. Although she had noticed Kenzi hanging around more trying to occupy her everyday after work as if she was some lost puppy. It was annoying but sweet and she didn't really mind because it helped keep the bad thoughts away.

"Listen, I've been wanting to apologize to you," Lauren said turning serious.

"About?"

"I'm so sorry I suggested you become Bo's shield maiden. If I had known..."

"But you didn't, so it's fine," Tamsin said waving her off.

"Still, if I had known what you went through I would never have said anything. It's a very personal decision and I had no right telling you what to do. So I apologize."

"Apology accepted Doc, I appreciate it," Tamsin said patting her hand.

"Aww, look at you two all friendly and stuff. Warms my heart," Kenzi said taking a seat next to Lauren. "Ha, look at us, two humans and a Valkyrie in a bar, sounds like the beginning of a joke."

"Yes, a really lame one," Tamsin said throwing her straw at Kenzi.

"Hey," Kenzi yelped throwing it back and sticking her tongue out at Tamsin.

"Now, now children. Don't make mommy take out her ruler," Lauren said reaching for her bag.

"Mommy has a ruler in her bag? What other goodies are in here?" Kenzi said grabbing it.

Kenzi pulled out a lipstick tube but when she tried to open it to see the color the object began vibrating.

"Is this what I think it is?" Kenzi said her eyes opening wide.

"I will take that back thank you," Lauren said snatching the object out of her hand, a blush forming on her cheeks.

"Geez, I didn't know they came that small," Tamsin said trying to contain her laughter.

"Little, but it definitely packs a punch," Lauren said with a smirk causing the other two to break into fits of laughter.

"Am I going to have to kick you guys out of here for being rowdy?" Trick said walking to the end of the bar with a smile.

"No, but you might have to kick Doctor Hotpants out of here for being naughty," Tamsin said. Kenzi leaned over and high fived her.

Trick sighed, "I don't even want to know," he mumbled walking back to the other end of the bar.

"I will have you know that studies have shown that one can be more productive if they are able to either have a nap or some sort of release during the workday," Lauren said putting her bag down near her feet.

"Oh yeah? Do you release often during the day doctor? Like how many times we talking here," Kenzi said starting to raise fingers. "Let me know when to stop."

Lauren slapped Kenzi's hand and smiled. Out of the corner of her eye Tamsin noticed Dyson coming in.

"Hey guys, I'm going to talk to Dyson for a bit," Tamsin said leaving Kenzi and Lauren to their dirty talk.

"What's up," Dyson said bumping fists with Tamsin. "Down for a game of pool?"

"Always, but the question is, are you down for getting your butt whipped?"

"Ooh, try not to hurt me too bad," He said as they walked to the tables.

Dyson began racking the balls and Tamsin went to get two pool cues.

"Hey D, I wanted to talk to you about something," Tamsin said handing him his cue.

"No, I will not have sex with you. I know it's hard to resist all of this manliness but it ain't happening," Dyson replied with a wink.

"Yes, your manliness is too much even for me but I want to be serious here for a minute," Tamsin said leaning against the pool table.

"Okay, I'm all ears."

"You and I have never had a talk about what's going on between Bo and myself. I know you love her and for me to come in and take away your chance to get her back, that doesn't sit well with me."

"Tamsin, I love Bo and I probably always will. But honestly I don't see her and I being together. Wolves mate for life and when we choose a mate they are the world to us and the thought of sharing that world makes you crazy. The short time Bo and I had was bliss but I knew in the back of my mind I could never completely satisfy her. A succubus always needs multiple partners and I want someone who only needs me," Dyson said as he slumped next to her on the table. "You know that's the first time I actually said that out loud."

"Funny how different you and Lauren are yet the same when it comes to Bo," Tamsin said laying her hand on his arm.

"Guess we're both a bit possessive. And what about you, can you handle life with a succubus?"

"Living as long as I have, just knowing that there is someone who loves me and cherishes the time we spend together is enough. Sex is just an act to release tension; I should know it's what I've been doing all these years. Now I'm not saying I won't get jealous, but with what I've been through I can manage."

Dyson smiled, "You talk like you two are going to be together."

"Yeah, I think we are," Tamsin said standing straight. "Now that's the first time I've said that out loud."

"Well aren't we quite the sappy pair."

"Okay enough of this emotional shit. Next thing you know we'll be sharing a tub of ice cream and crying over chick flicks together."

"But we already do that," Dyson said pushing Tamsin on the shoulder.

"Yeah, yeah. Whoever wins has to buy a round of drinks," Tamsin said as she bent over to take her shot.

The night wore on and the Dal began to slowly empty out. The gang was all still there plus a few stragglers.

"Is there somewhere else everyone is going? Fridays are usually busy here," Trick said cleaning down the bar.

"I heard there's a new place a few blocks away, more of a club than a bar. It also allows the light and dark to mingle," Kenzi said popping a peanut in her mouth. "OMG, Trick, I have a great idea. Make this place seem more exclusive, then you'll get people coming back."

"And how do you suggest I do that?"

"Get a bouncer to hang out front on weekend nights, people will think it is the place to be. And I have the perfect guy for the job."

"And who would that be?" Trick said looking skeptical.

"His name is Bruce and he is the best gentle giant a girl could know. I am totally going to give him a call," Kenzi said scrambling for her phone.

"Good luck with that short stack, Bruce is on a spiritual retreat," Tamsin said finishing her drink.

"And how do you know that?"

"Because he told us that last month when he came over and made us dinner. Remember, he said 'Kenzi I am going to find myself by going to the Himalayas on a spiritual retreat. I'll be back in a couple of months'. Damn, do you ever listen?" Tamsin said grinning after doing her best Bruce impression.

"I listen, but the only thing I remember about that visit was the delicious meal he made. Turkey, stuffing and cranberry, oh my."

"Probably has something to do with the several glasses of champagne you drank," Tamsin said pretending to throw back a drink which prompted Trick to laugh.

"Whatever, I'm going over there to hang with Dyson and Hale. At least they won't make fun of me," Kenzi said pouting. She threw her middle finger up at Tamsin as soon as Trick turned his back.

Tamsin blew a kiss her way with a smirk. She saw Lauren gathering her things and waved her over.

"Plans for tomorrow?" Lauren asked as she put on her jacket.

"Dyson and I have a place to visit, we've been investigating a couple of homicides that look like they might be related," Tamsin said as she settled back into her bar stool.

"Anything I can help with?"

"Well I can tell you something that we haven't mentioned to anyone. The kills are of the succubus variety," Tamsin said, pausing when a bout of nausea hit her. "Woah, that was weird."

"You okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Um anyway, like I was saying, the deaths were definitely done by a succubus."

"Really? Well there's no way its Bo, even as strange as she's been acting she wouldn't kill people. There has to be... Tamsin are you sure you're alright?" Lauren caught the Valkyrie as she jumped down from the stool.

"Yeah, I just feel really sick all of a sudden. I'm going to the bathroom; need to splash some water on my face."

The Valkyrie walked to the bathroom and tried to maintain her balance. She didn't want to tell Lauren the truth that she had been feeling out of it for the last few days. She was getting tired much earlier, her tolerance for liquor was going down and she was starting to have trouble concentrating. The doctor didn't have to perform an examination for her to figure out what was happening, Tamsin already knew; she was dying. Her expiration date was getting closer and her body was showing the signs.

She made it to the sink and threw some cool water over her face. It helped wake her up a bit as she looked at herself in the mirror. She ran her fingers through her hair and wanted to cry as some of it stayed attached to her hand. She let it fall from her fingertips and smacked her hand on the sink.

"Not now, damn it," she muttered to herself.

Things still weren't right and Tamsin didn't plan on going anywhere until she could help Bo and the others defeat Odin and Danielus. She hadn't fully explained to her friends what would happen when she was reborn. The usual process was that her body would go into something similar to cardiac arrest and then she would just stop breathing. Her body would then disappear only to reappear in Valhalla in the chapel they kept for rebirths. But Tamsin had never known a fallen Valkyrie such as herself so she had no idea if the process was the same. Or if she would even be reborn. That thought is what scared her the most. Death had long ago stopped being something she feared and in the last hundred years it had become something she secretly craved. An end to the pain. But now she had a reason to live and the thought that it could all end was frightening.

"Fuckers can't have me yet," Tamsin said out loud, smirking at herself in the mirror.

Her spirits lifted, she dried herself off and exited the bathroom. She stopped dead in her tracks, the door hitting her on the backside. She wasn't prepared to see Bo at the other end of the bar talking to Trick.

"She showed up right after you went in the bathroom. I was just about to come in there and warn you. Uh, surprise," Kenzi said weakly, trying to smile.

Lauren came over too and gave her the sad eyes she had been hoping to avoid.

"Are you okay?" Lauren said touching her arm.

"Jesus guys, Bo came back, it's not like anyone died," Tamsin said snatching her arm away.

"Actually I was referring to why you went in the restroom but you're right, no need to overreact to her presence," Lauren said giving Kenzi a knowing glance.

Tamsin saw when Bo stopped talking to Trick and began making her way over to them. Her gut reaction was disturbingly pleasant; she was fighting her desire to run into Bo's arms. But she chalked it up to the enthrallment and made her self stay perfectly still. Valkyrie training always came in handy at one time or another.

"I was wondering where you were hiding," Bo said staring into Tamsin's eyes. "How are you?"

"I'm fine. How was your party?" Tamsin asked not trying to mask the distaste in her voice.

"It was wonderful. It ended on a very pleasant note," Bo said with a smirk.

Tamsin automatically knew what Bo was referring to by the tone of her voice and the anger that filled her was borderline insane.

"Well, glad you had a good time without me," Tamsin said with her own smirk.

"Oh the best. Excuse me," Bo said making her way to the bathroom.

"Oh boy, I know what we're in store for in the coming days" Kenzi sighed.

"What?" Tamsin said not taking her eyes off of the succubus.

"Ah yes, seems they have reverted back to that previous stage you so affectionately called hate flirting," Lauren said nodding. "I have brought that term up to several colleagues and they agree it is quite accurate for the behavior we have seen."

The two women burst into laughter.

"You two suck," Tamsin said walking over to Hale who sat in a corner playing solitaire.

"Where did Dyson go?" She said taking the seat next to him.

"Not sure, right before Bo showed up he said he had to run back to the station. You okay?" He said putting down the cards.

She wanted to say something sarcastic but was too tired to bother. "I'm fine, just not in the mood for the shit storm of emotions I'm about to deal with."

"Emotions? You? Man, I have truly lived to see everything if our resident snarky ass Valkyrie is admitting to having feelings. I'm proud of you," Hale said picking his cards back up. "By the way, I have a proposition for you."

"Oh yeah, what would that be?"

"I know you need a place to stay, and seeing as Bo is back it won't be with Kenzi. So I thought you might want to take an apartment off my hands."

"Okay... how much we talking?"

"Nada, technically it's mine but is located in one of the properties my family owns. Been vacant for awhile, I'm never going to use it and it seems you're going to be around for a bit. Thought it might be nice if you finally settled in here."

Tamsin looked at Hale and was embarrassed to admit she was touched. No one had ever just given her anything; everything had a price, even love.

"So you're just going to give me an apartment? No cost, completely free? What's wrong with it? "

Hale laughed, "Come on Blondie, I would never do you like that. I'd have offered before but you seemed content so I didn't say anything. Think of it as a thank you gift for all the ass you will be kicking in the coming days."

"Okay," she said bumping fists with him.

"So, are you going to go talk to her," He said nodding his head towards Bo.

"No, she's not in a good head space right now. It's like when she first came back, the energy radiating from her is off the charts. We'll just get into an argument. What I don't get is how we could make these loving declarations to each other and then when we meet again it's like it didn't happen."

"Love is hard, you just gotta fight through the bullshit," Hale said with a shrug.

Tamsin's phone rang and she saw Dyson's name pop up.

"Hey D, what's going on?"

"Get your ass down to the station. We have a situation and bring Hale," He said hanging up.

"Dyson said we need to get to the station, pronto," Tamsin said jumping up.

The two said their goodbyes and headed out the door but Tamsin couldn't resist looking back. She wasn't surprised to see Bo watching her. The succubus smiled for a quick second then looked away. The Valkyrie felt her heart clench then headed out into the night.

So this was a bit of a filler chapter. I've been dumping some heavy stuff on you all so I thought something a little light might be good. By the way, the guest reviewer who called me Shonda Rhimes, I love you. I haven't laughed that hard in awhile. I do take it as a compliment though because she knows how to dial up the drama and people eat it up. So I'm guessing that means I'm keeping you on your toes :)