Author's Notes:

Sorry for the long delay, life has a way of throwing unexpected curve balls.

Thank you for all your reviews, PMs and friendly reminders – it means a great deal to me that you are still invested in "Time".

A very special thanks to T for her endless support and patience; and to my Beta, DinahWas for her numerous revisions, helpful suggestions and for helping me stay on track.

Disclaimer: Lost Girl isn't mine; I'm just borrowing their characters.

Chapter 22 – "Truth and Consequences - part 2"

ICU (early afternoon)

Serena was patient when doing certain things like stakeouts; monitoring clients for hours on end; or escorting VIPs from one location to the next, day in and day out; but convalescing did not fall into her list of things that she had patience for. She didn't do lying idly in bed; she didn't do recuperating; and she didn't do twiddling her thumbs even though they were restricted in a cast. If the Ignis could will herself to be a hundred percent better, she would. She would do anything and everything she could to hasten her recovery and be discharged so that she could return to work.

Having no choice but to remain in bed, the Ignis watched television and read magazines as a distraction but it didn't work. She couldn't stop thinking about the forest – replaying her actions and decisions and whether there was anything that she could've done differently; but mostly her thoughts were of concern for the doctor. It was just a matter of time before the blonde would return to the forest and she knew that she wouldn't be well enough to accompany her to ensure her safety. The Ignis let out a low growl. She felt useless and unable to do the one thing she was sent to Brazil to do.

Before she could continue berating herself, her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Looking up, she was surprised to see the Succubus standing there.

"Hi." Bo said quietly. "May I come in?"

Serena nodded and watched the brunette make her way to the chair next to her bed.

The brunette introduced herself. "I'm Bo."

"I know who you are." The Ignis said curtly as she eyed the Succubus carefully.

"Of course." Bo said with a soft smile, ignoring Serena's abruptness. "How are you feeling?"

"Annoyed at being stuck in here." the Ignis snarked as she raised both arm casts in disgust. Even though her breathing was less laboured and her head no longer ached, she was still frustrated as she felt she wasn't healing fast enough. Realizing that she should be appreciative for being alive, she added in a softer tone, "But feeling better than I did yesterday."

"Glad to hear." Bo said as she met Serena's gaze. "I just wanted to thank you for keeping Lauren safe… you're the reason she made it back alive." The word 'alive' quavered as it stumbled out of her mouth. Everything came rushing back as Bo remembered the overwhelming fear, worry and hopelessness she felt in not knowing whether Lauren was alive or dead. "I don't think I could've handled it if she didn't make it." she said in an almost whisper with a faraway look in her eyes.

Clearing her throat, Bo quickly collected herself and re-focused on the Ignis. "I won't forget what you did. If you ever need anything, just say the word." she said resolutely.

All the Ignis knew of the Succubus was that she had a reputation of causing trouble wherever she went. But having Bo Dennis show her gratitude and inadvertently admit that she cared for the doctor was a big surprise that threw her expectations out the window. "I will always look out for Dr. Lewis and do everything within my power to protect her." Serena said once she recovered from the Succubus' sincerity.

Bo smiled appreciatively at Serena's declaration of loyalty. "You know, I was worried about Lauren being in Brazil but now, I'm relieved. I know that she'll be safe because you have her back."

The bodyguard nodded her head slightly. "Yes and if anyone were to hurt or try to harm her, I would hunt them down and make them pay. That's a promise." Serena stated while staring icily at Bo.

Neither woman broke eye contact as the weight of Serena's words washed over them. Bo understood the meaning behind the Ignis' statement and accepted the threat without retaliating, grateful that she was protective of Lauren. "I'd expect nothing less." she said simply.

Deciding that she should leave before she outstayed her welcome, Bo stood up slowly. "Well, I should go so that you can get some rest. I hope you feel better soon."

Serena had been assessing the Succubus ever since she walked into the room and it impressed her that Bo kept her cool despite being threatened. However, it was Bo's words and following Lauren to Brazil that stood out as it showed that she cared about the doctor. Serena also knew that the Ash would never have approved the Succubus' visit if he doubted her intentions or if she couldn't prove herself.

The Ignis wrestled with her thoughts before calling out Bo's name and halting her exit. "Look out for her." she said softly. "She'll be heading back to the forest soon and it'll be dangerous. I would go if I could but..." her voice trailed off, figuring that there was no point in stating the obvious.

"I will. I promise on my life that I'll keep her safe." Bo swore to her. For the first time in 24 hours, Bo didn't feel hopeless and was thankful that someone within Lauren's inner circle trusted her with her safety. That reassurance gave her some glimmer of hope that if Lauren's friends were able to see how much she cared then maybe the blonde would also see and believe it too.

The Ignis gave her a conciliatory nod. Even though Bo Dennis was impetuous and stubborn, the doctor would be in good hands with her and this realization brought Serena some peace of mind.

Lab (a few hours later)

Nayara knocked on the office door and walked in but there was no response. "Lauren." she called out but there was still no reaction from the blonde who sat at her desk, deep in thought, scribbling on a pad of paper. Walking over to the desk, Nayara gently placed her hand on Lauren's shoulder and inadvertently startled her.

"Gods!" Lauren exclaimed as she jumped in her seat, dropping her pen in the process. "You scared me!"

Nayara shrugged her shoulders apologetically, "I knocked on the door and called your name. Are you alright?"

"Just pre-occupied." the blonde admitted.

The brunette wrinkled her brow, "About your test sample?" she asked before glancing at the page filled with doodles.

"No," she sighed, "…about Bo."

The Empath took Lauren's hand, forced her to stand and led her over to the couch where they could both sit down comfortably. "What happened?" she asked as they angled themselves to face one another.

Lauren rubbed her forehead and upon releasing a deep breath, proceeded to tell Nayara everything. The brunette listened and was shocked at how things had deteriorated between the two women. However, after hearing Lauren's side of the story and thinking back to how despondent and regretful Bo was, everything started to make sense.

"I just was so tired of all our half-truths and leaving things unsaid." she said in frustration as she ran her fingers through her hair. "I decided that I needed to be honest about everything, so I told her that we kissed and that I asked you to feed off of me."

"Oh! How did that go?" Nayara asked, surprised.

"Not well." Lauren admitted as she looked down at her feet. "It came out harsher than I intended." She closed her eyes in an attempt to gather her thoughts but the respite only caused her emotions to bubble to the surface agitatedly. "She just infuriates me… treating me like a possession! I get that from the Fae in Toronto."

"I just didn't expect that from her." Her voice was brittle as she wrapped her arms around her torso and shook her head with regret. "I thought that she had changed so I let her back in."

Lauren let out a weary sigh as the hurt and disappointment took its toll. "She gave me hope. I should've known better…. expectations only lead to disappointment." she said softly as she swallowed her tears.

Nayara's heart felt heavy as her friend vented her frustrations. She thought that if Lauren talked about how she felt, her mood might improve but instead she saw Lauren rebuild all the walls that she had torn down. Leaning forward, Nayara gave the blonde's knee a light squeeze, "Don't give up hope, Lauren. Things aren't always as they seem." concern laced her voice.

The blonde remained lost in her thoughts and didn't reply so Nayara continued to speak. "You should know that Bo came to see me last night."

That statement got Lauren's attention. "What?! Why?"

"She wanted to apologize to me for being a jealous and immature ass – her words, not mine. Then she thanked me for being your friend and looking out for you." the Empath said matter of factly.

Lauren opened and closed her mouth wordlessly, experiencing difficulty coming to terms with a humble and apologetic Bo moments after she had shown herself to be very selfish, jealous and possessive.

"I know that she said things that hurt you but I really don't think she meant it-"

"Then why did she say it then?!" Lauren interrupted angrily.

"If I had to guess, I'd say that it probably had something to do with her needing to feed. She told me that she had gone without chi for a long time." Nayara divulged.

"Why wouldn't she feed?" the blonde asked, perplexed by this revelation.

"I honestly don't know. You would have to ask her." the Empath said delicately. "All I know is that she must've been starving. It took the chi of fifteen of my staff last night to quell her hunger."

"Fifteen? What?!" Lauren exclaimed as she stood abruptly; shocked that Bo allowed her hunger to get to such an extreme point.

"That was my idea actually." Nayara admitted. "Long story short was that Kenzi and I were at Néctar with some of the other scientists and lab techs when Bo came looking for me. After she apologized, she almost fainted and confessed that she needed to feed. She said that she just needed to siphon chi but as it had been some time since she had last fed, she would need to feed from many."

The blonde stood still and silently listened as Nayara continued to relate the events. "I asked if anyone would be willing to help and those that wanted to, came with me to the lab. In order to alleviate any fear or concern, Bo told them what she was going to do and what would happen. Once consent was given, she sucked their chi. Kenzi and I watched from the outer lab - no one was hurt and Bo felt better afterwards."

Lauren didn't know what to say as she looked at the far wall, lost in thought. Her mind raced as pieces of the puzzle started to fall into place: Bo's strange, anti-social behaviour; her moodiness; her irrational anger and jealousy; her possessiveness – it all began to make sense.

The blonde shook her head in disappointment. "How could I have not seen the signs?" she muttered.

"None of us saw it, Lauren. Not you, me or Kenzi. Bo didn't let on that she needed to feed plus I think we were all distracted with finally being able to relax that we didn't pick up on the signals." the Empath said reassuringly.

"I know but still, I should've-"

"Lauren." the Empath interrupted, "Why would anyone assume that Bo needed to feed when she knows how to take care of her hunger?" Nayara said trying to be the voice of reason.

Lauren was about to blame herself but couldn't refute the logic. She instantly felt relief knowing that she hadn't imagined her and Bo's re-connection, however, that feeling was fleeting as disappointment and frustration returned.

Nayara saw a range of emotions flit across Lauren's face and knew that she had to stop the blonde from shutting down even more. "Bo didn't tell me what happened between the two of you last night but I knew that something was wrong by how she was behaving. At the time I thought that maybe it was her hunger but honestly, she seemed really sad."

"This doesn't change anything Nay." the blonde said disappointedly. "I've been trying to trust her but how can I if she can't be honest with me?"

The brunette shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not excusing her actions but maybe she had her reasons. And for your own peace of mind, you need to hear them… from Bo."

Lauren shook her head, not wanting to give in again; she hated feeling this weak when it came to Bo.

"Look, all I can say is that Bo surprised me last night. She was mature, humble and remorseful. Then when she admitted to me – of all people - that she was starving; well, it put her in a very vulnerable position." Nayara stated honestly. "I knew then that she had to have been in a great deal of pain. I imagine that trying to manage her hunger all day only prolonged her suffering."

The blonde's shoulders drooped. Part of her was so hurt and angry at how Bo treated her and the other part felt guilty for feeling that way if Bo's hunger had indeed dictated her actions. "I've been slowly letting her in since she arrived here. Everything was going well but last night was a reminder of how easily she can hurt me." Lauren divulged.

Nayara sensed that Lauren was holding back and decided that she needed a little push to force her to accept the truth of her feelings. "You always knew that Lauren, what exactly are you afraid of?"

Lauren let out a heavy sigh. The weight of her fears felt heavy on her shoulders and she was so tired of holding on to them. Sitting back down, she crumbled. "Here in Brazil, I have you and Serena and my work is meaningful. It's the most normal my life has ever been with the Fae. I try not to think about it but I know when I return to Toronto, I won't have you anymore and Serena will return to her regular job. I will be back to being alone and a slave with only whatever work and research is cast upon me." she admitted despondently.

Leaning back, Lauren tilted her head up and stared at the ceiling. "Everyone there thinks I'm a workaholic. The truth is that I didn't work long hours because I wanted to; I did it because I needed to. I did it to keep myself sane. Working distracts me from thinking about everything that I've lost and the life that I will never have again. I dread having to return to that emptiness." the blonde confessed.

Lauren let out a shaky breath as she looked over at Nayara. "It would be so easy to get lost in Bo again. But I'm afraid of that now. I'm afraid of being engulfed by that joy as it becomes the only light in my dismal world. I'm also afraid of that light being extinguished. It's just not healthy to have one person be my entire source of happiness."

Nayara leaned forward and captured the blonde's hands in her own and gave them a gentle squeeze. "Lauren, you are one of the strongest people I know. I really don't know how you survived as long as you have because I know for a fact that I couldn't. You are so much stronger than you think." the Empath said resolutely. "I want more than anything for you to be happy and it kills me that I can't do anything for you there." she added in a worried voice.

Lauren gave her friend a weary smile and squeezed her hands in return. "I know, Nay. It's okay." she said softly.

The blonde felt hopeless. "I just don't know what to do. It's like being able to see the future and knowing that it's going to be bleak but being helpless to change it. I try not to think about it but I know it's inevitable."

"First of all," Nayara's soothing voice piped up breaking Lauren out of her dejected thoughts, "you haven't lost me and you never will. I will always be here for you." she said honestly, her voice steeped with emotion. As soon as she made her declaration, she immediately closed her eyes and hoped that her deeper feelings hadn't betrayed her.

Quickly recovering, Nayara continued on her mission to reassure her friend. "Secondly, there is no way that Serena will ditch you once you are both back in Toronto – she is beyond loyal. And last but not least, you are not the same person that you were before you came here, Lauren. You are more confident; you take better care of yourself; you are aware of your not-so-healthy habits; and you have hobbies outside of work that you enjoy. I'm not saying that your life will now be a walk in the park but I think all these changes will make life a lot more bearable and perhaps, easier."

The blonde gave a subtle nod of her head as she maintained eye contact and listened to the Empath. She knew that her friend was making sense but fear held onto her tightly and she was finding it difficult to pry its fingers loose.

Nayara treaded carefully as she continued to use a logical approach to break through Lauren's walls. "As for relationships, you are more than aware that another individual - whether it's with Bo or with someone else - can't be your everything. You need to trust yourself, Lauren. Trust your instincts and let yourself experience happiness whenever you can. If you keep your walls up in order to protect yourself, it's a sure fire way of also keeping happiness at bay."

The Empath could see both women's perspectives and it saddened her that after all this time, their relationship was still driven by pride and miscommunication. "Lauren, you believe in facts. You look at all the information presented before coming to a conclusion."

Nayara paused to watch the blonde process her words. As Nayara looked at Lauren she couldn't help but think how amazing she was and how easily the blonde had made her way into her heart. The Empath had believed that she would never find love after the tragic loss of her family and after eons of being resigned to this belief, Lauren appeared; opened up her heart; and gave her hope again.

Nayara knew that if circumstances were different, she and Lauren would be more than friends. This fact was difficult to accept but she understood Lauren's situation and wanted to be respectful, unfortunately, it was more difficult for her heart to be so accepting. Nayara wished that she felt differently but no matter how much she tried she couldn't change her feelings, so she did the only thing she could - she hid them. She knew that her heartache would eventually recede but until then she would persevere as she didn't want to jeopardize her friendship with Lauren.

The Empath released a soft sigh. It would be so easy to look the other way and not push the subject further but she couldn't. It wasn't who she was. More importantly, Nayara hated seeing Lauren suffer - all she wanted was for Lauren to be happy even if it meant being with another.

She returned to the task at hand. "I know that you don't want to open yourself up to further heartache but do you know for certain that last night's situation was because Bo hasn't changed and that it had nothing to do with her hunger?"

Nayara observed Lauren's crinkled brow and pensive eyes and knew that she was getting through as she delivered her final point. "You know that I'm not in Bo's fan club but don't you think you deserve to hear what she has to say before you make a decision you might regret?"

Lauren nibbled on her bottom lip as she considered Nayara's words. She knew that she couldn't argue with her friend's rationale and realized that in her attempt to protect herself, she was being obstinate and proud. Releasing a heavy sigh, the blonde knew what had to be done. "You're right." she said resolutely. "I need to have all the facts before I can make a decision about our relationship once and for all. I'll hear Bo out."

Lauren knew that there was a good chance that her emotions would dictate her actions again so she decided that it probably would be best to be more analytical when talking with Bo. She was tired of all the back and forth, as she imagined Bo was as well, and knew that they both needed to have an open, honest and conflict-free discussion before things could be resolved.

Turning her attention back to her friend, Lauren smiled warmly. "Thank you for your patience and guidance and for helping me see reason. I was too caught up in my stubborn emotions."

"Anytime. That's what friends are for." Nayara smiled weakly as she looked away.

Lauren quickly bridged the distance between them and pulled Nayara into a tight embrace. "I don't think you know how important you are to me. You've given me more than you could ever imagine and I will forever be grateful. Thank you." she said softly in Nayara's ear.

The Empath's heart crumbled when she heard Lauren's words and felt the warmth of her body against hers. Blinking back her tears, Nayara knew her voice would betray her so she remained silent and continued to hug Lauren who was oblivious to her emotional turmoil.

After an hour of wandering around the compound thinking, Lauren knew that she couldn't delay things any longer. Making her way to the residential area, she stood in front of Bo's door with eyes closed and both hands closed in loose fists, repeating her mantra. "Stay calm, stay logical; stay calm, stay logical." she exhaled in a low, breathy whisper. Lauren hated feeling vulnerable but knew that she had to push through it if she wanted to know the truth. Releasing a deep, cleansing breath, she opened her eyes and lightly rapped on the door.

"Lauren? Hi." Bo managed to choke out; surprised to see the blonde standing at her door.

"Hi." Lauren said evenly despite the tension she felt.

Bo wasn't expecting to see Lauren and fidgeted slightly as she held the door open for her. "Please, come in. Have a seat." the brunette said, indicating to the couch.

As Lauren sat, she couldn't help but recall all the times they had spent on Bo's tattered couch talking, laughing and cuddling. Reminiscing about these happier times made her miss Bo's tenderness and the contentment she felt with her. These memories instantly generated feelings of unbearable loss and doubts of whether they could ever get back what they had. Needing to collect herself, Lauren avoided eye contact and took in her surroundings; clearing her throat and adjusting her posture as she did so.

Bo didn't want to add to Lauren's obvious discomfort and purposely sat an arm's length away while she blamed herself for the emotional chasm between them. As an awkward silence engulfed them, her thoughts drifted to happier times of lazy mornings cradled in each other's arms and rare instances of domestic bliss spent cooking in her rickety kitchen. These were the little things that Bo took for granted and her heart felt heavy faced with the possibility of never having those moments again.

"So-"; "How are-" they blurted out simultaneously.

"Sorry, you first." Bo insisted.

Before Lauren could speak, a very enthusiastic Goth barged into the living room and captured everyone's attention.

"Yo, BoBear! "Who was at the-" Kenzi asked before halting in mid-sentence. "Oh, hey Hot Pants." she said as casually as possible.

"Hi Kenzi." Lauren replied, trying to keep the exhaustion out of her voice.

It didn't take a rocket scientist to see the tension between both women. Not missing a beat, Kenzi turned to Bo and gave her a subtle wink. "Just wanted to let you know that I'm heading off to that thing so don't wait up." she fibbed as she made a hasty exit from the apartment.

Bo used Kenzi's interruption to collect herself. "It's really good to see you." she said honestly despite her concern of receiving terrible news.

Lauren gave her a faint smile as she braced herself for the brunette's response. "What happened yesterday, Bo?" she asked delicately as she steadied restless fingers on her lap. "Nayara spoke to me but I'd like to hear your side."

"What? That I acted like an immature, jealous ass? That's common knowledge." Bo said glibly, trying to diffuse some of the tension.

"Bo. Please." Lauren pressed, keeping her voice steady.

As much as Bo welcomed the opportunity to tell her side of the story, she also dreaded it. Releasing a shaky breath, she blurted out her admission. "I hadn't fed in a while and needed chi. Badly. Everything that went down yesterday was because I was an idiot and I was starving."

Lauren remained silent as she processed this information but the brunette could sense the questions whirling about in her head. "It wasn't on purpose. It's just that with your attack and thinking you were dead; the tension between us; and our working on our friendship – feeding wasn't my priority and I just kept putting it off. I know it sounds lame but it's the truth."

"How long did you go without feeding?" the blonde asked, ensuring that her tone was not accusatory.

Bo bowed her head, unable to look at Lauren and replied feebly. "Before I flew out here… about 10 days."

"10 days! Bo-" Lauren exclaimed.

The Succubus raised her hand, stopping the blonde from continuing her sentence. "Trust me, there's nothing you can say that I haven't already told myself. I screwed up."

Without thinking, Lauren leaned forward and rested her hand on Bo's forearm. "Are you alright? How are you feeling now?" she asked, her voice gentle and laced with concern.

Lauren's heart fluttered. Feeling Bo's skin under hers instantly brought about feelings of comfort and longing, making it difficult to deny how much she had missed the brunette. Knowing that it would be very easy to get lost in the emotion, Lauren forced herself to slowly retract her hand and lean away.

Bo immediately missed the warmth of Lauren's hand and swallowed her disappointment, recognizing that Lauren had every right to be apprehensive. "I'm okay thanks to Nayara. I imagine she told you what she did?"

The blonde nodded. "I just don't understand why you would go an extended period without feeding."

The Succubus rubbed at the tension growing at the back of her neck. "Normally, I wouldn't go so long without feeding but since my Dawning, I've been able to hold on to chi for longer periods of time. It's like I can tap into it when I need to so I don't have to feed as often." she explained.

Lauren's eyes grew wide at this information. "That's amazing Bo! This means that you're even more in tune with your Succubus nature." she gushed. "I told you that you were a perfect biological specimen of your kind!"

For one brief moment, it felt like old times having the doctor geek out over her Fae abilities and Bo couldn't help but grin when she saw Lauren's cheeks redden at the realization.

Clearing her throat, Lauren quickly regained her composure. "But that doesn't explain why you didn't feed when you knew you had to. Why hide it?"

Bo averted her eyes momentarily. "Everyone was having a good time and I didn't want to spoil that. But mainly, I didn't want to feed in front of you after everything we'd gone through. I thought it'd be insulting."

"Oh." Lauren breathed out in surprise, not expecting that response. She was bracing herself for a worst case scenario of Bo intentionally lying or hurting her but instead it was the complete opposite - Bo was trying to be respectful and considerate. This revelation left the doctor speechless.

Bo didn't know how to read Lauren's reaction and panic quickly settled in as she rambled nervously. "We were starting to get comfortable around one another again and I didn't want my first time feeding to be so… blatant. I figured I could hold out and feed when we got back to the compound but as the evening went on, it just got worse."

Lauren quickly gathered her thoughts and looked into Bo's eyes. "I appreciate that you were trying to be considerate but you should know that I would never want you to starve or go against your nature." she said gently as she lightly patted Bo's arm.

"I know." The brunette said quietly, aware of the sudden rush of heat in her cheeks the instant Lauren touched her.

"Is that why you were so anti-social and… grumpy?" Lauren asked tactfully, removing her hand in spite of her desire to comfort Bo.

Bo lowered her gaze. "You can say it Lauren, I was a total bitch."

When Bo looked back at her, Lauren saw the shame hidden in her chocolate brown orbs and the blonde felt guilty for allowing her anger to get the better of her.

Unable to contain her regret any longer, Bo crumbled. "I'm so sorry, Lauren. Hurting you was the last thing that I ever wanted to do. I was just so incredibly hungry and miserable and I lashed out. I wasn't myself and I didn't mean any of those horrible things that I said."

Lauren silently processed the Succubus' words as she tried to ease her conflicting emotions. Her hurt and frustration were like a fire that was suddenly doused with water: smoke and steam replaced flame but there were still some burning embers. Even though she knew the truth, damage was still done. On the one hand, she felt relief knowing that everything they had been working towards had been real and not imagined but on the other hand, she felt disappointed that she opened herself up only to be hurt again. "I appreciate that you didn't intend on hurting me Bo. I really do. But you need to understand something." she said as she looked into the brunette's eyes.

"I've changed." Lauren said in an unwavering voice as she leaned in slightly towards Bo. "Being here has been incredibly rewarding not just professionally but also personally. I'm making a difference as a doctor, which before things went to hell in the Congo, I never thought I'd experience again. I also have friends and co-workers who respect me and treat me as an equal." she explained with a warm smile. "But as wonderful as this is, it's going to be even harder to give it up knowing that my life in Toronto is going to be the exact opposite."

"Lauren-"

"Bo, please, let me finish."

"The reason I'm telling you this is because I've realized that I need to depend on me and I can't have any one person be my only source of happiness. I want to be as independent and as happy as I can given my circumstances." Lauren looked away briefly, steeling herself for the possibility of another fight but knowing that Bo deserved to know the reason for her motivation.

Sitting upright, she peered into Bo's eyes. "When we were together, you were the only good thing in my life. But after Nadia's death and everything that happened with us…"

Lauren took a second to breathe in deeply and compose herself; rolling her shoulders back before continuing. "I just don't have the strength to deal with the possibility of having my heart broken as well as having to adjust to being a slave again." she admitted as she instinctively wrapped her arms around herself.

Bo moved closer to the doctor. "I know I sound like a broken record but I won't hurt you again Lauren. I've changed. Things are different."

The blonde's voice unintentionally rose in pitch. "That's the thing, Bo, things are different. Here. In Brazil. It's like going on vacation and being away from one's family, friends, responsibilities and problems. Everything is wonderful and different and freeing."

Lauren felt herself getting agitated. Standing abruptly, she crossed the room, took a steadying breath and turned to face Bo; her tone calmer. "The thing with vacations is that it eventually comes to an end and one has to go back home… reality comes rushing in and routines resume."

"The freedom I've had here in Brazil can't be the last I'll ever taste, Bo." she said as she unconsciously rubbed her forehead. "When I return, I plan on talking to Hale in the hopes that he would allow me more autonomy with research and treatment especially if it means that the Light will benefit from it. This is something that will give me a sense of accomplishment and purpose."

Bo appreciated the fact that Lauren was no longer being secretive but was concerned that she was setting herself up to be disappointed. "I'm not trying to dash your hopes but what's to stop Hale from being an Ass-hat again or the Fae Elders getting in the way?"

"I know that's a possibility. I'm not naïve. Hale has shown that he will support me when he can, mainly if it's something that the Elders won't fight him on. I know this and hope to use it to my advantage. I have no choice but to try." she said adamantly.

This plan had only existed in the shadows of Lauren's mind but once she vocalized it and brought it into the light, she realized how much she wanted it to happen. "Coming here, I've realized what's been missing from my life. So much has happened since the Congo that I never thought I'd feel this way again… I have a purpose! My work means something. I can't go back to the way things were before I left Toronto."

Bo saw the spark in Lauren's eyes and heard the determination in her voice and knew that she wouldn't give up. It had been a while since she had seen that passion in the blonde and she hoped with all her heart that her plan would work out. "Things won't be the same as before. It will be better." Bo said reassuringly.

"I really hope so." Lauren said wistfully as she paused and switched her focus away from work. There was another issue waiting for her in Toronto - one of a personal nature and which ate away at her confidence. "And Dyson and Tamsin?" the blonde asked shakily, trying to keep the hurt out of her voice.

Bo looked into Lauren's eyes as she stood and quickly bridged the distance between them. "I know what I want and it's you, Lauren." she said resolutely as she faced the blonde and took her hands in hers. "No one else."

Lauren's eyes were glistening as she kept her tears at bay. As she regarded their entwined fingers, she released the breath she was holding and looked back into Bo's eyes before divulging her fear. "I've missed you so much Bo but yesterday was a reminder of how easily you can hurt me… I have to be one hundred percent certain. I need to see how things will be when we are both back in Toronto and life resumes its normal pace, post-vacation."

Lauren was moved by the sadness reflected in Bo's eyes but knew she had to be steadfast. "Trust takes time and because of that, friendship is all I can offer... I just don't know how long that will take."

"I understand." Bo said heavy heartedly as Lauren slowly unlaced her fingers from the brunette's.

Bo was disappointed in herself. She knew that there would be consequences to her actions and right now she was neck deep in it. However, despite it all, she was relieved that Lauren hadn't given up on her. That gave her some hope and Bo was going to hold on to that for all she had.

Armed with a renewed sense of purpose, she maintained eye contact as she made her vow. "Time is something that I've got plenty of and I will do whatever it takes to earn back your trust, Lauren. I don't want to lose you or your friendship."

The doctor gave her a faint smile. "All I ask is for you to be honest with me as I promise to be honest with you."

"I will. I promise." she swore.

Bo was up to the challenge to win over this 'newly changed, more self-aware' Lauren but there was one thing she needed to address and she knew that it was risky to do so. Shaking her hands out at her sides, she adjusted her posture as she came to her decision. "We can't do a clean slate if you're afraid of me. I know that trust takes time but this won't work if you're afraid that I will hurt you." she stated calmly despite the churning in her stomach.

Lauren dropped her gaze as she considered Bo's words. Meanwhile, Bo fidgeted as her anxiety and the silence in the room, grew.

After a few moments, Lauren's voice broke through the stillness. "A clean slate is…" she paused to choose her words carefully and took a deep breath. As she looked at Bo, she smiled warmly. "You're right. A clean slate is just that – a fresh start. I promise to have an open mind." she said genuinely.

Though relieved, Bo still felt lost and needed clear direction. "Where do we go from here?" she asked hesitantly.

The doctor was emotionally drained but felt calm and reassured now that they had cleared the air. "We're friends." she said simply.

"Friends…" Bo reiterated softly as she looked at her feet to hide her confusion and intimidation on how to proceed. The last thing she wanted was to make the wrong move and wreck what was undoubtedly her last chance with Lauren.

"And friends can have breakfast together, right?" Lauren asked shyly, pulling Bo out of her thoughts.

Bo gave her a huge, dimpled smile as her concern was averted. "Friends do that all the time. I would love that!"

Before Lauren could respond, her cell phone beeped indicating a message. After reading the text from Nayara, the doctor looked up at Bo with a beaming smile on her face. "Well, it will have to be a very early breakfast." she said excitedly. "I've gotten the go ahead to proceed with my antidote! We leave for Mata Atlantica tomorrow morning."

"We?" Bo asked in confusion.

Lauren paused and took in Bo's hesitation. Stepping closer, she placed a soft hand on the brunette's elbow. "Yes, we. This could be one of my most important discoveries yet. Why wouldn't I want you there with me?"

The doctor took in the brunette's confused look and thought that maybe she was being presumptuous. "I mean, I'm not forcing you to come. You don't have to if you don't want to." she said gently, not wanting to guilt Bo into anything.

Bo's puzzled expression was instantly replaced with a massive grin. "Of course! I wouldn't miss this for the world." she said happily.

"Good! Now go get Kenzi and pack your bags." Lauren said, smiling.

TBC