Lauren looked at her hands which were resting in her lap and tried not to fidget. She was sitting on the plush red couch in what passed as Bo's living room after semi-purposely avoiding the succubus for a week. At first, she had just genuinely been busy with work and hadn't been answering her phone or checking her text messages but then she had gotten a message that simply read: 'I really need to talk to you' and that had made her nervous, so she had taken to avoiding the brunette. Truthfully, she didn't really know what Bo wanted to talk about; it could have been any number of things but the fae's insistence told her it wasn't a conversation she was necessarily going to like.

Still she couldn't run forever, not from Bo, so after eight days of conveniently being out of the lab when Bo came, she had allowed the succubus to pick her up after work and drive her to the dilapidated building she called home. On entering, Bo b-lined to the kitchen to get drinks while Lauren settled on the couch. Immediately, Lauren noticed Kenzi was no where to be found so whatever it was her ex wanted to talk about, it wasn't work. She felt anxious knots forming in her stomach and sent out a prayer that Bo didn't want to talk about them. Bo padded back into the living room and handed Lauren the glass of water she'd asked for, sitting down next to her on the couch and putting her own glass on the coffee table. They sat in a tense silence for several minutes, Lauren staring into her glass, feeling Bo's eyes on her. Finally, Bo took the cup from Lauren and gently set it on the table next to hers and took the blonde's hands in hers, speaking only when Lauren looked up at her with a startled expression.

"I've missed you." Bo started slowly, ducking her head slightly to catch Lauren's gaze when she tried to look away.

"I'm sorry," she apologized immediately. "I've just been busy lately." She squeezed Bo's hands slightly to let her know her apology was sincere.

"No, I mean I've really missed you, Lauren."

In spite of her better judgment, Lauren felt her stomach flip and she sucked in a sharp breath. "Bo, I can't…" but the succubus cut her off.

"I know; I haven't been fair to you…to us. I know I've been really indecisive about, well, everything but I'm not ready to give up on us yet." She brought one hand up to cup the blonde's cheek and smiled self-assuredly when Lauren automatically leaned into the touch. "Please tell me you haven't either."

Lauren indulged herself in the succubus' touch for a moment, briefly closing her eyes as the pad of Bo's thumb gently traced her cheekbone before softly grabbing her wrist and pulling Bo's hand away from her face and back into her lap.

"What made you decide this?" she asked, avoiding the question.

Bo looked vaguely uncomfortable for a moment before she smiled slightly in an attempt to cover up the expression. "I just…I feel like I'm going to lose you."

"Oh, Bo…" Lauren sighed. "You're not losing me. I just don't think it's really a good idea to…" she trailed off. How was she supposed to explain? There was no doubt she still loved the succubus. Of course, there would always be a part of her that would love Bo, but the fact of the matter was they couldn't be what the other needed. No matter how badly either of them wanted to be. It wasn't fair to either of them to keep perusing a relationship. Lauren didn't know what had brought on Bo's insistence on talking about this. She'd overheard Dyson talking to her on the phone while he and Tamsin were at the lab not two weeks ago and at least on his end, they had seemed very…together.

While she knew that being romantically involved with a succubus meant that she had to be willing to let Bo be a succubus, sharing her with Dyson made her skin crawl. The wolf shifter seemed to go out of his way to gloat about his superior ability to keep Bo more sated than Lauren could though she knew it had more to do with physiology than skill alone. She looked up when Bo called her name gently in a tone that suggested it wasn't the first time she'd tried to get her attention.

"I asked if there was anyone else?" Bo repeated, biting her lower lip.

Lauren frowned, slightly perplexed. Why would Bo think there was someone else? She spent almost all of her time around fae and Bo knew as well as anyone that they didn't make any serious efforts in pursuing her. The only fae that showed her any non-work related attention was…oh. She flushed and shook her head.

Bo looked simultaneously relieved and confused and let out a small sigh. "Don't you want me anymore?" the question was almost innocent but the look on Bo's face said she already knew the answer and Lauren cursed the succubus' ability to see her aura.

"Yes." She replied, figuring there was no point in lying. Her mouth went dry and she swallowed hard as Bo brought her hand up once again to cup her cheek while leaning forward. Lauren realized she was quickly losing control of this situation and did her best to lean back. "Bo…" she started, her pitch warning.

Bo just smiled and slid her hand down to the back of Lauren's neck, urging her forward even as she halfheartedly made an attempt to lean away. "Lauren…" she teased, mimicking the doctor's tone.

Lauren could barely keep herself from shuddering as she felt a sudden wave of desire ripple through her. She was well acquainted with Bo's seducing touch but regardless of how many times she had felt it, it was still hard if not impossible to fight against. She closed her eyes briefly when the sensation became too powerful but snapped them open again when she felt Bo's warm breath close to her face. Bo's dark brown gaze was being eaten away at the edges by a brilliant blue. "Stop." Lauren demanded, her voice shaky and not as firm as she had intended.

Bo looked puzzled for a moment but her face quickly shifted into a wounded expression and she immediately leaned back, pulling her hand away from the back of Lauren's neck and ran her palms down her thighs. She squeezed her eyes shut and shook her head a few times before opening them again and Lauren sighed with relief at seeing they were their normal deep brown with no trace of blue.

"I'm sorry." Bo said dejectedly. "I just thought…"

Lauren sighed again. "This…us, just isn't going to work." She put a hand on Bo's knee. "Bo, you need to take some time to figure yourself out and that's going to take longer than a few months. I want…I need something more stable than you can give me right now, maybe ever, and I don't want to be the one to get in the way of you discovering what you really want."

Bo nodded glumly. "I should take you home."

Lauren gave Bo's knee a gentle squeeze and stood up. "No," she replied, shaking her head. "I could use some air. I'll call a cab."

The succubus nodded and followed her to the door. When Lauren turned and embraced her suddenly, Bo was surprised at first, but automatically put her arms around the blonde tightly.

"You're not going to lose me." Lauren murmured reassuringly. They held each other for several long minutes before simultaneously pulling away.

Bo smiled at the blonde encouragingly and nodded, holding her gaze. She felt like she was saying goodbye. Relinquishing her romantic chances with Lauren and she could see Lauren felt it too but Bo made no move to stop her when she turned and walked out the door.

Lauren didn't know how far she walked or even really where she was as her vision insisted on blurring every so often and she had to blink the tears out of her eyes to better see her surroundings. Though when she saw the seedy looking bar, she ignored her initial misgivings in favor of the part of her that was screaming that she needed a stiff drink and went in. The place was dimly lit and though it was very crowded, she was lucky enough to find an empty stool at the end of the bar. The barrel chested bartender covered in tattoos regarded her skeptically but nodded when she ordered a shot of R & R and told him to keep them coming till she said when.

ooo

An hour later found Lauren not in the pleasant forgetful haze of buzzed, but on the acrimonious and downcast side of drunk. Which was why when someone sat next to her she didn't even cast her gaze away from its fixed point on the water spotted countertop. Nor did she even blink in acknowledgement when the man next to her attempted to start conversation several times. She only bothered to look at him when he put a hand on her arm to get her attention and even then, it was only to scowl.

He looked like he fit in with the other patrons of the rough and tumble establishment. He was tall, heavyset yet muscular, his motorcycle vest doing nothing to hide the colorful tattoos crowded on both his arms. He had a somewhat angular face but he wasn't unattractive. He certainly was not, however, anywhere near Lauren's type. He appeared to be completely unfazed by Lauren's glare and offered her a genial smile which she did not return.

"I'm Weasel." He said gruffly.

Lauren refrained from rolling her eyes but jerked her arm so he would get the hint and remove his hand. "Great." She answered flatly, knocking back the fresh shot put in front of her. She was going to have a headache in the morning, she was sure of it.

"I figured you could use some company." Weasel continued, not caring that the blonde was not receptive. "Hot girl downing shots like there's no tomorrow obviously got some troubles and shouldn't be alone. Let me guess, some man did you wrong?"

Lauren tilted her head to one side and very nearly smirked. "Nope."

The large man's eyes seemed to light up and he leaned his elbows on the counter. "You got a man, blondie?"

She wrinkled her nose, immediately objecting to the nickname. "Nope." she toyed with the next shot put in front of her. Whisky did awful things to her head the next day; this should really be the last one.

Weasel scooted his barstool closer to her. "That's a damn shame. Fine piece of ass like you?" he clucked his tongue.

Lauren had the presence of mind to shudder slightly at his tone. "I'm not interested." She said firmly.

Weasel laughed like she had said something funny. "Course you are, blondie. Don't be ridiculous. No one says no to me."

Lauren pulled several bills out of her pocket and slapped them on the counter with a nod to the bartender, sliding off her stool without taking her last shot. It was definitely time to go. "Well I'm saying no." She retorted tersely making a move to walk past him to the exit. But the large man grabbed her by the upper arm and gripped tightly when she tried to wrench out of his grasp, causing her to wince. He was clutching onto her dominant arm so she couldn't even feasibly throw an effective punch.

"I'm not giving you the option to say no, understand?" he hissed close to her face, his stale breath smelling of beer and tobacco.

Lauren grunted loudly with the renewed effort of trying to squirm out of his hold, but it was no use, he was much stronger than her. So she did the next best thing that came to mind and spit in his face. Watching his cheeks turn red and then almost purple with rage would have been veritably comical if there wasn't such fury in his eyes. He opened his mouth as if to say something while drawing his free hand back, causing Lauren to recoil in preparation for the blow but a new voice next to her interrupted any of that.

"Is there a problem?"

Lauren jerked her head to the side at the familiarity of the voice and sure enough, Tamsin was standing next to her, arms crossed over her chest and an irate look on her face, seeming to be imposing even though the man was over a head taller than her. To Lauren's relief, Weasel brought the hand he'd been ready to strike her with down but did not let go of her arm. "What's it to you?" he grunted. "I got no business with you, Tamsin."

"No, actually, you do." She said angrily. "When you put your hands on my people, I get cranky." She uncrossed her arms and clenched her fists at her side, staring at him coldly. "Am I going to have to get cranky Weasel?"

The burly man immediately released his hold and Lauren rubbed the feeling back into her arm, taking an unconscious step towards the Valkyrie who stepped out in front of her.

"Don't get excited." He grumbled. "I didn't know she was with you."

"Yeah, well, I didn't know I needed to clear everyone with you first." She gave a mock frown. "Oh wait, I don't." she lowered her voice and took a threatening step towards him. "If you ever put your hands on a woman like that again, I will end you. Do you understand?"

Weasel held up his hands and took a few steps back, nodding. Tamsin nodded along with him, seemingly satisfied with herself and placed a firm hand on the small of Lauren's back and guided her into the night air.

"Jesus, doc." The valkyrie said once they got outside and a few feet away from the door. "What the hell are you doing here?"

Lauren shook her head. "What are you doing here?" she asked instead.

Tamsin shrugged. "It's neutral territory, I can do what I want. Besides, the rotgut here is cheaper than the Dal and humans around here are terrible at pool so their money is easier to take." She watched the doctor sway back and forth slightly as they stood under a streetlamp. "Are you plastered?"

Lauren lifted one shoulder noncommittally. "I don't know if I would call it 'plastered', per say, but I'm sure my BAC is over the legal limit."

Tamsin shook her head, but her expression was amused. "What are you doing all the way out here in the first place? Got troubles with the succubitch?"

Lauren frowned and ran a hand through her hair. "Why would you assume that?"

The valkyrie rolled her eyes. "Her house, if you can call it that, is about twenty blocks that way" she jerked a thumb behind her to indicate direction. "I'm pretty sure that's the only thing around here that would interest you."

"We were just talking." Lauren answered quickly. She didn't know why her voice was so tense or why the other blonde's reaction seemed important, but she relaxed when Tamsin nodded.

"Musta been some talk. Everything okay?"

There was genuine concern in the valkyrie's voice and Lauren smiled slightly. "I think so …I needed to make some things clear and it was just… a difficult conversation."

"Next time you need to get bombed after a heart to heart, go to the Dal."

"I didn't want to be surrounded by…" she stopped herself from saying 'fae' in case she offended the taller blonde but Tamsin held up her hand and nodded.

"Say no more, doc. Why d'ya think I come here? Still, you need to be careful."

"I'm perfectly able to take care of myself, Tamsin."

Tamsin chuckled and put a steadying hand on Lauren's shoulder when she swayed a little too far to one side. "I believe you. I'm just saying that you're used to being able to kind of move around without being bothered and it's not like that everywhere. You need a drinking buddy if you're going to get tanked in the neutral zone."

Lauren took a step into the valkyrie's personal space. "You offering?"

Tamsin grinned. "Well you already know I'm an excellent drinking buddy. C'mon, lemme take you home."

She nodded and the Dark Fae led her with a palm against her back to the parking lot alongside the bar. Though she initially protested, Lauren allowed Tamsin to help her up into the truck, leaning her head against the cool glass of the window as the valkyrie slid into the driver's side and started the vehicle.

"It's a lot cleaner in here than I thought it would be." Lauren commented as they started down the road.

"Those are fightin words."

The doctor looked over at Tamsin, but her expression showed she wasn't serious. "Sorry." Lauren said anyways.

"Nah, forget it. You get a pass cause you're cute, but don't let it happen again."

Lauren blushed in spite of the mild compliment. "Thanks, you're too magnanimous."

"Don't go spreading that around, you'll ruin my rep."

She chuckled and they fell into a companionable silence. Lauren soon found herself sneaking glances at the Dark Fae, trying not to stare too long lest she be caught. She had been ignoring Tamsin as much as she'd been ignoring Bo. She hadn't been taking her research notes to the Dal like she normally did when she realized she was using that as an excuse to run into the valkyrie, however briefly. There hadn't really been any fae related cases at the district station that week. Nothing that couldn't be handled over the phone, but the two times Tamsin had come in to pick something up, Lauren had feigned business and passed the interaction off to a lab tech. She had been hoping that without the almost constant contact with the valkyrie, her deepening crush would begin to atrophy. It seemed, however, to have had the opposite effect.

It was true, that when Bo asked her if there was anyone else, she had thought of Tamsin but she hadn't really lied when she told Bo there wasn't anyone. After all, it wasn't like she and the valkyrie had done anything and though it was probably the alcohol talking, she was having a hard time thinking of reasons why not. There was of course the glaring reason being taboos between Dark Fae and Light Fae property, but that was starting to seem more like an excuse than a legitimate reason (that was definitely the alcohol talking). She sighed as they pulled up to the compound and Tamsin cut off the engine. Lauren turned to thank her and say goodbye but was surprised when she found the taller blonde had already slipped out of her seat and was making her way around to the passenger's side. Tamsin opened Lauren's door and offered her arm, which she stubbornly refused at first but took when the world tried to tilt away from her as she slid out of the truck.

"Thanks." Lauren said as they stopped in the alcove in front of her door. She planned on stretching out on the couch once she got in and not risk trying to fumble up the stairs in her state.

"No problem."

"I mean for more than the ride." She clarified. "I feel pretty stupid."

Tamsin shrugged. "Don't feel bad, doc. We've all had those days. Hell," she rolled her eyes. "I've had those years." She smiled when Lauren chuckled. "You gonna be alright?"

Lauren nodded and sucked in a breath as a surge of impulsiveness suddenly went through her and she grabbed Tamsin's wrist as she was turning to go. The valkyrie turned around, her expression questioning and Lauren quickly leaned up to press their lips together before she lost the nerve. She'd meant for the kiss to be brief but leave no question as to her intent though she didn't protest when Tamsin somewhat roughly pushed her by her shoulders against the door, pinning her with her hips and gladly opened her mouth when the valkyrie's tongue swiped her bottom lip. They stood making out like teenagers for a few minutes until Lauren let out a whimper and they pulled apart.

"Shit, doc." Tamsin said a bit breathlessly as she put a little more space between them, dropping her hands from Lauren's shoulders. "How long you been holding that back?"

The doctor smiled somewhat smugly. "A while." She replied, enjoying the way Tamsin's eyebrows arched in surprise and her face remained flush.

Tamsin chuckled and shook her head. "You got anything else you're holdin back?"

Lauren rolled her eyes slightly but shrugged in response.

"Right." Tamsin grinned, shoving her hands into her back pockets. "I'll see ya around." She would never tell this to anyone, but after Lauren went inside and closed the door, Tamsin touched two fingers to her lips as if she could still feel Lauren's on hers and stood in the alcove in a semi daze for a minute before heading back to her truck.