"So what is she doing?" Kenzi's voice was low and was punctuated by a drip in the bucket of rainwater in the corner. The rain might have been lighter than it had been the past few days, but it remained relentless. They put the bucket there last night some time.
Bo looked over the back of the couch at Lauren, who scrubbed the evening's plates with calm diligence. "She's washing dishes, what does it look like she's doing?"
Kenzi rolled her eyes. "Duh, I meant about the research? Is she giving it up yet?"
Bo frowned. "She has a stronger grip than you think."
"Oh god, did you have to go there?" Kenzi scrunched her face up and then flinched when Bo swatted at her. "Doesn't she realize her life is on the line?"
"Kenzi, her life has been on the line ever since we met her."
Kenzi picked at the cording on the couch cushions in silence, sometimes in time to the various drips around them. "So how do we convince her, then?"
"I don't know if I want to." Bo watched Lauren stop and lean against the sink for a few seconds. Her shoulders rose and then fell again in a practiced sigh before continuing her task. "Her research's a part of her, Kenz." A short chuckle escaped Bo. "Literally."
Kenzi looked up at Bo. "Wait, what?"
She shouldn't have said anything. But Kenzi was her best friend, the one she could always trust, who'd always have her back. Kenzi was the one she went to Hel and back for. Bo stared at Kenzi with a pained expression, wrestling with her ethics. "Let's just say there are still some questions after her walk on the Fae side."
"Are you serious?" Kenzi said, lowering her voice and leaning in. "I knew it. What's wrong with her, does she have a tail or something?"
"No!" Bo made a face and slapped Kenzi's arm. "What's the matter with you?"
"What?"
"She just…" Bo looked back at Lauren, who had moved on to drying. "Lauren's whole life is in that research, Kenzi. Asking her to give it up would be like asking me to give up my Fae."
Kenzi nodded thoughtfully and there was a short silence between them. "Would you do it?"
"Give it up?"
"Be human again."
Bo thought about it seriously. A human life with Kenzi and Lauren, living the crazy day-to-day like she was sure they would. But after all this time, after all this struggle and triumph, Bo shook her head. "I don't think I could."
Kenzi nodded and pursed her lips, teasing the fabric on the pillow. "It wasn't so bad, was it?"
Bo covered Kenzi's hand with hers, smiling when she finally looked up at her again. "Being human is nothing to be ashamed of. I know Fae who would crumble under the stuff you deal with every day."
"Like the Morrigan."
Bo chuckled and patted her hand. "Like the Morrigan." She hadn't seen Kenzi smile, truly smile since they brought her back and it filled her with such life. Bo pulled her into her arms and held her tight. "I love you, Kenz."
"I love you, too, you big succusoftie." Kenzi poked Bo in the ribs and was immediately released as Bo pulled away with a grin.
"What's going on?" Lauren asked, walking up to the couch, wiping her hands on a dish towel.
The women smiled at each other and Bo looked up at Lauren. "Just some overdue bonding." She poked Kenzi, who shifted over and grabbed the remote from the table. "And I think it's about time for a movie." Bo moved aside, freeing up a spot on the couch. "You got some time, Doctor? I think Frankenstein is on."
Lauren smirked and tossed the towel onto the chair next to the couch and flopped onto the couch next to Bo. She put a hand on Bo's knee as Kenzi leaned into Bo's side. "How could I say no?"
The next time the alarm went off there was less panic. Not only because they were expecting it, but because it was quickly becoming routine. Bo still got to her feet quickly, but moved calmly to the door. Kenzi still scrambled, but sighed as she leaned against the wall. Both women watched Lauren check the feed on her computer and tensed when she looked up.
"It's Trick," she said.
Bo straightened, her dagger lowering. "What do you want to do?"
Kenzi bounced her sword in her hands and looked from Bo to Lauren. "Let him in," Lauren sighed.
"Are you sure?" Bo took the few steps to the door.
"Not really."
A deep breath and the door was opened. "What do you want?" Bo stared down at her grandfather who stood at the threshold of the clubhouse. Kenzi peeked around the corner behind her and disappeared again.
Trick smiled sweetly. "I was hoping we could talk."
Bo held onto the door knob as she looked over her shoulder at Lauren who nodded almost imperceptibly. She sighed and turned back to him. "Come on," she waved him in.
He followed her to the couch where she gestured to the armchair next to it. She waited for Trick to sit first before she sat on the edge of the couch next to Kenzi. They sat in silence for an awkward minute and a half before Trick spoke.
He looked up as Lauren sat in the armchair directly across from him. "I wanted to see you both." She settled into the seat comfortably, legs crossed and her fingers folded neatly in her lap. "To hopefully come to an agreement so we can end this nonsense."
Kenzi looked at Lauren and back to Trick. "Um, these shenanigans have been pretty one-sided, Trickster."
Trick smiled and nodded. "I'm sorry, I didn't want it to come to this."
"So knock it off then," Bo replied.
"I have to protect the Fae, Bo, you know that."
"Even at the expense of your own granddaughter?"
"Okay," Lauren interrupted. "That's enough." She uncrossed her legs and straightened her back. "Here's the deal," she said, looking at Trick. "I'll give you full access to my research, explain it all, show you everything." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "But it stays in my possession."
Trick tightened his lips. "I can't do that."
"Why not?" Lauren asked.
"That research threatens the Fae as an entire populace," he said. "I can't let it float around in an unsecured location for anyone to pick up and use at their discretion."
"Like the Origin Seed?" She let her point settle in the silence of the room, her eyes meeting Trick's in a standoff. "I assure you, it's well hidden," Lauren told him.
"And we're putting in a security system," Kenzi offered. "This place'll be tighter than a dancer's butt cheeks."
Trick sighed and shook his head. "The Elders won't stand for it being out of the Fae's possession."
"The Elders, or you?" Lauren challenged. They stared at each other for a few uncomfortable seconds and Bo and Kenzi exchanged an uneasy glance. When Trick spoke again, his voice was firm and even.
"The Fae have been lenient of your most recent exploits, Doctor Lewis," he started. "Even deserting the Light and working with the Dark." He looked at Bo. "But this can't go on."
"What exactly are you implying?" Lauren pressed.
Bo looked at Lauren who's expression had hardened to a point that Bo barely recognized. "Trick, Lauren's-"
"Bo," Lauren stopped her. "I want him to say it."
"Your contract is still binding," he stated, holding Lauren's stare, but not missing the emotion in Bo's. "Any research that was completed during the tenure of your contract technically belongs to the Light Fae."
"What?" Bo exclaimed.
"Now, as Acting Ash," Trick said. "I'm asking that you and the research that's rightfully ours be returned to the Light Fae compound."
Lauren's hands gripped the arms of the chair so hard Bo was sure she'd rip it apart. "You don't own me or my research," she said through unwavering anger.
"By your own signature," Trick retorted. "I do. And I would appreciate the respect that demands."
Bo looked back and forth between them, unprepared for the direction this conversation had suddenly taken. Lauren thought about her answer and for a moment, while Trick thought he was in the clear. She pushed herself to her feet. "I have done nothing for the last seven years other than be a slave to the Fae. I have helped those that despise me, I've healed those that would kill me, I've even given advice to those who think my life is worth less than theirs. I don't owe you anything."
"Lauren, be reasonable," Trick replied. "Would you even have been able to achieve all you have without the Fae?"
Lauren looked at the ceiling before shaking her head with a smile. "Have you ever asked yourself where the Fae would be if I never went to the Congo?" The silence from the Blood King spoke volumes and the raised eyebrows from both Bo and Kenzi told her she'd made her point. Lauren turned then, without another word and walked straight up the stairs to Bo's bedroom.
Trick cleared his throat. "I guess I'll take my leave then," he said, getting to his feet. "I'm sorry for the trouble."
"Can we let this go now?" Bo asked as she stood to follow.
"Bo, I'm sorry," Trick replied. "Whether she likes it or not, Lauren signed her life to the Fae. It's her obligation. And I can't have a claimed human that I'm responsible for running around unchecked with all the power to destroy us."
"You're assuming."
"I'm telling you Lauren is brilliant and dangerous. I know you love her, Bo, but… don't trust her."
Bo clenched her jaw. "Get out."
"Bo, please."
"No, get out." Bo pointed at the door before pulling it open. "I don't care who you are, you can't come into my home and insult my family."
Trick crossed the threshold of the front door and turned around. "Bo, I need that research." He barely got the last syllable out before the wooden door slammed in his face.
The television droned on about the latest fashion trends as Lauren tapped her finger on the edge of her laptop. She sat in the corner of the clubhouse, leaning back in the office chair, staring at the view of their front door on the laptop's screen, an empty wine glass sitting next to it. Neither Bo nor Kenzi had attempted conversation with Lauren since she reappeared from the second floor once Trick left. It was probably for the better, Lauren's internal filter tended to lose it's efficacy the angrier she got and by this time, she was sure she'd say something she'd regret.
As the alarm sounded for the third time in as many hours, Lauren snuffed it out with a push of a button on her laptop. Bo and Kenzi barely looked up from the sofa when Lauren said, "It's Tamsin." It was the first thing she'd said in over an hour.
Bo moved to the door and opened it before Tamsin could knock. "Welcome." Bo turned and walked into the kitchen.
"Intense," Tamsin noted, walking into the clubhouse. "You guys need to relax in here."
Bo drained a glass of wine and poured another. "Yeah you know, alarms going off, being attacked by the Fae of the hour, it's real soothing."
Tamsin put a hand on Bo's shoulder and looked her in the eye. "That's why I'm here." She looked around. "All you need to worry about is getting a good night's sleep." She dropped onto the couch next to Kenzi who frowned at the coffee table. The small Russian hadn't said much since Trick's revealing visit. "Except you, maybe." She nudged Kenzi's shoulder. "Sleepover," she sang softly.
The smile couldn't be contained and quickly spread across Kenzi's face. Tamsin looked over her shoulder at Bo and Lauren. "Get some rest, Kenzi and I got this."
Kicking back, Tamsin put her feet up on the coffee table and clicked on the television. "Tarantino marathon's on tonight." The frenetic guitar of a surf anthem filled the living room as Pulp Fiction began. Kenzi pulled her knees against her chest and wiggled her toes excitedly.
Bo turned away from the television and held out her hand for Lauren, who took her time getting to her feet and rounding the desk. Walking to the stairs, Bo stole one last look at Kenzi and Tamsin who had already forgotten they were looming behind them. Maybe tonight they really would get a chance to relax.
The stream of obscenities from the television filtered to a dull murmur by the time Bo and Lauren reached the top of the stairs. Passing through the doorway to the bedroom, Lauren dropped onto the bed and rolled onto her back.
"Are you okay?" Bo asked the question carefully as she sat on the bed next to Lauren.
Lauren smiled at the ceiling and looked at Bo. "As well as I can be for being reminded of my lifetime of bondage."
"I would have thrown him out earlier if I knew he was going to pull that shit."
Lauren shook her head. "It's okay. He's right."
Bo blinked in shock. "What?"
"I did sign my life over to the Light."
"Yeah, but Lachlan tricked you," Bo said emphatically.
"What do you mean?" Lauren asked.
"He tricked me, too."
"Bo, I don't understand."
"The nail, Nadia's nail. I'm the one that pulled it out. Lachlan told me I couldn't tell you and I believed him."
Lauren's face went slack as she processed the information. She frowned. "Unbelievable." A parade of emotions played out on Lauren's features. Sadness, betrayal, anger, defiance and ultimately love. She sucked in a breath, like she forgot to breathe during the passing minutes. "You know, on some level I knew it was too good to be true. And even though I knew Lachlan was using me, I never dreamed he was using you, too."
Bo looked away.
Lauren laughed and it surprised Bo. She shook her head. "I've been so foolish, trusting the Ash with my life for so long."
"You're not going back there, I promise." Bo covered her hand with her own.
"Thank you," Lauren said, finally losing steam.
"You don't have to thank me, I have my own agenda."
Lauren smiled. "Is that so?" She sat up. "Close your eyes," Lauren whispered and Bo eagerly obeyed.
"Oh, Doctor, what are you up to?"
She could hear her shuffle away, only to return a few moments later. The bed moved under Lauren's weight and Bo smiled, anticipating. A metallic click echoed throughout the room.
"Open your eyes."
Bo's smile faded as she opened her eyes to see a briefcase of Lauren's research open in front of her. A catalogue of Fae DNA sprawled in front of her, each specimen in a vial and labeled meticulously. "I don't understand."
"It's yours," Lauren said. "Do what you need to do, Bo. You and Kenzi are more important than any of this and I'm tired of being on the defensive. I just want us all to be able to live normal lives or… as normal as it gets with you."
"Lauren," Bo breathed. "I'm speechless."
"Just say you'll fix this for us."
A smile touched Bo's eyes before the corners of her mouth. "Absolutely."