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Taking the Spy out of the Bang

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Setup: Season 1, Episode 8, Vexed. Yet another variation of the spy-bang incident. Lauren visits Bo at the behest of the Ash to try and stop her from taking revenge on Vex. Canon up until this point, but could also be a follow-up to Scientific Curiosity or No Dogs Allowed without changing the canon in between. Unoriginal dialogue owned by Showcase is in bold italics.

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"You barely know this woman, why are you taking it so personally?"

"Because we both want the same things. No matter how miserable I was before you told me that I was Fae, at least I had hope back then that I could live a normal human life one day if I wanted to."

"But do you want a normal life? The picket fence and the kids and –"

"I want to know that it's my choice to make, not theirs. I mean Lou made her choice, and look at what they did to her. And if I just let that go, if I let them get away with it, what chance do I have at living a life of my own? And who would want to live it with me?"

"Actually, I get it, I really do." Lauren put her wine glass on the coffee table as she gathered her thoughts. "You're such a brave and passionate person, Bo. It's not surprising that you would be determined to seek justice for Lou, stranger or not." Lauren smiled genuinely and put her hand on Bo's knee. "You have such a big heart." Bo returned a small, shy smile, clearly appreciating the compliment. "But what you're also saying is that if you don't go after this guy, then your own choices would be taken away, that you'll always be looking over your shoulder wondering if your choices will be punished, right?"

Bo quickly swallowed a sip of wine. "Exactly!" She gestured enthusiastically and returned her glass of wine to the coffee table. "I can't let them get away with it or I'll never really feel free."

"If you take this guy out, do you think that will stop the Dark Fae from doing it to someone else?" Lauren's tone was soft and thoughtful, as she tried to play devil's advocate without sounding patronizing or judgmental.

"Well, at least it will make them think twice!" Bo groused. "If anything it will just make me feel better that I didn't just rollover and do nothing!"

Lauren chuckled affectionately. "Yes, I expect it would. Taking a stand like that is really validating, makes you feel powerful – so I can understand the appeal." She gazed at Bo with gentle, sincere eyes. "But realistically, it wouldn't actually affect the degree of freedom you have. So it's more of a symbolic victory, isn't it?"

"Hey, who's side are you on?" Bo asked with a grin, trying to disguise her question as simple teasing. But Lauren knew there was genuine concern and suspicion behind Bo's words. "Aren't you outraged by what they did?"

Lauren placed her hands on both of Bo's shoulders to insure that her friend was looking directly at her. "Bo, I'm always on your side." she declared with conviction. "ALWAYS." Satisfied she still held Bo's full attention, Lauren returned her hands to her lap. "Of course the deaths of those children is an outrage, a morally repugnant atrocity! I totally understand the emotion behind your motivation."

"I think I hear a 'but' coming." Bo grumbled.

"But…" Lauren smirked, trying to keep their conversation light and friendly instead of adversarial. "…angry, righteous passion isn't enough, Bo. Before you go into battle you're supposed to also look at it critically and logically, right? Know your enemy, planning the attack from all the different angles, having various contingency plans, that sort of thing? You shouldn't go running in half-cocked, guns a-blazing and end up getting killed because you're not prepared. You need to have a strategy right? So do you know what you're going to do when you find this guy?"

Bo had to admit, Lauren was making a lot of sense. But she wasn't so sure she liked it. "Well I guess first I have to find out where he lives and works, what his routine is. Find out what his power is, and when he's alone I attack when he least expects it."

"That's a good start." Lauren paused to take a few more sips of her wine, so Bo took the opportunity to do the same. Lauren savored her last mouthful of wine while looking at Bo intently, trying to judge how receptive she might be to Lauren's arguments. "Bo, do you think it's possible to destroy the mafia by killing one hit man? If you kill a hit man what do you think the mafia's response would be? Answer honestly." She put her empty wine glass down and looked at Bo patiently. The questions weren't rhetorical; Lauren was genuinely interested in her answer.

"Why are you asking me this?" Bo asked suspiciously. "You're trying to stonewall me, like everyone else!" she accused. Bo stood up from the couch and stared sternly down at Lauren. "You should know by now Lauren that no one tells me what to do."

"Bo, I'm not telling you what to do." Lauren said gently, hoping to diffuse Bo's sudden agitation. "I'm just trying to make sure you know what you're getting into so you can make an informed decision on how you want to handle this. Please Bo, just sit down and take a deep breath. We're just going to talk, ok?"

"Fine." Bo collapsed back onto the couch like a petulant child. If Lauren weren't afraid for Bo's life, she would have found it quite adorable.

"Ok, so back to the mafia. Seriously, what would happen if you went after the mafia by killing a hit man or just attempting to kill a hit man? What would they do?"

"I don't know." Bo pouted. She knew where this was going and she didn't like it one bit. "But this is diff–"

"Bo, I'm pretty sure you do know." Lauren interrupted, though she ran the risk of pissing off Bo more. "They would put a hit out on you. And if you kill the next hit man, they will just send another and another. You would spend the rest of your life running and looking over your shoulder, always fearful and paranoid. And most likely your life would be pretty short anyway because they will eventually find you and kill you."

Bo was clearly becoming more frustrated and had stopped looking at her, so Lauren gently grasped her hand and waited for Bo to make eye contact before she continued.

"Bo, sweetie, is that really the life you want? You would lose the freedom to live your life as you see fit, which is the opposite of what you're trying to accomplish. And I'm telling you that the Dark Fae is many times larger and more powerful than the mafia." Lauren squeezed Bo's hand, imploring her to listen. "Believe me, I know how the Fae world works better than you. I'm telling you if you go after this guy you will be killed or you will be a fugitive for the rest of your short life, until they finally hunt you down and then kill you."

Bo just sat there and fumed quietly. After a few moments she blurted, "I could make it look like an accident."

"I can assure you, the Dark would thoroughly investigate it. You'd have to be some sort of forensic genius to pull it off, and regularly watching CSI doesn't count. But if you succeed, and it's perceived as accidental and not retaliation, you're not sending any message. The Dark Fae will just continue with business as usual and will brutally punish the next person that steps out of line. So what's the point?"

"So you're trying to tell me it's futile." Bo spat, an angry scowl marring her flawless face.

Lauren sat back and stared at the ceiling, sighing heavily. Now for the fun part. "There's actually more to it than just futility."

"What does that mean?"

"Bo, I need to tell you something but you've got to promise not to freak out. Don't shoot the messenger, ok?"

That immediately set off Bo's alarm bells. "What? What do you know? Have you been holding out on me! Lauren, what's going on?"

"Remember the part about not freaking out? Just calm down so I can tell you."

Lauren's soothing voice quickly calmed Bo – for the moment. "Ok… I'm sorry I'm so jumpy." She took a couple of deep breaths to keep her emotions in check.

Lauren reached out and gently grasped both of Bo's hands. "I understand you're all wound up, I know this is important to you – but you need to listen. Somehow the Ash found out what you're up to, and he knows who you're looking for – and he's not happy about it."

"The Ash can kiss my ass, I don't take orders from him – and it's none of his business." Bo let go of Lauren and reached for her glass, quickly gulping down the remaining wine. "And why does he care? Why would he want to protect a Dark Fae assassin? Did he say who it is? Is he involved in some big conspiracy or something?"

"Bo, this guy is very high on the Dark Fae food chain. If an attempt were made on his life or if he were actually killed, it could start a war." Bo looked up at Lauren, her face a mixture of anger and shock. She obviously hadn't thought of that particular consequence.

Lauren was encouraged by Bo's sudden attention, and made sure she didn't waste it. "And I don't mean a political war, Bo. A real war, carefully hidden under human society's nose, but with lots of bloodshed and dead bodies. I know that sounds insane, but that's how the Fae world works. You know, they have the longest lifespan of any sentient species, yet in many ways, they never grow up, it only takes a flimsy excuse for them to start killing each other." She chuckled at the perverse irony.

"Bo, this is so much bigger than just you risking your own life. If you're really looking for justice, can you justify letting more innocent people die so you can get it? Both sides would suffer casualties, and there will be humans caught in the crossfire as well, although their deaths will be expertly covered up, I'm sure. Bo, your quest for justice could lead to a bloodbath, and that is very much the Ash's business. His involvement isn't personal, Bo. He's looking out for the lives of his people, even if it means protecting a Dark Fae psychopath to insure their safety."

Bo leaned back into the couch and crossed her arms defiantly and stared down at the coffee table. Lauren watched her carefully, as the furrow in Bo's brow deepened while she pondered the consequences of giving in to her thirst for revenge. "So the Ash isn't secret buddies with this guy? He just wants to prevent war?"

"I assure you that the Ash has nothing but disdain for the Dark. He just wants to prevent bloodshed. But he did say one more thing and I'm not sure what he meant, but you have a right to know. He said he didn't want you dead because he needs to know more about you. I don't know if he means your lineage or something else. So yes he's obviously very nosy about your business. But the bottom line is, he doesn't want you dead. And for that matter, neither do I." Lauren boldly reached out and stroked Bo's cheek. "You mean a lot to me, so this whole situation has me worried sick."

Bo was briefly hypnotized by Lauren's compassionate eyes and her delicate touch. "You're so sweet." Bo grinned sheepishly. "And as much as it pisses me off, I can understand why you're scared." Bo looked down at her lap and shook her head. "So my hands are really tied, huh?" she asked timidly.

"Ultimately, you have to draw your own conclusions. But it doesn't look good. I know I can't tell you what to do. But yes, Bo, the way I see it your hands are tied and no good can come from you seeking revenge. Too many lives are at stake, especially your own."

Bo frowned and clenched her jaw as she let it all sink in. She finally threw her arms up in exasperation. "Gaaaah! My brain is telling me it's a bad idea, but I can't turn off this…this fire in my heart!" Bo jumped up from the couch and started pacing randomly. "Every instinct is telling me to annihilate this guy! And nothing pisses me off more than being powerless!"

"I know it's hard. Bo, your empathy, selflessness, and passion of conviction are all such admirable qualities, but this is one of those times when you should put them aside and listen to your brain! You've got to choose your battles so you can live to fight another day." Lauren had sat up on her knees so she could see beyond the couch and follow Bo's movements as she stomped around the clubhouse. Bo was starting to feel overheated from the combination of frustration and alcohol. She gruffly took a bottle of water out of the fridge and resumed her angry pacing.

"Considering how demoralizing powerlessness is to you, there's one more thing you need to consider. Bo, I know what kind of Fae this guy is. I did a little nosing around after the Ash talked to me."

Bo stopped in her tracks. "You actually know who he is? And you're only telling me now? That's a bit underhanded, Lauren! Who is he, dammit!"

"Bo…Bo, look at me. As much as it scares me, I know I can't stop you from going after him. But I needed you to know what you were getting yourself into. If I'd told you his name before, you would've run right out that door before we even had this conversation, and you would have been totally unprepared. Now please, you need to hear this. You need to understand what his power is. He's a Mesmer, and a Mesmer cannot be fought."

Bo took a long swig of her water. "So what is that supposed to mean?" She walked over to the couch and sat on the arm opposite of Lauren.

"I mean, a Mesmer is one of the most invincible species of Fae. To try to fight him would be suicide. He has the power to take your power, your free will. How do you think he got Lou to drown her own children? No amount of threats could make a mother do that. With just a wave of his hand, he took control of her body as if she were nothing more than an oversized puppet. And he doesn't put you in some sort of mindless trance. You are fully aware, trapped inside your own body, completely powerless, as he makes you commit atrocities, or simply kill yourself with your own weapon. And he doesn't have to be near you to do it – you would never get close enough to hurt him before he takes over your body. Don't you see, Bo? Strength, bravery, and passion are irrelevant! There is no fighting a Mesmer. Go near him, and you'll be volunteering for execution."

Bo just stared at the floor and took a couple gulps of water. "Shit." She got up to stomp around again. "Shit…shit, shit, FUCK!"

Lauren jolted as Bo violently threw her water bottle across the kitchen into the sink, where it bounced back onto the floor from the force of the throw. Bo heaved a huge sigh and went to retrieve the bottle. Luckily Bo had put the cap back on before she threw it. She put the bottle on the counter and just stood there, both hands gripping the edge as she leaned her weight on her outstretched arms.

Lauren finally got up and joined Bo in the kitchen, giving her a comforting pat on her shoulder and gently rubbed her upper back. "I'm sorry. I know it sucks."

"So who is this guy anyway?"

Lauren turned Bo to face her, and began rubbing up and down her arms. "What are you going to do if I tell you? If I tell you, are you going to ignore everything we talked about and go running off to get killed? The only good reason for telling you would be so you know who it is you need to stay away from. Are you going to make me regret telling you? Can you give me your word?"

Bo closed her eyes and exhaled forcefully, trying to center herself. "I promise…you won't regret it. I've obviously lost this round. But if I have to be satisfied with just hating his guts, I might as well know his name. But I won't go after him, you have my word."

"Oh thank god!" Lauren pulled Bo into a desperate hug. "Bo, I've been so frightened for you, it's been tearing me apart! Thank you, thank you for talking to me." She gave Bo a final squeeze before releasing her, but Lauren continued holding her hands after they pulled apart.

"His name is Vex, he owns several nightclubs, both Fae and human. Please, just stay away from him, I need you to be safe, ok? Now that you know, if you go off and get yourself killed, I will never forgive myself! And if war breaks out, the Ash would never forgive me as well." Oops. Probably shouldn't have said that. Damn.

"Don't worry, I get it." Lauren mentioning the Ash drew Bo's eyes to her necklace. She traced her fingers over the Ash's mark Lauren wore around her neck. "Trick told me what your pendant means."

"Oh." Lauren pulled back and tried to adjust her shirt to cover up the pendant again. "It's not exactly something I'm proud of."

"So the Ash, he would punish you if I had gone after Vex, if you didn't convince me?"

Lauren shrugged her shoulders, laughing ironically. "That's just it. He didn't want me to convince you, his orders were to distract you. He needs time to negotiate with the Morrigan to send Vex away. I could get in serious trouble for what I've done – I wasn't supposed to tell you any of this. But I took a leap of faith hoping you'd make the right decision once you knew all the facts."

Bo frowned as she tried to process this new information. Lauren was sent here, they talked all evening, but the Ash didn't want her to know anything. "So what did he mean by distracting me?"

Lauren stared at Bo meaningfully. Lauren thought she would have figured it out. Oh, well. "What do you think? What's the best way to keep a succubus busy? He basically told me to seduce you."

Bo recoiled in horror. "That PIG! He pimps you out and expects you to go on a suicide mission? What is wrong with these people? He honestly thinks he can just order you to fuck a deadly succubus like some sacrificial lamb? Holy shit, Lauren! We have to get you into hiding!"

Lauren gently cupped Bo's face in her hands. "Shhhh, it's ok, it's ok. No hiding necessary." Lauren moved her hands down to rub Bo's shoulders. "Yes Bo, he is a pig, but I'm not expected to die. The reason he came and told me everything in the first place is because he figured out I had been helping you to control your hunger, so he knew I had a connection to you. Besides, I know you have enough control now, you just don't trust yourself yet. He wouldn't have ordered me to sleep with you if he thought it would kill me – if I died, I wouldn't be able to distract you for very long, now would I?" Lauren giggled coquettishly, earning a slight grin from Bo and putting her at ease.

"I took a big risk by spilling my guts instead of distracting you with my feminine wiles. And not just because it might piss off the Ash. I was afraid that you might still decide to go after Vex even after you knew everything. Frankly, seducing you would have given me better odds of saving your life. It was a tough call."

"Gee, so why didn't you? Am I that hideous?" Bo teased.

"Well first of all, despite my servitude, I do still have a sliver of self-respect left. The Ash isn't my pimp and I'm nobody's whore."

"Of course not! You know I was just kidding, right?" Bo was honestly worried that she had offended her friend, and Lauren just thought it was adorable.

Lauren grinned impishly and stroked a silky lock of Bo's hair. "I know you were kidding, Bo." Lauren caressed Bo's cheek and gazed into those beautiful chocolate eyes that never failed to make her heart flutter. "But I had another reason for disobeying the Ash."

Bo looked at her questioningly, but quietly waited for Lauren to continue. "I didn't want to share that experience with you if it was going to be tainted by deceit and manipulation. I needed to lay it all out on the table, because it's really important to me that you understand…" Lauren held Bo's gaze as she reached behind her neck and unclasped her pendant, then placed it on the counter.

"Understand what?" Bo's heart was starting to race. There was something magnetic in Lauren's eyes, and Bo was getting lost in them.

"Understand that the Ash has absolutely nothing to do with this."Lauren leaned in confidently and kissed Bo tenderly on the lips. When Lauren pulled back, Bo had an entranced, bewildered look on her face. With a satisfied smirk, Lauren spoke before Bo had a chance to resist. "This is all me, Bo." She cradled Bo's face in her hands and slowly caressed, nipped, and licked Bo's lips, encouraging her to open her mouth so Lauren could caress Bo's tongue with her own. Bo groaned and instinctively responded, happily deepening the kiss as she wrapped her arms around the woman she had been longing for.

Their kissing grew in passion and desperation, as the emotions they had been holding in finally expressed themselves. They held each other tightly as they kissed themselves breathless. Bo abruptly came back to her senses when she felt her eyes shift to blue. She pulled away gently, so as not to startle Lauren. "I'm sorry," she whispered sadly, as she tried to regain control of her breathing. She looked away from Lauren, ashamed of her glowing eyes. "I…I want to, but we can't. I'm too dangerous."

Bo tried to step away with some dignity, but Lauren wouldn't relinquish her hold. "Bo, sweetie, look at me. Let me see those beautiful blue eyes." Bo reluctantly turned to face Lauren. Despite their ethereal blue glow, Lauren could see Bo's eyes were filled with unshed tears. "You're not dangerous, Bo. You're not a monster. You're ready, I promise. It's ok to trust yourself."

"Lauren, I…I've killed every human that I've ever been with! I can't risk losing you!"

"Bo, this is different. You are more in control now and you're also on medication. And I'm not just any human. Unlike every other human you've been with, my head is clear because you don't need to enthrall me, I know exactly who and what you are, I accept you completely, I understand your struggle, and I'm not afraid of you. We can go as slow as you need to. You'll be fine, I promise. You just need to prove to yourself you can do it." Lauren lovingly caressed Bo's face and stroked her hair. "And I want to be the one to help you through it."

Bo embraced Lauren tightly, resting her head on the doctor's shoulder. "Promise me you won't let me hurt you?" Bo sniffled softly and buried her face in Lauren's neck.

"I promise. Now kiss me again, Bo, and take me upstairs." Lauren grinned when Bo's lips finally returned to her, enveloping her in their soft, moist warmth. When their passions neared the boiling point again, they pulled apart and Bo led Lauren, by the hand, up the stairs and into her bedroom, where the madness of their lives fell away, just as they fell into each other's arms.

FIN

Cue the steamy love scene… ;-)