Authors Note: Hey all. Here's the next chapter. Enjoy and thanks so much for all the reviews. You are all amazing.
Chapter 4 – Risky business
Bo was nervous when she arrived at Woodridge High. She couldn't even believe she was doing this, but when Lau—Karen had called her back and asked her to meet her at the school, she accepted. Apparently she sounded a little too eager according to Kenzi. Bo had dropped her off at Hale's for the rest of the day.
As she approached the desk at the reception, she checked her phone again. There was only ten minutes left before the end of Karen's last class. At first Bo had contemplated showing up after so as not to seem desperate, but Kenzi had talked her into going early since Karen seemed to be like Lauren when it came to punctuality. Karen was still Lauren only without the memory to go with it.
"Excuse me," Bo said as she reached the desk, resting her arms atop the counter. "I'm Bo, I'm here to see Miss Beattie?" She asked politely, giving the elderly woman behind the desk what she hoped, would be a charming smile. It must have worked, because as soon as Daisy's eyes landed on Bo, she could see the woman's aura spike a little. She found it cute when she spotted the slight blush that managed to creep it's way onto her cheeks. As if realizing she was staring, Daisy shook her head and cleared her throat.
"Umm…y-yes, Miss Dennis, just ah out through those doors, turn left and go straight down the hall. Miss Beattie's class is the fifth on your right. She should be finishing soon, so you can wait out in the hall love."
"Thank you Daisy. You have a great day now," Bo teased, giving her a cheeky little wink before turning on her heel and heading towards the door. Luckily when Bo pushed through the doors, the hallway was empty. With each step she took, she began to feel herself get more nervous. Her heart raced and her palms were getting sweaty.
'Fuck! Why am I so nervous all of a sudden? Come on Bo! Get your shit together dammit.'
It was just Lauren after all. Except it wasn't. This was Karen. Physically she may be her Lauren but mentally she was Karen, a High School teacher. When Bo arrived at the door to Karen's classroom, she hesitated before peeking through the glass. Luckily for her, it seemed to be the back of the classroom. Bo scanned the room until her eyes landed on Karen whose back was turned to her. She was writing up Formulae on the board while the students listened. To Bo's delight, she was also wearing a lab coat.
'Mmm, I knew there was a reason why I liked Science. Maybe if I had her as I Science teacher, I would've paid more attention in class,' she mused quietly as she licked her lips. Bo was impressed by how tame the class looked and how attentive they seemed to be. She couldn't blame the students for paying attention to what she was saying. Lauren had always been very appealing when she talked Science.
Bo hadn't been standing by the door long when the bell rang. Quickly she duck out of the way as she heard the shuffling of papers and the scraping of chairs on the floor signaling the end of class. The Succubus stood with her back planted against the wall as the door to the classroom opened and closed as students began to make their way out. She stayed glued to the wall for a good 15 to 20 minutes until the hustle and bustle of students died down and the hallway had cleared out a bit. She prayed that Karen hadn't given up on her thinking that Bo had stood her up. Mustering a bit of courage, Bo took a deep breath and removed herself from her wall. She straightened her clothes and patted down her hair in an attempt to make herself feel more presentable.
'Fuck me. Where's a good shot of Buckthorn when you need one.'
Making her way to the door again, Bo peeked through the glass once more to see what Karen was doing. The blonde was at the board cleaning what she'd just been writing not long ago. Ceasing the opportunity of a distracted Karen, the brunette slipped into the class as quietly as she could, making sure the other woman couldn't hear her. She closed the door behind her softly, and leaned her back against it lifting her right leg to rest against it as she folded her arms across her chest trying to look casual. Bo watched Karen for a few minutes as her arm moved back and forth across the surface of the whiteboard.
Bo couldn't help but think back to when she and Lauren were just getting to know each other. The moment she had gone to her for help about controlling her feeding. Her very first shot to help 'Ramp her back to randy' if she remembered Lauren's words correctly. As she continued to watch 'Karen' she was reminded of when Lauren had been bent over at her microscope. She couldn't remember how long she had been standing there watching the Doctor but she got lost in admiring Lauren from a distance as she worked. Just like that day, Karen stopped what she was doing and straightened like she had a feeling someone was watching her. Bo got a sense of déjà vu as Karen slowly turned around to face her. The blonde dropped the duster she had been holding when her eyes landed on Bo leaning against the door.
"Shit, Bo you scared me! How long have you been standing there?" the blonde said bending down to pick up the object she just dropped.
"Sorry about that. Not long, I uh…like watching a professional at work," Bo uttered softly as she pushed herself gently from the door. She watched as Karen frowned at her words.
"Something wrong?" Bo asked genuinely concerned.
"Hmm? No…it's just…I feel like I've heard that before," she replied. Shaking her head as she laughed gently. "Sorry, I know it's ridiculous. It's probably just been a long day or something."
'Hmm…that's interesting.'
Bo moved over to her desk and leaned against it, imitating the pose she used at the door. Seeing an apple on the desk, she picked it up and tossed it in the air, catching it again as it descended. She smirked at how cliché it was.
"I see you have an admirer Miss L—Beattie," Bo teased as she placed the apple back onto the desk. She mentally cursed herself at the slip up.
"Still getting used to calling me Karen huh?" The blonde asked from the whiteboard as she turned to face Bo. "And no, it's uh…it's me. I just like the look of a red apple on my desk."
The Succubus noticed the small hint of red that crept up on her cheeks before she turned back to the board, her hair acting as a curtain to hide her embarrassment.
'Damn you Lauren for being so cute! Hmmm…I wonder…'
"Well, if it's any consolation, I think you're an excellent teacher. I also think your students seem to be enjoying your class. I managed to catch a few minutes of your class before it finished. It was definitely a contrast to what my science class was like. Every child had their eyes glued to you and actually seemed to be genuinely interested in your class. Besides," Bo moved away from the desk and walked over slowly to where Karen was standing. The blonde immediately froze in her spot as Bo stopped close enough to invade her personal space without it being uncomfortable. She picked up the whiteboard marker that was nestled there and fiddled with it.
"Who wouldn't want to pay attention when their teacher is as beautiful as you are," the Succubus said loud enough for only Karen to hear even though there was no one else in the room. Bo noticed the small shiver that seemed to run through Karen and the small spike in her aura at Bo's words. She also noticed how her ears had turned red as they peeked through her hair. It took Bo every ounce of her being to stop herself from reaching over and tucking her blonde hair behind her ear so she could see her face. Instead she just bit her lip.
'Score one for the Succubus.'
"You know, I burnt my hair with a Bunsen burner while I was at school once," the Succubus said changing the subject as her eyes landed on one sitting on one of the workstations. She laughed as she remembered the memory. It had been the worst year of her life until she hit puberty.
"My mother had to cut my hair so short that I spent a good four months wearing a cap. It didn't help that she managed to give me bald patches in some areas since she couldn't be bothered taking me to town to get a proper hair cut," she recounted.
"Oh lord, what a sight that must've been," Karen said laughing along with Bo who in turn was glad Karen had recovered from their little moment.
"Believe me, I had to pretend to be sick the day they were taking the Year Book photos. That is how embarrassing it was. I even have pictures stored somewhere," she finished before remembering what it was that she was here about.
"It's a shame you don't have them here," the blonde teased.
"Oh, har har. Very funny. Anyway, for the real reason why I asked if I could meet you," Bo continued as she replaced the marker in its rightful place and moved away opting to sit at one of the workstations. She watched as Karen finished wiping her whiteboard before walking over to the closet behind her desk, taking off the Lab coat she was wearing, she placed it inside and proceeded to sit down at her desk giving Bo her full attention. The brunette was relieved to see that Karen had regained composure and didn't seem to be put off by Bo's actions earlier.
As Karen pulled herself under her desk and placed her hands atop of it, Bo noticed the bracelet. Kenzi had been right about the bracelet. It did indeed have the same symbol as the necklace Trick had shown them.
"Of course. What can I help you with?" Karen asked pulling Bo's gaze from the bracelet.
"I was wondering if maybe you could help me and a few of my friends out. It's just, I don't know any science-y people and I wanted to ask if maybe we could use your expertise in a case that we're working on. I know I've just met you and everything but...there was no one else that I could think of. When you mentioned you worked in a lab before teaching, I just thought maybe on the off chance that you could help?"
Bo knew what she was asking was a risky move. She was putting her life in danger as well as her friends and now Karen/Lauren's by asking her to help with a case that could potentially get them killed. However, it was the only thing Bo could think of that would keep her closer to Karen as well as a step closer to finding out what happened with Lauren and how she became 'Karen'.
'It's also the only excuse you could give her that wouldn't make you sound like stalker!'
There were so many ways that this could go wrong but she had to think of something. This would also give her the opportunity to work her way into restoring Lauren's memory again. Karen's sense of déjà vu earlier gave Bo the hope that restoring it wasn't going to be as difficult as Trick had said. She wanted to try and get Karen back into familiar territory, like the Dal and to have her working on cases like this. Bo thought that maybe if she were to get out into the field again, she would be able to jog something in her memory about her past life.
For a while, Karen seemed to be considering Bo's words carefully. They sat there in silence until Bo began to move around in her seat uncomfortably.
"Okay...I'll do it," Karen finally said after a while.
"You will?"
"I guess my scientific curiosity just got the better of me. Besides, I kind of miss working in a proper lab," she replied giving Bo a smile that made her weak in the knees. Luckily for her, she was sitting down.
Bo smiled back and couldn't help the feeling of relief that washed over her. Bo knew in that moment that she was going to have to work extremely hard to keep her family and friends safe. For now, she was just glad that Karen had agreed to help her. At least she was getting somewhere, one baby step at a time.
"What the fuck do you think you're doing Bo?! You can't just bring some…some human in here that knows nothing about the Fae!" Trick hissed, the vein in his head popping out making it clear that he was less than happy with Bo.
After Karen had gathered her things to get ready to leave, Bo suggested she shout her dinner at the Dal as a thank you for agreeing to work with them.
"Come on Trick, its Laurennot just some human! Besides, I want you to look at the bracelet she's wearing. It has the same symbol on it as the 'Memoria Extermina' necklace," she protested trying to keep her own cool. She knew Trick would lose it when she risked bringing Karen back in the hopes that Trick would at least look at her.
"Have you gone insane? Have you even thought your plan through Bo?" Dyson asked through gritted teeth. "Not to mention, she's still wanted! Dammit Bo, when are you going to learn that rules were made for a reason, huh?! And what are you going to say when other Fae start to recognize who she is Bo? Do you really think this will hold up? News can spread Bo and I don't think I can help you if the Fae Elders find out about this shit!"
"Then I'll protect her dammit! Trick, this is a place of sanctuary, and we can have her hang around here in your lair. I'll be with her every time she visits and I'll make sure to sneak her in through the back. I don't have a choice. Besides we need help finding out who killed that Angel remember?" Bo said turning to Dyson.
"What?" Trick asked as his head snapped up to look at Dyson too. Dyson closed his eyes in frustration.
"For fuck sakes Bo." Dyson cursed as he turned his gaze to Trick. "It's Nicholas Angelus. Another Angel killed him and was placed in the Circle of Death. Whoever it was left a message for Bo to stop looking around for information."
"Shit Bo! Are you fucking serious right now? I warned you Bo! Angel's are not to be taken lightly. I…just once. Just once…I would like it if you all just listen to me for once for fuck sakes!" Trick uttered slamming his fist down onto his desk.
"I know, but it's the only thing I could think of Trick! Besides, you said so yourself that it's good to bring her to familiar places or do things that could help her."
"Discreetly. I said for you to be subtle about it. This is nowhere near subtle Bo. How can you be so careless? What's going to happen when she examines the blood and realizes that it's not human DNA? She may be a Karen right now, but she has Lauren's smarts. It's things like this, the onslaught of information, that could push her away Bo!"
"How do you even know we can trust her Bo?" Dyson asked straightening from where he had been hovering around Trick's library.
"Because Dyson, I can feel it alright? I can feel it in my heart that this is still Lauren. Somewhere deep inside, she's in there somewhere. I can't explain what it is, but I can feel it. She's been away for far too long and I'm not going to let her go again."
"She's just a human Bo! You're willing to give up your life for someone that doesn't even remember you?"
Suddenly Bo lost it and narrowed her eyes dangerously at him. She couldn't believe he was still being so an asshat when it came to humans.
"Yes Dyson! Because that's what you do for the one that you love. You fucking fight Dyson until you have nothing left. You risk everything that you have to get them back!"
Bo's voice began to tremble as her emotions and her anger started to get the better of her.
"You don't just run away…I will not be one of them. Not anymore," she whispered with so much emotion as she stared directly into his eyes. Bo could feel tears beginning to well up in her eyes and her throat tighten.
"All I'm asking is for your help. Don't you understand? Trick, what would you give to see Isabeau again, right here in this room huh? What about Ciara, Dyson? I understand that I'm putting all our lives in danger here and that I've made a lot of fucking foolish mistakes but I'm trying…I'm really trying. I fucked it up with Lauren and for a while I thought I'd truly lost her. I believe that this is a second chance and I don't want to screw it up again!" Bo stopped as she took the moment to recollect herself. She could feel herself starting to lose it again. She knew that that was pointed out at Trick just as much as it was for Dyson.
"You can't look me in the eyes right now and tell me that either of you have not made mistakes either! Just please…please help me…" Bo finally let out.
"What about Kenzi? You're putting her life in danger too Bo," Dyson said his voice softening.
"I'll die before I let anything happen to her. To either of them."
For a while the room was engulfed in silence. Trick was sitting there with his arms folded, his gaze fixed intently on something atop his desk. Bo realized then that it was a picture of her grandmother. Finally after what felt like an age, Trick broke the silence.
"If I agree to help you, you have to make sure you actually listen to what I say, okay? I don't just say pretty words for no reason you know?"
Bo considered his words for a minute before readily nodding. When she looked over at Dyson, she could see that his jaw was set but he said nothing. She knew he was pissed but when it came to following orders from Trick, he knew not to question. She had a feeling he would have a few choice words for her after they left Trick's lair.
"But we have to be smart about this Bo. You have to ease Lauren into this. If it is the necklace or bracelet at work here, you can't have her do too much at once. Do you understand?"
"Yes."
"Good, but you also have to watch out Bo. What we're doing is dangerous. I'm only doing this because you are my granddaughter."
Bo nodded again, afraid that if she said anything further Trick might change his mind.
"Now…go get her, I need to examine the bracelet that she's wearing." Trick sighed. "While I do that, you can brief her…and I mean very brief, about what happened. You have to be vague about it."
Relieved, the Succubus made her way up the stairs and back up to the bar. Just as she was about to open the bar door, a hand on her elbow stopped her from reaching the handle. It was Dyson. She tried to pull her arm free but his grip was firm as he dragged her into the storeroom releasing her only after closing the door behind them.
"What do you want Dyson! What the fuck is your problem?!" She hissed at him.
"Why can't you just leave it? Why is this so important to you?" He demanded.
"Because I love her! I gave her my heart and I realized a little too late. I gave her my heart and I never really got it back. I won't make that mistake again. I chose her Dyson," she replied.
"Look…I know you're still waiting for me Dyson. But you have to try and move on. This whole…mate for life thing, it's a prison of your own making. I need for you to let me go. I want you to be happy and I love you. But I'm sorry that it's not in the way that you want me to."
Bo reached up and cupped his cheek, her voice softening as she looked into his eyes. She could see how deeply her words seemed to hurt him, but she had to be honest with him. He closed his eyes and leaned into her touch.
"You are a good man Dyson and one day you will find someone that can make you truly happy. Please let me go."
When he opened his eyes again, he reached up to the hand on his cheek and took it in his. He nodded sadly before plating a kiss on the palm of her hand.
"Okay…" He said looking down at her.
"Okay?"
"Okay…I'll try. I will stand down. Just know that I will always stand by you Bo, I'll help you fight the bad guys. Even if it means giving you up to someone else," he answered giving her a sad smile.
"Thank you," she whispered to him sincerely. She gently squeezed his hand comfortingly before pulling him gently towards her for a hug. For the first time, Bo felt certain about what she wanted.
For 11 months she had seen the looks Dyson had been giving her and she even allowed herself to think about going back to him. But that day she saw Lauren/Karen again she knew that she had never really gotten her heart back. Lauren had it and it was only fair that she let Dyson know. Her heart belonged to Lauren and she was going to show her that.
