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Thanks for joining the ride - This is the final chapter!
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At the first crack of dawn Kenzi had accepted that she didn't know what the hell she was doing and had called the Morrigan for advice. Evony had said to just ride it out stating that the serum would have killed Bo almost instantly. The dark fae had been comforting saying that Bo just had to suffer through the transformation. Promising Bo wouldn't perish, if her body wouldn't give out under stress. 'She's young and healthy. She'll make it.', The Morrigan had finished. That phone call had taken place hours and hours ago.
"Bo? Drink this." Kenzi ushered bringing a glass to Bo's lips. "Bobo come on.. Time to wake up already. You've slept through the day. We have packing to do. I'm not sorting all this shit alone that's for sure." She rambled pushing a sweaty lock of hair off Bo's face.
Kenzi had been hovering over Bo the whole night and the next day. Bo had been out of it for almost 20 hours. The early morning hours had been the worse. For both of them. Bo had been shivering and throwing up with Kenzi desperately trying to get her to drink something in between. Putting cold wraps and ice bags on her to cool Bo down. Since then Bo had quieted. By nightfall she still shivered and looked like death warmed over, but the vomiting had stopped.
"Lauren called, you know." Kenzi sighed caressing Bo's arm. "I told her you were sick with fever and couldn't come to the phone."
"She was worried. Hotpants was ready to fly out here to take care of you." Kenzi chuckled softly. "She loves you Bobo. I told her you'd be fine. I promised her you'd be fine Bo." Kenzi swallowed thickly.
"Please don't make me break that promise." Kenzi pleaded softly.
Kenzi kept checking her friend's pulse, temperature and breathing every fifteen minutes or so. Bo was still running a fever, but her breathing was good and her pulse stayed strong. But the fact that Bo had been laying still without moving at all for hours worried Kenzi immensely and she had a strong urge to call Dr. Lauren. The brainiac would know what to do. But Kenzi knew she couldn't. First of all Bo's condition wasn't any normal sickness and secondly Kenzi didn't want Lauren to come to Toronto, where she might be recognized. No. Not an option, Kenzi decided. We'll ride this out. It'll be alright.
.
"Bo?" Kenzi ran her fingers gently over Bo's sticky cheek a few hours later. "You should eat something. Come on now. Wake up. I'm not gonna let you just lie there." She tried to get some snark in her tired voice. "Wake up!" She snapped poking Bo's face with an ice cube.
"Quit poking me Kenz." Bo snarled hoarsely as she shakily slapped Kenzi's hand off of her face. "It tickles. Go away. I'm sleeping." She rolled over to her side wincing a little and buried her face in the sofa.
"Oh, thank Gods!" Kenzi exhaled utter relief flooding her heart. "Bo? Are you okay? How are you feeling? You're not dead! Oh my God.. This is.. great. You should really drink and eat something… Bo?"
"Shut it." Bo commanded groaning into the couch pillow. "I'm sleeping. Go away."
"Oh wow. Snarky, cranky human Bo in the house I guess." Kenzi grumbled, but smiled softly nevertheless.
"What?" Bo glanced at Kenzi with her bleary eyes. "Oh right.." She seemed to remember where she was and what happened.
"Do you think it worked?" Kenzi asked squeezing Bo's arm gently. "You were awfully sick Bo."
"I was?" Bo asked confused and rolled back on her back. "Oh, shit. I'm sore all over.." She winced.
"I thought you were gonna die! Never scare me like that again! You asshole!" Kenzi screeched suddenly as she lunged to hug Bo.
"I'm sorry." Bo got out, before her eyes fluttered shut again.
"Bo?"
"Hmm?"
"You're good now, right? You're not gonna die on me are you?" Kenzi whispered.
"I'm sleeping." Bo muttered.
"Okay." Kenzi pecked Bo's cheek and then burrowed her weary body on the recliner. "Let's sleep." She said quietly closing her eyes and drifting away.
.
The next morning Bo opened her eyes and saw Kenzi standing over her with a Gatorade bottle in her hand. Her friend had obviously expected her to wake up at any moment to stand there and wait.
"Drink this." Kenzi handed Bo the bottle. "And take these for the pain." She showed her palm and the two pills resting on it.
"Thanks." Bo wheezed out taking Kenzi's offerings. "Shit.. I feel like I've been run over by a steamroller.." She moaned, before swallowing the pills.
"You okay?" Kenzi asked softly. "Do you feel.. I don't know.. Human?"
"I am human now Kenzi."
"How do you know?"
"I just know." Bo closed her eyes. "The succubus is gone.. I don't feel 'it' anymore. Kenz, I'm free from my inner.. monster."
"Well, good riddance huh?" Kenzi pecked Bo's forehead affectionately.
"Kenzi.." Bo whispered almost only mouthing. "I'm sorry, you had to see me.. like this. I.. It must have been.. difficult. I'm sorry for making you do this. Thank you for.. everything."
"Bo.. You didn't make me do anything. I'm not gonna lie.. All this.. I mean seeing you like this.. It was heartbreaking and.. It was awful, hard and frightening, but.. That's what sisters are for." Kenzi gave small soft smile. "I'm so happy you're better, but.." She trailed off.
"But?"
"Don't ever.. Ever scare me like that again." Kenzi said raggedly as she bent down to gather Bo in her arms.
"I won't." Bo promised snaking her sluggish arms around Kenzi and hugging her back.
"We need to raise a glass to new beginnings, like you said." Kenzi chuckled holding back tears, but not succeeding as warm droplets fell on her cheeks. "I'm happy for you Bo. Now you can have all you've ever wanted."
"A normal life." Bo croaked just before a ringing phone sounded in the room.
"That's your phone. I'll get it." Kenzi said as she gently released her hold on Bo to grab the ringing cell off the table. "It's Lauren." She informed and handed the device to Bo.
"Hey babe." Bo croaked after tapping the green icon under Lauren's smiley picture. The blond was holding Toby in her arms and both were looking straight at the camera. Bo loved that picture. She'd taken it on one of their walks in the park. It had been such a good day. And now there would be more of those to come, Bo thought delighted.
"Bo. Honey. You sound really sick." Lauren gasped hearing Bo's voice. "How are you feeling?"
"My throat is a bit sore…And I'm a bit.. lethargic, I guess." Bo told the blond, while trying to get her brain to function faster.
"Have you been to the doctor?"
"It's just a bug. I'm feeling better. Don't worry."
"You really should get checked out Bo." Lauren scolded anxiously.
"I will, if this.. continues. But I think the worst is behind me now." Bo sighed. "It's just some bug." She repeated.
"Are you sure you're alright?" Lauren asked worriedly. "You sound.. tired."
"I'll be fine Lauren. I promise." Bo assured with a raspy voice. "I just need to rest."
"Do you want me to come to Toronto? I could. I'd have to change my work schedule, but.."
"Lauren, no. You don't need to fly back and forth. I'm fine. The fever's gone down. Kenzi is a great nurse." Bo said shooting a small drained grin at her friend, who huffed crossing her arms. "We'll be flying home on Thursday."
"Okay.." Lauren trailed off. "I'm just worried. You're thousands of miles away and.. I hate that you are sick."
"I don't like to be sick either." Bo smirked a little. "I'll get better. Don't worry." She finished feeling a bit guilty for the fact, that Lauren worrying over her actually gave her a warm fuzzy feeling inside.
"I.. I miss you." Lauren said quietly.
"I miss you too." Bo smiled dreamily making Kenzi roll her eyes in mock disgust.
.
Bo and Kenzi had flown back to Vancouver on Thursday as planned. Bo had been sleeping a lot trying to get her strength back. Although it was nerve wrecking and even painful and rough, Bo was happy to experience the human body's healing process. She didn't need to drain anyone, she just needed to rest and heal on her own with time.
Bo had talked to Lauren, before they had boarded the plane. The doctor had been ranting irritated, because she had a shift at the hospital, when their plane would land. Bo had tried to calm Lauren down by saying they would meet a few hours later. No biggie, Bo had stated even though she herself was missing Lauren terribly and wanted to wrap the woman in her arms as soon as possible.
So when Lauren had texted that she was just leaving for home, Bo had bolted out of hers and Kenzi's apartment to meet up with Lauren. Bo was very tempted to catch a cab, but thought the little walk would do her good. Fresh air and all that might put some color back on her face. She was almost at Lauren's, when she noticed Tamsin walking to her truck parked on the side of the street.
"Hey Tamsin."
"Bo. Hey.. So you're back?" Tamsin eyed Bo curiously.
"Yeah. I'm on my way to see Lauren and Toby. They're home right?" Bo met Tamsin's eyes. "What?" She asked, when she noticed the Valkyrie staring at her.
"Oh nothing.." Tamsin shrugged. "It's just.. You look exactly the same as the last time I saw you. Maybe a tad paler and tired."
"Thanks?"
"I talked with Evony. "
"Right. Of course." Bo nodded sighing a little. "I would have told you about it, you know."
"I know." Tamsin agreed. "Uh, I heard you had a rough time?" She made a vague gesture with her hand.
"It was rougher on Kenzi. I don't remember most of it." Bo sighed.
"Kenzi's a good friend."
"The best." Bo said sincerely. "She had to watch over me. To watch me.. struggle against dying. That's a lot to put on someone."
"I'm sure Kenzi wouldn't have had it any other way Bo. I think she'd do anything for you."
"Yeah." Bo knew that for a fact.
"Lauren's been worried." Tamsin shook her head a little.
"I'm sorry. I never meant worry her."
"I know you didn't. She loves you. Of course she was beside herself with worry." Tamsin eyes darted towards Lauren's house.
"Oh." Bo smiled, when Tamsin told her that Lauren loved her. Bo loved Lauren and couldn't wait to tell her that. She just had to wait for the right time though it was difficult to keep it in.
"I just have to say.. this was a surprise.." Tamsin ran her eyes over Bo. "A sacrife.. A brave decision. Really."
"Not sacrificing anything. Not brave. I love Lauren. And being able to spend our lives together.. without fae drama or being left behind.. Alone for centuries.. It's a blessing."
"But you destroyed a part of who you are? Are you sure you're not gonna regret it?"
"A part of me?" Bo scoffed sounding angry, but then her voice softened and her eyes filled with unshed tears. "Do you think I would have chosen to be a succubus? A monster preying on humans and fae alike? Feeding on them? Taking what I need without being able to stop? Hurt the ones I love? Not being able to even dream of living a normal life. Having a family." She listed whispering.
"No. But still.."
"I killed people Tamsin." Bo said quietly. "I don't want to be.. like that. I just want to be me. Human Bo."
"Human Bo." Tamsin gave a small smile. "I like the sound of that."
"Me too."
"I'm gonna stay around Bo. I care for Lauren and Toby. I want them safe. Now that you're human I will keep you safe also."
"Thank you Tamsin."
.
After Tamsin had driven off, Bo had taken a deep breath and sauntered to Lauren's door. She had barely knocked on the wooden surface, before the door swung open revealing a frazzled looking Lauren.
"Are you okay?" Lauren opened the door fully and immediately pulled Bo into a fierce hug. "You scared me! Don't do that! You can't do that! Do you know what it's like to worry like crazy. Not knowing, if you're okay?" She ranted quietly against Bo's shoulder.
"I.. I have an idea.." Bo murmured in Lauren's hair. "I'm sorry. I never meant for you to worry and be upset with me."
"I'm not upset with you. I'm upset because.." Lauren pulled away a little to lock eyes with the brunette. "I don't want to lose you Bo. Please ever don't leave."
"What? I'm.. I'm not going anywhere."
"I need you here with me. I need you in my life. Me and Toby, we want you in our life." Lauren confessed cradling Bo's head in her hands.
"You need me?" Bo could feel her heart thundering excitedly in her chest. A warm loving rush filling every part of her. Lauren wanted her in their life. They needed her. Bo couldn't believe it. She felt like she might have died and gone to heaven.
"Yes. There's something I wanted to tell you a.. a while ago, but.." Lauren sighed and fell silent.
"You can tell me anything Lauren." Bo prodded softly.
"I don't want to.. scare you away or anything, but I.." Lauren trailed off. "I know it's fast.. We've known each other only for a few months.. So it's.. Too fast maybe? But you're just so.. great and amazing and Toby loves you.. And I just.." She rambled.
"Lauren.. You could never scare me away." Bo said pulling Lauren tightly against her. "I missed you. I missed you so much."
"I love you Bo." Lauren whispered her eyes briefly meeting Bo's.
"You do?" Bo choked out, tears springing to her eyes.
"I do." Lauren looked at Bo shyly under her lashes. "I'm.. I'm sorry, if that's too much or, you know, totally too.."
"I love you too Lauren." Bo silenced the doctor, before her ramble could escalate with a soft kiss on her lips. Bo's heart fluttered happily in her chest. She had waited so long to say the words. She'd waited so long. "I love you and Toby... I love you." Bo's heart swelled noting the soft loving smile spread on the blond's face at Bo's admission.
"You look tired honey.." Lauren put her hands on Bo's cheeks caressing the skin with the pads of her thumbs and peered into the brown eyes. "Please stay here, with me. With us?"
"I want nothing more." Bo whispered, when Lauren's lips met with hers in gentle kiss. "I love you. So much." Bo knew she would never get tired telling Lauren how much she loved her.
"I know." Lauren murmured kissing Bo languidly. "I love you too.. So much." She smiled into the kiss.
.
… And they lived happily ever after – a human doctor, a human PI and their human son. The end :) …
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Thanks for reading :)
A/N I cannot thank you all enough for your support with this story :) 'Explosions' started as a one-shot - me venting after watching season 4, but ballooned up to a 17 chapter story! And it wouldn't have, if you sweet people hadn't been so lovely with your excitement and comments. Thank you :)
A/N I'll tag this complete after I've edited at least the last few chapters a bit (typos and such).