Hey everyone, and welcome to Chapter 9 of A Christmas Date!
So...I think everyone was getting pretty fed up with Stacy and basically the misscommuncation between our favorite couple? How about I fix that? How about I make Bo's issues with Stacy disappear? How bout I get Lauren to fix Bo up and then they move to a resort to spend a delayed Christmas and New Year together with their best friends? How about they talk a couple of things through? Like how they met and what Bo was doing with the Congressman's key?
Sound too good to be true? Maybe...but you can find out by reading. :-) Join in with reviewing, cause I'm always curious about what you guys are thinking!
Sorry for the mistakes, I'll correct those in the upcoming days.
Reviews at the bottom of your page!
Also, how cool is it that this story has over 100,000 words? Awesome! I feel there should be confetti marking this occasion!
A Christmas Date: Chapter Nine
USS Enterprise, sickbay
December 23, 2am
Lauren's POV
"You're pretty, Lauren. I like you. I like you so much." Bo says as I check her IV getting up from the chair I've been sitting and sleeping in for the last couple of hours.
"Shhh Bo," I soothe and grin. It's obvious the drugs in her system are having their effect. "Don't get up." I say as I see her trying to sit up.
"Why?" Bo scrunches her brows as she listens to me and lays back down. "Why do I like you so much?" Her face contorts slightly, and I can hear the heartbreak in her voice.
"I'm sorry for hurting you, Bo," I whisper back.
"I like how you say my name. You say it so pretty...prettily?"
"You're so pretty, Lauren," she repeats seconds later and I almost chuckle.
"Go back to sleep, honey," I soothe. "You're sick and you're high."
"You're always taking care of people...I like that...I like how you call me honey..." she strings together, and a broad smile forms on her lips. I run my fingers soothingly through her hair.
"It's okay, sleep. I'm right here."
"Lovely Lauren...I lov-..." Bo's words falter as she slips back into her dreams, and I lean back into my chair my heart racing at a sentence she didn't finish.
4am
"Mom? Mom...no...Please, no..." Bo's voice is barely but a whisper, but I'm on my feet as quickly as I hear it. I can barely make out what she's saying but I'm taken aback by the amount of hurt and devastation that's lodged in those words, and I realize I've heard Bo saying these words before in the boiler room when she had slipped into a dissociative state.
The drip she's on is a combination of fluids to keep her body hydrated, and antibiotics to fight off the infection she has. It should break her fever, but right now she's still in the thick of it and it's making her hallucinate. I check her temperature, and see it's still at an alarming 40C, which doesn't make me happy. I don't dare to leave the room, so I get up from my chair, pop my head outside, and call out for Nurse Stone, one of only two nurses covering this night shift.
"Dr. Lewis, how is the Major doing?" she asks kindly. "Can I get you anything?"
"Her fever hasn't broken yet," I say pushing back my fatigue and my worry.
"Shall I run her a lukewarm bath, just in case?"
I nod. "Yes please, Madeline. Also, can you get me one of the phones from the COMM room? I highly doubt anyone will be missing them right now, and I need to contact Bo's family, tell them she won't be coming home for Christmas."
"Course, Doctor Lewis," Madeline says. "I suppose that means you're not going anywhere either?"
I smile tightly at nurse Stone. "I'm sure Dr. Andrews will be happy to go home in my stead," I reply.
I go back to my seat next to Bo's bed. I wake up a couple of hours later, momentarily freaking out because I fell asleep in the first place. If my brain was working properly in this moment, I would have realised that Bo was fine, that I wouldn't have been able to sleep through machines blaring, but it's only Bo's temperature and her overall complexion that pushes back my worry. Bo's temperature broke, and I sigh in relief closing my eyes.
When I look up from Bo's bed, I spot one of the COMM phones that Madeline must have brought over. It's 6am. A little early still to call Tamsin, I'll wait an hour before I give her a ring. I sit back down glad I'll have good news to tell Bo's best friend.
Two days later
December 26, 7pm
Bo's POV
BEEP BEEP
"Ugh." I groan as an annoying sound pulls me out of what seems the chasms of hell. There's a bright light just off to the left of me and I wince looking into it. I put my hand up trying to block it, and groan in the process.
"Bo?" A familiar voice now asks.
I blink because the voice I'm hearing, shouldn't be here.
"Bo?" The voice asks again and although I'm taking a chance on replying to merely an hallucination, I reply anyway.
"Tams?"
"Bo," Tamsin exhales and I can hear the relief in her voice. "Are you okay?"
"Uhm..." I rasp out. My throat is dry, and my body feels sluggish, and my head is definitely swimming, but I actually do feel better than I have in a while. "Yeah, I'm okay," I breathe out.
"Good, then I can finally yell at you!" Tamsin says and next thing I know she punches me hard in the shoulder. "What the hell, man?" She shouts at me. "What the fuck were you thinking?"
"Wha?" I sputter in protest, and instinctively rub my arm where Tamsin punched it. "What do you mean?" I ask my mind still fuzzy and not at all clear as to why my best friend is here right now, or why there are two of her. I narrow my eyes at them trying to make just one Tamsin stay, but it's not working.
"Your sad ass is in hospital with pneumonia!"
"Huh?" I look around the room I'm in. I blame Tam's screeching for not noticing I'm in a hospital bed, and a hospital room before now. In all honesty though, I'm thinking I'm also pretty drugged, because everything is bathed in a pink hue and I think I see a couple of fluffy pink sheep pass just down the hall. I decide not to mention them, and look up at my best friends who stands there with their arms crossed, glaring at me.
"You look like you're about to jump me Jerry Springer style," I comment.
"I just might, fucker!" Tamsin warns me.
"Language, Tamsin Ingrid Ulrike," I admonish off-handed. "I raised you better than that."
"Hah! TV raised me! And you know I hate it when you use my full name!" Tamsin scoffs and I chuckle lightly.
"Which explains the Jerry Springer attitude. You really should discuss your temper with your therapist," I giggle.
"I don't have a temper, fucker!"
"But, you do have a therapist, don't you?" I say trying to narrow my eyes.
"You're awfully perky and witty for someone who just came back from the jaws of death."
"It's probably the drugs in my system," I say cheerfully, and shrug.
"You're high?"
"Maybe just a little, but it's medically perscribed..." I giggle. "Oh, look at that the sheep are back!" I say aloud as I see two sheep walk into my room and start doing a line dance. I stay quiet about the line dance.
"Fucker."
"Stop calling me that. Both of you!"
Tamsin exhales loudly. "Sorry," she says. "You know I curse when you scare me like this."
"I know," I say bobbing my head to the rhythm of the line dance.
"So... want to explain to me why you didn't visit the doctor sooner?" Tamsin goes to sit down, but she's got her arms crossed. I can tell by her voice that she's being serious.
"You know how I feel about hospitals," I reply trying to keep myself focused on the conversation, but the sheep are making it really difficult as they do a pirouette, and I feel inclined to join in.
"And yet, you continue winding up in them."
"I thought I had a cold."
"Coughing up bloody mucus wasn't enough of a hint that it was something else?"
"That was only the last day," I say distracted by the sheep again. They are so cute!
"Fuck." Tamsin rolls her eyes. "You're fucking hopeless. I'm having Lauren check on you on a monthly basis."
Lauren's name snaps my attention away from the fluffy pink line dancing sheep. "What?"
"It's done, and it's legally binding."
"What? What did you do?"
"Let's not get caught up on details here, but let's just say I made a rather good deal with your new employer the Navy. You are now required to have monthly physicals."
"What?"
"Yup, with the doc." Tamsin says with a satisfied smirk. "That way I'm sure you'll receive excellent care, and I'll be able to sleep."
"No," I shake my head.
"You've played 'doctor' with this woman before. Tonsel hockey it was and then a full body pysical?" Tamsin says grinning. "What's the problem now?"
"She believes Stacy..."
Tamsin shakes her head. "No, she doesn't, and I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for her. Lauren made sure we got Stacy off your back and that we could spend Christmas together."
I scrunch my brows. "What?"
Richmond Virginia, Police Station
Stacy's POV
"You ran a pretty little scheme there; defrauding your clients, laundering money. Got away with it for quite some time too, made a pretty penny out of it," Detective Asswipe Miller says.
"This is bullshit," I say to the stack of files in front of me that is supposed to be proof against me.
"Well, Ma'am, bullshit or not, we have enough evidence to keep you here for a couple of days, so I suggest you get comfortable." The other detective in the room says across from me. Detective Dickhead Petrovic disgusts me with his greasy, balding hair, and an unkempt beard. He drenches and suffocates the entire room in his sweaty body odor. His belly almost makes his shirt pop and his shirt is stained. No doubt from eating a greasy lunch.
"I want to speak to my lawyer. I want my phone call," I say trying not to breathe through my nose.
"Course, we'll get you that phone call, but first..." Detective Miller turns around and waves someone in. "This is Officer Zepelli, she'll be strip searching you and outfitting you with standard prison threads for now."
Two hours later
"I don't care, mother! Get me out of this hellhole, or I swear I will take you down with me," I hiss through the phone. "And you know I can, and I will."
"Of course I know who's behind this!" I snarl only moments later, then listen again as my eyes dart across the police hallway and back again. I don't want anyone overhearing my conversation."I don't need proof!" I say indignantly. "Just get me out of here!"
USS Enterprise
Bo's POV
"It was Malcolm Washington, Bo. Stacy was having an affair with him, and they set you up. Boomer orchestrated the kiss at Stacy's suggestion and he planted the rumors too. About a week ago, Lauren found out about Lt. Washington and she called me, told me to keep an eye out on him, so I planted a phone tap on his sorry ass, and whaddaya know the next day that schmuck was calling a hacker buddy of his. He was gonna pay him to ruin your credit, your life, your interview with NASA included. Meanwhile, Lauren kept up the charade with Stacy to make sure she wasn't suspicious of anything."
"I..." I start to say, but I'm pretty much flabbergasted at this point, not sure what to say. I suppose adrenaline has kicked in and has flushed my system, the surprise has made me more alert. The pink hue is still there, but the sheep have vanished.
"And..drumroll!" Tamsin says excitedly. "I had Stacy picked up for questioning."
"What?"
"Oh yeah," Tamsin says with a big grin, obviously very happy with herself. "Remember that private detective I hired?"
"Yeah," I nod dumbly.
"Buddy came through, delivered the goods! Stacy has been practicing law outside the Navy for years. There's nothing wrong with that, but turns out she's been defrauding her clients all this time, and laundering money through her law firm via dummy companies. And what does all those years of cheating and stealing get her?" Tamsin asks with glee. "A Merry Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year in jail!"
"So, it's just...it's over?"
Tamsin nods her head. "Oh yeah, Stacy's got a civil suit awaiting her, and then she'll have to face charges in military court for what she and Boomer did to you. In the meantime, I got a restraining order out on her so she isn't allowed within fifty miles of you."
"That's...that's..."
"It's amazing, and you are welcome."
"That is amazing," I nod softly agreeing.
"So, in short... you can go back to making whoopy with the doc."
I shake my head and exhale thinking about the mess with Lauren. "Sure, let's just forget that she's my superior. and .." My voice trails off as I see Tamsin's vacant expression. "Fraternization, Tam. Look it up, it's a thing here," I say rolling my eyes.
Tams slugs me in the shoulder again. "Hey! I'm a badass D.A., don't insult me by suggesting I don't know what that is!"
"First of all...OUCH! Stop with the violence!" I say as I rub my shoulder, "And second of all..."I add. "You don't know what that is. I recognize your vacant stare anywhere."
"It just momentarily slipped my mind. I haven't slept properly in days, because I was worried about your sorry ass! We can't all be G.I. Legal Jane like your girlfriend over there!"
"She's not my girlfriend."
"Great, your imaginary girlfriend, your dreamwoman."
"Shut up!" I say snappishly, but then my mind on drugs has my emotions swirving and I have no filter. "She totally is my dreamwoman!" I almost wail. "I want her to be my girlfriend!"
"Sure," Tamsin says rolling her eyes, but then she exhales. "What happened?"
I take a deep breath and quickly summarize what happened between Lauren and I.
"You didn't tell her about Stacy? You didn't explain it to her?"
"You told me not to talk to her!"
"I told you to keep your distance once you got back on the Enterprise. I assumed you'd explain what was going on!"
"I didn't want to drag her into my mess!"
"So, just to recap...After sleeping with the Commander, you cut off the honey pot and any and all communication with the doc without a word of explanation about what was happening with Stacy.. Then, you proceeded to ignore her for months on end, and now you're all weepy and pathetic because she started doubting your intentions?"
"Yeah, okay...Maybe...I may have uhm... done that," I say dejected as my shoulders slump.
"This is Stella Whitley all over again."
"What? What do you mean?" I say with a hint of desperation.
"You!" Tams says gesturing at me. "You're all over the place, you're a mess, making bad decisions. I mean, look at you: no make-up, pale, wearing these type of god awful nighties, your hair looks like Amy Winehouse went to town on it. You're all disheveled, you obviously need to get your girl back, but this ain't the way, sista!"
"Tams, I'm lying in a hospital bed."
"Still, you've got no game, sista!"
"Why are you going all black on me? You're from Sweden, you're like the whitest person I know!"
"I can be black in my soul."
"No," I shake my head. "You can't. Are you dating a black woman? Is that where this is coming from?"
"I wouldn't exactly call it 'dating'," Tamsin says with a big smirk.
"Well, whatever you're doing with her...stop all of 'this'," I say gesturing at the pose Tamsin is striking. "It's disturbing, I'm not well, and I'm sure you're upsetting the black community."
"Does Lauren know what you're really like?"
"Keep-..." I start saying, but just in that moment, Lauren walks in and I instantly shut up. My heart skips a beat or three, butterflies whirl at Lauren's presence and beauty and I'm immediately very self-conscious, extremely aware of my messed up hair, the fact that I probably look like shit, and that my hospital nighty has my drool on it.
"I'm just here to change your drip," Lauren says, and at the sound of her voice, my heart thuds even louder in my chest. "Change away, doc! Who knew docs did that, huh? Take the time to change drips and all... Don't you have nurses to do that for you?" I ramble out awkwardly. Perhaps I can get my sheep to pitch in? I keep a lid on my odd sheep thoughts.
"Well, it is Christmas. This place is being run by me and two other nurses, so we all have to pitch in." Lauren says with a smile.
I groan inwardly. Fuck, I forgot it's Christmas! She's here because of you, idiot! Of course she has to do all of this herself!
"Glad to see you're feeling better Bo," Lauren says softly.
"Comm...I mean...Lau..." I say, but before I can thank her for staying with me to take care of me, Lauren is out of the door already.
"Oh, well played, " Tamsin says sarcastically. "Smoothe."
"Ugh," I say deflated. " I suck at this."
"You do," Tams says with a smirk that earns her a death glare from me. "Look," Tamsin says taking a breath. "I know you guys have things to talk about, so talk to her! Work this out. Lauren stayed here because of you, she took the trouble of finding me so I could be here with you. She cares Bo..."
"I've been an idiot."
"Yuppers," Tamsin agrees nodding her head. "Big time."
"This is working wonders for my confidence, Tams." I say a little annoyed.
Tamsin just shrugs.
Lauren's POV
Lauren's office, thirty minutes later
"So that's her?" My best friend asks sneaking a quick peek at Bo through the glass door to her room. "Oh Laur, you done fell in love with Xena!" Ben says in his overly dramatic way. Be still my pitter patter gay heart! Even in that god awful hospital gown I can tell that woman can crush grown men between her thighs."
From behind my desk I scrunch my brows. "She's up?" I ask making my way to Ben, and glance over at Bo who's out of her bed and on her feet. "She should be sleeping, resting.." I say. "Why is she up?"
"Oh leave her be." Ben chides. "She's got Ingrid Bergmann with her, she's fine."
I nod my head reminding myself I'm not Bo's girlfriend and that my protective instincts need to take a backseat. "Right," I inhale. "How was your trip over?"
"Jungle, I had to rough it in Economy, and instead of a strapping gay lad who was on his way to do some humanitarian work, or join a gay parade somewhere, I got a middle aged, balding, overweight man called Billy Bob who snored like a truck and drooled from the left corner of his mouth."
"How were you ever able to resist his charms?"
"I believe it was with my foot, and a plastic fork." I laugh lightly thinking about Ben fencing off Billy Bob.
"Let's get something to eat?" I ask as I hook an arm into his. "I'm starving."
Ben nods his head, and we head towards the Mess Hall. There's only three or so people left now to run the kitchens, and the menu has been restricted to one dish per day, but that suits Ben and I just fine. We both get ourselves a steak with fries and some lettuce, and chat all through dinner.
"How was Christmas? I ask.
"I flew up to Colorado to spend it with Maggie, and her idiot husband. Mags loved it and I was happy to see my sis and my favorite nieces. I was planning to visit them for New Years anyway, so we just moved those plans up."
"Did Rich try to convert you again?" I ask taking a swig of my bottled lemonade.
"Does Papa Bear like a man in tight leather? Course he did, and then I burnt his favorite bible come Christmas morning over Cher's excellent rendition of Jingle Bells."
"You didn't!" I laugh out loud.
"I did, Casey and Katy helped me light the hearth, and we had hot coco."
"I can't believe Maggie stays with him."
Ben shrugs. "He is good with the kids. Never says anything disparaging about gays to them. Still, I hope one of the kids will turn out to be lesbian. Mags and I made a bet. I've got fifty bucks on Katy." Ben chuckles and I join in.
"How are you and Xena doing? Is there a specific reason you're not there to fluff her every pillow?"
I let out a sigh, and eye my friend from across the table. "Can we talk about Nadia instead?"
Ben raises a perfectly plucked brow. "That bad?"
"I was all ready to come celebrate Christmas with you, reevaluate some things, try and get over her, then she comes to my room and passes out right in front of me."
Ben looks at me puzzled, and I realize a lot has happened and I haven't talked to my best friend about it.
"Uncle Nate told me how my dad died."
"Laur, honey.." Ben starts.
I shake my head. "It was a good thing. I mean...It was difficult to hear, the finality of it all. I think maybe somehow, I still expected him to show up at the apartment after a long mission away?" I ask glancing over at Ben to see if I'm making sense. As a good friend, Ben nods his head. "But knowing, I feel like I finally had closure, like I can finally start accepting what happened. After I talked to Nathan, the strangest feeling crept up on me...I started thinking about Bo, about why she came into my life, how she did and when she did, and...I don't know why..." I swallow trying to keep my emotions in check.
"I don't know why, but it's...I feel...I feel like maybe my dad planted her in my path for me?" I glance up at Ben again. There are tears in my eyes. Ben knows what I'm like, he knows that talking of destinies and fate intertwining isn't my normal cup of tea. He recognizes how foreign it is for me to feel like this. Ben and I are both scientists, but out of the two of us, I am the most rational, the least inclined towards the spiritual. My only truth that of facts and science, but Ben doesn't judge, he just squeezes my hand softly urging me to continue.
"I tried to make amends for a fight we had, tried to talk to her, but she didn't want to hear me. I really hurt her, Ben" I say tears now falling down my cheeks. "I know what it's like when people believe the lies that are being spread by someone who hates you, and I didn't believe her. And gods, Ben, what I said...I messed up things between us just because of my insecurities, because of what happened with Nadia."
Ben pulls me into his arms and squeezes tight. "Laur, she'll come around, she'll simmer down, and you'll work this out."
"How can you be sure?"
"Because Xena and Gabrielle are meant to be."
"Gawds!" I shake my head chuckling through my tears. "I hurt her so badly. What if I do it again? I don't think I deserve her."
"Don't say that, Lauren" Ben says. "You had an argument, normal people have arguments, and they work things out. You told me Bo is a spitfire, but that she sees you, so you need to believe in that. You deserve her, honey, you deserve the best."
I smile lightly nodding.
"And that's why there's this little something something," Ben says, and slides a folder into view of an Hawaian vacation resort.
"Now, before you say anything. I spoke to Dr. Andrews, and she's very grateful that she got to spend Christmas with her family because you stayed, and she's very eager to take over your shift now, so you can enjoy New Year and a couple extra few days."
"Ben...Bo...I don't want to..."
"The Valkyrie and I booked for four. One house for me and Tamsin, and the other one for you and Bo, so you can monitor your patient, and possibly rip her clothes off once she's better." Ben grins. "All you have to do is dismiss your patient into your own care."
The Alohilani Resort,
December 28, 7pm
Bo's POV
We sit on the couch, it's the first night after I woke up in the hospital that I feel well enough to sit upright for a longer period of time, it's also our first night here at the resort. I'm sipping the one glass of wine I'm permitting myself to drink tonight. I glance over at Lauren, the room is dark with only the moonlight and a few soft lights to lighten the room, but she looks beautiful with her hair down, wearing an elegant white dress. I, in contrast am wearing an oversized sweater and a pair of yoga pants, and feel very underdressed, but I honestly don't have the energy to get all dolled up yet. At least my hair has been washed, and I'm out of the hospital gown. I turn on the couch towards her, and blurt looking at her.
"You look gorgeous."
Lauren smiles at me. "It's a nice change up from the uniform," she says leaning back.
"You're always gorgeous," I say inhaling.
"Bo..."
"I know," I say and then I pause. I know I can't just flirt with Lauren and pretend like nothing happened. We need to talk, but the truth is that whenever I am around Lauren and knowing what I know now, it's just very hard to filter my thoughts. I get nervous, and when I'm nervous, I sometimes blurt out stupid things, instead of the things I should be saying.
"I owe you an apology, Lauren." I say looking up again. "I never meant for you to get caught up in my drama. I wanted to protect you from Stacy, but I should have said something to you, I should have communicated better."
Lauren nods softly as she considers my words. There's a slight pause before she speaks. "I should have too, I shouldn't have jumped to conclusions. I haven't been with anyone since Nadia. Not really, anyway." Lauren says feeling uneasy as she looks away at the wine glass in her hands. "I've had one night stands, but no real connection, and then I met you and I..."
I put my hand on Lauren's leg. The action stops her sentence midstride, and she turns her head towards me, looking at me. I smile at her. "I should have said something, and you're not the only one who let her insecurities play up."
Lauren nods her head. "I've never been great at communicating."
"And if communicating isn't difficult enough in itself, life had to throw in a military setting and Stacy Altmann." I say and Lauren softly chuckles with me.
"I disagree though."
"Oh?" Lauren scrunches her brows taking another sip of her wine.
"All those hours talking and sharing under the stars, I loved communicating with you."
Lauren smiles softly. "You're easy to talk to Bo. You have this warmth to you that pulls everyone in."
"So do you," I smile back.
"We've got the pizza, bitches!" Tamsin's voice hollars behind me and Lauren and I both turn at our respective best friends dashing into the living room with stack of pizza boxes in their hands."Let's get this delayed Christmas on the rails, people! Chop, chop!" Tamsin shouts out, and I laugh again.
"Let's not keep the tyrant waiting," I say to Lauren as we get up from the couch. "She only gets progressively worse when she's hungry."
It's not the roller coasters I am used to for Christmas, but spending time with my bestie, Lauren and her bestie Ben is as good a Christmas as I can ever imagine. The four of us just automatically hit it off, and we spend the entire night chatting. We swap anecdotes and have each other in stitches. As Ben and Tamsin were in charge of getting the pizza, Lauren and I are in charge of cleaning up and from the kitchen we both take a moment to look back at our two best friends continuing their playful banter. I shake my head with a smile.
"Ben is great." I say. "He can even get Tamsin to like him. That's rare." I chuckle as I throw the pizza boxes in the bin.
"Tamsin is great too."
"Once you get past her potty mouth." I agree. "She grows on you," I chuckle again.
"How are you feeling?" Lauren asks. She turns towards me and studies my face.
"Tired," I admit. "But, I'm okay. Not on the verge of collapse," I add as I see Lauren's scrutinous gaze. "I promise."
"We should get you into bed."
The butterflies in my stomach whirl involuntarily at Lauren's words, and I think my grin is just a little too wide for Lauren, because she rolls her eyes and smiles.
"I mean, you should sleep."
"And here I was thinking you just made me an indecent offer. What a pity."
"I wouldn't dare," Lauren says. "Not as long as you're sick." She adds with a grin.
"And what's the quickest way to get better?!" I laugh back and my hand just sort of involuntarily comes to rest in hers. We both stare at our hands being intertwined and I smile at how right it feels. I look up and I think I see Lauren thinking the same thing. My heart swells. I'm about to say something, but then I suddenly hear a piano in the background. I glance past Lauren and see Ben is behind it playing the first notes to a Christmas song I know from childhood.
"Bo, Lauren! Get over here and join in!" Ben and Tamsin scant at the same time. Done with cleaning up, Lauren and I make our way over to the other side of the room with a smile. Out of the corner of my eyes I see Tamsin dashing out to her room.
"Is there room for me?" I ask Ben.
"A four hander? The more, the merrier!" Ben replies enthusiastically and I slide onto the bench next to him. My mother taught piano lessons at the house when I was little and she would teach me every day. I haven't played in a while, but I don't think I can ever forget the song Ben is playing. I join him in the second chorus, Lauren picks up on the lyrics with me and her beautiful voice fills the room. A moment later, both Ben and Lauren crack up laughing when Tamsin flies through the living room dressed as Santa's Helper lit up like a Christmas tree carrying Christmas outfits for everyone. In no time at all, we all have more than one goofy hat on our heads and we continue laughing and singing.
One hour later
"I grin widely as I see Tamsin unpack her gift. I ordered her a special mug for her office. It has three kids on it, the boy is kinda of left out of the scene while the two remaining girls are looking at one another. Underneath the picture it reads
"Jane knows Connie, she doesn't care to know Dick."
"It's for your desk, for your chicks!" I say. It takes me bestie a few, but once she gets the joke, she's laughing out loud, and grinning widely. Out of the corner of my eyes I can see Lauren and Ben laughing at the mug too.
"This is awesome!" She pipes up and crushes me in a hug that makes me cough.
"Oops, sorry, scrawny!" She says.
I wave Tamsin off, but the cough turns into quite a fit and I need the support of the couch to keep me upright.
"I think it's time I get her to bed," I hear Lauren say, and her arm supports my shoulder as we make our way to the other holiday home just next door. When we first arrived here, Lauren decided she would share one of the houses with me so she could keep an eye on my condition; she's got the room next to mine just in case I need her at night.
"Do you need my help?" She asks. She's gotten me in my bedroom and I'm struggling to get changed.
"Maybe just with the top?" I ask. I never imagined taking off my shirt could be so tasking, but there's something about lifting my arms above my head that makes the muscles in my chest move in a way that is very painful.
"Sure." Lauren clears her throat and walks up to me.
"Sit down," she gently directs and I sit down on the bed. Lauren closes in on me again, and I try to not let her proximity intoxicate me, but my breath hitches involuntarily.
"Hold your arms out in front of you?" she asks.
I do and stretching my arms out in front is a lot less painful than above my head. Careful not to hurt me, Lauren removes my shirt. I use my arms to cover my chest as quickly to cover how flushed my skin is because of her nearness. "Thanks," I mumble out as I feel my heart thud in my chest.
"I'll grab your shirt," Lauren says and moves to the cupboard at the far end of the room. She opens one of the drawers and pulls out my pajamas and hands them to me.
"Thanks," I say again as I take the clothes she has outstretched to me. "I'll manage with this."
Lauren nods. "Goodnight Bo," she says and she turns away from me. I quickly put the upper part of my pajama's on mindful not to raise my arms too high.
"Lauren!" I call out suddenly remembering something.
"Yes?" She turns her head towards me from the door to my room.
I pull open the drawer to the nightstand of my bed and pull out a small box, gift-wrapped.
"I got you a Christmas present too."
Lauren scrunches her brows lightly.
"It's just a little thing," I say as I hand her the small box. "Something I thought of when we talked under the stars." Lauren holds the gift in her hands, and looks up at me almost startled.
"Bo, you didn't have to get me anything."
"It's just a silly something," I say. "Something I hoped we could do together. So, basically, I bought myself a gift too, cause that's the kind of person I am," I joke, and see Lauren chuckle a little.
"Thank you," she says sincerely. "I got something for you too. Hold on," she says and she dashes out of my bedroom and into hers. I quickly put on my pajama pants, and by the time I've crawled under my sheets, Lauren is back in my room holding a small package.
"You don't have to open it now." She says.
"But, I can?" I ask eagerly.
Lauren chuckles and nods her head. "Of course," she says and sits down on the edge of the bed next to me.
I waste no time and unwrap my gift. I undo the bow tie and tear the paper loose, there's a small black jewelry box underneath. I scrunch my brows. Carefully, I open the box. Inside of it is a silver necklace with a small stone as a pendant.
"The small stone is part of a moon rock my dad gave me when I was little and I'd dream about the stars." "I thought I'd share it with you." "For luck, and well.. because you love space as much as I do."
I swallow looking at the gift Lauren gave me, listening to her. I don't know what to say. It's the most thoughful gift anyone has ever given to me and it almost moves me to tears.
"Wow, it's beautiful. Good grief, that makes my gift feel like I got it from a vending machine." I chuckle emotionally.
"Do you really like it?"
"Lauren, it's gorgeous, it's thoughtful, it's..." I breathe again clutching the pendant to my chest. "I can't believe you got that for me. Your dad gave this to you." I say and wipe away a tear.
"It's not too much?"
"I...I dunno...Is it? I mean, I can't believe you want to give this to me."
"Bo," she says looking into my eyes. She cups my cheek, wipes away another tear that's rolling down my cheek. "Of course I want to." She pulls her hand away and I immediately miss the contact.
"I love it," I say and carefully put the pendant back into the box..
"Good," Lauren nods and smiles, and then looks down at my gift sitting on her lap. "Can I open it?"
"Yeah."
Lauren's delicate and sure fingers make quick work of my gift wrapping. When she sees what I've got her she chuckles and smiles wide. I bought her a little flowerpot with two sunflower seedlings gingerly poking their heads through the ground.
"I remember you telling me how much you love plants and flowers, how you love watching them grow at home in your apartment, and how much you love to walk," I say and right at that time, Lauren pulls out the little envelope that's pried in between the seedlings. She pulls it open and starts reading.
"Like I said, I uhm...I suppose, it was a little presumptuous of me, but I got two. Thought we could walk together." I shrug.
"It's perfect," Lauren says with a wide grin on her face as she pulls her face away from the two passes I bought that covers entrance to every national park and federal recreational land in the country for a year.
"There's no name on them yet," I say quickly. "You have to register first, so you could give mine to Ben."
"Ben hates walking, or camping. Says it's bad for his nails and his hair." Lauren chuckles.
I laugh, but laughing hurts, so I quickly stop.
"You need to sleep," Lauren says worriedly seeing my discomfort. She gets up from my bed so I can slide under my sheets fully.
"Thank you Bo," Lauren says. "I love the sunflowers, I love the pass."
"You're welcome."
"Goodnight," Lauren says, and for a brief moment I think and hope she'll lean into me to give me a hug or a kiss goodnight, but she doesn't.
"Goodnight Lauren," I say. I exhale loudly when Lauren closes my bedroom door and my room goes dark.
The next morning, December 29
There's a sizzling noise that draws my attention, and when I open my eyes, the smell of bacon hits my nostrills and sends my stomach into a low grumble. I'm hungry, which isn't that surprising as I've been on mostly liquid food the entire week, and the smell of bacon, solid food is making my mouth water. I throw on my kimono over my jammies and tie my hair back.
I smile as I see Lauren in the kitchen just putting the finishing touches to two plates dressed with eggs, bacon and a side of pancakes. My stomach rumbles again betraying my presence and Lauren looks up with a smile.
"Morning Bo," Lauren says. "I was just about to bring you a plate."
"Breakfast in bed?" I ask with a smirk."Wow," I grin, walking up to the kitchen counter, slash breakfast table. I spot a tray with a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice on it and a pot of tea next to it. "There's no need, I'm glad to be up." I say when I take a seat at the counter. "This looks amazing."
"Well, you need to build up your strength again." Lauren smiles gently. "I hope you're hungry?"
"Starving," I say with a smile. "Wait, where are Ben and Tam? Shouldn't we wait for them?"
"They were on a liquid diet yesterday. Don't think we'll be seeing them for a couple of hours."
"In that case..." I say. I wait until Lauren takes her seat next to me and then dig in; moaning at all of the foods I'm putting into my mouth. Everything tastes like paradise to my tastebuds and Lauren is grinning at me. Soon enough though, I feel full, like I can't eat another bite.
"Your stomach's been out of commission for a while. Give it a few days, and it'll be back to normal. Small amounts at a time."
I nod my head. "Thank you, for this. It was great."
"Ahmm," Lauren hums nodding her head. "Do you feel up for a little walk? I mean, it's beautiful here, and if we're going to start walking all of those parks together, maybe we should start training."
I nod, her words painting the widest smile on my lips. "Yeah, I'd love to," I mumble. Lauren wants to go walking with me!
"Alright, go take a shower, and dress warmly." Lauren says with a grin. "It's not cold, but there's a chilly wind. I'll clean up here."
"I can help," I protest.
"I know, but it's just putting dishes in the dish washer. Go, Major!" Lauren says with a smirk when I don't automatically do what she says.
"Yes, ma'am."
I scoot back to my room, take a quick shower, and also dress with haste. There's a constant silly grin plastered on my face and I don't want to keep Lauren waiting. When I emerge from my room, I'm wrapped up in a long black coat. The only thing I still need is a scarf, but that one is hanging by the door.
"All set?" Lauren asks standing by the door, and I smile. The doctor is wearing a long coat, similar to mine, but hers is tan, elegant and she's already wearing a light shawl.
"Yes," I say smiling at the graceful beauty before me.
"Let's just put this on," Lauren says, reaching for my scarf and wrapping it around my neck. My heart is thudding in my chest again, and my eyes seem to be glued to her lips. We stare at one another a little too long until Lauren pulls away again.
"There, all set," she says softly.
The doctor and I walk outside and not long after she hooks her arm in mine. I'm not sure why. I suppose Lauren could just be extending me some physical support like a good doctor would, but I choose to think we're walking like this because like myself, she craves the contact between us. If that's not true, then in this moment, I am very grateful for my pneumonia. The ocean stretches out before us, and I breathe in deeply. I've always loved the smell of the sea, and Lauren smiles mimicking me.
"I love it out here," Lauren says, and I agree. We continue walking just enjoying the early morning sun, the view, the breeze and the feeling of sand beneath our feet. We don't say much, but it's a comfortable silence. Our pace is slow, geared towards discovery as we look for seashells, and enjoy just being in the moment. Not long after we find a white wooden bench near the edge of the beach and we sit down.
I'm happy here I realise. I don't need to always be chasing the next thrill high up in the sky. This walk, this sitting here, this being around her.
"I lied to you," I say.
Lauren's POV
"You lied to me?" I ask momentarily puzzled.
"When we just met."
"The Congressman," I say realizing what she's talking about.
"Yes," Bo confirms.
"I've always known you lied." I say quickly, a small smile pulling at my lips.
"Of course you did." Bo chuckles slightly. "You must have been furious with me."
"I was," I chuckle back thinking about how frustrated Bo made me feel then. "For a time."
"You were right. I was there to steal something that night, and I did steal something. Or well, I borrowed something."
I furrow my brow.
"One of my best friends in the Air Force is Captain Rick Sanders," Bo starts. "We all call him Sandy, he's driven, talented, intelligent,..and also, at times, incredibly impulsive and plain stupid. I suppose that's why I get along with him so well." Bo smiles at herself and I smile along. "Anyway, that night at Clifton House what you saw me steal or 'borrow' were the Congressman's hotel keys. Sandy has been in love with the Congressman's daughter Dana for the last couple of years. They don't see each other often with him being enlisted, and because Clayton Wayburn III doesn't approve of his daughter dating a kid from the Bronx, no matter how hard working he is, they sneak around. That day of the party, Dana was in town, and the two of them... Well, let's say they expressed their mutual affection for one another in the Congressman's hotel room, and in the heat of the moment Sandy lost his dogtags there."
"Ah," I nod, the entire night at Clifton House finally making sense. "So in sweeps Isabeau McCorrigan to charm the congressman and steal his keys," I say remembering how half of the guests at that house were literally drooling over Bo, myself included.
"'Borrow', she corrects with a chuckle and air quotes that make me smile. "I couldn't very well let Sandy down. That night we broke into the hotel room, got Sandy's dogtags, and hauled our asses back to base."
"You risked your career."
"I suppose," Bo agrees. "But Sandy was frantic when he lost his tags. I couldn't not help him. Sandy and Dana have this big plan of waiting to tell her dad until Sandy makes Major and he has enough saved to buy them a house. Sandy was supposed to be at the base that night. He snuck out."
"Oh dear," I say, but smile softly at Bo's words. I know how driven Bo is, and yet when her friend needs help, she doesn't even hesitate and jeapordizes her career. I glance over at her and smile admiration and warmth filling me. I wonder if this woman next to me is even real or possible. Is she always like this? This force of nature that leaps before she thinks, but then somehow always lands on her feet?
"He was a complete idiot about it, but he's in love, and we do stupid things when we're in love."
"We do," I say softly agreeing and in that moment I don't dare look at the woman seated next to me, I just stare out at the ocean in front of me, letting the cool breeze deal with my rising flush, and my fluttering heart.
"I'm sorry though. I didn't want to lie to you. It felt wrong to lie."
"Is that why you told me now?"
"I wanted to be honest with you," Bo inhales. "I want to be honest with you."
"You should have told me."
"Tell a complete stranger, someone who outranks me that my friend had sex in the congressman's hotel room while he should have been on base?"
"Yes," I say firmly. "I'm a sucker for romance."
"Is that right?" Bo grins widely.
"Okay, no. I would have felt guilty about not saying anything."
Bo and I both chuckle. "I figured as much."
"You knew I'd feel guilty?"
"Well...I now how much the Navy means to you, how you value honor and integrity." Bo says and I frown softly at her words. She's not wrong, of course, but her words remind me about the fact that I'm very much so contemplating leaving the Navy and that I haven't told Bo about that yet. I don't know if that conversation is still relevant either.
"But back then I did think you were a little uptight."
I laugh out loud. "I was ready to suspend you after that conversation. You were so frustrating!"
Bo laughs with me. "I was." She nods agreeing. "You had every right to get snippy with me. It's a bad habit I have, bending the rules when I feel I need to."
"It's a wonderful quality Bo," I say softly. "You protect your friends, you're loyal."
Bo nods her head. "My friends are my family, and seeing as I have a best friend who's gotten me into more trouble than the squadron ever put together did, I suppose I'm used to it."
"More trouble than having to pickpocket a congressman and then break into his hotel room?"
"After a night out with Tamsin, I once woke up on a cargo ship towards China wearing a pair of swimming trunks, a bikini top and a scarf. The only ID on me I had was that of a Russian diplomat."
"What?"
"Alexa Vasilov."
"The now Minister of Internal Affairs."
"Right."
"How?"
"No clue, but, I think my cousin Kenz had something to do with it."
"Because?"
"She's Russian." I frown at Bo and she chuckles at me. "Kenzi is uhm...she's in a league of her own. She's something else, you'll see when you meet her," Bo says softly and I grin wide thinking that Bo wants me to meet her cousin.
"There's one thing though...about that night,"I say my mind snagging on that one piece of the puzzle that doesn't quite fit. "If you got the key from the congressman. Why didn't you just leave? Why did you go to the Senator?"
"Senator Jack Dennis," Bo says with a small nod of her head, and a wilfullness in her voice I haven't heard before. "A lot of people voted for him, like him. Do you like him?"
"Like him?"
"Would you vote for him?" Bo asks. "Does he seem like a reliable man to you?"
"He's a republican," I say in a clipped tone that makes it clear I'm a registered democrat. "But, I suppose he looks reliable enough? I haven't really thought about it to be honest." I scrunch my brows remembering a documentary I happened to land on when I was flipping channels. Jack Dennis was a kind of modern day Kennedy: from a political family, a former pilot, but one who never took his family's money, instead started his own business, became a selfmade man. I remember seeing the documentary and realizing he was the type of man a lot of people would vote for because he had the charms, the looks and he represented the American dream. "I saw a documentary about him once."
"The one where he told everyone he and his wife couldn't have kids?"
I nod my head remembering there was mention of that in the documentary.
"He plays that card to win votes. He's my dad, Lauren."
My brain momentarily freezes and I snap my head round to look at Bo.
"My name was Bo Dennis until I was eleven and he left us. Believe it or not, up until that point he had been a pretty cool dad, then he just left. I took my mom's name when they officially divorced. Apparently, that was a condition in the divorce papers if you can believe that. He cut me out of his life."
"Bo," I swallow hard, my heart hurts for her, and I can't imagine how anyone could leave a child of eleven behind like that, how anyone could do that to Bo.
"It's okay. That night at Clifton. It was the first time I had seen him in about fifteen years. That's why I went over to say hello. I wanted to look him in the eye, I wanted to see if he recognized me, I needed to know if he'd remember the daughter he left behind," Bo says and her voice is even toned. "He didn't."
I'm quiet for a pause, but move my hand onto hers. "His loss," I say, then give her hand a soft squeeze.
Bo and I stay seated on our bench for another thirty minutes or so. We don't say much, not much at all really, but we don't need to. I just sit there enjoying the view, enjoying the company, the salt in the air, the birds up in the sky, the silence and the feeling of her hand in mine. When we finally do go back inside, it's because I notice Bo is getting cold and we slowly start walking back. We chitchat a little more, but I can tell Bo has been putting on a brave face when we walk back into the house. She insists she's fine, but I gently coax her back into bed, and it doesn't take her long before she falls back asleep. I kiss her temple lightly, walk out of the room and back into the living room to cuddle up on the sofa with a book.
It's about an hour later when I hear a tapping of some sorts, I look up and see Tamsin stand on the other side of the sliding door to the terrace. I laugh lightly seeing she's holding several bags of potato chips and other kinds of candy and sodas in her arms.
"You come bearing gifts," I comment approvingly.
"Mommah McCorrigan and Skarson raised me right," Tamsin says, and I smile. "I came over thinking we might watch a movie, play a game? Either way, figured we might need snacks for that. Anywhere I can put these?"
"Sure, the kitchen is right where yours is," I say and Tamsin takes off towards the kitchen cupboards.
"How's the patient doing?" Tamsin asks. "Last night wasn't too much for her?"
"She was up this morning, took her for a walk, then put her back to bed. She's alright," I say reassuringly as I see lingering worry in Tamsin's eyes. "She just needs to rest, give her body the time to recover."
"Good luck getting her to do that," Tamsin says. "I can never get that girl to stand still for even two minutes."
"I've kind of noticed that about her, " I say nodding my head, and chuckling. "Can I get you a coffee, something else to drink or eat?"
"Oo, food sounds good," Tamsin nods her head.
"I can whip you up some eggs, bacon and pancakes."
"Doc, now you're talking!" I laugh and fire up the cooker. About ten minutes later, I'm serving up Tamsin pretty much the same breakfast I made for Bo and I this morning. Tamsin digs in and like Bo she's very vocal about her food.
"Gods, this is good stuff! Bo always gets me to eat organic or 'healthy' she calls it," Tamsin says stuffing another bite of pancakes in her mouth. "I say it's flavorless and odorless crap that they make you pay an arm and a leg for!"
"You don't cook?"
"Who has time, doc?" Tamsin shrugs. "Between me trying to keep the thugs and the perverts off of the street, and my scrappy bestie trying to go weightless in space, we barely have time to say hello to one another." "But, Bo does keep the fridge stocked with healthy alternatives, gets me to eat fruit, drink water, instead of the crap I eat." Tamsin says gesturing at the cupboards she filled with her snacks.
"I wanted to thank you Doc," Tamsin says wiping at her mouth as she finishes her plate. "Not just for the food, but for Bo. What you did...Taking care of her like that during your vacation, staying with her, the Stacy thing."
"She saved my life Tamsin," I say. "It's the least I could do."
"Mmm," Tamsin hums. "Look, doc...I like ya...Hell, that girl and her hankering to put herself in dangerous situations has taken years off of my life, to have a doc around her..." "Well, let's just says it adds years onto my life, and my level of prettiness...but I have to know. You gonna be straight with my girl?"
I frown a little taken aback.
"She likes you doc. She likes you a whole lot, and although I gave her ass a thorough chewing about the fight you two had, she was really torn up about it. Bo doesn't let many people in, she's guarded, but with you..." Tamsin exhales. "I can tell she let you slip inside as if you were a slippery, greasy ball of butter."
I frown again this time at Tamsin's use of confusing vocabulary.
"If you're just gonna be all slick about it and take off like OJ in a Bronco I wanna know now."
"You're asking me if I'm serious about Bo?" I ask wanting to make sure I understood Tamsin correctly.
"Yeah, I wanna know if you are gonna be true!" Instantly all the hours I spent with Bo flash in my mind; from the first moment I saw her to just a couple of hours ago when I got to hold her hand sitting on a bench and all I needed to feel happiness was just our fingers touching.
My head nods before my mouth speaks. "If she'll have me, then I would love nothing more but to stay and try to make things up to her," I say.
"Tamsin...what the hell are you doing?" Bo's voice grunts out behind me.
And that wraps up Chapter 9!
I'll save some more New Year fluff and talking for chapter 10 and then we'll probably also get the conclusion of the story in 2014, and we'll finally be ready to go back to 2018.
Sound good? :-) Leave a review!
Replies to reviews
Joan: There was a lot of angst, huh? It's necessary for the story to write those bits, but I can't always say those scenes come naturally to me. Thank goodness, we finally got to the lighter stuff again! :-)
Sarah: Yeah, Bo does have a tendency to jump to conclusions. I suppose it's the natural thing to do. When you're in love there is so much riding on that one connection, and it is very easy to feel insecure about it.
J: Hah! Great to note your enthusiasm for both stories! ;-) I try to not keep you guys waiting too long and with The Heir Of Arundel that's manageable because I've got the chapters written already, just need to edit them and then add comments, but A Christmas Date I still have to 'make up' on the spot, and that takes time.
Guest 1) Bo is sick...yup. She had been feeling poorly for a while (had had a lot of stuff to deal with), overworking herself and basically not taking care of herself, and then she just collapsed.
Guest 2) Awe! Thanks for liking the story as much as you do! :-) By the end of the previous chapter, I do think Lauren was wanting to reevaluate things between her and Bo, but she can be swayed from that idea. ;-) Yeah, I suppose Bo is a little drama, but when you're in love even little things can hurt, and to Bo, Lauren not believing her and believing Stacy instead is something that hurts her profoundly.
Guest 3) Thanks for reviewing!
Mulder: We'll find out more about the pics in the following chapter, but chapter 9 was intended to just be a nice, warm, fluffy Christmas chapter again. Yeah, you're right, Bo getting sick is definitely also because she's had to deal with so many things emotionally.
FrenChi: Stacy has been dealt with, VOILA! :-) For now ;-) I feel as if Lauren may not be an insecure person in her own right, but what has happened between her and Nadia definitely made her insecure about relationships, and she still has some growing to do in that regard.
Susan: I really hope you liked this chapter. I personally think they made some headway on the talking and the communicating about their feelings. I don't think they were ever in any danger of always second guessing each other's feelings, but of course, it wouldn't be a good love story if I didn't make it bumpy every once in a while. I think you're about to find out what happens to Bo and her memory in the upcoming chapter.
Bahh: Yes! It was time for romance again, wasn't it? Jeez! Hope you liked chapter 9!
Guest: Thanks, I'm just glad it's not always as much of a struggle as chapter 8 ;-)
Thanks again everyone for reviewing! It's awesome that you do! :-) Lurkers, learn from the reviewers! ;-)
