Chapter 17 – "A Better Understanding"
Author's Notes:
- Lost Girl is created by Michelle Lovretta and produced by Prodigy Pictures in association with Shaw Media.
- Thanks to my Beta, LostGirlz for her suggestions; and to T for all her help and incredible support.
Néctar
Néctar wasn't as large as the Dahl nor did it have that neighbourhood pub feel to it but it was comfortable and surprisingly not pretentious as Kenzi thought it would've been seeing that it was located within the Fae HQ. In fact, as she walked through the door, the Goth thought it was cool to have a bar where one worked, besides, it had all the important necessities: plenty of alcohol, a pool table, music, a small dance floor and as a bonus, it was within stumbling distance to her apartment.
As the Goth continued to look around the bar, she couldn't believe how many humans were there and how social everyone was with one another. It was definitely a culture shock. Back in Toronto, she and Lauren were the only humans that frequented the Dahl; and aside from Trick, Hale, Dyson, Vex and sometimes Tamsin, the Fae in Toronto never once looked at her or said hello. However, as soon as she walked in with Nayara, almost every Fae that she made eye contact with smiled and greeted her. Kenzi had only been there for a few minutes and already the Fae in Brazil were more hospitable than those in Toronto and she had been living amongst them for three years.
Finding a table in the corner, Kenzi made herself comfortable while Nayara went to the bar to start a tab and grab some drinks. The Goth wanted to get information from the brunette and to do so, she knew that she couldn't be bitchy; she had to play it cool and be somewhat friendly towards Nayara. She wanted the doctor to feel comfortable around her and once she was, she would subtly ask her questions and find out what type of relationship she and Lauren had. The Goth sensed that there was something more than their being co-workers based on the couple of times she saw them interact. Granted she didn't have any proof - this was a gut feeling - but Kenzi always trusted her instincts as it never steered her wrong.
Nayara seemed nice but Kenzi didn't want to act on first impressions. She was cautious - she saw how the Fae treated Lauren in Toronto; they always wanted something from the blonde and always had some ulterior motive. Besides, if anything was going on between the two doctors, it would mean that Nayara would be Bo's competition and the Goth really wanted her best friend and Lauren to work things out. Kenzi knew that she would have to bide her time and wait for the right moment to strike; until then, she would take one for the team and enjoy the copious amounts of alcohol that she was going to consume on the brunette's tab.
The Goth's thoughts were interrupted when a tumbler containing a clear liquid, some lime wedges and ice was placed on the table before her. Not one to turn down free alcohol, she said, "Bottom's up!" and took a large gulp. The Caipirinha was smooth and left a warm, tingling sensation as it made its way down her throat. "Damn! This is good shit!" she exclaimed in a surprised tone before drinking some more - it was delicious and potent which were qualities that she loved in her booze.
And so the evening began with human and Fae matching drink for drink. The Goth figured that if she were going to drink Brazil's national beverage then Nayara would drink Vodka, Russia's alcohol of choice. Kenzi had successfully out drank Fae in the past but watching the way Nayara was pounding back the drinks there was no guarantee that it would happen tonight. However, the petite Russian was no light weight; she could hold her own.
The drinks were non-stop all evening. Kenzi had to admire the Empath's tolerance. The collection of empty glasses and the handful of fries scattered on a plate was some indication of how much they had consumed over the last three hours. The petite woman was now drunk and what little tact or filter she normally had when she spoke, was now non-existent.
They were both waiting for the waitress to deliver their umpteenth round of drinks when Kenzi blurted out, "You have the most incredible eyes that I've ever seen." Though the petite woman was leading up to her questions, she hadn't planned on the complimentary remark even though she did think that Nayara had beautiful eyes.
"Thank you." The Empath replied demurely. She knew that the Goth was inebriated and was surprised that it took this long for her to be affected as other humans and Fae would've passed out by now. The Empath, on the other hand, had a happy buzz going and was quite impressed with the petite woman's tolerance for alcohol. Nayara was also aware of the Goth's intentions and had been waiting all night for her to ask her questions.
"You must hear that all the time." Kenzi said a little embarrassed at her unexpected comment.
"I have but I always appreciate compliments when they are genuine." The brunette replied matter of factly, knowing that the petite woman was being honest.
"You're just being modest. Look around…" the Goth's eyes scanned the room as she gestured with her arm, "You have a lot of admirers here."
"I wouldn't call anyone here an admirer." Nayara deflected politely.
"Please! Almost everyone here has been checking you out all night."
"And how would you know?" the Empath enquired.
"I have eyes. I see things."
"I have no doubt. You seem to be a very observant and insightful person." Nayara cocked her head to one side as she looked at Kenzi intently. "And what else do you see?"
"I see how you look at Hot Pants…. umm, Lauren."
"Hot Pants?" the brunette enquired, curious about the nickname.
"Duh, have you not seen her ass?"
The Empath laughed; she definitely found Kenzi to be entertaining. "Understood."
"And how does Lauren react to your nickname?"
The Goth shrugged her shoulders. "She ignores it and rolls her eyes at me." Nayara chuckled at the response as she could easily picture Lauren reacting that way.
"So, what's the deal with you two?" Kenzi pressed further.
"The deal, as you say, is friendship. We respect and care about one another as friends and colleagues." Nayara replied. She didn't lie; there was just no point in saying that they were also attracted to one another but decided to not take things further.
"Riiiight! I saw how you reacted to Bo in the hospital. You were very protective of Hot…errr, Lauren." Kenzi pointed out.
"I could say the same of you – you are very protective of Bo." Nayara said gently. "Is there something going on between you two?" she asked, deflecting the Goth's questions.
Kenzi made a face. "Ewww, no! That's just gross! She's like a sister to me."
"You would do anything for her, wouldn't you?" the brunette asked.
"Of course! She's my BFF."
"Well then, she's very lucky to have a friend like you by her side." Nayara said genuinely as she flashed a brilliant smile at the Goth.
Kenzi smiled back; she didn't understand why but she couldn't help but smile when the brunette did. Nayara's smile was like a warm, comforting hug and the Goth found herself feeling very relaxed around her. "That's what I keep telling her." she replied trying to act nonchalant about the compliment and how comfortable she felt around the Fae.
Kenzi didn't realize that she was drawn to Nayara because she was an Empath. The brunette was charming and extremely likeable and it was normal for people to want to be around her.
Nayara leaned forward and clasped her hands together on the table; she was curious about Kenzi's experience with the Fae and how it compared to Lauren's. "It must be difficult being human living amongst the Fae in Toronto."
"Damn straight. I'm a minority just like Hot Pants. Well, not exactly. Bo doesn't own me and because of that I have it a lot easier than Lauren - I don't have to report to an Asshat." She said sadly, having a better understanding of the blonde's situation. "But I also know that if I weren't with Bo Bo, I'd be easy pickings for the Dark."
Kenzi sighed and drained what was left in her glass. "I have Fae friends and they have my back but when things get dicey, they think of me as the puny human that needs protecting or who will only get in the way. I may not have super powers but I can hold my own. I lived on the streets for most of my life… I've seen things… horrible things and I survived when most didn't. That's no easy feat you know." She vented and closed her eyes in an attempt to shut out the images of that life.
Kenzi's feelings of guilt and insecurity were rolling off of her in waves. Nayara sensed the Goth's guilt over how she treated Lauren in the past; her frustration in constantly having to prove herself; of wanting to be helpful to Bo and her friends and to be considered an equal; and for them to believe in and appreciate her abilities.
"I don't know why I'm talking about this." Kenzi was confused as to why she was opening herself up to Nayara. Even though she didn't know the Fae doctor, she felt that she could tell her anything and assumed that it was probably the alcohol loosening her tongue.
The petite woman shook her head vigorously and stood up suddenly. "What are you?! Did you put some kind of Fae mojo on me?" she accused.
Nayara sat back slowly and put up both hands to show she wasn't hiding anything and that she meant no harm. "I swear that I haven't." she said calmly. "I'm an Empath. People are drawn to me emotionally. It's similar to how people react to Bo - they are physically attracted to her because she is a Succubus. The only difference is that people gravitate towards me on an emotional level."
Kenzi mulled over the explanation for a few moments before she sat back down. "Okay. Just don't try anything."
"I haven't and I won't. You have my blood oath." Nayara said honestly, trying to reassure the petite human.
The Goth relaxed at hearing the Empath's promise and nodded her understanding.
Both women were quiet as fresh drinks were placed on their table. Nayara took a sip of her drink and waited till the waitress was out of ear shot before speaking. The brunette looked into Kenzi's eyes so that she could see that she wasn't hiding anything or playing any games. In a gentle tone she said, "With regards to what you said before…. I don't mind listening if you want to talk. I, too, left home as soon as I was able to. My mother died when I was very young and my father was never around. He didn't hurt me physically but he never showed me any love or affection. As an adolescent Empath coming into her power, that was the harshest form of punishment that could ever be inflicted. I didn't want to continue living in that cold, sterile, uncaring environment, so I left as soon as I could."
Nayara paused thoughtfully. "Not that I'm comparing my situation to yours but I do understand the fear of being in a strange, new place and being on one's own with no one to turn to for help or support. I learned to rely only on myself. It was difficult and lonely at first but I eventually grew accustomed to it."
The Goth gave her a sad smile. She didn't peg Nayara to be a runaway and was surprised that she shared her story with her. The Empath wasn't like other Fae who spoke to her in a condescending tone; Nayara spoke to her like an equal and was kind.
The brunette liked the petite Russian - she was strong-willed, spunky, caring, loyal and had a quick wit - all traits that the Empath found endearing. Kenzi and Lauren were so much alike in how they felt living amongst her kind; it saddened her to see these two strong, wonderful women think that they were inferior when that was furthest from the truth.
The Empath wanted to give the Goth some hope and make her feel better. "Kenzi, for what it's worth, I've worked and lived with humans for a long time and I know for a fact that there's nothing puny or inferior about them. Humans are strong, caring and resilient and are capable of so much more than my kind gives them credit for. I see it in Lauren every day and even though I've just met you, I also see it in you. You have a strong spirit and are resourceful – you would have to be in order to survive a life on the streets and with the Fae. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Surprise them by continuing to prove them wrong."
Nayara smiled sweetly at the Goth and all Kenzi could think was how wonderful and understanding this woman was – she felt like she was reconnecting with a long lost friend even though she had only known her for a few hours. Kenzi wasn't sure if she felt this way because Nayara was an Empath but in that moment, she realized that it didn't matter, she didn't care why.
Bo's apartment
Bo tossed and turned; she was emotionally drained but thoughts of her talk with Lauren, kept sleep at bay. Staring at the ceiling above her bed, she couldn't believe that she was getting a second chance at their friendship despite all the hurt that she had caused. It wasn't exactly what she wanted but she was thankful for it even though her heart ached. She had wanted more than anything for Lauren to give their relationship another shot but wishes and reality were two different things and the blonde made it a clear that she wasn't ready. It wasn't the idea of being friends that concerned Bo; it was the possibility that Lauren may never be ready for something more than friendship and that if Bo pushed for more, it could cause her to lose whatever tenuous relationship that they had. The brunette knew that she had to be patient and give Lauren time to figure things out. The problem was that the Succubus knew that patience wasn't her forte. However, she would do her best because it was Lauren and this would most likely be her only chance to make things right.
Regardless of the heaviness in her heart, Bo was thankful to be given a clean slate and for another chance at being in the blonde's life. She would make the most of this opportunity to earn back Lauren's trust and work at their friendship despite the fact that she was in love with her and thought that she was the most beautiful woman she had ever seen. Bo meant what she said about not going anywhere and giving Lauren all the time she needed. She would do everything she could to remain in her life in any capacity; the alternative was not an option – these past two months were a testament of that.
Now that all the stress and anxiety of their conversation was behind her, it was like a fog had lifted and Bo was able to see things that hadn't registered until now - things like how different Lauren was. The blonde seemed more self-aware and confident and she was definitely more assertive than before. The Succubus wasn't sure what caused the change but she liked that Lauren didn't hold back and that she said how she felt as opposed to hiding her feelings. She also could tell that though the blonde seemed happier, there was something troubling her. It hurt and disappointed Bo that she was so self-involved before to not see the signs but she could see them clear as day now. Lauren's aura was muted and this concerned her as one's aura reflected one's frame of mind. Unfortunately, Bo couldn't remember if her aura was this subdued before. All she knew was that she would do everything in her power to help Lauren be happy; if anyone deserved happiness and peace of mind, it was her.
Sighing, Bo accepted defeat, got out of bed and made her way to the living room. Plopping down on the couch, she reached for the remote and started flicking through the channels in the hope that TV would numb her mind and distract her from thinking of Lauren.
Lauren's apartment
Lauren was sitting on her couch, her eyes fixed on the painting that was hanging on the wall; staring at it yet not seeing the colours or brush strokes; nothing registered. Her brain was going a mile a minute, re-playing everything that she and Bo talked about. Sitting there, it all felt surreal as their words and emotions hung heavily in the air between them. Their conversation was difficult but they were able to discuss their issues and she found that she felt relieved to have finally expressed herself. But where did that leave her? She was still heart broken and not ready to be in a relationship with Bo or anyone else; she still felt alone; and she was still stuck in a life that she had no control over.
Lauren ran her fingers through her hair and took a couple of deep breaths willing herself to focus on the present. She knew that she had to prioritize – deal with the immediate matters first as opposed to what was beyond the horizon. The last thing she needed was to stress and overwhelm herself with things that she couldn't control or address right now. She had to look at the positives – she and Bo had their talk and that was a big step; she had friends here that respected and appreciated her; and her work was going to save thousands of Fae in Brazil once a cure was found. She was also being treated well and as an equal, so there was no point in thinking about her enslavement to the Light - she would deal with that once it was time to head back to Toronto.
As Lauren tried to clear her mind, her thoughts kept re-hashing the evening's intense conversation. She still couldn't believe that Bo told Dyson and Tamsin that she chose her over them. Even though it took their breaking up for it to happen, it still brought the blonde some satisfaction knowing that Bo finally stood up for her and their relationship. Lauren saw the regret and sadness etched on the brunette's face and heard the sincerity in her voice; she knew that the Succubus was truly sorry and that she recognized how much she had hurt her. This was what Lauren had wanted – for Bo to understand what she had done and to fight for their relationship. But things were different now; she was different and Lauren realized that it wasn't enough that Bo understood and made her a priority; it was also about making herself a priority whenever possible.
A clean slate and friendship - that's what Lauren promised. This meant that she had to let go of the past if they were going to be friends. It would be tough and she knew that it wouldn't happen over night but knowing that Bo acknowledged her mistakes and that she seemed genuinely sorry, helped ease some of the hurt feelings. She also knew that being friends would be a huge adjustment as they were still attracted to one another - a fact that frustrated her as she couldn't stop thinking about how beautiful the Succubus looked even while they were arguing. Regardless, she would work at their friendship as long as the brunette was willing to try; she just hoped that one day she would be able to trust Bo again.
The blonde was absolutely exhausted but she knew that she wouldn't be able to sleep with her thoughts in turmoil. Eyeing the guitar in the corner of the living room, she decided that it was as good a time as any to practice. Settling back down onto the couch, she adjusted the instrument in her arms and lap and gently plucked at the strings - best case scenario, it would be a good distraction and worse case, she would be no better off than she was right now. Flipping open the music folder that she kept on the coffee table, she chose a song at random and began strumming.
Bo's apartment
It was a little after three o'clock when Kenzi let herself into the apartment; seeing that all the lights were off, she tried to be quiet so as to not wake her best friend. As she walked past the couch, the table light suddenly switched on, startling the Goth.
"Jesus Bo! Why are you waiting for me in the dark? I don't have a curfew you know."
"I fell asleep on the couch until you woke me with all your clomping." Bo grumbled.
"I don't clomp!" she said offended. "My feet are tiny and oh so, daintee." Kenzi slurred slightly as she flexed the toe of her right boot, stumbling a bit as she lost her balance. "I was even tip toeing so that I wouldn't wake you." Kenzi defended.
"Look at your boots Kenz! There's nothing dainty about them!" They simultaneously looked down at the six inch platform heels, both with a different reaction - Bo glaring and the Goth smiling, admiring its craftsmanship.
"Maybe you thought you were being stealthy but you were actually loud. I heard you swearing when you dropped your keys in the hallway; then you slammed the door shut before you started tip toeing around in those platform boots." The brunette continued to gripe.
"Sorry! I was trying to be quiet." Kenzi sulked.
Bo's shoulders slumped forward. "I know." She said softly. "I'm sorry Kenz, I'm just grumpy… it took me a long time to fall asleep." Bo waved her over. "Come here." The petite woman plunked herself down ungracefully next to the brunette and leaned her head on her shoulder as the Succubus slung an arm around her friend, giving her a gentle squeeze.
"So, how'd it go with Hot Pants? Do I assume from your being out here, that it didn't go well and you have Succubus blue balls?" the Goth asked.
Bo rolled her eyes at the comment and recounted everything to her inebriated friend, sighing loudly once she was done.
Kenzi sat upright and was quiet. She looked pensive as if she was trying to choose her words carefully. "Well, she didn't tell you to go fuck yourself and never talk to her again. A second chance and clean slate is good, no?"
"That's what I keep telling myself. I am thankful at another chance at friendship. I just wanted us to have another shot at our relationship you know?" Bo let out another sigh. "I just need to sleep on it and let it sink in."
The Goth gently squeezed Bo's hand. "Just give her time… eventually you'll wear her down into the good graces of your vag."
Bo shook her head and smiled at her friend. "Anyway, how was your evening out with the blue eyed, tanned goddess." she said sarcastically trying to hide her insecurity and jealousy over Nayara.
Kenzi shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "Um, fine."
"How was the Capree uhh… the Brazilian drink?"
"Okay."
Bo knew something was up as Kenzi wasn't rambling about her evening and what she learned about the Fae doctor. "Alright, spill! What happened?"
The petite Russian wouldn't look her friend in the eyes. "Nothin."
"I don't believe you. You're acting weird even for you." The brunette insisted.
Kenzi quickly stood from the couch and took a few steps away. "If I say, you'll get mad." she said sheepishly.
"Kenz, just tell me; I won't get mad." Bo said softly as she stood to face the petite woman.
The Goth steeled herself. "K, my whole plan was to figure out what Nayara's story was and get some free booze in the process."
"I knew that much. And?"
"She took me to the bar and I tried the Caipirinha and it was delish. She then agreed to a cross-cultural booze night and drank Vodka while I drank her country's national beverage. Next thing we're playing drinking games and going drink for drink with one another…. I've drunk my share of Fae under the table but I have to admit that she has some serious stamina." Kenzi smiled proudly at herself and her booze prowess.
"That's great that she can handle her alcohol." Bo said sarcastically. "I don't care if she's a lush, Kenzi. Did you find out anything important?" She was anxious to know what her friend had learned.
"I didn't just fall out of the P.I. tree you know. I got skills." The Goth rolled her eyes.
"Sorry Kenz, I suck. I'm not questioning your skills. It's just that everything with Lauren is hanging by a thread and I'm… I'm just unsure of everything and especially where I stand." Bo admitted.
The petite Russian nodded her understanding. "I found out that she's an Empath...You know how you're a sex magnet for humans and Fae? Well, same thing for her 'cept it's on an emotional level."
"Great! She's Miss Congeniality." Bo said dejectedly. "Were you able to find out if she and Lauren are… together?" Bo asked hesitantly.
"All I was able to get out of her was that they are really good friends and that she cherishes Lauren's friendship. I don't think that's the whole story but for now, Nayara – one; Kenzi –zilch."
"Well, thanks for checking things out for me. I owe you big time for hanging out with her all night. I know that it must've been excruciating."
"It umm, it wasn't that bad. I had fun, surprisingly." Kenzi admitted hesitantly.
"Really?" Bo said disbelievingly.
"She's pretty cool actually." The Russian said honestly. "She's easy going and really nice; she also has a great sense of humour and is easy to talk to. She also has the most amazing pale blue eyes that I've ever seen… it would be easy to get lost in them; and even I have to admit that she has a sexy accent." The Goth gushed.
"Shit Kenz, I'm surprised you didn't go home with her tonight." Bo said jealously as she crossed her arms in front of her body.
"If I were into chicks, I would've. I'd so tap that." Kenzi grinned as she looked at her friend. Given her inebriated haze, it took a little longer than usual for Bo's jealous frown to register. "Umm, but obviously I'm not. Besides, if my Succubus BFF couldn't get me to change sides, no one can." she chuckled nervously.
Bo wasn't blind; she saw how attractive the Fae doctor was and finding out that her personality matched her beauty only irked her even more as she won over her best friend. If that could happen, then the possibility of there being something more between Nayara and Lauren was also high. The thought caused her to be incredibly jealous and frustrated but she knew that there was nothing that she could do about it because she and Lauren weren't together. She had no say in who the blonde was interested in, regardless of the fact that Lauren said that she wasn't ready to be in a relationship.
The brunette sighed; she knew it was irrational to be jealous of Nayara but she couldn't help it. On top of that, she really wanted to hit something right now.
Sensing the change in mood in her friend, Kenzi walked over to her and squeezed her hand to get her attention. "Bo Bo I'm sorry that my liking Nayara upsets you but it doesn't change the fact that you are my best friend and my family. You must know that nothing and no one would ever get in the way of that. It'd take more than a sexy accent, beautiful eyes and a killer bod to sway me."
"A killer bod?!" Bo exclaimed.
"Are you kidding me!" Kenzi slapped her friend on the arm. "Did you not hear what I said about you being my best friend and family?"
"I heard you." Bo grumbled before smiling and quickly pulling the Goth into her; hugging her tightly. "And you're mine as well." She said as she kissed Kenzi on her forehead.
"I'm glad that we got that sorted out, cuz all this sweetness is ruining my buzz." Kenzi feigned indifference. "Now tuck me into bed, I'm sleepy."
"Anything else? Do you want me to fetch you a bathrobe, bedroom slippers…" Bo said sarcastically as she looked at her best friend.
"Yeah, can you carry me? I'm really tired." Kenzi said as she batted her eyelashes and stretched her arms out in front of her.
Bo just rolled her eyes and picked up the Goth in her arms. As she walked by the couch, she promptly dropped Kenzi onto it before making her way towards her room. "Niiight!" she said grinning back at her.
"Hey!" Kenzi squealed. "Could you get me a blanket?"
Lauren's apartment (morning)
Lauren awoke to the incessant ringing of the apartment's phone. Rolling over and groping around the bedside table she finally found it. "Hello." She said groggily.
"Hi. Did I wake you?" Nayara asked.
"Mhmm… I had to get up anyway." The blonde said sleepily as she rubbed her eyes with her free hand.
"Good. Meet me in the dining hall in 25 minutes. I'm starving!" The Empath said in a very chipper tone before hanging up.
"Nay?" Lauren groaned and hung up the phone before glancing at the clock. It was almost 7 A.M. and she had overslept. Forcing herself to move, she got out of bed and made her way into the bathroom to get ready.
Lauren arrived in the dining hall to find Nayara already seated and surrounded by food. She had scrambled eggs, toast, bacon, pancakes, oatmeal, a large bowl of fresh fruit, a tall glass of water and a cup of tea. "You weren't kidding when you said you were starving."
"Mhmm, hungry." Nayara mumbled between mouthfuls.
"Hungover?" Lauren asked as she sat down with her bowl of cereal and coffee across from her ravenous friend.
Nayara shook her head. "I always have a huge appetite the day after I drink."
"Don't tell me that Kenzi out drank you?" the blonde smirked.
"No but she has quite the tolerance for alcohol. We racked up quite the bill last night… or rather, I did. I suspect that she may be hurting this morning." Nayara chuckled. "But it was fun. It's been a while since I've gone drinking like that."
Lauren smiled, only Nayara could turn an evening out with someone who was suspicious of her, into a night of fun. "I'm glad to hear that you enjoyed yourself. What did you think of Kenzi?" Lauren enquired, curious about her friend's opinion of the Goth.
"I like her. She's spunky, full of energy, funny and very loyal." Nayara replied honestly as she ate some bacon. "The two of you have a lot more in common than you may think."
"Oh? How so?" the blonde asked in a surprised tone.
The Empath chewed on another piece of bacon. "Let's just say that you're not alone in how you feel living amongst the Fae."
Before Lauren could enquire any further, Nayara quickly changed the subject. "So, how did things go with Bo?"
"It was a difficult and emotionally draining talk but we addressed a lot of our problems." She paused before continuing. "She dropped a bombshell… She told me that she was still in love with me and that she told Dyson and Tamsin that I was the only person she wanted to be with."
"Wow! That's huge!" Nayara said stopping in mid-bite as syrup dripped from the pancake that was speared on her fork.
"Yeah, it is." The blonde said with a thin smile.
"Then why don't you seem happy about it?"
"I am. I just wish she would've done it when we were together." She sighed. "But I am glad that she said something to them both. It means that I didn't imagine what we shared; that I mattered to her, you know?" Lauren admitted sadly.
"Of course you mattered to her. I am glad that she recognized that and did something about it." Nayara said genuinely.
"Anyway, I think we both have a better understanding of each other now." Lauren said tiredly.
"So, how did you two leave things last night?"
"Bo wanted another chance at our relationship and I told her that all I could offer at the moment was a clean slate and friendship." She said as she absentmindedly played with her spoon.
"Really?" the Empath was surprised at Lauren's decision. She had assumed that the blonde would've given their relationship another chance seeing that they had their talk. Nayara was impressed that Lauren actually considered her own needs and put herself first. "How did Bo react to that?"
"She seemed to understand. I gave it a lot of thought and even though I wanted us to get back together, I knew that I wasn't ready. There're still some things that I need to sort out for myself plus the fact that I need to be able to trust her again."
"And how do you feel about your decision?" Nayara asked.
"It was difficult to tell her as I didn't want to hurt her but I had to be honest. I know that I made the right choice. I need to focus on me for a change."
"As long as you're happy with your decision, that's all that matters." Nayara smiled proudly at her friend; she was happy to hear that Lauren finally realized that she had to take care of and look out for herself.
"Now I have some pressing matters to attend to – I need more bacon. Be right back." the Empath winked at her friend before making her way towards the meal line.
"Better now?" the blonde asked as the left the dining hall.
"Much!" Nayara grinned broadly but before she could say anything else, her cell phone beeped indicating that she received a text message.
"What is it?" Lauren asked upon seeing her friend furrow her brow.
"It's the lab… the results are taking longer than expected. It'll be another couple of hours before they're ready." The Empath sighed as she put her cell away.
Both women were quiet as they contemplated what this could mean. The samples could have been contaminated or there could have been issues with the testing; it could have been anything. Lauren rubbed Nayara's arm, trying to allay her concerns. "It's probably nothing. We can't do anything except wait so how about we check in on Serena?"
Nayara nodded; Lauren was right, it was best to stay calm and not get worked up. She was just anxious to find out if the results held the answers that they were looking for or if it was another dead end. All these months of her people falling ill and dying; this was the closest that they had been to finding an answer. She would have to be patient for a few more hours. Smiling at the blonde's optimism, she linked her arm in hers as they walked towards the ICU.
They were almost to Serena's room when Nayara stopped suddenly. "What's wrong?" Lauren asked concerned.
The Empath looked up into warm brown eyes and paused briefly before speaking. "Uh, nothing. I just realized that I forgot something in my apartment. Why don't you go ahead and I'll meet you at the lab. I'll visit with Serena later."
"Are you sure?"
"Of course." The brunette smiled, reassuring her. "Go ahead. I'll see you later." Nayara insisted.
Lauren looked at the Empath's retreating form, confused at her odd behaviour before turning and making her way to Serena's room.
The blonde was not expecting there to be anyone in the room much less the leather clad brunette that was sitting next to the Ignis' bed. "Bo?" Lauren said surprised.
The Succubus looked up, startled. "Lauren? Hi." She said as she stood up from her chair.
"Hi. Umm, not to sound rude but what are you doing here?" the blonde enquired gently.
"I… I thought I'd sit with Serena seeing that she doesn't have any family here. I figured it was the least I could do seeing that she saved your life." Bo said slightly embarrassed.
"Oh! Well, that's very … thoughtful of you." Lauren stammered out. She was still taken aback to find Bo there, much less the reason why she was visiting her bodyguard.
"I uh, I could leave." Bo said not wanting to make the blonde uncomfortable.
"No!" she said harsher than she had intended. "No, that's okay. Stay… please." The blonde said in a softer tone.
Bo nodded and returned to her seat as Lauren picked up Serena's chart. She sat in the chair next to Bo and scanned over the information.
"How is she doing?" the brunette asked as she observed her expression.
"There's no change. She's no better or worse." Lauren said as she flipped through the pages. "Her doctor may prolong her medical coma a little longer in the hope that it will speed up her healing."
"I'm sorry." Bo said sadly; she knew that the blonde was concerned about her friend.
Lauren only nodded in response; she felt helpless that she couldn't do anything to help her friend. All she could do was wait and hope for the best.
After Lauren replaced the chart, both women sat in an awkward silence not sure of what to say to one another. The Succubus decided to break the tension. "Could you tell me about Serena?" she said softly. "I'd like to get to know the woman who put herself in harm's way for you… She's obviously very courageous."
"I'd love to. And yes she is." Lauren smiled sweetly as she held Serena's hand.
This was the Bo that she knew – the kind, caring woman who thought of others before herself. The blonde was more than happy to talk about the Ignis and thought that it was very considerate and sweet of Bo to spend time with her friend especially since she didn't know her. In that moment, Lauren thought that maybe there was some hope for their friendship after all.
TBC