Lauren spent the next few hours doing her best to beat the hangover from last night - and losing. 13 glasses of water later she decided to call the lab and feign sickness (she didn't have clothing that would cover the reminders from last night anyways; she was nowhere near ready to answer those questions). She battled nerves on the couch, trying to distract herself with a documentary on the History channel, but finally lost her focus around 2 in the afternoon. Sighing, Lauren picked up her cell and called Tamsin. When the valkyrie didn't answer, she panicked for a split second - she then remembered how often Tamsin 'misplaced' (broke) her cellphone, and decided to call her office number. Lauren had only done this once, for a case they we're working together right when they're little trust first began, and prayed to whatever God or Goddess there might be to have Tamsin pick up and not Dyson. Luckily, only 3 short rings later, Tamsin picked up the phone (Lauren released a breath she didn't know she was holding when she heard the valkyrie's voice).
"Tamsin." The detective said, sounding very professional. As if Lauren wasn't already nervous enough.
"Tamsin. It's me. Uh, Lauren. Hi."
"Doctor Lewis", Tamsin glanced up at Dyson to be sure he wasn't listening too closely. No one knew about her and Lauren's 'relationship', and for now, she knew they we're both content with that fact. Satisfied that he was fully engrossed in the file he was reading, the valkyrie leaned back in her chair. "What can I do for you today?"
"I- well, I think you should let me take you out", Lauren blurted out without thinking, her nerves getting the better of her, "To dinner and maybe drinks and we could talk about what happened, or not, its up to you, I just feel like-"
"Hotpants. You're rambling", the valkyrie sing-songed at the doctor, fighting the smile on her face. Dyson eyed her from over the file he was reading but he knew better than to say something (she was sure that he could smell the doctor on her all the time, the same way she is positive Bo can sense the sexual energy that flies between them when they are all together – luckily, as of yet, no one has said anything).
"I just want to take you out and treat you in an attempt to make up for how unbelievably terrible last night was", Lauren breathes out.
Tamsin leaned forward, head in her hand as she sighed into the receiver. She shot Dyson a look, who rolled his eyes but got up and headed towards the coffee; she makes a mental note that maybe he isn't so bad after all. At least now he's not brooding as badly as he used to.
"Yeah. It was pretty terrible", she subconsciously tugs on collar of her hoodie, remembering the bite marks its hiding "But that, uh, sounds good. Let's hit a bar, the one by my place? Everyone will be at The Dal tonight, according to Dyson."
There is an uncomfortable silence between them, and for no reason at all Tamsin gets nervous. She is about to recant her offer, wondering if the mention of Dyson threw the doctor for an unexpected loop, when she finally replies. When Lauren speaks, she is quiet and nervous, her voice shaking.
"We, uh, we should go there. The Dal, I mean."
Tamsin must have looked like she was choking on something because Dyson came up and slapped her on the middle of her back on time. Hard. She yelped and glared up and Dyson, who silently apologized and goes back to wandering around the precinct.
"Are you serious, Lauren? When I say everyone is going to be there tonight I really do mean everyone. Dyson, Hale, Kenzi... Bo."
On the other side of the line Lauren was playing with the bottom of the sleep shorts she was still wearing. Of course she knew this could end terribly. Of course she was aware of the backlash she could get from everyone. Especially Hale - she was still technically a ward of The Ash and surely running around with a dark fae (one of The Morrigan's favorites no less) was to be frowned upon. Not to mention that Bo would be there; in the past that alone was reason enough to stay at home. But as Lauren caught sight of Tamsin's favorite blue leather jacket sitting on her desk, and glanced up at the beautiful roses on her kitchen counter, she realized she didn't really care about all that. She just wanted to make it up to Tamsin; she needed to.
"I want to show my girlfriend off. Do you have a problem with that, detective?"
Tamsin smirks at the word. They never used any qualifiers for their relationship, in fact they both actively avoided it. Just like they actively avoiding the group finding out about them. But hearing it now... Tamsin actually liked the sound of it. (She'll never admit it out loud, lest her intentions be tainted by it, but she can't wait to see the look on Bo's face when her and Lauren walk into the bar together – this time they won't be trying to hide all that sexual energy between them. Surely the succubitch will pick up on that. Quickly.)
"A problem?", Tamsin smirks again, "Not at all."