Hey all

Let me just start by saying that this chapter was hellish to write. I always knew that when I broke Bo and Lauren up for a bit, I'd somehow have to stuff some storyline in between those bits, but working that story line out in my head has proved to be really difficult, and so I just struggled with writing this chapter.

Anyhoooooooooooo... that being said...here is the next chap of A Christmas Date! Leave a review my lovelies! :-)

We find out who boinked Bo over the head, Lauren inquires into that case file Bo told her about, Stacy is up to something, and Lauren finds out what happened to her dad, and then there's more drama...

Above summary sucks...just read the chapter. ;-)

As always replies to reviews at the bottom of your page!


Chapter 8

USS Enterprise

Bo's POV

"What the hell?" I say as I crane my neck feeling the muscles spasm there. "Ouch!"

"Oh hey, you're awake, " Eve's voice responds. "That's good."

"Eve? Wha..." I look around. I'm in Eve's cabin I can tell by the multitude of Spam in a can! cans in her cupboard. "What the hell happened, and what am I doing here?"

"I knocked you out," Eve says casually lying on her bed, flipping through a manual.

"You did what?" I whirl around looking at her, but the sudden movement isn't gentle on the tense muscles of my neck and I wince. "Dang!" I grumble.

"Knocked you out."

"I can feel that," I say, my tone somewhere between a scowl and a painful grunt. "What the hell for?"

"Cause you were stomping your way to Commander Psycho's office no doubt to tell her off, and blow your career to smithereens."

"And you found it necessary to knock me out for that?"

"That's what wingmen are for!" she says cheerfully. "You're welcome by the way."

I rub my neck, and sigh. "Welcome? What's wrong with coaxing me by the arm gently and then using your words to get me to cool down?"

From the bed Eve shoots me a look and then just laughs.

"Alright...fine.." I say still rubbing the sore muscles in my neck. "You've got a point," I mumble. "Why the hell am I on the floor while you're on the bed," I ask annoyed now clearly registering how uncomfortable the floor is.

"Dude, you're heavy, I had to rest after dragging your ass."

"Great, no wonder I fucking feel like I've been hit by a truck."

"I take it things didn't go well with Commander Lewis?"

"She's vetting me for Hall's position, and she believes Altmann." I sigh.

"I heard about Hall's wife. Sad."

"Yeah, " I nod, and suddenly feel very self-absorbed for letting myself get consumed with my drama. "Puts the Stacy - Lauren thing in perspective."

Eve hums agreeing with me. "But, it doesn't make the Stacy thing any less fucked up. What happened?"

"Stacy told Lauren a couple of things from when I was still in college, and to make a long story short, Lauren believes her."

"What? You're kidding me!"

"Nope."

"Did you tell her about psycho? How she screwed you over and then went ballistic on you?"

"I tried, she didn't want to listen to me," I say Lauren's words playing in my mind again, making my eyes sting once more.

"That's messed up."

I shrug and swallow away my tears. "They're friends, I guess?" I exhale loudly. "I really don't want to be thinking about this right now. What time is it anyway?"

"Um 9.30pm."

"I was out for an hour?"

"Yeah, I may have gone a little overboard."

"Damnit, I need to go."

"What? Dude,...chill. We're off tonight, remember?"

"It's not that." I shake my head. "Lauren, Commander Lewis..." I correct."... told me that this whole vetting procedure centers around us kissing. Us being in your cabin alone after hours, not a good idea at the moment."

"What? Fuck. That damn kiss..I'm sorry, Rip. I should have never taken that stupid dare."

"Don't apologize. It's bullshit it was reported in the first place. It's just now cause I'm under a looking glass..."

"Alright," Eve nods. "Okay well, if we can't stay here, Runny and the guys are playing charades tonight. You up for a game?"

Two days later

USS Enterprise, Lauren's office

Lauren's POV

"Dr. Lewis?"

"Malik," I say with a smile as I look up, and I see the face of Nurse Malik Sayens poking through my door.

"You have a phonecall from a detective Cortez? Said you called him about a file? Do you have time to accept that call?"

"Yes, I'll head to the COMM Room," I say and grab Bo's file with me and the notepad I've been using. The morning after my fight with Bo, I called the Stanford Police Department with the request for the case file number Bo had given me. At first they were reluctant, but my Navy rank and the mention that I needed it for a case I was working on quickly cleared that obstacle. The file hadn't been digitized, rather stored in archive. They would get back to me with it in due time.

I verified Bo's story with Eve and the pilots, contacted Bo's best friend Tamsin. I wasn't surprised to learn that Commander Davies' version of events mirrored that of Bo's, but then her statement was backed up by numerous pilots I spoke to. Everyone knew of the rumors, but nobody could really pin point their origins. There were only a few pilots who gave any credence to them. Although the problem was a bit wider spread in groups that Bo didn't know well, no one there could substantiate any of the hearsay either. All the pilots, and most of the mechanics I talked to praised Bo and her professionalism. Bo's best friend also readily confirmed her story about the stolen law exam, and even sent me a copy of her academic record. Tamsin's record, apart from that law ethics class she failed was exemplary, supporting Bo's version of events once more.

"Detective Cortez, thank you for contacting me again so quickly," I say when I reach the COMM Room. "And I apologize for the wait."

"Not a problem, Commander Lewis. I served in the Navy myself for five years. Anything I can do to help out our armed forces, I'll gladly do."

A soft smile pulls at my lips. "It's greatly appreciated. Were you able to retrieve the file?"

"I was, and I've started faxing it through to you. It should be coming in as we speak." At the detective's words I hear one of the fax machines behind me gear up, and start spewing pages.

"It's not a big file, fifteen pages or so." Detective Cortez says. "But, that name you gave me yesterday Isabeau McCorrigan jogged my memory. Six years ago, I was fresh outta the Academy and she was one of the first cases I ever worked. She was a student at the university, date rape case." Detective Cortez says casually while I reel at what the detective is telling me. "Pretty girl, very pretty your Miss McCorrigan," he continues in the same nonchalant tone. "I remember how shaken up she was when I went to the hospital to take her statement," Cortez says as I spot the toxicology reports of the hospital come through the fax machine.

"Rohypnol." The word tumbles from my lips as I read the bloodwork test they ran at the hospital.

"Yeah, the date rape drug. That girl's system was pumped with it. She remembered talking to the perp at a party they were both at. Preston had reportedly gotten her a drink, and she started feeling sluggish after only a couple of sips. She had the presence of mind to realize she'd been drugged, but by that time it was already too late, and Preston was ushering her outside. She told me that she put up a fight as best she could, but then she blacked out. Next thing she knew, she woke up in our perp's bed half naked with Preston and some girl. Hold on, I've got the name here: Altmann, Stacy Altmann standing over her, screaming at her and basically throwing her out of the bed." Detective Cortez pauses. "By all accounts, it should have been an open and shut case, but it never went to trial."

"What? Why not?" I ask incredulously.

"Several things. Your Miss McCorrigan had the reputation of being a bit of a party girl, she was a looker, and then there was Altmann's testimony. Altmann stated that McCorrigan had seduced her boyfriend, not the other way around. In the end, a deal was struck, charges got swept under the rug."

I inhale and curse at a multitude of things, including how someone's reputation and the fact that they are 'pretty' apparently trumps scientific evidence.

"Did you believe her?"

"With the number of defensive wounds she had on her? Absolutely. Also, you can't fake being rattled like that, and the thing is that guy Kyle Preston, he turned out to be a serial rapist. We caught him three years later, pinned over a dozen rapes on him. It's why I never forgot about that case. If only we'd been able to put him away after that first incident."

"Holy Fibonacci," I mumble out loud at the absolute nightmare the detective is relaying to me. "Was she raped?" I ask my chest constricting.

"No, " The detective says and a silent "thank goodness," tumbles from my lips when my heart unclenches again.

"Just the defensive wounds, she must have put up quite a fight before the drugs kicked in and then I suppose she was lucky that Altmann girl walked in."

"Lucky?" I question ruefully.

"Yeah, bad choice of words maybe considering how Altmann later testified against her, but believe me when I say that she got off easy there. Kyle Preston not only raped his victims, he damn near beat them to death too. Sadistic prick."

It's fifteen minutes later and I'm staring at the case file Detective Cortez sent me. It includes pictures of a 22-year-old Bo with scrapes and bruises all over her body. There's a deep cut right above her eye, and she's got a busted lip. The file also has pictures of other women targeted by Kyle Preston. I take one look at them and instantly put them away again. I'm a doctor, I'm used to seeing trauma, worse trauma even than what I see on these pictures. I know the horrors people can inflict on one another. I'm desensitized to it even, to a point that is, but yet I can't stand to see this, I can't stand to see what Bo only nearly escaped. It sickens me, scares me. I exhale.

What have I done?

Thirty minutes later

KNOCK KNOCK

There's music blaring from the room, but I'm pretty sure someone calls me in, so I push through the door. When I do I see Lt. Commander Davies carrying two bottles of liquor in her hand, and she's reaching for the third. "Let's get to movin', Rip! I've got the booze, you've got the cards, and I'm all ready to take those bozos monthly earn-..." Eve freezes mid stride the moment her eyes meet mine.

"Well fuck," she mumbles.

"Lieutenant," I say calmly eying the bottles she's carrying.

"I uhm..." Davies gives me a half hearted smile. "I suppose this.." she glances at the bottles. "Doesn't exactly look good."

"No worries, Davies. I'm not here for your Moonshine."

"You're not?" she asks surprised.

"No," I shake my head and close the door behind me.

"Oh thank goodness. This is some good shit, it'd be a crime to let this stuff get impounded."

I eye the bottles again and the nerdy doctor in me kicks in, protective health instincts and all. I start thinking that maybe I should impound those bottles.

"How much alcohol percentage is that?" I ask wearily.

"Oh, this stuff is pushing close to 65 perce..Wait! Oh! No, no! I see what you're doing there..." Eve says clutching the bottles to her. "Let's not get rash now..."

"Is it even licensed?"

"Ah...yes..I can see why you would think that, cause there aren't any labels.. It's...uhm...yes." Eve grins like a cheshire cat, and I raise an eyebrow at her grin.

"The bottles are from a friend of mine who owns a distillery, there's just no labels cause it's a bit experimental, a new flavor he's trying out, and being generous enough to 'share'."

"What distillery?"

"Denholm."

"Oh, they brought out an excellent gin last year."

Eve blinks in surprise. "You know them?"

I nod my head. Denholm is a small Californian distillery I became acquainted with when Ben and I took a road trip a couple of years ago. They brew local, delivering mostly to only bars in the state. Their production process is fascinating, the science behind creating new flavors. We bought cases, got chatting with Daniel Denholm, the owner and struck up a and I visit him at least once a year to buy his stuff, catch up and have dinner.

"Dan is a good guy, knows his liquor."

"You've got more of a wild streak than I initially gave you credit for, Commander," Eve says with a grin. "I'm impressed."

"Pour me a glass will ya?" I ask with a deep sigh. My mind is still reeling from all the information Detective Cortez gave me, and my subsequent attempt to apologize to Bo. The moment our eyes met in the hangar of the ship, I could tell Bo was still angry with me. Beyond the words she said to me, it's that steely gaze that hurt most.

"Back for another interrogation?"

"No, I spoke to the Stanford Police Department, and..."

"If you're here to give me an apology or feel sorry for me, let me save you the trouble. Neither is needed."

I inhale. "In that case, I just wanted to tell you that I will be submitting a favorable report to the Captain."

"Great. Fantastic." the sarcastic mumble comes.

Eve scrunches her brows looking at me confused as my conversation with Bo runs through my mind, but reaches for a shot glass in her cupboard and does as I ask. "Are you okay, Commander?" she asks when the glass has been filled. I take the shot glass from her and immediately pour it back. The liquid burns as it goes down my throat and chest.

"Bo, ..can we talk? Please?" I plead, watching Bo lower herself into her plane. "Maybe not right now, but..."

"I think we've done plenty of that for now," she says sharply, her tone making me swallow, cuttng deeper than I'd like to admit.

"You deserve this promotion," I say trying to find the right words instead of just going back to my normal stoic self. "I'm...I'm...I'm glad it worked out."

"Thanks Commander," Bo replies, tone now forced. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I really have to go."

"Course," I say giving her my best fake smile as Bo put her helmet on.

I exhale. "I messed up with Bo." At my words, Eve pours me and herself another shot.

"Won't you sit down?"

USS Enterprise

Stacy's POV

"I want that bitch to suffer," I say as I grab onto his chest and pull him from the pillows back into me.

"Isn't...isn't that wha.." he bites his lip as he inhales sharply. He can't think clearly when I touch him like this. My teeth sink into his neck, I bite down, and sit astride him, my pelvis bucking suggestively against his lower stomach. I love it when he can't concentrate, I love the power it gives me, how it makes me feel. It reminds me of my days with Kyle, though he could never live up to the man I have lost.

"Isn't that what we've been doing?" He finally gets out.

"It's not enough, and that hag is slick as a snake. It wouldn't surprise me if she talked her way out of this jam too."

"Planting those rumors was a stroke of genius though." he says trying to flatter me, but his attempt is transparant and cheap. I let it pass though, I still need him for information on Bo McCorrigan, and he's ideally placed to get it for me.

"She's a disgrace, and she's ruining things for me here. You wouldn't want to let anyone get away with that, would you?" I ask suggestively. I feel his manlihood growing against me, his lips wrap around my nipples and I arch into him. I moan softly. Not everything I feel around him is faked, but I can't claim that he truly gets me off. His sexual appetite is much too subdued for that, much too mundane and boring. He's just a pawn, a mallualble tool.

"No," he breathes out as he closes his eyes. "I'd do anything for you," he whispers hoarsely, and I moan loudly at his words because when I know I'm exuding as much control over him as I am now, it really does turn me on.

"How close can you get to her personal belongings, her private stuff?" I ask finding his lips again.

"I um..."

The flat of my hand collides in a brutal slap with the back of his thigh and he hisses loudly. "Focus!" I snap. "Answer!"

"Yes ma'am," he yelps. He loves it when I dominate him, get rough with him, but he also knows not to push me.

"I ..um." he stutters again and in a wave of disgust that washes over me, I get off of him and out of the bed.

"A man would know how to answer that without stuttering, but you're nothing but a sad pathetic boy who can't get the job done." I hiss, and I see the panic in his eyes as my words register. I'm willing to give him one more chance, but he'd better come up with something quickly.

"I...I.."

I turn away from him in disgust.

"I have this hacker friend of mine," he suddenly pipes up behind me. "I'm sure he can get us access to all sorts of stuff."

I turn towards him again, a scowl at the word 'stuff'. By now he should know I don't like vague responses.

"Bank accounts, personal information. Chuck always brags how he can mess up someone's life when he wants to."

"Better," I say, and smile softly. I lean into him again, my index finger tracing along his neck. His breathing speeds up as I nip his neck. "But, I want Bo McCorrigan's life destroyed and her dreams shattered, so tell me... What does she value most?"

Eve's cabin

Lauren's POV

I nod and sit down. I'm holding the shot glass in my hand, staring at the clear liquid in it, but not really paying attention to it, I'm off in my head instead.

"I don't know if Bo told you about what happened, but I suspect that she did."

Eve nods. "You guys slept together. "

"Guess that answers that question." I mumble and then look up into Davies' eyes. "You know."

"Doc, we're canned together here like sardines. When you spend as many hours together as I do with Bo...Well, I knew Bo had a thing for you the moment she sat in your class that day, and you threw her out."

"And still you kissed her," I can't help but remark.

Eve lets out a small sigh.

"Sorry," I put my hands up apologizing for my petty jealousy that apparently makes me very vocal. "We've had this conversation before," I say aluding to the official talk I had with Eve yesterday.

"Doc, can I call you Doc?"

"Sure," I say. There are moments where I much prefer my doctor title to that of my rank as Commander. These moments seem shorter in between as of late, and seem especially poignant when I'm downing shots of moonshine rum clandestinely talking to a woman I have felt jealous of because she's close to an officer I slept with.

"Doc, " Eve starts and I can tell she's debating with herself about something. "I couldn't tell you this yesterday, but when I kissed Bo that night. I mean, yeah...she kissed me back for like a hot five seconds, but she pulled away because she realised she had feelings for you. I uhm...I even suggested we make more out of that kiss, but she told me it was a mistake, that she couldn't."

I nod and let Eve's words sink in. "Did someone really dare you into kissing her?" I ask posing the one question I'd been wanting an answer to, but couldn't ask when I questioned Eve officially.

"They did," Eve replies. "But, I can't exactly say someone needed to twist my arm to do it," she admits, and we share a quick look. There's pain in her eyes, and I realize that I was both right and incredibly wrong about Lt. Commander Davies, just like I was about Bo.

"She's quite something," I simply say.

Eve Davies nods with a small rueful smile, and downs her drink. I do the same.

It's half an hour later when I exit Eve's cabin. I quit after two shots, and already feel the alcohol making me slightly unsteady. I have always been a terrible drinker, and although I have the evening off, I'm glad I stopped drinking when I did. I suppose I could go join my medical staff for their weekly games' night, but I just want to crawl into bed and sleep the night away so I can forget my aching heart in this moment. I'm about to turn the corner towards my cabin when Stacy Altmann's voice halts me in my tracks. She's softly chuckling and her voice sounds soothing, and if I had to use another adjective to describe it, I would have to say flirty. Even though I can't hear what the other voice is saying, I recognize it straight away. Pieces of the puzzle now fall even more clearly together and I know what I have to do.

One week later, 18 December, 2014

Off the coast of Mexico, Bo's cabin

Bo's POV

"Wow," I say and shake my head in disbelief as I reread my email. "Wow." I take a deep breath and then the biggest goofiest smile tugs at my lips. "Yes! Yes, bitches!" I yelp extatic, and fistpump happily.

"Wha?!" Eve yelps behind me and sits straight up in the bed. "I'm awake!" I turn towards Eve and laugh out loud at her. Potato chips are stuck to her face and her head lollygags under her chin as her body sags back onto the bed. In Commander Hall's absence, I've been having to fill in for his duties, and Eve has been filling in for mine. It's been a strenuous week to put it mildly and last night was our first night of reprieve. Like little kids we watched movies on the computer drinking sugary sodas and stuffing our faces with Cheetos. Eve quickly passed out in a sugar and cheese coma whereas I went with the regiment of the week and got a couple of hours of sleep in, but then worked through most of the night. Despite my chronic fatigue and feeling physically shitty, I jump onto the bed and unto Eve scooping her up in a bouncing hug.

"OUCH! My stomach! Wha? What the hell is up with the damn frivolity?" Eve screeches.

"They selected me!"

Eve scrunches her brows at me confused.

"NASA! NASA, dude!" I exclaim. "They selected my application, they wanna see me!" I scream out.

"Dude, seriously, don't tackle m-.!" Eve's words get lost as I tackle her in a bear hug, and squeeze tight. "Ugh," she grunts, but I feel her smiling against my cheek happy for me. "Now, get off!" she grumbles seconds later and I pull back.

"Did they mail you?" I suddenly blurt. When I first came on board the Enterprise, it didn't take long for me and Eve to strike up a friendship, and we quickly found out we had both just applied for NASA.

"I dunno, I haven't-..." Eve mumbles and then rushes out of the bed, almost knocking me over getting to the computer. She types away at the lock screen and only moments later she's pulling up her mail.

"Well shit..." she utters, staring blankly at the screen.

"Spam!" I exclaim from the bed. "What gives?"

"They...they selected me too." Eve prattles.

"HOME FUCKING RUN, BABY!" I yelp out as I throw myself out of the bed and high five Eve who finally seems to pull out of her haze.

"WE FUCKING ROCK!" She yells out.

"Hell yeah, we do!"

"We're going out! We're celebrating!"

"Hells to the bells, yes!" I agree.

"Schweet!" Eve chimes. "Imma go take a shower to wash Chester's Eau de Cologne off, and then we are hitting the town!"

Two hours later

Puerto Vallarta, Nopales Bar

Cocktails, beer, good music, a pretty decent bar and fantastic news. It's all a girl can ask for after a couple of weeks from hell: from the headaches with Stacy to the fight with Lauren, I'm so grateful for the news from NASA that I feel like nothing is going to prevent me from having a good time tonight. It's Saturday night and we're off the coast of Mexico, in a bar in Puerte Vallarta. I love these stupid, smart, macho, wussy, sensitive, obnoxious pilots I'm surrounded with who stuck with me through the rumor mill and now have me drinking -what's teetering on- too many beers while trying to play pool, beer pong and agreeing to ridiculous bets. It's probably also one of the last nights I'll be able to let myself have fun like this with them for a long time. In a few weeks time my promotion to Lieutenant Colonel will become final and my new crowd to mingle with will be the other senior officers on the ship, so I better make the most of it, and make sure this bunch of idiots don't get too crazy and get back onto the ship in one piece. It's been a long seven months, and with the Christmas break coming up so soon, some sailors tend to get caught up in the buzz of an upcoming holiday, and forget they're still deployed.

"Here's to the Major and the Lieutenant!" Runny suddenly pipes up. "Who will soon be leaving our sorry asses for even bigger asses in space!" He toasts and I and the crowd around me laugh and hoot and hollar.

"Hear, hear!" Samantha Curry chimes in and grabs me and Eve into a sideway hug. "Congrats!" I try to object to Sam's well wishing explaining that Eve and I have only been selected to come in for an interview and physical tests, and that we're a far cry away from actually being accepted, but neither Sam nor Eve are interested in my protests. Instead, Eve and Sam are dragging me out onto the dance floor as The Spice Girls suddenly blare through the speakers, and we all start moving in a way that almost resembles dancing.

I blame the Spice Girls for the fact that I missed seeing Commander Lewis walk into the bar, but once I spot her sipping a Corona making small talk with some of the people from her medical staff, it's like I can't see anything else. Her hair is up, she's dressed casually: brown leather jacket, jeans. her Those huge, keen eyes, that strong jawline, and that beautiful, sensual neck, the taste of which still lingers on my palet and sends my heart into a spin.

The butterflies whirl violently in my stomach and I berate myself for staring a moment too long. I don't know if it's the alcohol in my system that's pulling at my heart strings, but right now all I want to to do is talk to her, work things out, and tell her about NASA. I know I was harsh with her when she wanted to talk to me. I cut her off and I regret that now. I put my beer down and my body in motion, I'm walking straight up to the beautiful doctor when Stacy Altmann walking into the bar stops me dead in my tracks.

The pair greet each other enthusiastically, and immediately strike up a conversation. Far be it for me to want to be dramatic, but seeing Stacy and Lauren together laughing and joking feels like a punch to the stomach that makes me nauseous. Any and all childish hopes and feelings I had of reconciliation sink to the pit of my stomach and turn bitter and angry there.

Suddenly, I do feel like a petulant child, like whatever I'm feeling is too much for me to cope with and I need to get out of this bar. I refuse to stay here and watch these two have fun. Without saying anything to anyone, I grab my beer, my black leather jacket and throw it over my shoulders. I'm out of the door twenty seconds later without anyone noticing.

I walk for over half an hour thinking of everything and nothing at the same time. Tears fall over my cheeks, but I pay them no mind. The wind cuts into my frame now that we've left Summer behind and I know I'm freezing but I can't be bothered by it either. I've spent too many nights working, and not enough time sleeping to think rationally. I burry my face into my leather jacket and cough feeling annoyed at this heavy feeling that's been sitting in my chest for a few days. I've hardly noticed my surroundings, noticed how beautiful it is here, or how to get back when I need to. I'm not worried though. I'll find my way back.

I am thinking now. Thinking about getting off this wretched ship, leaving it all behind, forgetting about the Stacy mess and the numerous times I've had to defend myself, forget about the one person who I thought...

I choke. I bite, I swallow, still they come...the tears fall mercilessly down my cheeks. I know I'm tired, I know I'm emotional because of it.

Tamsin's words ring in my ear. She said this place, the Air Force, the Navy,...she said it made me cold, it made me hide away, yet I didn't with Lauren.

More tears.

Fuck.

No.

I refuse to wallow, I refuse to think about her.

For the first time in over ten minutes, I tear my eyes away from waves crashing on the beach and I look around. The beach I've been walking on is pretty much deserted, but it doesn't take me long to spot lights and soft music in the background. I've finished my beer and dispose of the bottle along the way. Ten minutes later and I'm inside a different bar. I sit down and order three shots of Vodka, my drink of choice when I want to forget for the night.

"Vodka? Oh...deal me in!" A familiar voice pipes up next to me.

I don't have to look up to know it's Eve. Instead, I just slide one of the shots to her.

"Cheers."

Puerto Vallarta, Nopales bar

Stacy's POV

This is rich. I think with glee as I watch Bo leave the bar in a hurry and then Eve rushing after her only moments later. Whatever these two bitches have been claiming, it's plain to see they're having an affair. It's ridiculous even how blatantly obvious they are about it.

I should run after them, expose them now, leave the tedious conversation of that useless bitch Lewis behind me, and put an end to this ridiculous sharade they insist on maintaining, but then my previous encounters with the Major have taught me how truly slippery she is, and I know I have to bide my time.

Three days later, 20 December, 2014

Bo's cabin

Bo's POV

"Dude! Wake up! Bo!" A voice sounds from the distance, and I frown slightly.

BO! WAKE UP!

"What the fuck?!" I sit up straight with a bewildered Eve sitting next to me on the bed.

"Eve?" I ask scrunching my brows. "What are you doing here?"

"Dude, it's 8am!"

"What?"

"Yeah, I've been trying to wake your ass up for like the last ten minutes."

"Fuck, I overslept..."

"No okay?" Eve asks studying my face.

"Yeah," I nod my head. "Peachy," I cough. When I do, my chest contracts in a painful muscle spasm, and a cold chill runs over my spine, but I don't let any of my discomforts show.

"Dude," Eve's face contorts. "Don't cough in my direction! I don't need you cooties! I can't be sick with the Holidays just around the corner!"

"It's just a cold, " I say rolling my eyes.

"Well, this cold has you looking like shit," Eve comments still looking at me. "Come on," she nudges me. "Get a move on, we have a briefing in half an hour."

I nod my head and pull my tired body out of bed.

USS Enterprise, Lauren's office

Lauren's POV

I scrunch my brows looking at the pictures sprawled across my desk Detective Cortez sent me. There's still horrifying and upsetting to look at, but at the same time they have a compelling quality about them, something I hadn't noticed before because my emotional involvement was too great when I first looked at them, but something that is plain to see.

I power up my computer and quickly send an email to Detective Cortez with a request. I'm just finishing up my email to the detective when Nurse Sayens knocks on my door, and I gesture for him to come in.

"Commander, the Captain wants to see you."

Two hours later

Somewhere above the Pacific

It's an awkward silence that hangs between us, and I wish I could break it, but seated where I am, strapped in once more in the back cockpit of a fighter jet, and unable to see Bo's face, I feel like this isn't the time. Instead, my thoughts wander to the reason Bo is flying me back to the USS Norton. Uncle Nate asked to talk to me, and if I had to hazard a guess, I think it has to do with my father's death. I've always suspected Admiral Jamison knew more about his death than the Admiral ever let on. I tell myself I'm prepared for anything and everything I am about to hear, but am I, truly? I know I haven't really dealt with his death yet, I have only just started talking about him, have only just allowed myself to miss him by thinking of our happy past and I have really yet to cry for him. I've always been used to my father being gone for longer periods of time, especially as an adult. These thoughts stays with me until the jet fighter touches down on the USS Freedom, the aircraft carrier closest to the USS Norton. Just like the first time I visited the Admiral, we now swap the fighter jet for a chopper. The almost routine of it makes me realise how different our first flight over was. At that time, I had been so scared, still reeling from the helicopter accident I had been in, and I remember how Bo reassured me, how she made me feel safe. She continues to make me feel safe, because even now when she's turned on the blades above us, and the engine roars to life, we take off and I the images of the accident play in my head like a movie, they no longer scare me. I know that Bo will get us to where we are going safely.

The chopper ride is short, and about twenty minutes later we touch down on the USS Norton, we both get out on either side of the chopper, duffel bag in hand. I round the helicopter quickly and see Bo struggling with her helmet. When she finally gets it off, I frown. Bo is wobbly on her legs, and even from a sideglance I can tell her complexion is pale and her eyes are unfocused. I'm about to say something, but just then I see Dr. Clarke walk up to me smiling brightly.

"Dr. Lewis," he says jovially and shakes my hand. I'm caught up making small talk with him for a few minutes and when I look back up, Bo is gone, and so is our luggage.

I walk inside with Dr. Clarke as he briefs me on the condition of the Admiral, and I smile listening attentively. Our talk is rounded up with Dr. Clarke asking me to join him and the rest of the senior doctors on staff for dinner later that night. I accept the invitation and then excuse myself to go settle into my cabin and take a quick shower before I visit the Admiral. I feel like the shower will do me good; the flight was long and uncomfortable with the obvious tension between Bo and myself, and the prospect of what the Admiral wishes to talk to me about.

Bo's POV

With a sigh I fall back unto the bed of my cabin and am immensely grateful for how soft the bed and the pillows are. My head is pounding, I'm cold, almost to the point of shivering, and I'm just so tired. I feel like I was pushing myself to the edge of my physical limits just flying me and Lauren here. I reach for my duffel bag and grab at a bottle of water and a bottle of pills inside. I unscrew the cap of the bottle pills, take two out and swallow them down with some of the water.

I just need to rest, catch up with some sleep and then I'll be fine.

Lauren's POV

I'm showered and refreshed, but it's still in a daze that I walk to Uncle Nate's room. Right in this moment, I don't know if I can listen to what Uncle Nate has to say, but on the other hand, I am craving to see a friendly face, a face that knows me beyond the Commander and Doctor roles that I assume, and a face that loves me.

"Uncle Nate," I say seeing him sitting on the bed.

"Peanut!" Nathan Jamison exclaims aloud and I can't help but smile at his very old nickname for me. "Come give an old man a hug!" he says warmly.

I grin and move into his arms for a close hug. "It's so good to see you up and about again." I say sincerely.

"And I have you to thank for that," uncle Nathan says. "Thank you Lauren," he says when he squeezes me.

"It's my job."

"No modesty necessary here, you're a rockstar, Lauren. I was lucky you weren't too far out."

I nod and smile at his compliment. "How are you feeling?"

"I have a slight head ache," Nathan jokes and I laugh as I pull back from his embrace.

"No dizziness, loss of vision, throbbing headaches?" I ask as I pick up his medical chart, my eyes already scanning the info.

"Doctor Lewis," Admiral Jamison chides playfully. "The doctors here take excellent care of me."

I smile. "You can't blame me for double checking when it comes to my favourite uncle."

It's Nathan's time to smile. "I'm fine, kiddo, I promise. How are you? Tell me? If the last couple of weeks have taught me anything it's that you should spend time with the people you love when you can."

I sit down in the chair next to Uncle Nathan's bed and we talk about life, my dad, about Nadia and about Bo. It feels good to talk to him, to have this man I have known for most of my life listen to me.

"This Bo sounds like a keeper." Nathan says once I stop talking, and I smile ruefully. I told uncle Nate how Bo saved me, how we grew close, how she makes me feel. I haven't told him how I've messed things up, how I don't even know if I can fix things between us again, and then there's that other huge obstacle I haven't mentioned.

"Well, she may be Air Force," I say. "But, I'm still her superior. My feelings for her, I-"

"You shouldn't let rules and regulations keep you apart, Lauren. Not when it comes to love."

I look up, and raise a surprised brow. Uncle Nathan is a kind man, but he's also an Admiral, a damn good one, one whose integrity is undisputed. I wouldn't expect him to encourage me to blantantly disregard military code like he is.

"Coming as close to death as I did, puts things in perspective kiddo," he says as an explanation. "Which is..." he takes a breath. "Why I wanted to see you. Lauren, your dad..." His voice trails off and I brace myself for the words that are about to come out of his mouth.

"He was killed in a covert mission in Sudan."

As uncle Nathan tells me all about how my dad died, I hardly breathe. It's been over half a year since he died, and in that time, my mind has conceived of every possible scenario involving his death. I have always known he died from two bullets. One to the head and one to the heart. Those two were fatal, but there were eleven other bullets in his body that weren't fatal telling me that he had been probably been killed in a frontal attack. I listen with rapt attention, and although the truth, and the finality of it is hard to hear, knowing what really happened ito him, even the gruesome details, also comforts me. A mission gone south, and an attempt to rescue the three other men that were with him. In a nutshell it is what happened to my father. He died in the way he lived; trying to save others. I only swallow hard, feel like I only take a breath again when Nathan is done speaking.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner, " uncle Nathan says with tears in his eyes. I nod as my eyes are brimming as well.

"I joined the Navy again because I wanted to feel close to him," I admit after a moment as I feel the first tear roll over my cheek. "I thought maybe if I was here, doing what he did, I'd feel closer to him. If I could make a difference like he did, he'd be proud of me, " I say, my voice cracking. "I just couldn't let go of him yet uncle Nate," I admit and now feel tears freely rolling over my cheek. He reaches out from his hospital bed and pulls me into him.

"Your father was proud of you beyond belief. His eyes would light up when he talked about you. He was proud of everything you did. You don't need to be in the Navy to make a difference, or make him proud," uncle Nate whispers in my ear.

I pull back out of our embrace at Nathan's words.

"What do you mean?"

"Peanut, you are an exceptional officer. Even as a kid you were so responsible, dutiful, but this life," uncle Nate inhales. "It requires sacrifices. Nobody knew that better than your dad. He just wanted you to be happy, so don't ever feel like you need to be in this job to honor him, or even feel close to him. He is with you, close to you because that's where you carry him, and I'm sure he's looking down on you smiling at you from behind the stars."

Uncle Nathan and I talk about my father for another two hours or so. I cry and I laugh as we swap dad stories and anecdotes and as we wrap up our conversation, I feel lighter somehow. I needed to see Nathan, I needed to talk to him, I needed to let out what I did, I needed to cry for my dad. Talking to uncle Nate has also made me realise that I want more out of life than simply work and duty, it's driven the message home again that my father wanted more for me than just work and duty. My father wanted me to be happy, he wanted me to explore love, to find true happiness, and I can't shake the thought of Bo coming into my life when she did.

I can't shake the thought of that first night at the party when I let her go, and why I let her go.

I want to try and talk to Bo again, and when I close Nathan's door behind me, I head towards Bo's cabin.

Bo's POV

I wake up a couple of hours later thirsty and groggy. I've wrapped myself in the sheets of the bed like a tootsie roll, they cling to me from sweating and like a worm I move on the bed to reach for the bottle of water on the nightstand. I drink deeply when I finally unscrew the cap, and love the way the cool liquid refreshes me. Craning my neck, I right myself on the bed. I still feel bad, terrible really, but better than before, I'm even hungry now and I feel like getting some food in me at this time might actually do me a world of good. I remember they had excellent apple pie here on the USS Norton and with a slight smile head out the door.

"Bo." Lauren's voice startles me when I walk out. I turn around and inwardly berate myself for the way my heart skips a beat. Lauren looks beautiful again with her hair down, some eyeliner, lip gloss and casually dressed in that tan leather jacket I like seeing her in so much. I hate that she always has this effect on me, I hate that it always takes me a second our two before I realise how skewed things are between us.

"Are you alright?" she asks. I see her eyes roaming my face, those brown soulful eyes tinged with care, and something else. There's a sadness underneath the care she displays and it pulls at my heartstrings again, yet I push it down.

"Fit as a fiddle doc, " I say, and grin. "I was just on my way to grab a bite to eat, so if you'll excuse me." I say. I see hurt flash in her eyes at the fact that I'm not asking her to join me, but I carry on undeterred and turn away from her.

"Bo please," she says and I hear the plea in her voice, it stops me in my tracks and I exhale. "Can we talk?"

I bite my lip before I turn towards Lauren again. "Talk about what? Talk about how you didn't believe me when I told you Altmann was lying? Talk about how you thought that I am the type of person to sleep around? That I would use you, lead you on, that I would toy with you?" There are tears in my own eyes as I speak, as what I say reminds me again of how deeply her words cut into me.

Lauren's POV

"You hurt me Lauren," Bo says. "I thought you knew me. We spent hours on end talking and sharing. I'm a guarded person, and although I may not have told you all of it yet, I opened up to you, I let you see me, know me," she inhales."How could you think I was capable of something like that? How could you think my feelings for you weren't true?" she asks and in this moment I don't know what to say to that because she is right. I let my own insecurities filter into my thoughts; my history with Nadia, my trust issues, my social ineptness that has always been a little voice in my head telling me that a deep personal connection like the one I have felt with Bo was something that I could never have.

There are tears brimming in my eyes, but I swallow them back. I regret my actions more than I can express, and what hits me hardest of all is how hard I have hurt this wonderful person in front of me. In this moment I understand why Bo wouldn't want to forgive me, because I can't forgive myself.

"I can only say I am sorry Bo," I say softly. "I thought you were too good to be true."

Bo shakes her head in disbelief. "Right, and that's why you're still buddy buddy with Stacy. Sorry Lauren, but actions speak louder than words and right now yours are shouting."

"Goodnight," she says.

Two days later, December 22, 2014

USS Enterprise, Pearl Harbour, Hawaii, Lauren's cabin

It's 11pm and as this day draws to a close I am packing my things for my trip home. Tomorrow morning, along with most of the crew on this ship, I'll be catching my flight out of here and I'll be flying to Chicago to spend Christmas with Ben there. I smile thinking about spending the holidays with him. We'll cook together, drink too much champagne and wine and overindulge on food and sweets and binge watch our favorite shows and movies. It's a time-honored recipe, but it's really the company that makes the difference and with everything that's been going on, it'll be a great change of scenery. Being away from the ship for awhile will also allow me to reevaluate a few other things in my life like my career and the utter shit show that my love life has become. I'm carefully folding a couple of pants into my duffel bag when there is a knock on the door.

I go to open the door and blink surprised.

"Lauren.." Bo says, and my eyes go wide as I see how pale she is, how sweat pearls down her forehead. "I don.."

Right before my very eyes, Bo collapses to the floor.


And that wraps up chapter 8. Not exactly a happy chapter, I know, but we'll sort Bo and Lauren out in Chapter 9 so no need to panic! :-)

Replies to reviews

Mulder: Thanks! I've seen "But, I'm a cheerleader." Thought that was hilarious ;-) I'll check out Better than Chocolate when I have a chance :-)

Sarah: Sydney is great! I love War between Two Doctors, Three weddings and a wedding, In your Eyes,...she's pretty awesome :-) Also, great analysis of the show and Bo and Lauren. I agree that they are great characters to work with. I especially love how Bo , despite her being brave, loyal, and heroic, can also be so flawed sometimes, and how Lauren possesses this quiet strength that surprises you time and time again. :-)

Arrasto: Have I mentioned I love your comments? Cause I do, I do, I do :)! And yes, there will be more Episodes to come. After Heritage, I'll be pusblishing the 'Heir of Arundel'. It's not really a continuation of the last episode, more like an origins story. Episode 8 which I have provisionally called 'Family Matters'will pick up where we left off in 'Heritage'. Why is Stacy so effed up? Hmm..good question...I can't really answer that question except to say that it's a combo of nature and nurture ;-) Yeah, the drama is there, but I think miscommunication, jealousy, tempers flaring, and trying to protect one another is so inherently Bo and Lauren that I often mix it into the story for them.

Susan: So glad you understand Lauren's line of thinking, because I do too, and I wholeheartedly agree with you that Bo should have told Lauren 'something' at least, but she does have her reasons, and I think by the end of the story we'll understand those reasons even better. Lauren's jealousy is very much in line with Lauren's jealousy in LG, the only difference here is that she actually voices it. I think this version of Lauren is a bit more outspoken as a none slave than her LG counterpart, which is a good thing because this way the drama doesn't get drawn out too much. :-) And oO, so awesome to read the personal stuff!

Guest1: Glad you loved that chapter, it's quite different from the rest of them. It's lighthearted and fun, flirty with just a few specs of background story to Bo. The other chapters are a lot grittier and they explore the characters in more depth I think, but hopefully you'll like the switch up. :-)

Guest2: Bo is a little more complex in this story than in LG I think. There are things that happened in her past that, although she is outgoing and jovial, can sometimes make her very guarded towards people too. That defensiveness about her sneaks up on her. In true Bo fashion, she quickly regrets those kinds of outbursts though.

Shomed: Word! Poor Bo. Like having to deal with a psycho ruining your career isn't enough, here comes Lauren jumping to conclusions. In all fairness though, Bo coulda just told her 'something.'

InsatiablyCurious: You are a VERY keen reader/observer. Like like like :-) And yeah, the fight was only ever just a little kink in their love life. I think sometimes it's good for couples to get that first fight out of the way quickly so they can get to making up already. :-)

Palmerised: Oh! Welcome! Welcome! So great to see a new face! :-) Thanks for the compliment and the encouragement. :-)