Chapter 24

Kenzi jerked backward when a bright light was shined right in her eye.

"What the hell?" she asked. They were still in Lauren's office, Kenzi could tell because the couch underneath her back was hard as cement.

"Easy, easy." Lauren said and she put her soft hand against Kenzi's forehead. Lauren was older than Kenzi by a good bit, but Kenzi had never really thought of the woman as the motherly type until right now. With her hand on Kenzi's forehead and her voice soft and sweet, she reminded Kenzi of those 1950s moms who stayed home all day and looked after their children, not at all like the abrasive woman Kenzi had grown up with.

"I'm ok." Kenzi said. Her voice was hardly convincing. It was similar to Lauren's, soft, low, hardly heard.

"No you're not." Lauren said. Kenzi finally opened her eyes and looked into the kind eyes of Lauren Lewis. She didn't look like herself though, she was wearing more makeup than Kenzi had ever seen her wear, and her hair was brown.

"You look terrible." Kenzi said. Lauren laughed, as did the group behind her.

"Pot, meet kettle." Lauren said.

"I didn't mean it like that, I just meant that I've had my fair share of experiences with wigs, and the one you're wearing is not impressive." Kenzi said.

"I didn't think it was that bad." Lauren said.

"It's bad." Kenzi chuckled, but it quickly turned into a cough and Lauren's hand quickly found Kenzi's wrist and she checked her pulse.

"You're pulse is very weak Kenzi. You don't need to be moving around anymore. We need to get her out of here and somewhere safe." Lauren said, looking back at Bo and Trick. Kenzi's eyes traveled over to Dyson, his arms were crossed and he was staring down at her. She gave him a small smile and his intense gaze softened significantly.

"You're coming with us?" Kenzi asked. She hadn't heard the conversation that went on while she was passed out, but she had expected more pleading from the group.

"Don't sound so shocked." Lauren said, turning back to Kenzi.

"After they told me what was going on, I can't very well stay here and get killed. Plus, someone has to look after you." she patted Kenzi's leg.

"Do you know why she passed out?" Hale asked.

"Her body shows cleas signs of exhaustion despite the fact that she slept for hours. She's dehydrated, bruised, battered, weak, and light headed. When someone's body gets too tired, it just gives in and there's nothing to stop it. So she needs to rest, no more strenuous activities. Until we get you better your movement needs to be limited to one hour a day." Lauren said. Kenzi didn't like the sound of that. She didn't want to be bound to the bed for 23 hours a day.

"Listen, we need to get out of here. If the goblins or Aros figure out where we headed, they won't be far behind. How do we get out without getting noticed?" Trick asked.

"There's an ambulance bay at the end of this hallway. No offices or nurses near there unless someone is coming in."

"I'll go get the vehicle." Hale said, clearly seeing where Lauren was going with this.

"I'll come with you." Trick nodded.

"Pull it into the bay and call, we'll come right out." Bo said. Hale nodded as they rushed out the door. Lauren immediately started to get her things together. She opened a closet and grabbed a suitcase from the floor before she stuffed the clothes hanging up inside of it. It was clear that Lauren had been living in this room, probably sleeping on the cement couch.

"Where are we going to go?" Tamsin asked.

"We can't go back to the Dal, none of our houses are safe, no common hang outs." She continued. Lauren grabbed her medical bag as well, and walked to the door.

"We'll figure it out." Bo said.

"Do any of you have a clue who is doing this to you?" Lauren asked.

"Nope. We haven't really had time to focus on that. We'll worry about it after we get Kenzi better." Dyson said. Lauren moved to speak, but Dyson's phone went off. He checked the screen.

"They're here." he said.

"Can you walk? We don't need to attract any unnecessary attention." Lauren said.

"Yeah." Kenzi nodded. Bo grabbed two of Lauren's bags while Lauren carried the others.

"I've got her." Dyson said nodding to Kenzi. Tamsin pulled the door open and checked the hallway.

"We've got two nurses walking one way, three the other way." She said.

"Tamsin carry these. I'll get rid of them." Bo said. Tamsin took the bags and Dyson took Kenzi's arm and helped her to her feet. Her head spun, but she tried to focus on one spot as she took a step. Her eyes focused on a button on Dyson's jacket and she stayed there.

"Let's go." Tamsin said. They headed into the hallway. Bo was talking sweetly to the nurses as they batted their eyes and grinned at her. Dyson's pace was not fast, he kept one arm wrapped around her back and the other was clasped around her wrist, her arm was wrapped tightly around his back, her long fingers digging into his jacket, hanging on as hard as she could. The ambulance bay at the end of the hallway looked so far away, but Kenzi tried to force her legs to move. She was stumbling, she knew that much, tripping over her own feet while she combated her wobbly knees.

"Dr. Jones." A nurse called and came rushing toward them.

"Shit." Tamsin ground her teeth, Bo was busy with one of the other nurses.

"Is everything ok?" the nurse in front of them asked, giving wary glances to each person.

"Yeah, it's great. I'm just heading to lunch. I'll be back shortly." Lauren smiled reassuringly.

"Why do you have all your bags?" he asked, pointing.

"Moving in with a friend." She answered quickly.

"OH, which one?" he asked.

"Damn what is this, twenty questions?" Tamsin asked, her frustration growing. The nurse looked at her like she'd just slapped him.

"I'll handle this one." Tamsin dropped one of the bags, but before she could put his lights out, Bo came to the rescue, swooping in and putting her hand along the boy's cheek.

"Dr. Jones is coming with us ok? don't worry about it." Bo ran her hand down his cheek softly.

"Who is Dr. Jones?" the boy asked, completely forgetting the group and only focusing on Bo. Kenzi squeezed Dyson's hand when her legs started to shake violently. He looked down at her and his eyebrows crinkled together.

"Kenz?" he asked.

"Dyson I can't walk anymore. I can't. I'm sorry." She said shaking her head. It was so hard for her to admit that she needed his help, she never wanted to be that weak, but she knew if she took another step she would collapse on the floor again.

"Don't apologize, I'm here." he swept her up off the ground and into his arms, "I'll always be here."