A.N. Okay I know it was supposed to be a one shot but I was looking for a side project apart from Dawn o.a. New Age since I'm busy with finals and don't have the time to work on that intricate of a plot. So until next week I'll be messing with this one. Thank you for all the feed back I appreciate immensely.

DAY: 26-Lauren's POV

"All because I didn't bring you a sandwich?" I ask staring her down with far less anger about this 'argument' than she has. "You don't even like sandwiches Bo," I say justifying my actions that shouldn't actually need justification.

"It's about the inconsideration," she starts to walk away before spinning back around so fast I'm almost positive she's hit her leg against the desk. "And yes Lauren, I know what the word means."

"It is not this big of a deal, I can easily go back across the street to get you one."

"No, I don't want it now."

"You just spent ten minutes telling me how hungry you are,"

"Oh, so you counted?"

"What?"

"You counted how long I was ye—talking to you?" No Bo you had it right the first time—it was definitely yelling at me, but okay.

"Bo," I say as she sits back down. "I was not counting I was completely listening to you talk at me for ten minutes about how hungry you are and how I'm a horrible person because I didn't bring you a sandwich,"

"I didn't say horrible," she says softly looking from the desk top back up to me with her sad, mopey eyes that normally make me unable to think about anything other than how adorable she is but at this moment I'm too frustrated to fixate on it, it's sad too because it really is one of the cutest looks you would ever see.

"It was implied."

"No it wasn't. I would never imply you are a horrible person Lauren-maybe a little unthoughtful at times and possibly a food Nazi but never horrible,"

"Hm," I raise an eyebrow and seriously contemplate her comment. "I'm not going to touch that one,"

I shake my head while letting out a sigh deciding this ridiculousness has gone on long enough. Finally pulling off my jacket I toss it onto the wobbling folding chair near the door before readying to walk away and take a shower but of course it is never that easy as I hear her starting to shift behind me and I just know she isn't done yet.

"So you're leaving again?"

"I'm going to take a shower I would hardly classify it as leaving,"

"Right, big date for you tonight."

And there it is. I snort to myself to keep from laughing. I was so, so close from walking away from this I really was. One foot on the bathroom tile, my hands on the door-frame, eyes locked on the all too tiny and questionable shower that was calling my name. So close. Sighing once more I don't move but instead look over at her.

"I'm sorry?"

"Nothing. Just remembering you have that big date tonight with what's her name,"

"It's Alicia and it is not a date it is an undercover operation with a Water Fae, which Hale decided to send us on,"

"All I heard was, blah, blah, blah—blind date that Hale set up,"

I have to turn my face away and bite my tongue to keep from laughing. She is actually a hundred and ten percent mad about this and I know she is, I know she is actually angry but there is just something so adorable about her sitting there pouting as a five year old would. Sure from anyone else I would consider it immature and had I actually been as angry as her I would have called her out on it but considering mad was the furthest thing from my mind I just found it adorable.

"Are you done?" I ask with a small smile that won't suppress as I turn back to face her. "I would really like to shower now,"

"Sure I'll just wait around by myself and do nothing—hungry."

"I offered to go back to get you one—in fact Bo eat mine I'll be eating tonight. And you were technically the one who blew your cover with The Ravenger so,"

"Yeah well," she pauses and gives me an attempt at a scowl which turns back into a pout. "He has a stupid name,"

"Right, that is your justification for holding a knife to his throat?"

"I don't need a justification in case you don't remember," she scowls again this time doing a better job of it as she stands once again. "I'm not the one who has to be here, I'm still the unaligned succubus who is free to do as she pleases,"

"And I'm the owned human,"

She swallows and I can see the guilt washing over her face, I could see it the second the words finished passing through her lips but it was too late. The comment was said, and the damage was done. I don't know why I'm hurt, it's all true. She is a succubus, she is unaligned and free to do what she wants. She is free to break the rules and go where she wants when she wants. She is free to sleep with who she wants and date who she wants and flirt with who she wants. But I'm not. I'm human and owned probably for eternity. I can't pack up and disappear, I can't travel the world—hell I can't even travel the country. I can't chose to be with who I want, I can't even chose who I go on dates with apparently. Don't know why that surprises me, I didn't have a choice the first time me and her slept together.

"Lauren,"

"It's fine,"

"Lauren just listen I'm an ass, that didn't come out how I meant it too."

"Yes it did. And you're right Bo you aren't an ass, but what you are is a hypocrite. You want to talk about thoughtlessness then lets talk about the Holiday Inn in New York when you were in the middle of a conversation with me when that guy came up and you invited him to join us. Or in the Wallace Motel in Maine when you actually brought someone back to your room and didn't bother to at least move the bed away from the wall. Or at the Connolly Plaza when you went to get us something to eat but came back four hours later with no food because you stopped for a snack." I took a breath stepping out from the bathroom back into the one room hotel room. "Don't want to make things personal? Then lets talk about how many times you've broken the guidelines you agreed to follow—or even the law. Lets talk about how many mistakes you've made just within these past few weeks that got us in some very questionable situations? If you ask me that is far more unthoughtful then me not getting you a sandwich in which by the way I had asked if you wanted one but you were too busy texting Dyson that you hadn't even realized I had left the room."

Standing frozen behind the desk her eyes widened but said nothing. I took a much needed breath and waited for her retort which she always seemed to have but there was nothing but a heavy silence. Taking another breath I just waited for her to snap out of her shock but there was nothing I had actually managed to shut her up and grip her full attention for the first time when it hadn't come to sex.

I hadn't meant to snap, I'm not the type to snap—not normally and not at her but here I was. I had intended to never bring any of this up, after all it was water under the bridge what was the point in drawing attention to it. But yet somehow here we were. She has this look of subtle fear in her eyes and I know it's because she thinks I'm angry and she has never seen me angry before but I'm not—not really. I'm hurt, but I won't tell her that so she can go on thinking I'm angry—it doesn't make much difference now.

I know she isn't my girlfriend—i know this, in fact I remind myself of this fact everyday so things like this don't happen but yet here we are in the middle of a fight that a couple should be having, not two people 'stuck working' together. Essentially that is what we've been-partners, no different than Dyson and Hale—if they had slept together on several occasions and had feelings for one another but essentially the same.

She wasn't here because she wanted to be with me she was here because she wanted to help people and I was just the person who got stuck with her. This she proved over and over again on several occasions, those I spoke of—and so many more. Sure we slept together a few nights ago and sure I had convinced myself something had changed, that I meant something but now-I don't think it did. I think it was just convince. After all if it wasn't just convince then why was she still texting Dyson every few minutes. Why hadn't she tried to kiss me again or even talk about it? No instead she wants to argue about a damn sandwich and pout because she has to spend the night as my backup rather than me being hers.

"If you are that worried that I will screw this up, that I can't handle something as simple as this then call Hale and tell him." I say as I pull my phone from my pocket and toss it onto the desk before storming to the door. "I may just be an enslaved human but I can still do things Bo. You may not find them as impressive as being able to last in bed for twenty-four hours straight or turn into a tiny wolf but I can still do things," I'm in the hall now pulling the door shut behind myself making sure to slam it but suddenly I find myself pushing it back open. "By the way Bo, Dyson is a type of shape-shifter who happens to turn in a wolf, there are actual wolfs who are three times the size of him." and with that I slammed the door.

I know that was a ridiculous thing to say, yes it was true but still had little to nothing to do with this. Here I was being the irrational, pouting child spouting insults at someone who wasn't even here for a reason none other than I was jealous.

Shaking my head trying to shake off the building tears. This was completely ridiculous, the fight was ridiculous, the reason for the fight was ridiculous—everything about this past month was ridiculous. This plan of a cohesive world Hale was trying for was pointless. Dark, Light and Human all working together was ridiculous. These groups weren't the Big-Three, they were never going to work peacefully together so why go through all the trouble of trying. I would perfectly be happy back in my lab, sure it was a cage but it was my cage. And God do I miss my apartment-sure it isn't actually mine but I can buy into the illusion that it is.

"Everything okay ma'am?"

I turn to the creepy desk clear who could pass for Norman Bates brother and give him a nod. But honestly do I look okay? I'm power-walking toward the exit with no jacket into twenty degree, pouring down rain with tears falling down my cheeks and sniffling. Who would think that was okay? Who?

Then again who would tell someone to make-love to them and then act like it didn't happen?

Storming through the parking-lot ignoring the looks from several people as I made my way to the red, rented Toyota. A soft curse passing my lips as I realize I don't have the keys. Looking around I see if there is someone to go but almost every store is abandon and I of course don't have my wallet.

"Please," I whisper aloud trying the door. "Thank you." shaking my head I slip into the drivers seat.

In retrospect I should probably be pretty concerned that we had left the car unlocked in this neighborhood but all I can't think about is how embarrassed I am. Embarrassed at the twenty some odd people who witnessed me crying on my way to the car. Embarrassed at losing my temper and saying what I had said. Embarrassed at being jealous over someone that isn't mine to be jealous over. Embarrassed because I used facts to insult someone over something so petty. Embarrassed because I'm in-love with someone who doesn't know-doesn't care. Embarrassed because I've apparently become the type of woman who sits in her car and cries over the girl she isn't even involved with. Embarrassed because I wasn't free. Embarrassed because everything I own I don't really own. Embarrassed because despite all of my accomplishments, despite my age-I'm some how living under the rules of a seventeen year old.

God, my life was an embarrassment.

"Jesus!" I scream as I turn at the sound of the door being pulled open. I didn't mean to scream, I don't usually get startled since I'm usually paying attention to everything but this time I hadn't seen her approaching. "What are you doing?"

"Come back inside,"

"I don't want to,"

"Lauren,"

"Bo you go back inside you're getting soaked," I say as I reach over for the door but she is making sure to keep a hold on it. "You're going to get sick,"

"Then come back inside with me,"

"No,"

"Then I guess I'm going to get sick,"

"Bo,"

"Lauren please, you can hit me or kick me or yell at me—just come back inside with me,"

"I don't want to hit you,"

"Fine," she huffs and looks up around the parking-lot and I'm pretty sure she is about to give up, that is until she reaches in and grabs me by the arms effectively pulling me out of the car. "You didn't deserve that, I didn't mean it how it sounded but that doesn't matter I should have known better. And I know you can do this tonight, I know that because you are incredible in every sense of the word. You want to yell at me or be mad or whatever else I can take it, I deserve it just—don't leave."

I didn't speak I just watched her, watched the pain and sincerity in her eyes, in her features. She looked so hurt, so scared and I wanted to kiss it all away after all we were only inches apart but what would that solve. We'd kiss and then we would probably have sex and nothing would change, it would only add to the complication. It would only add to the hurt and I'm already hurt enough, I honestly can't take anymore. I can't handle getting my hopes up just to be let down again, I just can't anymore.

"Bo, I-"

"You can't leave," she says and it's true I am under orders and I don't have the keys so I really can't leave but I stay silent letting the freezing rain pour down on me, just as well it masks my tears. "Because,"

"Because?" I look back up from her lips to her glistening eyes and I'm sure there are tears.

"Because this month has been the best of my life,"

"Excuse me?"

"Yeah it's been hard and often disgusting and apparently I've been a huge asshole but," she pauses and I can now see she's been crying this whole time. "I've gotten to spend it with you. We've been able to spend time together and I've been able to get to know you more then just the basic stuff. I mean if we were back home at the rate we were going it would have been another two years before I found out about the time you forgot your class schedule and ended up sitting through a class that wasn't yours. Or the time when accidentally drank your science project. Or that dream you use to have about being a house wife. Or how you became interested in medicine. Or how you learned to do that thing with your hips that makes me crazy," she smirks with a soft chuckle which masks a sniffle.

"You were paying attention?"

"Of course I was,"

She smiles softly and takes a step back from me as she sees I'm taking one forward. I look down at the car before looking back up at the street and can't help but think what would happen if I just ran. What would happen? But then I hear her sniffle, I hear the sound of her trying not to cry—because of me. I hear her. Swallowing back a new wave of tears I nod unconsciously more to myself than anything.

Turning back to her I give her a soft smile with another nod and take a deep breath.

"Come on I have to get ready and you're soaking wet,"

"So are you," she grins at me and for a moment I can't tell if she is actually talking about what I'm talking about.

I walk a step behind her, just watching her at first trying to figure out what that comment mean until I realize I've once again turned down a chance at freedom for her. Sighing I wipe my face from the tears, from the rain and push the hurt from my mind. I let my eyes travel to her hips and begin welcoming back the memories of the other night. I let my mind focus on her comment and the many meanings it had.

Those were the unspoken things I wanted to think about now, there would be time for the rest—there always was.