Author's Notes:
I apologize for the disgustingly long period of time between posts and offer you this extra long chapter to make up for it.
As always, a huge thank you for all the reviews and PMs! It always means a great deal to me to hear from you.
Full sentences in italics represent internal thoughts; while single words in italics are for emphasis.
Special thanks to: T for always believing in me and for her unlimited patience. And to my wonderful Beta, Dinahwas for her amazing insight and recommendations and for helping me make 'Time' better.
Disclaimer: Lost Girl and her characters aren't mine; I'm just borrowing them. A little inspiration was taken from S2 E8.
Chapter 24 – "Into the Jungle - part 2"
Day 4 – Village #4
This was their fourth day in the jungle and Bo and Kenzi had quickly fallen into a routine. The past few days had been monotonous with each day finding them travelling to a different village either on foot or by SUV; setting up their equipment; inoculating the villagers; packing up the equipment; and returning to Base Camp. Because of this continuous exposure, the forest wasn't as foreboding to the Succubus and not as annoying to the Goth - it didn't mean that they were thrilled to be in the jungle, just that they had gotten used to it.
Despite the comfort of routine, it was the evenings that Bo looked forward to – after decontamination and supper – Bo and Lauren would meet up at the Fire Pit. Both women would look at the stars and talk about their day, their past or just sit in comfortable silence enjoying each other's company. It was during these moments that they learned more about one another - Bo about Karen Beattie and Lauren about a young Beth. Though Bo wished that their relationship was more romantic than platonic, she could honestly say that she was very happy with the progress that they had made with their friendship and that she knew more about Lauren now than she did when she was in Toronto.
Today the team was headed to the fourth and final village. Even though it was going to take a little over an hour to drive there, Bo and Kenzi were just thankful that they didn't have to hike. The trip there was quiet with each woman doing their own thing: Lauren reviewed notes; Kenzi slept with her head resting against Bo's shoulder; while Bo stared out at the scenery and periodically, at the blonde.
When they arrived at the village, Bo noticed that Lauren seemed excited and was practically beaming, causing her to give the blonde a questioning look.
Lauren explained, "I've been here before - they are very welcoming. Plus, there's someone that I'd like you to meet."
The Succubus silently wondered who was so special that made the doctor smile so openly. Lauren was normally guarded and because of that, very few got to see how beautiful and radiant her smile was - one that Bo hoped would be directed at her again someday.
As they got out of the SUV and started to take out their gear, Bo heard a shout. She looked in the direction of the sound and caught sight of a cute, skinny, little boy around eight years of age with brown hair and dark olive complexion. He sported a huge smile and was almost tripping over his own feet as he ran towards them.
"Dr. Lauren! Dr. Lauren!" he shouted enthusiastically before he leapt into her waiting arms.
"Luc!" The blonde had an elated grin on her face as she spun him around in the air; both giggling as she did so. When she put him down, she cradled him into her and noticed that the top of his head was now meeting her stomach. "You've gotten taller!" She exclaimed as she gently combed wavy, brown tendrils out of his face to get a better look at him. "And your hair has gotten longer too. I like it!"
He beamed from ear to ear at the compliment. "I grew a couple of inches since you last saw me!" He said excitedly, out of breath.
"I can tell. Before I know it, you'll be as tall as me!" she gushed as she tussled his hair.
Lauren turned away from the little boy and came face to face with Bo who was observing them with interest. "Luc, these are my friends Bo and Kenzi. They are visiting from Toronto." She gestured to the brunette and then to the Goth who had just sidled up to them. "This is Luciano, he's my personal assistant whenever I visit." She smiled as she placed her hand on his shoulder and gave him a gentle squeeze.
"Hey little man." Kenzi gave a subtle wave of her hand.
Bo bent forward and stretched out her hand. "It's very nice to meet you."
Luciano noticed how close the brunette was standing to the doctor and frowned slightly. "Bo. That's a strange name." he replied as he shook her hand vigorously.
The brunette smiled at the little boy's bluntness. "I get that all the time. It's my nickname. My name is Isabeau but all my friends call me Bo. What about your name?" she asked politely.
"My friends call me Luc but my family name is Luciano Vicente Jamil Ferreira Juarez, son of César Cristian Juarez who is Chief of this village." he declared in the most official voice he could muster.
"That's a very impressive name." she smiled sweetly at him.
"Family names are important." He puffed out his little chest as he carefully recited what his father had taught him. "I'm not allowed to use nicknames unless I know you a long time. Father says it's out of respect."
"Your father sounds like a smart man." the brunette agreed. "But you can still call me Bo."
Luc furrowed his brow as he deliberated quietly. "One day I will be Chief. But father says not until I'm ready… when I know how to act like a gent-tell-man." He formed the word slowly.
"That makes sense." The brunette responded but uncertain of what the little Fae boy was getting at.
Straightening his posture, he peered into the Succubus' eyes. "We just met. I can't call you Bo. It wouldn't be prop-pur."
All three women smiled subtly and thought Luciano was very cute as he tried to act older than he was.
The little boy was oblivious as he continued to explain himself. "When we know each other better, we can use our nicknames. For now, I will call you Isabeau. And you shall call me Luciano Vicente Jamil Ferreira." His tone was serious as his name rolled off his tongue rapidly.
Bo's smile instantly disappeared, no longer finding the situation funny or Luciano cute. She was stunned by his audacity and glanced over at Lauren for guidance who simply shrugged her shoulders as she tried to hide her smirk. The Succubus didn't understand why this little boy was giving her attitude but before she could respond, he abruptly turned away from her, grabbed the doctor's hand and smiled. "Come Dr. Lauren! I know my parents would like to see you." He said as he started to pull her towards the village.
The doctor looked over her shoulder at Bo and mouthed 'sorry' to her as she allowed herself to be dragged away.
Bo blinked a couple of times as she tried to process what just happened. "Did that twerp just-"
"Yup!" Kenzi interrupted. "You were shut down by a little boy."
"Wow!" Bo muttered under her breath, confused by what had transpired.
"It's okay, I won't tell anyone that a kid dissed you..." The Goth gave her a cheeky 'there there' pat on her back. "for a price!"
"Gee, thanks Kenz." Bo replied sarcastically as her eyes followed Lauren and the young boy.
"Anytime BoBolicious. Though I have to be honest, you're seriously losing your touch if you can't charm a little boy." Kenzi gave her a mischievous wink.
"Whatever." Bo mumbled as she made her way towards Lauren while ignoring her best friend's laughter.
Just like the other villages, the doctors and scientists set up in the Main Hall as it was the best location to administer the injections. Bo stood back to give Lauren and her patients some privacy, allowing her eyes to roam in order to study everyone and her surroundings. With all the conversations, it tended to get loud in the hall but the brunette had learnt to tune out the noise, focusing instead on the blonde doctor and those around her. She watched as the villagers – young and old - patiently waited in line, talking and laughing with one another to pass the time as they gradually inched forward.
Bo noticed how the doctor and the boy interacted: how she chatted with him in-between treating her patients and the way he laughed and hung on to her every word when the doctor answered question after question. Her fondness for Luc warmed Bo's heart. She had never seen Lauren so carefree, happy and unguarded as she interacted with all the children. She hoped more than anything that the blonde might be that carefree when they returned to Toronto.
They had been there about an hour when Bo noticed that the noise level in the hall had risen. As she looked around to determine the cause, she witnessed approximately eight older women descend upon Kenzi. Bo saw panic in her eyes as the Goth searched for her, mouthing the words 'save me' when their eyes met.
The Succubus moved swiftly to intervene but halted in her tracks when she realized that her friend wasn't in danger. With Kenzi's tiny frame, the elderly women thought her to be malnourished and took it upon themselves to help her as they ushered her to the far corner of the hall. There, they forced her to sit at a table and the seniors fussed over her like a mother would a child, gently pinching her cheeks and squeezing her skinny arms. Heaping plates of food were placed in front of her and the appetizing aroma instantly silenced Kenzi's protests. A broad grin quickly replaced the alarm on her face as she rubbed her hands together gleefully. Bo smiled as she watched her friend dive into her bounty of food before turning her attention back to Lauren.
Bo was keeping an eye on Lauren when Luciano walked up to her. They stood in silence with the brunette watching the doctor and the little boy watching Bo. A few moments passed before she heard his voice. "You like her, don't you?"
"Sorry?" The Succubus looked down at him, puzzled.
He made a face, slightly annoyed that he had to explain himself. "Dr. Lauren. You like her."
Bo smiled automatically at the mention of Lauren's name and knelt down so that she would be at his eye level. "Very much."
"You should know, when I'm old enough, I'm going to ask her to marry me."
"You are?!" Bo acted surprised and suppressed her grin. "May I ask why you want to marry her?"
The little boy smiled broadly at the question. "Because she's wonderful! She's beautiful and smart and makes me laugh… she's also trying to save us, which makes her very brave. And she has really, really nice hair!" he gushed.
"Those are all good reasons to want to marry her." Bo agreed. "But suppose she has other suitors, what would you do?" She asked gently, trying not to crush the little boy's dreams but rather, wanting to know how serious he was.
"What are soot-oars?" He asked, frowning.
"A suitor is someone like you, who knows how amazing Lauren is; and like you, may want to marry her someday." Bo explained trying to keep her emotions out of her voice. Marriage was never something she had ever considered as a Succubus but after Lauren left, she realized that life was meaningless without her - the blonde had her heart. She knew that no one else could fill that void or make her feel the way Lauren did. At that moment, she understood 'mate for life' and let herself imagine being married to the doctor.
"Oh! There can be more than one soot-oar?" Luciano asked as his shoulders slumped slightly.
Bo nodded her head and felt a little guilty about bursting his bubble. He stood quietly staring at the ground and she could tell that he was considering her words.
A few moments passed before his head jerked up and his index finger shot in the air. "I know! I will prove myself. I will show Dr. Lauren that I am the best soot-oar and then she will choose me!" he said excitedly.
Bo smiled sadly; in a matter of moments this little boy came up with the same plan that took her weeks to stubbornly figure out. She closed her eyes and sighed. "To be worthy of her love." she whispered, unintentionally vocalizing her thoughts.
Luciano heard her comment but didn't understand. "Huh?"
Bo looked back at him with regret. "To be worthy. It means that you will do everything you can to show how much you love her - every day. Not just with your words but also what you do… by being the best person you can be to earn her respect and love."
Luciano nodded his head excitedly. "Yes! I will do that. Make myself wur-thee."
Bo smiled sweetly at the little boy. "If you do that, you will definitely be ahead of all the other suitors. Dr. Lauren is definitely worth the effort."
Luciano had a huge grin on his face, proud of coming up with a good plan. "Yes, she is! Dr. Lauren is wonderful." However, before she could say anything else to him, a woman who Bo assumed was his mother, called him away. The brunette turned her attention back to Lauren and felt butterflies in her stomach just from gazing upon her. "Yes, she is." she whispered.
It was the end of another long day as Lauren knelt down and started putting her equipment away. She was exhausted but happy with what they had accomplished in the past four days and now they had to wait and see if the trial antidote worked.
The blonde's thoughts were soon interrupted by a familiar voice that automatically made her smile. She glanced up just as small arms enveloped her, almost toppling her over. Laughter resonated in her voice as she returned the embrace. "What did I do to deserve such a wonderful hug?" she asked.
"I have to go to bed now. I won't see you leave." Luciano mumbled into her hair as he squeezed tighter. "I'm going to miss you." He sulked.
Lauren rubbed soothing circles on his back before pulling away slightly to look into his eyes. "I'm going to miss you too but you know what?"
"What?" he asked in an almost whisper.
"I will be back in four days and we will be able to spend time together. You can tell me all about your adventures." She said sweetly.
"Really?!" his eyes opened wide; a grin now replacing his pout.
She nodded with a smile. "Really."
Luciano hugged her again and Lauren felt her heart swell as she held him. She gave him a kiss on his cheek and told him goodbye before watching him run off. Sighing happily, the blonde resumed her task of packing up.
"You're really good with him." Bo announced as she emerged from a far corner of the Hall, startling Lauren.
"Gods, you scared me!"
"Sorry, I didn't mean to." she smiled sheepishly as she knelt down to help the blonde.
"Luc's a wonderful boy."
"Well, he's wonderful to you because he has a huge crush on you."
Lauren's hands stilled and her eyes dropped to the ground as she exhaled softly. "I… I suspected but I wasn't sure."
Lauren's hair had fallen forward hiding her face and Bo had to fight her desire to gently brush away her soft, blonde locks. "Luciano told me that when he's older, he's going to ask you to marry him."
"He did?!" The blonde's eyes opened wide as she regarded Bo, searching for any sign that she was kidding.
The Succubus grinned slightly and nodded her head. "He told me that you were beautiful, smart, funny and brave and had, I quote really, really nice hair end quote."
Lauren couldn't help the shy smile that escaped. She had grown quite fond of Luciano and even though it was a little boy's crush, it endeared him more to her.
Bo's smile quickly faltered. In revealing Luciano's crush, her conversation with him came rushing back and was suddenly overcome by her emotions. She felt a lump form in her throat and almost stumbled over her words as they came rushing out of her mouth. "I asked him what he would do if you had other suitors."
Bo looked away momentarily and nibbled on her bottom lip. She hadn't planned on this but she was a slave to her impulses and right now it was compelling her to vocalize her feelings. Steeling herself, she gazed into Lauren's eyes and spoke from her heart. "He said that you were wonderful and could see why others would want to be with you. So, he would prove himself to you…" Bo quietly exhaled to steady her emotions and the tremor in voice. "every day… to show you how much you are loved and wanted – through words and actions; and by being the best person possible in order to earn your love, respect and trust. To be worthy of your love."
"He said that?" Lauren was moved by the tenderness in Bo's eyes and the emotion in her voice. Her pulse quickened as a solitary thought buzzed in her head, "Was Bo talking about herself?"
Bo averted her eyes and mentally kicked herself. Now she had to quickly decide what to say next. Looking back at Lauren, she answered lightheartedly and shrugged it off. "Well, I summarized. You're lucky that he's eight otherwise he would've proposed already." she joked.
Lauren held her gaze and studied her silently. Her instincts told her that Bo wasn't being completely honest but at the same time she wasn't ready to pursue it. As difficult as it was to keep herself at an emotional arm's length, she did so to protect herself and to salvage their friendship.
Bo, meanwhile, wasn't sure if the blonde believed her but knew if she didn't put a quick end to the conversation, she would probably buckle under the scrutiny. She gave Lauren's arm a brief but gentle squeeze. "Don't worry, he'll grow out of his crush eventually."
The doctor sighed, sensing that Bo wasn't going to cop to her own feelings yet she appreciated her reassurance. She cared about Luciano and the last thing she wanted to do was hurt him.
Both women instantly dropped the subject and resumed packing, working in a comfortable silence as they picked up the various vials of medicine and placed them in their protective containers. They were almost finished when their hands collided reaching for the same bottle. Bo and Lauren immediately felt the spark – the same one that always existed between them – causing their hearts to race and their skin to become heated and tingle as if electricity were coursing through their veins.
They silently watched as their fingers lingered and slowly drifted closer before linking together naturally. No words were uttered as they observed their now joined hands; both women lost in the comfort and intimacy of the moment.
Bo thought her heart would pound out of her chest, thrilled that Lauren was intentionally holding her hand. "I've watched you around the kids. You're a natural with them; not just with Luc."
The doctor smiled shyly. "Thanks."
When Bo saw how amazing Lauren was with the children, she couldn't help but picture them together with their own but promptly squashed those thoughts knowing that all their problems had to be fixed before that could be a reality. Regardless, she knew how much Lauren wanted children and she really hoped that she would have that chance. As she gazed into the blonde's eyes, she felt compelled to tell her. "You would make a wonderful mother, Lauren." Bo said tenderly.
Lauren was caught off guard, moved by such a beautiful compliment. She had once divulged to Bo that she already had a boy's and girl's name picked out if she ever had children. Now, at what seemed to be a lifetime later, she was surprised that Bo had remembered the importance of that revelation. It was moments like these that reminded her of the woman that she had first fallen in love with – thoughtful, kind, understanding and caring - and she couldn't help the radiant smile that emerged.
She felt the familiar tug at her heart; the one she always felt when she found herself getting lost in Bo. Whenever she was with her, Lauren had felt special, happy and free in spite of her servitude; and even though she was a pro at masking her emotions, she was easily incapacitated by the Succubus' beauty, charm and compassion.
Lauren had treasured these days in the jungle as it was the most that she and Bo had talked, laughed and learned about one another. She was pleased that they were more comfortable and open with each other but was finding it difficult to keep her thoughts and feelings platonic as they continued to repair their friendship. Lauren knew how important it was for her to focus on her own personal growth and happiness and to not jump back into familiar habits but after all the wonderful things Bo had just told her, coupled with the intensity in her eyes and the longing she felt from just holding her hand, the blonde felt her resolve fading fast.
Every fibre of her being wanted to connect with Bo – to lean forward the few inches and kiss her. But not a simple 'peck on the lips' kiss. She wanted it to be more; she wanted it to be hungry and passionate and to take her breath away. Lauren wanted to grab her by the back of her neck and capture her mouth; suck on her tongue; bite down on her bottom lip and tug on it with her teeth before sucking on it to soothe the sting. She wanted to kiss Bo so badly that it terrified her.
Lauren felt her control slipping and knew she had to rein in her emotions as too much was at stake. Squeezing her eyes shut, she released the breath she didn't realize she was holding. When she opened her eyes, she immediately looked away and gently extricated her fingers to pick up the last vial, effectively breaking their connection. She instantly missed the warmth of Bo's hand but knew that she had made the responsible decision.
"Looks like we're all done." Lauren's voice shook as she locked the case and stood.
Bo stifled her groan and let out a quiet exhalation to recover. She had observed Lauren's aura glow brightly before it gradually diminished to a flicker. The doctor's self-control was admirable. Lauren had doubts—that much was clear - and if she wasn't ready to take things further, Bo wouldn't push. She learned that lesson and would give Lauren all the time she needed.
As Bo composed herself, she realized that what she had said earlier made Lauren happy as the blonde had flashed her thousand watt smile at her - the same beautiful, radiant smile that she never thought would be directed at her again. Grinning gleefully from ear to ear, Bo stood and leisurely swept her arm out in front of her. "After you Dr. Lauren."
Lauren chuckled in relief and also at the brunette's goofiness. "Thank you, Isabeau."
Day 5 – Village #1
The dark, ominous sky was incentive for the team to pick up their pace with the hope of beating the rain. Unfortunately, they were less than thirty minutes away from the village when the sky erupted assaulting everything within its path with heavy, fat droplets of water. The entire team was soaked within seconds as they sloshed through muddy trails. However, much to Bo's and Kenzi's surprise, the rain was warm and refreshing against the humidity and annoying bugs.
But as quickly as the downpour started, it ended. It was as if a switch was flipped, instantly shutting off the water and causing the clouds to disperse; revealing clear, blue skies. Within moments, the fresh, clean smell of the forest permeated the air and the birds, insects and jungle creatures once again resumed their chatter as if they had woken from a brief slumber.
By the time they arrived at the village, the sun was blinding and the blistering heat had returned causing steam to rise from the damp soil. Despite being drenched, everyone was in a good mood; chit-chatting and laughing; and focusing on removing the water from their clothes and footwear before getting started on their day's work.
Kenzi silently grumbled about having something else to hate about the forest as she lamented about her hair being plastered to her head. Bo, on the other hand, was oblivious to everyone around her. She only had eyes for Lauren who stood a short distance away in her cargo pants, hiking boots and tank top while she wrung the rainwater out of her khaki shirt. The Succubus licked her lips as she continued to stare at the doctor's slicked back hair and water slowly dripping down her long neck and bare shoulders. Bo followed the outline of her torso and growled low at the sight of the wet, see-through tank top as it clung to every inch of Lauren's slender body.
Kenzi, who was standing next to her, gave her a swift elbow to the ribs. "Keep it in your pants Bo!" she hissed quietly so that no one else could hear.
The painful nudge broke the Succubus out of her trance and caused her to release an expletive. When she turned to face her friend, her eyes were glowing blue and she was scowling at the interruption.
The tiny woman took a small, reactionary step back. "Woah there, Succubum. Remember me? Your bestie." She pointed her thumb at herself.
Squeezing her eyes shut, the brunette took a couple of cleansing breaths to control her inner Succubus; when she opened her eyes a few seconds later, they were back to their normal hue.
"Better?"
"Yes." Bo mumbled. "Sorry."
The Goth accepted the apology with a subtle nod of her head. "Perhaps you are a little peckish?"
Bo gave her a sideways look and frowned. "I'm fine! You just surprised me."
Kenzi raised her hands in mock surrender. "I'm not judging."
Bo turned her attention back to Lauren who was now talking to Nayara. "She's just so damn sexy. And wet. So. Very. Wet." The brunette nibbled on her bottom lip as she stared.
Kenzi rolled her eyes. "Riiight! Keep telling me how not hungry you are."
The brunette sighed. "Fine! But even if I weren't slightly hungry I'd still react this way 'cuz it's Lauren."
"I get it Bo. But, it's been a few days since you had the all-you-could-suck buffet in the lab. Maybe topping up will help take the edge off?"
Bo let out a groan as she ran her fingers through her damp hair. "Maybe you're right. I see some of the technicians from that night. I'll go talk to them." Looking back at her friend, she released a sigh. "Thanks Kenz. Watch Lauren for me, 'K? I'll be back in a bit."
The doctor glanced over at Bo while she chatted with Kenzi. Even though she was being discrete, it was difficult not to stare at the Succubus who was wet from head to toe. Lauren noted that her clothes clung to her like a second skin and was in awe of how beautiful she looked with her exposed skin glistening in the sunlight. She watched entranced, as Bo combed her fingers through her wet hair, freeing the tangles and letting it cascade down her neck and back – the simple act caused shivers to travel throughout her body.
"Sorry. What?" She jumped as a voice snapped her out of her Bo-daze.
"You zoned out." Nayara said knowingly after following her friend's gaze.
Lauren feigned ignorance, embarrassed about being caught. "I was just thinking."
"About a certain Succubus perhaps?"
The blonde considered protesting but knew that Nayara would see right through her. Releasing a heavy sigh, she confessed, "I don't know what I'm doing Nay. I know what I have to do… what I should do… but I'm struggling."
"Maybe instead of fighting yourself, you should do what your instincts tell you."
"Which instincts? My rational or my emotional one?"
"The one that knows what you need." the Empath replied supportively.
"Were you this frustrating when you were a psychiatrist?" Lauren griped.
Nayara gave a playful wink to her friend and smiled broadly. "Only if your definition of frustrating means fantastic, then yes!" Receiving an eye roll in response, the Fae doctor chuckled, linked her arm in Lauren's and steered her towards the Main Hall. "Come on Grumpy, we have work to do."
Day 8 – Village #4 – early afternoon
Lauren hummed contentedly as she gathered soil and plant samples. She had become a doctor to help others and this was the first time since the Congo that she felt she was making a difference. She had forgotten how satisfying that felt. They had come such a long way since the outbreak started as the follow up visits were confirming what their initial tests had proven: the inoculations were halting the symptoms. Even though she had hoped it would be the cure, she knew that it was only a matter of time before they determined the right adjustment to the antidote in order to put an end to the epidemic once and for all. Until then, it was a relief to know that they at least had stopped the plague from claiming more lives.
In addition to her feeling fulfilled professionally, things with Bo were going remarkably well. Bo had proven herself to be incredibly patient, considerate and respectful of her wishes – all of which were a huge relief and surprise. Bo's tolerance of Luc impressed Lauren too. She had been a good sport, abiding by his decision to use their proper names; and the blonde couldn't help but think that she would be a loving and patient mother if she ever had children. However, she suspected that the brunette intentionally mispronounced his name a couple times just to tease him. Lauren chuckled remembering how Luciano grumbled when Bo butchered his name and how he called her Isabeau every chance he got.
And Luc - she was surprised at how fast the little boy had made his way into her heart. She enjoyed spending time with him and making him laugh; she found that she had missed him when they were apart; she loved his curiosity and eagerness to learn new things; and was more than happy to answer his questions. Lauren couldn't help but wonder that if she felt this strongly for a child that wasn't her own, how intense would her feelings be for her own son or daughter?
The blonde promptly shook all thoughts of having children from her head knowing that there was no point in fantasizing about what could never be. Instead, she watched Luciano from her perch at the top of a slope fifty feet away. He had insisted on helping her collect water and plant samples at the river's edge and was currently poking his tongue out between his lips in deep concentration. Cupping her hands around her mouth, she shouted down to him. "Luc! Be careful along the water!"
"Okay!" He yelled back and gave her a thumb's up.
Lauren shifted her gaze over to Bo who was about thirty feet away from him along the river's bank. She was chatting with Kenzi and from the Goth's wild gestures the blonde guessed that she was complaining about the heat, bugs, some aspect of the forest or all of the above. Lauren knew the younger woman was only enduring the jungle for her friend and couldn't help but smile as she wondered about all the ways Bo would have to re-pay Kenzi once they were back in Toronto.
Happily, Lauren turned her attention back to collecting samples. She glimpsed something moving from the corner of her eye - a disturbance. She glanced over her shoulder at Luc and what she saw chilled her blood. "LUC! RUN!"
The little boy looked up in the direction of her voice and although he didn't hear exactly what was said, he picked up on Lauren's panicked tone and understood that something was wrong.
Bo heard the scream and looked in Lauren's direction only to see her scrambling down the embankment, yelling. Turning her attention towards the river, she was quickly filled with dread at what she saw behind Luciano. A long, U-shaped snout attached to an incredibly large reptilian head was on the surface of the water. Without turning to look back at Kenzi, Bo tore off towards Luc.
The beast surged out of the river and released a loud, deep roar. Bo had seen alligators at the zoo before but those were puny in comparison. This one was massive. Its armored body and muscular, flat tail made it at least eighteen feet long; its dark almost black, scaly skin gave it an even more terrifying appearance; and when it opened its mouth, Bo could see its razor sharp teeth.
Bo's lungs burned as she pushed herself to run faster but the soft, marshy ground made her movements more laboured as her feet sank in with each stride. By the time she got to Luc, it was too late. The gargantuan beast had slipped back into the muddy depths with the little boy in its maw; his screams silenced by the water. Without hesitating, Bo swiftly unsheathed her dagger, took a deep breath and plunged in after them.
"Nooo!" Lauren screamed. She had seen the entire situation unfold while she was running down the slope. The insides of her stomach twisted as she stood helplessly at the river's edge; a large ripple travelling along the surface of the water, the only indication of what had just transpired.
Kenzi arrived moments later, panting. "What the Fae was that!? Was that an alligator?!"
"Black Caiman." The doctor responded shakily as she continued to stare out at the river. "Think of it as an alligator on steroids. They are the predator in the Amazonian waters."
The Goth paled. "Shit!" she murmured as she covered her mouth with shaky hands.
Lauren released a deep breath and pushed down the panic that was rising in her gut. "Kenzi, I need you to go get help."
The younger woman's focus was on the water and her fear of what was happening beneath its surface. When she didn't respond, Lauren grabbed her arm. "Kenzi! Get help. Now!" The physical contact and the urgency in Lauren's voice jolted the Goth out of her distressed daze and with a quick nod of her head she took off running towards the village.
Lauren turned her attention back to the river; her eyes scanning every inch of it as she paced anxiously along the shore. Everything around her was quiet except for her heart thumping loudly in her ears. Each second that passed without any sign of Bo or Luc felt like an eternity, filling her with dread. "Come on!" she whispered, willing them to surface. "Bo killed the Garuda. She can handle a Caiman." Lauren reasoned, trying to reassure herself.
An explosion of water disrupted the eerie tranquility. The beast surfaced casting spray in every direction, with Luc trapped in its jaw like a rag doll and Bo draped on its back - her legs wrapped around its scaly body and one arm clutched tightly around its thick neck. Lauren looked on in shock as the monstrous reptile thrashed about wildly trying to free itself from its unwanted hitchhiker. Yet Bo held on undeterred, repeatedly stabbing at it with her dagger.
It felt as if time had slowed down to a snail's pace allowing Lauren to observe the horrifying scene in detail. She saw the fear in Luc's eyes and heard the bloodcurdling scream that came out of his mouth. Bo looked worse for wear – the physical strain was evident in her face; her clothes were ripped and bloody; all the muscles in her arms and hands were tightly corded; and there were cuts and abrasions on her exposed skin. It was agonizing seeing Bo and Luc in peril but before she could react, the Black Caiman submerged abruptly, taking both Fae back into the murky depths.
Lauren felt as if her heart was being constricted, making it difficult to breathe. There was no noise or movement as she looked out frantically at the river.
Seconds later a small body floated to the surface. "Luc!"
Without thinking, Lauren dove in, swimming as fast as she could to get to him. He was face down in the water and she knew that she had to get him to shore right away. "I have you Luc. You're okay. You're safe." She cradled his unconscious, limp body against her chest and started to swim back to the river bank, trying not to think as to what else could be in the water.
By the time Kenzi returned with Nayara, some guards and a handful of villagers, Lauren had Luciano a safe distance away from the water and was performing CPR on him.
"Lauren!" The Empath called out as she ran towards her.
The blonde looked up at her friend while she continued chest compressions. "Breathe for me!"
Nayara kneeled down by Luc's head opposite Lauren and together they worked in sync - the blonde giving thirty compressions and the Empath following with two breaths. "Come on Luc! Breathe!" the blonde urged.
Kenzi alternated her attention between what was happening with Luc and then out at the water, scanning for Bo. Her heart beat in her throat.
At this point, word had spread and more villagers had arrived with the majority showing their concern for Luciano and the remainder down at the river's edge with the guards to keep a look out for the Succubus.
With another compression, Luciano coughed and sputtered and the doctors immediately turned him on his side to keep him from choking. "You're okay Luc, you're safe." Lauren said gently as she covered him with a blanket that a villager had handed her.
Luciano looked up at the blonde wearily; his voice weak. "Dr. Lauren?"
Lauren stroked his cheek tenderly, relieved that he was conscious. "I'm here Luc. You're safe. You were very brave."
Lauren heard shouting and turned to see Luciano's father making his way through the crowd. "He's okay César. He has some cuts and bruises but he's okay."
"Bo!" Kenzi screamed. "Over there! I see her!"
At Kenzi's shout, a handful of guards dove into the river. Lauren automatically turned to see where the Goth was pointing and gasped when she saw Bo and the Caiman floating lifelessly on the water.
Kenzi's eyes were brimming with tears and her voice quavered as she looked over at the blonde. "She's not moving!"
Nayara spoke to César. "Please take him to the Medical Hut so that I can look over his injuries. I will meet you there shortly." With a nod, the Chief picked up his exhausted son in his arms and carried him away.
The Empath took Lauren's hand and helped her stand. "Stay. I'll take care of Luc."
Not trusting her voice, the blonde simply nodded appreciatively. With everything that had just happened and not knowing the extent of Bo's injuries, her anxiety and emotional stress was high.
Nayara gently squeezed Lauren's hand to get her attention. "Bo's a fighter. She'll be okay." she said assuredly as she looked into brown eyes.
Lauren squeezed the Empath's hand back in response and watched as Nayara hurried towards the village. Looking back towards the river, her eyes focused in on Bo's unconscious body floating on the water - everything around her blurred and the cacophony of voices became one indecipherable noise that blended into the background. Thoughts that Bo could be brain dead due to lack of oxygen or that she may have sustained a fatal wound from the Caiman rushed through her mind and she instantly felt nauseous.
"Pull it together!" She chastised herself as she wiped clammy hands against her pants. Lauren shut her eyes and took a deep, calming breath. The doctor would not let fear and anxiety overpower her, not with Bo's life at stake and right now, Bo was her only priority. She steeled her mind and her emotions and released a cleansing breath as her eyes fluttered open. "I can do this."
Lauren was composed as she went through a mental checklist of things to look out for and do. Springing into action, she grabbed a couple Fae that were nearby. "You two - go to the medical hut and bring back a stretcher and a blanket now!" She then turned to the guards that were carrying a bloody and unconscious Succubus and pointed to the spot that Luc had been just moments earlier. "Lay her down here. Carefully!"
Kenzi ran up to her and grabbed at her shirt. "Tell me that she's going to be all right."
Lauren saw the fear in her eyes and softly placed her hand on top of Kenzi's. Her voice was gentle. "I'm going to do everything I can for her but you have to let me assess her injuries and treat her, okay?"
The blonde was thankful when Kenzi released her grip and took a few paces back. She was also vaguely aware that the guards were keeping the small yet growing crowd away to give her room. Lauren instantly tuned out everything around her while she did a rapid assessment of the brunette's injuries starting with her breathing and then checked for wounds and fractures under bloodied skin. Thankfully, she found no damage to Bo's neck and spinal cord so she immediately began performing CPR, counting the chest compressions under her breath.
"…and-six-and-seven-and-eight-and-nine…"
"C'mon Bo breathe!"The Goth whispered as she stood off to the side. She had seen Bo wounded and hurt before but this was the first time that she had seen her unconscious and so close to death. Kenzi didn't know if the blood covering Bo was hers, the Caiman's or Luc's. It took everything she had to keep herself together and not crumble under the weight of her concern.
"…and-twenty two-and-twenty three-and-twenty four-and-twenty five…"
"Breathe Bo, breathe!" the Goth murmured as she looked on and wrung her hands. She hated that she was standing on the sidelines, unable to help in any way. Time seemed to slow down to an agonizing crawl and as unbearable as it was, Kenzi knew that only thing she could do was wait.
The young woman watched Lauren lean forward and blow two puffs of air into Bo's mouth. She observed her friend's chest rise with each breath but still there was no movement or reaction. Fear squeezed at her heart as she prayed. "I promise I'll clean the shack and do laundry for a year… two years even! Just wake up, please."
"…and-eleven-and-twelve-and-thirteen…"
With the heat and the physical exertion from swimming and performing CPR on Luciano and now on Bo, Lauren's muscles were cramping and a sheen of sweat had formed on her brow. "Fight Bo, fight!" she pleaded as she ignored her physical discomfort and continued her steady pace of strong, even compressions. "I can't lose you." she thought, holding on to hope.
All of a sudden, the Succubus' eyes shot open and she coughed out water. "It's okay Bo. You're okay." Lauren said gently as she promptly turned her onto her side. Relief flooded the doctor's entire body as she watched the brunette spit out water and take huge mouthfuls of air. "Take it easy, Bo - slow, steady breaths."
"Quick! Place the stretcher under her and bring me that blanket." Lauren instructed the nearby guards.
"Lauren?" The Succubus wheezed as she looked up at her.
"I'm here, Bo. It's okay." She gave her a soft smile as she brushed wet hair out of her face.
Bo scrunched her brow. "Luc?"
She gave the Succubus' hand a gentle squeeze. "He's safe. Rest now."
Kenzi rushed to her friend's side. "Bo!"
"Step back a second Kenzi, we have to lift her up." Lauren stated as she tucked the blanket under her.
The Goth did as she was told and watched two guards take both ends of the stretcher and lifted Bo off the ground.
"Kenzi, come with us. We have to take her to the medical hut so that I can look over her other injuries."
The waiting area wasn't very large so even though Kenzi wasn't paying attention, she still caught snippets of what Nayara was telling César and his wife, Maria.
"…Luciano is going to be fine…
"…no infection from the bite…"
"…cuts and bruises…"
"…rest…"
The Goth paced anxiously while she waited for Lauren to emerge from Bo's room. It had been over ninety minutes since the blonde disappeared with her friend and she had no idea what was happening. Her concern intensified with each second that passed without an update.
With her mind plagued with worst case scenarios, Kenzi didn't notice when Nayara ushered Luc's parents into his room or that Lauren was now standing next to her. "Shit doc! Ninja much?" she yelped. Once she felt her heart rate slow, she asked, "How's Bo?"
Lauren gave her a faint yet tired smile. "Bo's doing well. I had to perform CPR again as she still had fluid in her lungs and stopped breathing. But her lungs are clear now and she is breathing normally. She has some cracked ribs and numerous cuts, gashes and bruises all over her body but luckily she didn't get a concussion or break any bones. Once she gets some rest and is a little bit stronger, she will be able to feed and heal. She's very lucky."
"Can I see her?!" Kenzi asked anxiously, wringing her fingers together.
"She's sleeping right now but you can sit with her. She took a beating today so until she feeds, she will need a lot of rest. Don't be surprised if she drifts in and out of consciousness, okay?"
Kenzi nodded and smiled broadly before pulling the doctor in for a fierce hug. "Thank you Lauren."
The blonde returned the embrace and watched as Kenzi entered Bo's room. Lauren realized that not only was she alone but that this was also her first free, quiet moment since the attack. With no more adrenaline and fear to keep her going, her fatigue quickly took over. Collapsing into one of the chairs, she leaned forward with her forearms on the top of her thighs and clasped her hands together. Within seconds, her head dropped and she closed her eyes, allowing herself a short respite. She was emotionally and physically spent but couldn't give into it until she knew Bo was a hundred percent better.
She must've dozed off as she didn't notice Nayara enter the room or sit next to her until she heard her voice. "How are you holding up?"
Lauren's eyes popped open and she instantly sat upright. "I'm fine." She fibbed.
"Really? You look exhausted."
Lauren rubbed her eyes. "I'm fine."
"You look like sh-"
"Hey now!" Lauren interrupted.
The Empath looked at her knowingly. "I'm not going to tell you to take a break because I know you won't." She stated softly. "I was just going to suggest that while Bo is resting, you change into dry clothes as you're still wet from getting Luc out of the river. Then you could grab some food and bring it back here. I can monitor Bo while you're gone and if anything were to happen, I'll let you know A.S.A.P."
Lauren was about to protest when Nayara raised her hand and stopped her. "And before you try to come up with some excuse, you know that you would be no good to Bo if you were cold, hungry and exhausted."
The blonde couldn't dispute her logic and huffed knowing that Nay was right. "Fine! But only because I'm too tired to argue."
The Empath smiled broadly and batted her eyelashes for effect.
Lauren pretended to be cross but a low chuckle escaped her lips. She gave Nayara's forearm a gentle squeeze before standing. "All right, I'll be back in a bit."
As the blonde reached for the door, she stopped and looked back at the Empath. "Thank you for looking out for me."
"Always." Nayara replied with a soft smile.
Kenzi sat quietly by Bo's bed and observed the slight rise and fall of her chest as she slept. Her eyes roamed over the plethora of cuts, gashes and bruises that covered Bo's arms, face and neck and guessed that there were more injuries hidden under her Johnny shirt. In that moment, she knew the truth: Bo almost died. Deep down she had known that Lauren had glossed over how bad things were as she had heard it in her voice and saw it in her face but Kenzi didn't want to recognize it.
"Unghh."
The Goth was startled out of her thoughts. "Bo?"
She heard the low groan again. "BoBo!" Kenzi shot up and smiled exuberantly. "How're you feeling Sleeping Beauty?"
"Like I was run over by a mutant alligator." Bo coughed out.
Kenzi poured some water in a cup and brought it to Bo's lips. "It's called a Black Caiman. Lauren said that they're like the King Kong version of gorillas."
"Figures." She mumbled before drinking eagerly.
The Goth refilled the cup and placed it on the table within Bo's reach before training sad eyes back on her friend.
"What's wrong?" Bo asked when she noticed her silence.
"What's wrong?!" Kenzi exclaimed in disbelief, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "You're a jerk! I should kill you for scaring me like that."
"Then your life would be boring without me." The brunette teased.
A faint smile appeared on the Goth's face. "True but you're still a jerk."
Bo reached out and grabbed Kenzi's hand. "I'm sorry I scared you but I couldn't let that monster eat Luc."
"I know. It's just…. you dove in after it and disappeared. You were gone for a long time and the next time I saw you, you were unconscious and covered in blood."
Bo squeezed Kenzi's hand. "It had Luc in its jaw. I remembered seeing something on 'Jungle Jeeves' about alligators – that they don't eat their prey right away. They hold on to it to drown it; lodge the body under a rock or tree root; and then come back for it later. When I dove in, I thought if I annoyed it enough, it would release Luc but I couldn't get my blade through its scales. I was also having a hard time holding on because it kept rolling and bashing me against rocks under the water. I was starting to run out of air when I managed to stab it in the eye. That's when it released him. So I kept attacking its eyes. I don't remember anything after that."
"You must've killed it before passing out because you were both floating on the surface." Kenzi mused out loud. "When the guards fished you out, you weren't breathing… Lauren did CPR on you by the river. I didn't think you were going to make it."
"But I did make it." She gave Kenzi's hand another reassuring squeeze. "You know me, I'll be good as new in no time." she said downplaying her near death experience.
Before Kenzi could respond, there was a knock on the door and Lauren poked her head in. "Sorry to interrupt but are you up to having a couple more visitors? There's someone who wants to see you."
Bo nodded, unable to trust her voice. She wasn't prepared for the sudden wave of emotions that hit her when she looked at Lauren. After almost dying, she realized how precious time was - limited and fleeting - and that she had so much to make up for. Fate was giving her another chance and she didn't want to waste it.
Kenzi helped Bo prop herself up as Lauren ushered in César, Maria and Luciano. The blonde made her way to the furthest corner of the room so that Luc's parents would be able to stand by Bo's bed. Maria smiled with tears in her eyes as she touched the brunette's hand. "There are no words to express our gratitude, Bo. We are forever in your debt for bringing our son back to us."
"I'm just glad I was able to help." The brunette replied humbly.
César rested his hands on Luc's shoulders. "You were willing to give your life for our son. We will never forget your courage." He gave her a toothy smile. "Tomorrow we will hold a feast in your honour."
Bo really didn't want any special treatment and attending a feast was the last thing she wanted especially with the pain she was in. "Oh, there's no need to go through the trouble."
"We insist." His tone was succinct and authoritative.
Bo cast a subtle glance at Lauren and saw that she was trying to suppress a grin. Realizing that she couldn't refuse, the brunette conceded. "Then, I'd be honored. Thank you." She had noticed that Luc was quietly standing in front of his parents and was looking at her. "How are you feeling Luciano Vicen-"
"Luc." He interrupted before she could finish saying all his names. Luciano smiled and gave her a subtle nod of his head, hoping that she would understand.
Bo was shocked at his change in attitude but quickly recovered and gave him a dazzling grin. "How are you feeling Luc?"
"I'm okay, thanks." He responded politely. "How are you, Bo?" He asked shyly.
The brunette was surprised at the use of her nickname but was pleased knowing that she had earned Luc's trust. "Sore but feeling a lot better than the Caiman." she joked causing everyone to chuckle.
Lauren watched the brunette and Luciano interact and was happy that the two people she cared about were safe and finally getting along. Bo was lucky to be alive. The blonde hadn't realized how stressed she had been when the Succubus had stopped breathing. It was only when Bo was finally stable that Lauren felt the tension leave her body and she recognized the truth: she wanted and needed Bo in her life.
She was drawn out of her internal musings when she observed Bo stifling her yawns and fidgeting. She knew that the brunette was tired and in pain and was about to suggest that they call it a night when Luciano's voice broke through excitedly. "Want to see my scars?!"
Lauren interjected not wanting him to interfere with his bandages. "Luc, how about you show Bo another time? It's been a long day and you both should get some rest."
Disappointment flashed across his face when his father took his hand and his parents said their goodbyes.
"We will compare scars later, Luc. I bet it looks cool." Bo piped up.
Luciano's frown turned into a huge grin as he waved. "Okay! Bye Bo!"
Kenzi hung back while Lauren escorted Luc and his parents out of the room. "All right BoBo. Get some sleep and I'll see you in the morning."
The brunette yawned loudly. She hadn't realize how tired she was until everyone started to leave. "You aren't headed back to Base Camp today?"
The young woman shook her head. "First of all, you know I wouldn't leave without you and secondly, everyone is invited to the feast tomorrow. César arranged for beds to be set up in the Main Hall so that we could sleep comfortably. It saves us from driving back tonight and returning tomorrow."
Bo yawned again. "Won't you be bored tonight?"
"You know me; I always make my own fun."
Kenzi grinned when Bo quirked her eyebrow at her. "I discovered that the village brews their own Cachaça - which is similar to rum. A few of us are going to sample their stock."
Bo chuckled at her friend and grimaced when the movement sent a jolt of pain through her body. "Ouch! Enjoy!"
"So Luc can come home with us?" His mother, Maria asked.
Lauren looked at the little boy who couldn't stop yawning. "Yes, he needs a good night's rest and that would be best achieved if he was comfortable in his own bed. Just make sure the bandages stay on and bring him by in the morning so we can take another look at the bite. We want to make sure that it doesn't get infected."
"Thank you so much Lauren." César said appreciatively.
Before the blonde could respond, Luc reached over and tugged on her hand. "Dr. Lauren?"
She knelt so that she was at his eye level. "Yes Luc?"
The little boy wore a heartfelt expression and stretched his arms out wide. Lauren didn't hesitate and pulled him into a tight embrace. Her distress about the attack and relief that he was safe and alive churned inside her and she realized in that instant how much she needed to hold him.
"Thank you for saving me." He whispered into her ear.
Lauren felt a lump form in her throat and couldn't speak; instead she kissed the top of his head and held on to him for dear life. After a few moments, she pulled away and caressed his cheek before wishing him and his parents a good night.
The blonde shut the door after Kenzi left and allowed her tears to fall; she was running on fumes and her emotions were high. Leaning against the door, she released the sobs that she had been holding back as she wrapped her arms around her shuddering body.
Exhausted, Lauren wiped at tear streaked cheeks and made her way to the bathroom. As she squinted into the mirror she released a weary sigh seeing red, tired eyes staring back at her. Knowing that she had to compose herself before checking in on Bo, she splashed water on her face and hoped that it would remove any evidence of her crying.
Upon hearing the door, Bo jerked awake; the sudden movement causing her to hiss in pain. She had been waiting for Lauren to return and hadn't meant to fall asleep.
The doctor rushed to her side and helped her sit upright against her pillows. "Are you okay? What are you doing awake?" she asked gently.
"I'm fine. I was waiting for you." She murmured as she tried to focus drowsy eyes on Lauren.
She rested her hand on Bo's shoulder. "You shouldn't have. You need to rest."
"I can't when I know you're upset." Bo rasped.
The doctor wasn't prepared for Bo's concern and after breaking down over Luc, she didn't have the strength to suppress her emotions. She staggered back and looked away in an attempt to calm herself.
"Lauren, are you okay?" Bo asked, concern etched in her voice.
Lauren's head whipped back towards Bo, her voice unintentionally raised. "Okay? Of course I'm not okay! You and Luc could've died. In fact, you almost died. Twice! What you did was reckless!"
Lauren glanced down and took a deep breath; when she faced the brunette again, her expression was tender. "But incredibly brave." she said softly. Lauren struggled to hold back her tears as she peered into Bo's eyes. "Because of you, Luc is alive. His parents have their son and they will forever be grateful to you… just as I am."
Bo hated seeing the tears in Lauren's eyes and desperately wanted to comfort her. Ignoring her injuries, she cast aside the thin sheet and swiftly swung her legs to the side so that they dangled off the bed. Gritting her teeth, she cradled her ribs and sought out Lauren's eyes. "I didn't mean to scare you. I just couldn't let him die."
Lauren's gaze never strayed from the brunette's. She promptly bridged the distance and placed her hands on Bo's knees to still her movements, preventing her from injuring herself further. "I know. It's who you are and it's one of the reasons that I-"
Lauren stopped herself. She almost said how she felt which would've gone against her decision to keep things platonic. "Bo almost died!" reverberated in her mind. Lauren squeezed her eyes shut. She was so tired of maintaining control; of being rational; of being self-protective. She took a cleansing breath and when she opened her eyes, everything seemed clearer. In that moment - standing in front of the woman she almost lost and looking into her warm, brown eyes - there was only one thing she wanted.
The blonde surged forward and crashed her mouth into Bo's, cradling her face in her hands. Soft lips melded together. Lauren's heart raced as her fingers dug into the nape of Bo's neck, pulling her closer; her mouth muffling Bo's surprised gasp. Teeth, tongues and lips clashed; their kisses, wanting, insistent and hungry. A low groan escaped and Lauren couldn't tell if it came from her or Bo but she didn't care; all that mattered was the immense relief, joy and longing that she felt.
Bo was elated; all pain, forgotten. The only thing she could feel was the sensation of Lauren's lips and hands as they left a trail of fire on her mouth and skin. Bo thought she would combust from the happiness and desire she felt. In the back of her mind, she was always afraid that Lauren would never trust her like she used to but with the blonde kissing her – connecting with her emotionally and physically – she felt more hopeful.
The air was electrified. The sound of wet, eager kisses and low moans filled the room as fingers grasped at hair and gripped skin. However, like a wave crashing against the shore - powerful, wondrous and breathtaking – it's quickly pulled back to sea; the moment, fleeting.
When Lauren pulled away and hesitantly caressed her cheek, Bo knew that something had changed. Lauren's eyes had transformed from being dark with desire to sad and unreadable. The doctor's brow was creased in silent contemplation causing Bo's heart to hammer painfully in her chest. Shock, joy and doubt swirled through her as she wondered what Lauren was thinking and feeling and what their kiss meant to her.
Lauren couldn't concentrate - her thoughts were loud and her emotions raged. "You should get some sleep." Her voice was distant.
The Succubus was dumbfounded by the shift and simply nodded as she laid down carefully. Her eyes stayed fixed on the blonde, observing her. Bo remained silent, unsure of what to say and afraid that her words would only make things more awkward than they were. The brunette realized that whatever happened, it was obvious that Lauren wasn't ready to talk about it.
The room suddenly felt confining and Lauren thought she wouldn't be able to breathe if she stayed there longer. "I'm sorry." tumbled out of her mouth in an almost whisper. "I have to finish my notes for the day so I'll check in on you later." she said hurriedly.
The brunette let out a heavy sigh as she watched the doctor make a hasty retreat. Bo stared at the door as her fingers ghosted along her lips – lips that were still tingling from kissing Lauren. She was still confused as to what brought about the change with the blonde and wrestled with herself to not jump to conclusions.
Now that there were no distractions from her pain, Bo felt her entire body ache. Knowing that there was nothing else she could do at this moment, she closed her eyes, stilled her thoughts and let her exhaustion claim her. Tomorrow, she would talk to Lauren and figure things out; but tonight she would dream of the blonde and the mind blowing kiss they shared.
Author's Notes:
Have no fear; Luciano was not harmed in this chapter. He had a professional stunt double stand in for him during the attack scene. As well, no Black Caimans were hurt or killed in the writing of this chapter – they too, had a stand-in.
For the First Aid scene, I used Google, so please do not take what I wrote for performing CPR, to be the end all and be all. Before you jump into a body of water to rescue a gorgeous, busty brunette and/or a cute, little boy from drowning, please call 911 first.
And finally, please leave a comment. I have to pay the stunt doubles for their time and payment is based off the number of reviews I receive!