Bo missed Lauren and was caught in a deep passionate kiss. Bo missed her so much and was joyful that she was back. Bo brought arms slowly around Lauren and complimented her hug, grasping her firmly. She didn't want this to be a mirage, but it was Lauren all right. Her scent and taste were the same and it was those unique characteristics she did miss.
Lauren was overjoyed at seeing Bo and that Bo missed her too. Bo treated her like there was no rift between them although Bo knew her whole history. Lauren held onto Bo tightly as well, hoping that this was not just a dream.
"I'm sorry babe for hiding from you…. a.. and the gang. I missed you so damn much." Laruen gasped out in relief as tears filled her eyes, stroking Bo's back, transitioning to a hug.
"God Lauren," Bo whispered into her ear, resting her head on Lauren's shoulder, "I DON'T care about your past and I know you saved Dyson at Taft's. You're one of the good ones."
It was at that moment Bo realized that was the same line she told Tamsin.
Holy shit. TAMSIN.
Bo pushed back on Lauren, quickly breaking the embrace, and looked up at the balcony. Tamsin and Kendra were no longer there. Bo needed to find her Valkyrie and quell any of her anxieties since she probably witnessed the whole thing.
"Lauren," Bo stated holding her shoulders at arm's length, "a lot has happened since you've been away. Talk later?"
"Sure Bo. I know. Come to my place later ok? Tamsin and Kendra know where it is," Lauren offered in reassurance. She knew that Tamsin and Bo had even more catching up to do and more challenges, in addition.
Kendra rushed over to Tamsin who sat down in apparent pain at the top of the steps, still holding her chest.
"Fuck!" Kendra whispered with Tamsin kneeling down. Tamsin had an expression of agony. Kendra was just about to yell when Tamsin grabbed her arm and pulled her close.
"No Kendra. I'm … I'm fine, the pain is going away," Tamsin groaned under her breath.
"I read in some texts that the bond will hurt the Valkyrie if the other bond partner is untrue. But I thought it was a myth since you are fallen and the fact that Bo sleeps with a lot of people and it didn't seem to hurt you then." Kendra questioned and Tamsin took her hand off her chest and looked onto her with a dead serious look.
"When Bo sleeps with other people, it's just for healing and feeding. Sure there is lust, but there is no LOVE…. I think. That is why it probably never hurt before. Not that I can remember anything right now," Tamsin said in all seriousness.
"Well, what are we waiting for? Let's roll up on the doc and slap the living shit out of her," Kendra said shaking Tamsin to get her into action.
Tamsin knew that her mission was accomplished and there was no need to repair their relationship. By her feeling pain during Lauren's and Bo's kiss, that meant that Bo did feel something more for the doctor. What bothered her was that she did remember briefly what they both shared and she cried and mourned its loss reflexively. That was disturbing. She never cried, not that she could remember, but she did for Bo. Had Bo made that many inroads to her heart? Impossible, but then, how were they bonded?
Bo could be heard rushing up the steps and calling from around a bend. "Tamsin?"
Tamsin got up with Kendra's assistance and waited for Bo at the top of the stairs.
Bo rushed up the stairs calling out for her Valkyrie. She was ashamed for what just happened with Lauren. Deep down she knew she crossed a line she shouldn't have.
Bo got to the top of the steps and saw Kendra was backing away from Tamsin. Tamsin was standing there with a look of fear and uncertainty in her eye, even though she hid it well through her muted expression. Bo had learned to read Tamsin no matter how she covered up her emotional states.
Tamsin observed Bo's hurried approach with almost panic. Without any of her former memories how was she to act? Kendra asked her to be nice to Bo but how? Nice was not in her vocabulary. Bo's expression was mixed with guilt and yearning. Bo was closing fast, too fast with her arms outstretched for a hug and as such Tamsin backed up, but before she knew it, put her arms out to stop Bo. The action was not out of spite, but because Tamsin couldn't remember how close they were and how to feel. Bo slammed into her, totally ignoring the fact that Tamsin was pushing her away.
Bo felt Tamsin's resistance and figured that the kiss with Lauren made her jealous and bottled up. Bo's heart broke and so she hugged her tighter to make sure Tamsin wouldn't leave.
"I'm SORRY Tamsin!" Bo spat out in a wavering voice, "Please forgive me… please please please! I don't know what came over me. I love you Tamsin. I love you. Please…. I'm so sorry." Bo held her Valkyrie close in a bone crushing hug, waiting and holding her breath, as a tear escaped her eye.
Tamsin was surprised. She had no idea she was that close to Bo. Tamsin was floored, not only by a begging Bo, but by the sheer token that Bo stated with conviction and in no uncertain terms that she loved her. Both these were foreign to her and this caused her to push more away from Bo. Bo acted almost rabid.
"Gods Succubus! … Are you always this annoying and clingy! Hello! A little AIR!" Tamsin reflexively growled out. Bo didn't relent, still holding onto dear life, Tamsin noticed. She felt embarrassed as her cheeks flushed, but switched tactics, "um BO! Can we just sit down and TALK!?"
Bo just kept her head buried under Tamsin's jaw. She couldn't look Tamsin in the eyes because of what she had just done. She had no idea why she was acting so needy, which was atypical of her, but deep down, she loved her Valkyrie more than life itself.
Bo slowly released her Valkyrie and looked her in the eyes. She couldn't understand why Tamsin wasn't angry. She held a blank expression on her face and if there was any emotion to it, it was one of embarrassment. What was wrong and this caused a look of curiosity to then be seen in her face.
"Bo," Tamsin announced forcefully, pushing Bo back, since she was extremely uncomfortable with Bo's proximity to her, "I'm suffering from retrograde amnesia. I can't remember anything past Brazenwood."
Bo took a couple small steps back and covered her mouth with one of her hands. A look of surprise, confusion, and distress marred her features. Tamsin was never known to lie to her face and from the reaction she just got, it was probably true.
Kendra seeing this found it best to leave and looked over the balcony. Everyone else left probably to meet outside. She quietly walked down the steps and went outside and sure enough, Dyson was standing outside talking to Lauren. Chica was still at the door and nodded to her, while Alex stood sharply at attention midway to Dyson.
Kendra just walked towards them and Alex turned to Kendra and nodded but softly said, "I'm sorry for yesterday Cap… Kendra. I should have told you who I was from the start…. I … I …. I'm also sorry I got you so worked up…."
Kendra knew Alex was trying to apologize for something that wasn't her fault. Kendra just went off on her and she didn't deserve it.
"No Alex, I should be apologizing to you. I'm not perfect and my outburst was totally uncalled for. If you want to become the Kendra Shaw in that scrap book, that is fine, just learn from my many mistakes and you will. OK? " Kendra offered.
"Thanks Ca… Kendra," Alex sighed in relief. She was happy that Kendra didn't totally disown her.
Kendra found it odd that Alex was purposefully avoiding calling her Captain and then it hit her. Only Jessica Flanders and John Delamar (Spanish origin: 'of the sea') knew she had achieved a rank within the Burning Cypress clan. They had yet to make that announcement.
Kendra reached into her pocket and pulled out the small box with her new collar insignias in it. "Alex, your mom and John gave this to me, can you help me put them on beside my current insignias for the 69th?" Kendra asked giving Alex the box.
Alex accepted the box and curiosity overtook her since it had the Burning Cypress clan emblem on it. She slowly opened it and to her surprise, they were insignias giving Kendra the rank of Captain within her own clan.
Alex's jaw dropped open and she was overjoyed. She reached out and grabbed Kendra into a hug. "You're one of us now Kendra. You don't know how happy I am to see this. That means you'll stay with us right?" Alex asked never letting an extremely surprised Kendra go.
STAY.
There was the word again. It was yet another reason to add to the bucket list before she could move on.
STAY to avenge the death of Eric and her brother.
STAY to keep the 69th SWAT division together.
STAY in a committed relationship with Dyson.
STAY to defend the honor and integrity of the Burning Cypress clan.
The first two were easy and, if it was a couple months back, she would be all done since Mike was set to take over the team and she already killed 200 shape shifters. It wasn't exactly an eye for an eye, but it definitely sent back the correct message to any would-be drug dealers out there, human or Fae, if they setup shop in any of her 8 districts.
Now the list was getting longer when it should be shorter. It seemed fate had other plans for her.
"As long as humanly possible," Kendra finally said breaking the hug.
"No… no … no " Bo said, pointing at Tamsin in warning, shaking her head dumbstruck.
"Come on Succubus," Tamsin snorted incredulously; rolling her eyes, "I heard you and I were an item, but you can't be that attached to me."
"NO!" Bo yelled, "I worked … WE worked so hard to get our relationship to going and there is NO FUCKING WAY I'm going to let a little case of amnesia take your … OUR LOVE … for one another away! The Norn may have taken Dyson's love for me, but NO WAY IN HELL will I let us go!"
"Awww be still my heart," Tamsin said with faux caring, followed by a click, and she started to leave. "The doc is on top of things, so no worries, K? See ya around succbus."
Bo grabbed Tamsin and shoved her against a wall to prevent her from leaving. Bo couldn't believe how far she had gotten with Tamsin until she reverted back to her old self, complete with all her walls. Bo knew she could heal her and fix her, but she also knew she was low in juice. She stopped feeding as soon as she knew she was going to see her Valkyrie.
Bo felt the pain of a lost relationship hit her heart again and her eyes automatically started to glow blue.
Bo was pissed and Tamsin could tell. 'Shit, last time she was this distressed she almost killed herself' Tamsin knew, according to Kendra. The last straw was being forcefully slammed into a wall with a blue eyed and mad Succubus. It was only a matter of seconds before Bo turned red.
Tamsin let out a loud yelp in excruciating pain since she impacted the wall with her left shoulder first. Tamsin was hurt badly since Bo was using her Fae strength and Tamsin wanted to use her powers to destroy the succubus for forcing her will onto her at first, but another side, for some reason, wanted to grant her leniency. Tamsin hated being indecisive. She liked Bo, but hated her too. She hated her stubbornness since it always clashed with her obstinacy.
"FUCK! My ARM, you bitch!" Tamsin screeched holding it while automatically delivering a forceful knee to repel Bo and in a trained motion extended it to a front repelling kick, careful to only use human strength.
Bo flew across room, landed on the ground, and slid several meters on her back. Bo quickly executed a kick up and landed on her feet with her dagger drawn. It was a reflex and Bo was ready to engage the enemy.
Tamsin's arm still hurt like hell, but at least it wasn't dislocated. She saw Bo doing a kick-up with her now drawn dagger. The dagger looked like the re-forged sword of destiny, which meant Bo was extremely dangerous since that dagger gave her better dexterity and cut through just about everything.
Tamsin drew her dagger in response as shadows began to emerge on her face.
Things happened for Bo so fast that she found herself ready to fight and possibly kill Tamsin; her anger a heartbeat away from turning glowing red.
Tamsin spoke out first, knowing full well that if Bo turned red, there'd be no stopping her.
"DAMMIT Bo! I thought WE were bonded?! You sure have a funny way of showing you CARE!" Tamsin yelled back at Bo with her dagger still drawn, but in reality she already knew she would have to flee in her current state as shameful and distasteful as it felt.
Bo vigorously shook her head and a wave of guilt and sadness came onto her features. Bo was supposed to be there for Tamsin, not be against her. Bo was forcing her way back into Tamsin's heart and that was the wrong way to go about it.
In a jerking motion, Bo turned away from Tamsin, giving Tamsin her back. She calmed down and sheathed her dagger in a quick motion. While she was calming down from her blue eyed state, with a guilty tone, admitted, "Tamsin. I'm sorry, I should have listened to you and should not have forced my will and desires upon you."
Tamsin calmed down as well even though her left arm hurt throbbing with pain. Tamsin just huffed out, "Whatev…." but paused when Kendra's words of caution came for her to be nice to Bo.
"Bo," Tamsin stated formally hesitantly walking up to Bo putting her right hand on her shoulder, even with Bo's back turned, "Before I lost my memory, I told Kenzi to break into Lauren's network remotely to make sure she was on the up and up. That is why I never told you that I found her. I just got a text message from Kenzi yesterday evening that she finally succeeded. After some research, Lauren has been doing a lot of amazing things without breaking any Fae laws or ethical standards."
Tamsin bit her bottom lip and carefully crafted what to say next, "The doc is one lucky gal to have you in her corner. I… I have to go." Tamsin said quickly and turned to leave.
"I love you Tamsin," Bo said barely audible to her hitched breathing, but it echoed through the entire church.
Tamsin stopped at the top of the steps not knowing what to say. She didn't know how to feel since she couldn't remember their relationship, but from the sound of it, Bo was borderline crying. She needed to say something and in a leap of faith and by the sheer fact she could feel Bo through the bond, just mumbled back over her shoulder, "I…. I know but I need to move on. I …. I …. I love you too Bo."
Bo stood there trying to be strong as a couple tears escaped her eyes. She couldn't believe that she said that exact same statement to Dyson just hours ago and Dyson returned the same, but it was for closure. This too was for closure. It signaled the end of Tamsin's and Bo's relationship.
Tamsin descend the steps, relieved that she accomplished her mission, but instead of a proud smile of satisfaction, she instinctively wore a scowl.
She strode outside briskly through the side exit, not wanting to see or talk to anyone. The birds were chirping, the sun was shining, and it was a beautiful cool day but Tamsin felt horrible. Deep down, she knew what love was and mourned its loss.
Tamsin just needed to pack her stuff and leave and she hoped Kendra would understand.
'Mission accomplished' never felt so bitter sweet.
Bo sat on the organist's bench sobbing silently in defeat. Tamsin just broke up with her in a way and it hurt. Bo had spent so much time getting to Tamsin's heart that she forgot how fragile it was. This was probably their first real fight, but it was a doozy. Bo didn't know who was left standing at the end.
Neither.
"Bo?" Lauren called, coming up the steps.
Lauren knew something was wrong when she came in to look for Tamsin and Bo. She was going to invite them to her place, but instead she heard a single person sobbing and sniffling as quiet as possible. It wasn't possible, however, to hide it inside an empty church.
Lauren got to the top of the mezzanine and just saw Bo there looking downtrodden on a bench. Tears were dropping slowly onto the ground. This was not good. By the sheer fact Tamsin was not there, Lauren assumed that they got into an argument of sorts. Lauren also knew that Tamsin's personality was not at its best at the moment either.
She sat next to Bo and just waited a little. She knew Bo didn't want to be touched, especially if she started it all by kissing Bo.
Lauren thought it better to go first, "Bo, I'm really sorry for screwing things up between the two of you. I kind of jumped the gun and kissed you in front of Tamsin."
"Y… you.. you knew? Did sh… she tell you?" Bo asked through her hitched breathing.
"No. Her unwavering dedication to you and the fact that she was doing the right things, for noble causes, told me that she loved you. Then you healed her, giving her powers. That told me you were in love with her as well, although now, she can't remember it due to her amnesia. She'll come back around, don't worry," Lauren reassured putting her hand on Bo's knee.
"She's goooone!" Bo squeaked out in tears shaking her head. "I wanted to fix her, but instead….. we got into a huge fight. We were ready to kill each other," Bo confessed using her strength to keep it together.
Lauren didn't expect that. She was totally speechless and all she could do was put an arm around Bo to comfort her.
Bo continued, finally breaking down in tears as she spoke between her erratic breathing, "I'm so good at …. fixing other people's shit, but … I can't seem to fix my own, Lauren."
"Give her time Bo. She'll come back to you," the doctor calmly offered as the succubus cried on her shoulder even harder in reaction to that statement. Lauren had no idea what she said that made Bo all of a sudden cry so much.
Bo's breathing finally evened out, although she still had watery eyes.
"That's the problem Lauren, she doesn't have time," Bo squeaked talking into Lauren's shoulder, "The only reason why she's lasted this long is her promise to me, to find you."
"I know but what other choice do we have? She'll get her memories back in time and you two will be together again. You'll see," Lauren reassured.
Lauren knew medically that sometimes, they didn't, but now was not the time to mention that. Also, why was she rooting for team Valkyrie? All she knew was that she wanted Bo to be happy, so the least she could do was be there for her.
Kendra approached Dyson and Lauren and shared small talk with them. She hoped that Tamsin and Bo were doing ok.
Lauren quickly invited Dyson to dinner at her place then excused herself to go find Bo to offer her the same.
Kendra just stepped in front of Dyson and with a poker face and questioned, "Dyson, what a surprise. To what do I owe the honor?"
"Just wanted to drop in and surprise you. I haven't seen you most of the week. I missed you." Dyson admitted with a smirk.
"Awwwwww. Dyson," Kendra smiled then teased, "Is my leash on you that tight or has Bo been riling you up and getting you backed up as well?"
"Nope, neither. Kendra, I just wanted to take a slow walk along the shoreline of the beach with you. Maybe talk, much to do about nothing," Dyson smiled in earnest.
"So you didn't come here for massive amounts of PDA, which I don't do in public, or sex?" Kendra questioned, with an all knowing grin.
"No. Can't I just get to know you better without all that?" Dyson retorted.
Kendra was stunned by that comment. She always teased Dyson because she needed to assert dominance in the relationship. She used her wiles to get the upper hand, always assuming that Dyson just desired her just for her body then everything else. Looking into Dyson's deep brown, chocolate eyes, he was being on the level. He put knowing her at a higher priority than everything else. He also wanted to talk about nothing, which meant no work or serious talk.
No work talk and no sex only left Dyson wanting to know more about Kendra personally. When she realized this, she made a sheepish grin and looked away, part in disbelief and partly because Dyson just managed to be a romantic and it swept her off her feet.
"I'd like that," Kendra cooed taking his arm, wearing all smiles.
"If you have a minute why don't we go, somewhere only we know," Dyson sang in pretty good pitch which corresponded to the last couple verses of the song Kendra first sang in Dyson's place.
Kendra just never completed singing that song. She never wanted to believe that she could get back the 'simple things' which gave her life peace. Today she was overjoyed to get that back.
Kendra and Dyson laughed together, walking hand-in-hand to the shore nearby.
No talk of death, shifters, vendettas, Dire Wolf councils, Fae politics, or police work.
Kendra was so accustom to just living in a state of dystopia, but in the here and now, Dyson and her found paradise in the simple things in life.
Tamsin strode purposefully into her bed room at Lauren's place and began to pack briskly.
Drake came around the corner in his full gear with a look for curiosity and since the door was open, decided to lean against the door jam.
"Hey Tamsin," Drake stated, more in a question form.
"WHAT, human can't you see I'm in a rush," Tamsin snapped back, pissed off.
"Leaving us so soon? Doesn't Lauren have some follow up with you?" Drake asked trying to get a better read on Tamsin.
"I just have to go, OK?! Shit, are you holding me for questioning or something?" Tamsin stated, annoyed as she picked up her bag and walked past him.
Tamsin walked to her truck and dumped it in the back. She was about to open the front driver's door to leave, but Drake made a valid comment.
"I guess you are coming back to finish you work on the Dragonov. It's a really nice custom rifle build, you know," Drake noted.
"Uggg," Tamsin grunted extremely annoyed. Drake had a good point. That Dragonov was meant for Bo and she almost forgot about it. It was ready for the most part. It just needed some touchups on the engraving and to be sighted (the calibration of the scope to the rifle).
"Drake," Tamsin barked, "I will be out here in 30 minutes. Do you think you can have a paper target ready at the 800 meter mark and other items, like bottles and cans, every hundred coming in? I need to sight it human."
"Ooooooo kaaaay," Drake said, flaring his brows while turning away from Tamsin. He was not used to both her orders, in addition to, having a really bad day; he deduced.
Tamsin rushed to the back room, sat on the work bench, and took a couple breaths. Her hands were shaking slightly and she needed to calm down in order to finish the engraving. That and the sheer fact that she needed to fire it.
The thought did cross her mind to just leave it as is, but looking at the workmanship thus far; it would be an insult to leave a work of art unfinished with all this time already invested.
She closed her eyes and took deep breaths. Breathing slowly, in through the nose and out through the mouth.
In that time, she had time to think. She felt Bo's immense sorrow, probably at the loss of their relationship, and it was tearing Bo apart inside. Bo and she fought from time to time from what she could remember, but Bo just always let those comments slide right off. Now, Tamsin realized that whatever she did just now cut Bo deeply, but how could she have known if she couldn't even remember their relationship at all? All she had to go on was her word to bring Lauren back and reunite her with Bo.
Tamsin didn't want to hurt Bo, but she knew the main reason why she made her original promise. No one needed to tell her, she connected all the dots talking to Kendra and Arin. She was going to die soon and the altruistic side of her, as unbelievable as it sounded, wanted to make sure Bo went on with someone that would not only love Bo, but be faithful. That was Lauren, Tamsin guessed.
The show had to go on and Tamsin resigned herself to finishing the Dragonov because she needed closure, although she had no idea why she cared so much about it, but with the time she had left, it only made sense.
Tamsin turned on her engraver and touched up all the items that needed it in a short time and with quick, surgeon like precision, she assembled it with the new scope.
Sure enough, like clockwork, Tamsin walked outside 30 minutes later and Drake motioned down range with everything set up.
Tamsin opened up the bipod and extended the polymer stock as she lay down prone on the ground. She set several magazines down next to her, standard 10 and custom 12 shot variants she had milled based on her own design.
The 7.62 x 54R rounds which were already loaded in the magazines were also custom loads built for accuracy, but Lauren helped by weighing and balancing each round further, which made it even more accurate.
Kendra already fired this using another scope and, although it wasn't designed as a pure sniper rifle, it performed superbly well. It was as accurate as the Dragonov could get with all of Tamsin's modifications, short of swapping to a bolt action rifle, Kendra remarked a couple days ago.
Tamsin had to swap to another sight which wasn't as bulky and more simplistic. She considered the wielder of the Dragonov, Bo. It was highly unlikely Bo would attempt to even fire at something beyond 200 yards.
Kendra was a better distance shooter than she was Tamsin deduced, but by Kendra giving that assessment on the Dragonov, it gave Tamsin comfort that it would work just fine in about anyone's hands.
Tamsin loaded the first magazine and carefully aimed at the 800 meter mark and after controlling her breathing, fired the 1st round. It ended up on the edge of the paper.
Drake, who was standing behind her, looked through his binoculars and said, "About 9 inches to the left and 4 inches low."
Tamsin didn't expect Drake to help out but mumbled, "Thanks."
Tamsin adeptly turned some small knobs on the scope to adjust, firing again.
"2 inches right and high," Drake reported.
She made a minor adjustment and fired again.
"3 inches left," Drake noted, nodding to himself, impressed that Tamsin could sight the rifle within 3 shots.
At 800 meters, Tamsin surmised that this was probably the best she could get it. She immediately commenced firing at a more rapid pace, picking off objects like cans, ranging in closer with ease.
She adeptly swapped magazines and still kept going until she had a single round left.
Tamsin was satisfied and Drake was impressed.
Tamsin set the butt of the rifle down and sat up.
"Hey Drake, see that green bottle at the 500 yard mark?" Tamsin asked, to which Drake nodded.
"Care to take it out for me?" Tamsin asked scrunching up her face.
Tamsin got up and Drake went to lay prone and lined up the shot.
Tamsin didn't even need to look, she just started to put all the extra magazines away in the heavy duty black plastic case.
At the very last moment, Tamsin removed her blue pendant, her most prized possession which identified her as a Valkyrie, and the Xanther rune necklace given to her by Trick and put it in a pocket of the case.
'Bang! Shatter!' Tamsin heard and smiled.
"Drake, I have to run," Tamsin said, getting in her truck, "but can you pack the Dragonov up and give it to Bo Dennis?"
Drake looked confused since he probably didn't know who she was.
"She looks like this," Tamsin said, pulling out a picture of her from her center console, giving it to Drake through the open widow. "If you don't see her today, just give it to Dyson to give to her ok?"
"Sure. Ummm where are you going?" Drake asked inquisitively as Tamsin started her truck
"I'll know when I get there," Tamsin announced with a click and drove away.
Once on the road, Tamsin took the battery out of her cell phone and put it in her glove compartment and communicated to Arin.
'Hey Arin, it's Tamsin of 4…. I have no freaking idea my designation.' Tamsin huffed communicating with a serious tone.
'Yea sis? You know you can just stay Tamsin. Your name in itself here is your title here,' Arin thought back while she was preparing to collect a soul on the human plane.
'I need to go off grid for a bit and I need you to respect that,' Tamsin replied.
'WHAT! What about Bo?!' Arin rebutted as she abruptly stopped the packing her backpack.
'I…. I saw her today. We had a fight and we parted ways,' Tamsin expressed tersely.
'What of the bond? She's your bonded partner!' Arin thought back quickly, looking up while shaking her head with her hands on her hips.
'Arin, I can't remember anything about our relationship. The closest I got to Bo that I can remember was the fact that I kissed her in Brazenwood. Also, I fulfilled my promise to Bo to find Lauren and get them back together,' Tamsin stated as fact while merging onto a highway.
'What of your promise of fealty? It was a promise to protect Bo. How can you do that if you just go away?' Arin questioned, sitting down in her desk chair with her hands on her face. She really thought that Bo and Tamsin could work anything out, no matter the obstacle.
'The happy sun shine gang will do that, Arin. I had no idea you felt so…. so… passionately about this. What happened to you where you now not only question me but you seem to be in Bo's corner? WTF,' Tamsin communicated back, furrowing her brows.
'I fight for your relationship, not you specifically. It's a BOND and it took time to form despite all your challenges. Both of you didn't just form it all of a sudden, you grew into it slowly. You were opposites. Bo felt and you were cold but calculated. Somehow, you two met in the middle and made both of you stronger as a team and even separately. You became hers and she became yours. I learned to feel because of you and I see everything now in a different light. It made me stronger' Arin thought back, slumped over in her chair focusing on the floor.
'Gods Arin, who the heck told you that feelings made a Valkyrie stronger? Bo? I also have ocean side property I can sell you in Nevada too.' Tamsin huffed out in a laugh.
'You did just under a week ago,' Arin replied quickly but continued, 'I wish you could remember it all. You changed so much in your time with Bo and even in a fallen status, without your rune necklace, you still had near Valkyrie powers all because you felt. Your insights into love and life not only amazed me, but the entire sisterhood.'
Tamsin had no idea what to say. She just never saw her sister or any Valkyrie fight for a bond. Everyone just ran away from it. Also, the Tamsin that Arin was describing sounded like some sort of hero for the order.
'Emmmm, didn't you know I only have weeks left to live? What good will it do for Bo to have me for that span of time. She needs to hate me so she can move on, but for some reason I can't do that,' Tamsin clarified.
'Sister, please, let Bo heal you. She has the power to extend your life span as well. Also, you need to make an informed decision on this action you are taking now. In battle, the more intel you have the better off you are. This is the same. Both of you are fighting a battle for each other's happiness. You need to know what exactly is at stake here,' Arin sagely stated, standing up from her chair and began packing her back pack again.
Tamsin was dumbstruck. Arin was lecturing her and she made sense. It was normally the other way around.
'Yea well Bo and I just came out of a PHYSICAL fight. She slammed me into a wall almost dislocating my arm, and I,' Tamsin huffed out a laugh. 'Then kneed and front kicked her across the room. We were both ready to kill each other. This can't be love Arin because I know that LOVE is NOT a FIGHT,' Tamsin communicated back agitated.
'But it's something worth fighting for,' Arin smiled and left her room with her pack hanging off one shoulder.
"What the fuck!" Tamsin erupted out in her empty car.
Since when did Arin become Dr. Phil?
Tamsin thought about that statement and it seemed that Arin had all the pieces for a section of the puzzle given to her by Tamsin, then what if Tamsin had all the pieces, for all the sections?
'WHATEVER. Shit, Arin. I freaking hate you. I gotta stop by the 69th Precinct and apartment to get my shit anyway. I will PACK BUT … FUCKING … HOLD for that succubus there and not fall off the face of this gods forsaken planet yet. YET. I make no guarantees whether I will allow her to heal me. That stupid succubus is probably forming a search party for me right now when she should be HAVING a party,' Tamsin flooded over the link.
'Just take it a day at a time K?' Arin reassured her right before riding off to a portal on horseback.
'Emmm FYI… I only have days idiot,' Tamsin retorted scrunching her face.
Kendra and Dyson were on a peaceful stroll along a beach. Kendra had changed out to something more appropriate which was just kakis, tank, and sandals. Dyson was dressed in rolled up jeans and a polo.
For the first time, Kendra carried no weapons or body armor and Dyson held her hand and just did small talk.
They laughed and carried on, occasionally hugging and kissing one another. Nothing was forced and everything came to them naturally.
As rare as it was, Kendra was just an ordinary girl and Dyson was just your average Joe. Both were getting to know one another under ordinary circumstances, falling deeper for one another.
This idyllic scene was unfortunately interrupted when Dyson's phone rang. Dyson glanced at the caller ID and it just said 'Bo'. He frowned and just silenced it, returning his full attention to Kendra.
Kendra saw Dyson's caller ID too and finally decided to speak up. "It's ok. It may be important," Kendra reassured him.
"I am sure it can wait since what is important is right here," Dyson smiled broadly and pulled Kendra into a hug.
Mid hug, Kendra's cell began to ring. Kendra quickly fished her phone out of her pocket and it had a number she hadn't seen before.
"That's Bo's number," Dyson said looking at her caller ID deep in thought as to what the emergency was.
Kendra answered in her normal Spartan manner, "Shaw."
Dyson was wondering what Bo was saying since she was in borderline hysterics and talking quickly.
"CALM DOWN, Bo. Slow down. Tell me again?" Kendra asked concerned.
"OK. That's not like her. OK. I'll see if I can track her cell," Kendra replied hanging up her phone sharply.
Kendra dead panned to Dyson and said, "Tamsin and Bo got in some sort of fight and Tamsin just packed up and left Lauren's place under an hour ago and Bo can't seem to get a hold of her."
"Crap. Tamsin is extremely good at laying low. Bo must be really worried," Dyson said pensively.
Dyson and Kendra rushed back and Kendra still couldn't manage to get a hold of Tamsin on her cell. It was as if she had her cell phone off.
Kendra immediately pulled out her laptop on an open table inside a small conference type room.
She reached for her radio mic, normally on her vest, but she was in civilian clothing.
"Shit," she mumbled as Lauren walked in with Bo. Bo was holding onto Lauren for comfort with a face of guilt, anxiety and fear. She looked like she was ready to just break down and cry.
Bo was able to force a smile to her face as she took a seat with Lauren.
Kendra reached for her radio in her pack, "Hump Day. Sit rep."
Kendra's radio came to life. "Packing up the final items and attending to some minor injuries. We will be ready to rock in 10. The Burning Cypress clan is about to take their leave as well."
Kendra looked on at Bo, who didn't look at anyone in shame, and then ordered over the radio, "Mike, I need you here in the main reception hall with your laptop. I need to get a fix on Tamsin, who turned off her cell. Be ready to leave immediately after she is located."
"Yes ma'am, on my way," the radio blared.
There was a silence in the whole room ad Kendra clicked away and was soon joined by Mike.
"Mike, start to pull video feeds for license plate matches in a 50 mile radius," Kendra stated while still working on her laptop.
It was then Lauren's phone rang.
"Hello, Arin?" Lauren stated. "Yea, she's right next to me. Hold on." To which she handed the phone over to Bo.
This made both Hump Day and Kendra stop working and listen to what Bo was about to say.
Bo was deep in thought. Hurt that she created a rift in the relationship with her Valkyrie. She just hoped and prayed that she would get a chance to fix it before Tamsin just decided to leave for good. She already cried her eyes out and she needed to be strong. Lauren handed her the phone which she knew was Arin.
"Hello," Bo asked hoping for good news.
"Hey Bo? I just talked to Tamsin via the link. I have convinced her to stay for now. She's waiting for you at the 69th precinct," Arin stated tersely to the point.
"Really?! Thanks Arin, I owe you one," Bo smiled ready to hang up, but Arin spoke again.
"Second chances are extremely rare to come by, Bo. Make it count," Arin stated in warning with a click and hung up as the portal of Valhalla closed behind her.
Bo stood up quickly and announced to the room, "Tamsin is headed for the 69th Precinct. Kendra, can I get a ride with you to the 69th?" Bo asked.
"Sure. Ready?" Kendra said putting her laptop way. "Mike, have the team follow us and meet us there."
"Yes ma'am," Mike stated packing up her gear and running out of the room.
"Bo," Dyson said gently, "You can't go into that district. It's all human and the laws of the light forbid it but, if you must, be careful ok?"
"I will, Dyson," Bo replied and turned to Lauren but it was Lauren who spoke first.
"Bo, I'll stay behind at my place. See you later?" Lauren offered to which Bo just responded with a hug.
"See you later at the 39th?" Kendra turned to Dyson, pecking him on the lips, to which he nodded solemnly.
Lauren and Bo observed that their relationship was going well.
"OK," Kendra barked on her radio, "Move out team."
She was about to pick up her pack when she saw Dyson holding it for her. Kendra then switched channels on her radio, "Jessica, this is Kendra, I….. Major, my team needs to move out immediately for the 69th. Permission to depart now, ma'am?"
Her radio squawked, "Granted. We are departing soon anyways. Thanks Captain."
"Thanks Kendra," Bo said as Kendra walked passed her.
The team was ready and Dyson put her pack in the back of the car and she hopped in the driver's side while Bo took the passenger side at a brisk pace.
"Later D-man," Kendra teased putting her truck in gear.
Dyson responded with a sharp salute but a coy smile and announced, "Yes, Captain Shaw, ma'am."
Kendra just chuckled and drove off with Bo and the other vans followed closely behind.
Kendra turned on some music since the silence was killing both of them. Kendra and Bo had an odd dynamic.
Kendra was Bo's friend due to Tamsin and, at the same time, they were enemies since Bo was Dyson's real life mate. This was the true definition of 'frenemies'.
It was Kendra that broke the silence. "Everything will be ok, Bo. As Tamsin said she would wait for you, I'd believe her," Kendra said calmly, merging onto the highway.
"Yea, it's not really that Kendra, but more like, what do I do when I see her? I messed up once and I don't know how to proceed. I guess I have to take it slow again and be a friend to her," Bo said deflated.
"Yup, you got it. It took her a bit to warm up to us humans, but she did in time. You probably wanted to start when you left off, huh?" Kendra asked glancing at Bo briefly.
"Yes. I miss her so much and it is literally torture to see her, touch her, and not have her. I know I'm a succubus and all, but she is not a feed. She's human and … and I love her... and until recently, she loved me back, unconditionally," Bo expressed honestly.
"Oh, what we have to do all in the name of love," Kendra grinned.
For Kendra, this meant that she had to stop being selfish in her relationship with Dyson. For Bo, that meant going back to square one with her Valkyrie if need be and support her decision to help, the human way, or the succubus way.
"Yea," Bo said looking out the windows, deep in thought. Kendra's sacrifice, Bo knew, was the glaring fact that in order to be with Dyson, she had to accept the fact that she had his heart and that killed her. Of course Dyson could still love another, but Bo realized the threat of being able to control Dyson's heart at whim needed to be addressed.
"Kendra?" Bo asked looking on at her.
"Uh-huh?" Kendra replied, glancing at Bo again, knowing full well that what Bo was about to say was important.
"I'm sorry," Bo stated looking forward.
This was new, Kendra mused. Bo never apologized to her before.
"For what exactly?" Kendra smirked, glancing at her again, like Bo's apology was borderline insane.
"For taking Dyson's wolf," Bo said disappointed at herself, "I should have been more careful. Now you have to live in my shadow all the time and I'm really sorry for that."
Kendra found that it was rather nice of Bo to apologize, but it really wasn't necessary.
"Bo," Kendra said smoothly, "You don't need to apologize to me, but thanks. If you know me like Dyson does, what you just mentioned is the least of my worries relationship wise."
"Really?" Bo asked with genuine curiosity.
Kendra did a long exhale, never looking at Bo.
"Long story short… Shifters killed my brother and fiancé, but here I am falling for one. That is probably the biggest hurdle I have Bo. *I* have to learn how to accept Dyson for who he is and not what he is. Tamsin helped me realize that and she knows more about love than many, which is surprising for a cold hearted Valkyrie like her," Kendra lightly giggled and Bo followed.
"I know," Bo mentioned looking out the window again, "That is what surprised me the most about her as well."
Since they were on the topic Kendra opened up slightly and said, "I told Dyson that if he had a chance to be with his life mate to grab her and never look back."
Kendra chuckled, "I meant you, Bo, when I said that. Somewhere deep down, I think he may have yellow fever to want to be with a screwed up human."
"He chose just fine Kendra," Bo reassured.
"Yea, he said the same thing to the Dire Wolf council too," Kendra chuckled, "I hope it works, for his sake and mine. Dyson tells me that a death sentence awaits if they rule against him."
"I asked Dyson if there is any way I can help and he didn't have any suggestions but to pray," Bo said in a more serious tone, "Can I do anything to help you Kendra?"
Kendra didn't expect Bo to apologize, much less offer her assistance in their relationship arena. It was nice of her and Kendra was about to say the same thing as Dyson but blurted out, "Just don't fuck him or sleep with him ok?"
"Done on my blood oath," Bo responded immediately since she was already doing that.
"Shit, Bo, I'm sorry, that... that came out wrong," Kendra stammered looking at Bo who was just smiling. "Of course if you are on your death bed, I understand, just don't… Em make contact with him… try not to…. I'm kind of accustom to monogamous relationships if you know that I mean," Kendra recovered.
"Say no more. It's the least I can do for all the mess I seem to make in everyone's lives," Bo smiled warmly looking at Kendra.
Tamsin walked briskly into the precinct, enroute to her desk, tuning everyone and everything out until she heard an argument occurring at the front desk with Sergeant John Harris, of the 69th, and another woman.
The woman was tall and thin with long, brown, wavy hair. She wore black slacks and a tight, somewhat conservative, single-toned grey short sleeved shirt. She had a badge clipped onto her belt on the right side and her full frame Glock was holstered on her left. She was obviously left handed. She looked like she was of Greek descent. Her face was beautiful, with slightly squared features around her chin. She had somewhat of a husky voice about her as she spoke, "… I wanted to speak with Captain Kendra Shaw and team directly. This is an urgent matter, beyond that of the 69th. Kendra's team not only spans 8 districts, but we need her and her team's expertise in a case."
Sergeant Harris then spoke up, "They are on training exercises today and aren't due back for hours. Look… Detective Jane Piccoli and Laura Miles…"
"RIZZOLI. Detective Jane Rizzoli with the Boston PD!" the woman said flustered, pushing another, more hesitant, fashion conscious brunette forward with Russian features, "And *THIS* is Doctor Maura Isles, Chief Medical Examiner for Massachusetts."
"Ummm it's more correctly referred to as the Commonwealth of Massachusetts since the ratification of their constitution on June 15, 1780," she spewed out like an encyclopedia.
Tamsin observed this doctor had on a solid color type tea dress with matching shoes. She looked like she was either about to go out to a formal occasion or down a runway.
"I'm sorry ladies. I'll get in touch with Captain Shaw and if you want to wait..." Sergeant Harris mentioned formally, until Maura turned to Tamsin and approached her, looking her up and down.
This was a bad day for any doctor to even get near her Tamsin stewed, but she stood her ground with a muted expression.
"You're Detective Tamsin Jennings with the 69th on temporary assignment from the 39th. You have the rank of Lieutenant, reporting directly to Captain Kendra Marta Shaw, also known as the 'widow maker'." Maura stated, looking Tamsin over. "Did you dislocate your left shoulder? I can fix…"
"Maura please," Jane stepped forward and brought out her hand toward Tamsin. "I'm Detective Jane Rizzoli, this is Doctor Maura Isles with the Boston PD. I don't think we've met, but your team taking down that Mexican drug cartel was all over the news. I heard your team and, well, you were instrumental in that raid," Jane expressed.
Tamsin let it sit there for a bit. She hated strangers, she hated humans, and right now she was not in the mood to entertain any humans, even the ones she knew already. Also if she shook Jane's hand it would make her right hand occupied which would degrade her performance to kick her ass, but Jane was left handed, so she was giving Tamsin her non-dominant, Tamsin assessed. Tamsin shook that thought off however and did remember Jane's track record in the human districts. She was nearly a legend in the Boston PD and in the 'COMMONWEALTH' of Massachusetts. She was extremely talented for a human detective but what caught Tamsin's attention was that she too was a strong female in a typically, predominantly all male profession. Also, Jane knew of her conquests as well, stroking her ego.
Tamsin extended her hand and shook Jane's hand firmly. Tamsin observed that Jane's hand had a firm confident shake as well and that was expected.
Maura extended her hand to shake Tamsin's as well and Tamsin did hesitate again, but decided, what the heck.
Tamsin observed that Maua's shake was not as firm but more refined and more thought out. It looked like she was gauging Tamsin and applying exact pressure. She didn't do a bad job either. Tamsin never shook Lauren's hand but knew her hand shake was probably more delicate.
"Wow ladies. Long way from Boston?" Tamsin teased. "Cus we're not in Kansas anymore, Toto," Tamsin stated with a scrunched up face.
"Detective Jennings, I believe we have a felon on the loose, headed for your area, and need to talk to Captain Shaw and you first immediately. We may need your team. Any idea when Kendra will be back?" Maura requested in her husky voice.
"Em, she should be an hour, maybe two out. Have a seat in our break room over there and I'll get a hold of them. K?" Tamsin stated with a click
Maura then chimed in, "Doesn't your shoulder hurt? Its 2 millimeters offset."
Tamsin was annoyed and just walked away.
Tamsin sat at her modicum desk and picked up the phone to dial Kendra.
"Shaw," Tamsin heard.
"Hey Cap." Tamsin responded, knowing that Kendra would be all worried about her.
"Tamsin! Are you ok?!" Kendra stated back. Bo shot up, since she dozed off in the car, at the name.
"Yea, I'm fine but I got a detective from the Boston PD here. Jane Rizzoli and she brought a really annoying doctor with her by the name of Maura Isles. Even more annoying than Lauren if that is possible," Tamsin informed.
"Oh? Why are they here? They are a really, really long way from home," Kendra questioned with Bo paying extremely close attention to her call.
"They wanted to talk to us about a felon loose in our area. They didn't go into detail but wanted to see you and I ASAP. Soooo annoying these hum…. THOSE people," Tamsin corrected.
"They don't have distinction in our area. Send them away and we'll get to them tomorrow," Kendra said, looking at her watch. It was already late afternoon.
"I was about to but Sergeant Harris gave me paperwork from the FBI requesting for us to cooperate on this extremely urgent matter. I verified it just now and it seems to name you and me in particular. Jane seems to know this case well and she seems pressed for time," Tamsin said in defeat, a hand shielding her face as she talked into the phone. She hated entertaining more humans.
"OK, Terminator, I'll be there with Bo in an hour. The team will not be far behind. OK?" Kendra announced, knowing that she needed to say her name to give her sister more lead time to prepare.
Tamsin's heart fluttered at the mention of Bo's name, although she really had no idea why, but recomposed herself. "Bo can't be here. She is," Tamsin forcefully asserted, but quickly transitioned to a whisper, knowing that Jane and Maura might hear, "Fae and Fae rules dictate that she can't be here in a human only district."
"I am fully aware of Fae laws and so is Bo, but since when does Bo follow rules?" Kendra stated glancing at Bo who just put on a broad grin.
"Whatever… fiiiine. Kendra, just make sure Bo doesn't pull any more shit on me. I still want to kill her for hurting me." Tamsin said, removing her hand and looking stoic.
"OK. I'll see you in an hour, ok?" Kendra finished and hung up.
"Soooo is she really mad at me," Bo looked on at Kendra with her puppy dog eyes.
"She wants to kill you still, but at least she hasn't bolted. We have two people from the Boston PD there and Tamsin is working with them on a case that involves me and my team. Had she wanted to disappear, she would not even have bothered. So I guess in a roundabout way, she still cares. Umm in a cold hearted Valkyrie way," Kendra analyzed.
From there the car went silent as Bo plotted the best way to be Tamsin's friend.
Kendra was trying to figure out why Jane Rizzoli was meeting her in person. Kendra also knew who she was since it was a small world. She could have called or scheduled a visit. And the FBI? Great, she thought.
Tamsin was trying to sort out her plethora of feelings for Bo since she both hated and liked her at the same time. She wondered if suppressing them like she normally did would be for the best.
Arin genuflected in front of the missing Valkyrie, along with her whole order, consisting of all its units. They all said nothing for minutes waiting for the Missing to give an order.
Dyson stopped by an old friend's shop and his friend spread out a dark purple, plush cloth with multiple rare earth gems on it to choose from. Dyson held ones of interest up to the light and surveyed how they looked at all angles. He was searching for beauty that could only be surpassed by his life mate, Kendra.
Lauren still immersed herself in work. She didn't want to think about that fact that she lost Bo. She felt stupid and foolish to let her go. But Lauren knew full well that she needed to keep Bo happy, even if that did mean Lauren had to support her on her quest to win back Tamsin's heart.
A/N: HUGE thanks to Unsureself for beta'ing this chap. Can you say cross-over? I knew you could. Comment, Follow, Fav please!