Disclaimer: Lost Girl belongs to Showcase or SYFY and I am only playing in their universe. I don't own any of the music mentioned in this chapter either.
A/N: Hi everyone – sheepish author begs forgiveness for late post – No really I am sorry for the late post. Thanks to anyone who has stopped by to check up on the story. Hit a bit of a mental block but good to go now. I had the first 14 chapters fleshed out before I started posting and figured I could finish up. Changed a few things as posting moved along and ended up having to rethink things before I could continue. Reviewer Ujin - thanks for the note it got me going again. :)
As always loved reading the reviews from the last chapter and appreciate all the favorites and readers who stopped by. We left off with our girls talking about their relationship amongst other activities, but time does not stand still and the cruel world is moving on…..
It was a dream but it just felt so real. The dark clouds rolled across the sky full of energy. Thick and viscous like rolling masses of ash. Bo's heart was thundering in her chest as she ran towards the unknown danger. Her eyes glowed with an iridescent blue sheen that crossed the deep brown hue of her human form. She was in a warrior's leathers, soft but heavy enough to give them the feel of armor. She looked to the side and the beautiful shape of Lauren's shifter was pacing her. They were a powerful team, each so dangerous on their own, a complement to each other in every way. Their prey was just ahead of them, they both sensed it. Lauren let out a loud growl and stretched out letting her powerful muscles extend for maximum reach. The cat turned golden eyes to her mate and snarled a challenge to keep up.
As the feline body moved ahead, Bo laughed at the rush of power she felt as she freed something deep insider herself. Her legs pulsed with power and she charged after Lauren. They crossed into an open field locating their target. A huge smoky beast stood directly ahead of Bo, a Minotaur looking thing. The goliath stamped its hooves and smoke swirled around monstrous horns. A voice roared out of the creature, the familiar echo touching Bo's ears, "worthless beast, unloved whore, weak, pathetic …."
Throwing her head back, Bo screamed in defiance of the hurtful words. Lauren matched the succubus with a primal scream. They defeated the evil sounds with their combined efforts. With a fast shift, Lauren was standing next to Bo in leather armor of her own. Wearing a satisfied smile, Lauren knelt to the ground and her eyes pulsed green with the power she received. Rolling her neck, Lauren was awash in the earth offering. Bo felt small but had no time to dwell on it as Lauren leaned over and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. "Be more Bo. Trust in yourself and let yourself be more. I know you can do it."
Lauren's soft words sang in Bo's heart and she felt like she truly could be more. Then to the succubus's dismay the doctor turned way. Walking with confidence, the doctor sheathed in her most dangerous form, began to approach the dream monster. Bo cried out to stop her but she knew it was impossible. Lauren was on a mission. Bo looked around desperately for a weapon. There was nothing to be found. Lauren was getting closer and closer to the danger, doing what she felt she had to. The beast snorted and stamped its foot. "Lauren," screamed Bo. Lauren just looked back with a sad smile but kept going towards the danger.
A crackling voice said, "Pity you can't save her." Bo swung around looking for the source. There was nothing but dark eerie sky and barren ground.
Crying out in desperation, "Do you have a weapon? Can you help me?" Bo pleaded to the voice as she watched the beast lower its head and run at Lauren.
A harsh scratchy laughing filled her ears, "My dear girl you don't need a weapon, you are a weapon. You can help yourself and at the same time help that silly child walking into battle with a beast. "
"My succubus powers won't work here, I am a good fighter but this is too much." whimpered Bo as she watched Lauren dodge the first powerful blow. The beast's huge arms striking out with deadly force hammering the ground where her lover had just been standing. Lauren had thrown herself to the ground and then rolled to the side. Bo knew it was just a matter of time before she was unable to avoid the deadly blows.
There was a "humph" sound and then a flash of red eyes right beside her. Bo felt a strong hand on her shoulder, it was not a violent move. No, it was the action of a friend giving support. "You haven't even begun to use your succubus powers. Be the weapon child, be what you were meant to be." Bo's body tingled and a blue glow covered her skin. The rush of chi power sang in her blood, looking to her hands she could not believe her eyes. Bo began to laugh as she ran to Lauren and to kill her enemy. Never before had she felt so complete, so at ease with who she was. The positive feeling caused the power within Bo to surge again.
Bo sat up in bed so fast, her head was spinning and she was covered in sweat. Looking to the side she saw that Lauren was not next to her. Jumping out of bed, Bo ran to the front room. Through the large front window she saw Lauren out in the garden. Collapsing onto the couch, Bo willed her heart back into her chest. She held her hands in front of her and raised an eyebrow then smiled. "That was a dream, right?" she asked herself as she flexed her fingers. After a few more moments, Bo stood to go to Lauren, she had just reached the door when "They call me Dr. Love. They call me Dr. Love, I've got the cure you're thinking of" sang through the room. It was loud and funny and so, so Kenzi.
Rushing into the cabin, Lauren gave Bo quick kiss and a good morning before she began rummaging through the duffel bag for the phone making the all proclamations of Lauren's special medical skills. Finding the noisy little bugger Lauren answered, "You will be changing my ring tone back immediately." There was the sound of laughing as Kenzi rolled with her little joke.
"Lauren, please say our girl is right as rain. I miss you. The wonder couple and wolf are driving me insane. A druid has to get some work done and you are the only one that appreciates that." Lauren smiled at the girl's tone. Somehow through all of this Kenzi and the doctor had become very good friends.
"I miss you too. It is safe to say that our girl is back to fighting shape maybe better." Lauren winked at Bo.
"Brown Chicken Brown Cow," sang Kenzi with extra feeling. Lauren rolled her eyes. She never got the joke but Bo who was listening in busted up as she moved towards the bedroom to change. At the sound of Bo's laughter Kenzi stopped talking, and then said quietly. "Is she really okay? I mean she was pretty out of it. Her nightmares… she didn't really know me." Lauren heard the fear in the girl's voice.
"Won't lie there are some things she will need to work through. The Wanderer is her Massimo and Taft all tied up in one big asshole." said Lauren with a bitter snap. The names of Lauren and Kenzi's tormentors were a reminder that they all had their issues now.
"But with friends like you, a powerful druid and all, she will be able to make it. She fed." Lauren giggled as Kenzi made a T.M.I. sound, "I, Dr. Love, took care of that." Kenzi laughed at Lauren's reference to her clever choice of ringtone then grossed out again. Lauren said with a smile, "I think we need to get back to the shack so you two can have a better reunion. Bo needs to hear all about your adventures Druid."
There was a sharp intake of breath, "Well that is easier said than done. Evony is on the warpath since you walked away from her dungeon. Trick is up to his eyeball in fae legal crap and Vex is still in the hospital. Think you two might want to stay put until we figure out a way to get you back to the farm." said Kenzi.
There was a pause in the conversation as Lauren froze. Cocooned in this protected place, the future had been put on hold, Lauren realized with brutal clarity that she had been lying to herself. Hiding in Bo's love for her and her own feelings for the succubus she had made the real world disappear. It was now time to face reality. She did not have a future with Bo as she had been pretending. Her future followed a path that would make Bo and her friends safe. The bitter truth settled into the doctor's mind and she had no choice but to accept it. Lauren cleared her throat and said in an emotionless voice, "Kenzi, I am not going back to the farm. I am guilty of crimes against the fae. I will be turning myself into Trick and going to trial."
There was a cry off to the side and Lauren swung around to see Bo at the door of the bedroom. She looked pale and angry. Kenzi was yelling through the phone vocalizing everything Bo was not saying. Lauren couldn't focus on anything but Bo's face. Finally she got some words out, "Kenzi… Kenzi, Please keep us posted. I will talk to you soon." She ended the call and shut off the phone. "Bo let me …"
There was a flash of blue eyes, "Were you going to tell me about this?" the hurt in Bo's tone made Lauren wince. Bo cleared her throat. "I love you Lauren. You will not just give yourself to them. I will not, cannot, stand by and let them hurt you." Bo walked to her lover and pulled her into a crushing embrace.
"I will not let them take you from me Lauren. Please don't leave me." The doctor was quiet as she felt the warmth of Bo's arm surrounding her. Lauren let tears form and then fall as tried to find a way to explain to the woman she loved most in the world that she had to face her crimes. They had used Bo to find her once and there was no doubt in her mind that they would do it again. All her friends were in danger because of her actions. Facing fae justice, Lauren laughed at the idea of that, facing fae justice was the only way the others would be able to live normal lives. Her sacrifice would be worth it for all of them to be safe.
xxxxXXXXXxxxxxx
he dark fae bounty hunter was flat on the floor. He grunted in pain as a high heel was ground into his head, "I don't want your damned excuses. It has been over two days since that bitch escaped." More pressure was applied and the man started to cry out. "I want her. No, I want both…women dead. The doctor and the succubus need to die." The heel was pulled back and the flat of the shoe snapped down and pushed the man's head to the side violently. Scrambling way he reached up to his hair line and wiped away the blood that had begun to flow down the side of his face. "Find them, kill them, kill their friends if they will not give them up, just get it done." The man dumbly half bowed and seemed to be lost as to what to do next. Evony screeched in frustration, "Get the hell out of my sight!" She laughed cruelly as he bolted from the room. "It's good to be the Morrigan. Okay she wasn't officially the Morrigan yet but it only a matter of time." she thought to herself as she went back to planning the new color scheme of her office holding paint samples up to the wall to see how they played in the sunlight.
"Counting your chickens before they are decapitated, bled out and thoroughly fried aren't you." rasped a harsh voice from the doorway. The Wanderer entered the office and the darkness of his being filled the room. Since he had almost been killed by that freakish mutation, as he called it, in front of the fae community he had done his best to reestablish his reputation. It had not been a pretty repair job. His bloody campaign had quickly reminded anyone stupid enough to question his abilities that he was not to be trifled with. The campy music and the cards had been replaced with vicious hexes and dark mage power.
"Wanderer," said Evony with the smallest break in her voice. Then she continued in that practiced cool tone, "What can I do for you?"
"You can lie to me and explain to me how I was not used as a means to an end." The dark mage snarled. Evony gave the man a cool, pleasant smile but did not reply.
The older man cleared his throat, his voice was permanently damaged by the feline shifter. He walked further into the room. Evony tried not to smile at his continued use of a cane. The little doctor had really done a job on the man. The Wanderer said sharply, "I must commend you for having the patience to wait for me to make a mistake. Waiting and watching on the sidelines for the doctor to make her gallant attempt at a rescue as I held on to the precious bait. Two years is a considerable amount of time to sit on a plan."
Evony said sweetly, "Don't act so used, the succubus's chi kept you fat and powerful for two years. However as you say I had to wait two years. It is a considerable amount of time for someone not to make some type of mistake. I commend you …"
"Didn't take you nearly that long to screw up. Did it?" The man barked. Evony's eyes flashed in anger. "Yes, my dear, I know about the mutant's escape. By the way your hair and skin have recovered nicely." This time it was the Wanderer that displayed a cool, pleasant smile. The enraged woman was about to reply but the mage held up a hand, "Fear not, I killed the sources willing to share such damaging information." He waved a hand and smoke flowed from his palms. The dark tendrils formed into the faces of the two spa attendants that had helped repair the damage to Evony's body the night of the escape. "I could not get the names of who truly was responsible for such an… ugly…" the man emphasized the word to great effect, "personal affront to you. My sincere apologies." he gave a small bow and the smoke vanished.
Watching the dark magician closely, she noticed his powers were not fully returned but he was still very strong. He had been gathering chi somewhere and more than likely the donors had not survived the process. Evony asked, "What do you want?"
The man walked to the desk and pulled out the chair. He sat down and settled in. Swinging his feet up on the desk and leaning back lacing fingers behind his head, the dark mage said, "I think this office has room for two desks. Don't you?" The Wanderer paused, and then with more speed than his injuries should have allowed, he was suddenly standing in front of Evony, "I want my revenge on the mutant shifter. That is best accomplished by killing the succubus. The doctor's actions speak to how deeply she cares for Bo. You want to hurt the succubus. Killing the feline shifter would be an excellent start. What I say is the enemy of my enemy is my friend. We combine our little plans and then when both women are dead by horribly painful means we decide who gets to play Morrigan."
Evony considered for a moment. "Why not?" she said and the Wanderer nodded his approval. "Ideas of what to do next?" she asked.
"Why my dear Evony, the law is on our side. I say we seek out the fae elders and make a stand for justice for all fae kind." He sounded so pompous and holier-than-thou, it made the would be Morrigan laugh. Using fae law against the succubitch and the mutant doctor, she liked it. The Wanderer held out his arm and Evony moved to take it. "Shall we, my dear?" The handsome couple moved out in style to press their case, really was there anyone one who could stop them?
xxxxXXXXXXxxxx
"Everything just hurts." groaned Vex from a bed in the fae hospital. The current leader of the dark fae's black and blue eyes were almost swollen shut as a result of his badly broken nose. His leg was in traction with a spiral break. Tamsin rolled her eyes and held up the pump to his pain meds. The goth stopped complaining and grabbed the small trigger device and clicked it four times fast before the blonde valkyrie pulled it out of his hand. As the strong drugs hit him, he grinned at her stupidly, "Thanks Pumpkin how'd I ever get so lucky…," Tamsin watched as he drifted off to sleep. Shaking her head she brushed a hand through the jet black hair. With a quick look at the nurse's station to make sure she wasn't being watched she leaned in and kissed him on the forehead.
Trick cleared his throat. Tamsin jumped then said, "Hey, Hi Pops, missed you there." She was a bit embarrassed getting caught in something of a tender moment. He had moved in to the special care ward of the fae hospital by way of a back passage from the light fae compound. Hiding his smile, Trick nodded his hello and walked to the edge of the bed.
"How is the Morrigan doing?" asked Trick.
Tamsin said quietly, "He is recovering. The hex that hit him was a doozy. There was all kind of nasty magic in the mix. He will survive it but his recovery cannot be fae enhanced at this time. The doctors are working on it but for now he is in pain, grouchy and very pissed off. Saving grace is that he did not harm his arm or voice. All of his Mesmer powers are functional." The Valkyrie paused then said, "I take it Bo and Dr. Lewis got away?" she didn't wait for an answer. "Trick this is bad. You brought in Lauren." She looked at Trick who could not hide his wince that she already knew about the doctor's return.
Tamsin continued, "Yeah Trick, Evony let the world know that she captured Dr. Lauren Lewis, human fae mutant. The fugitive human turned feline shifter succubus underfae responsible assaulting a group fae outside the La Shoshain celebration." Tamsin did a fair impersonation of the former Morrigan for that last part. The valkyrie then snapped showing her temper, "How the hell could you do that to us? Now it looks like we all were working with the fae enemy number one." She hissed with anger and worked to calm herself.
"In my defense, I didn't know about it either. Dyson came to me with what seemed like a simple request and then Lauren was there and she had changed and … I know this is bad." whispered Trick. The ash continued, "There is more news…"
Tamsin interrupted, "Does it have anything to do with the influx of emergency room patients that hit this place. Broken bones, burns, slime… all sorts of weird crap. They are still coming in two days later. All claiming to be attacked by some superfae?" her pale blue eyes flashed.
Trick nodded, "A mob tried to take Bo by force at the shack. We don't know if it was the Wanderer or Evony or who, but Kenzi, Hale and some others fought back."
"Some others…okay… and?" the woman's attention was caught as Vex shifted in his sleep but then let out a little sound of pain, she took his hand and he relaxed. "Out with it Pops. Tell me more, we are all caught up in this together."
Stepping in so no one would hear, "Lauren broke out of Evony's estate. Now Evony is on the warpath to recover her before the trial." Tamsin narrowed her eyes in concern and confusion. Trick sighed, "Evony called for a trial when she took Lauren from us. There is nothing official now but it is just a matter of time before things get very serious. If Lauren is found guilty then Evony requested her bounty reward be…" he was interrupted by a voice just the other side of Tamsin.
"The silly woman wants to be Morrigan again." Vex growled buzzed but coherent. Tamsin and Trick refocused on the goth in the bed. He looked to Tamsin holding his hand. He gave her a cheeky grin then pulled her hand up and gave it a quick kiss. "No worries my love," he gave Trick a mock scowl, "her not you old man," said Vex then grinned broadly, his facial expression quickly switched to a grimace. Trick rolled his eyes. Vex said after a small moan, "Well, we're not just a collection of pretty faces. If it's a trial they want, it's a trial they'll get. But I need to know everything Ashy or we will both be tossed out on our asses or worse."
xxxxXXXXxxxx
Kenzi remained yelling at the phone long after Lauren had hung up. "How can people be so smart and so dumb at the same time." she shouted. The druid threw the phone hard at the wall. Dyson who had just rounded the corner reached out and caught it with ease. He raised an eyebrow and then gently set the phone on the counter. Kenzi glared at him for leaving her with an unsatisfying end to her rant.
"Do I want to know what that was about?" asked Dyson. He was using his calm voice. The one he used as a cop not to provoke the meth heads he encountered. It was not working for the clearly upset woman in front of him.
"Lauren," Kenzi said it like that would explain everything. Dyson rolled his hand to indicate that he needed a bit more to go on. Rolling her eyes Kenzi snapped, "Lauren says she is not going back to the farm. She is going to turn herself in and go to trial." Dyson was quiet. "Arrgh," yelled the little druid.
"Dyson, don't you get it. Going to trial is a death sentence for Lauren. What the hell is she thinking? She needs to run. Get safely away from here. We have to convince her."
The wolf knew immediately what Lauren was thinking. The doctor never really failed to amaze him. It was like the woman had no care for her own well-being when her loved ones were in danger. "Kenzi, why do you think she is going to turn herself in?" he asked.
"I don't know and I don't care. She and Bo need to get out of town. Hilde can make it happen." Kenzi jumped up to find the hag. Dyson caught her by the arm.
"Lauren has to turn herself in, she can't take Bo away…" said Dyson.
Kenzi yanked her arm out of Dyson's grasp. There was a look of hurt on the girl's face. It quickly switched to anger, "Well of course you would like Lauren to turn herself in. Leaving Bo all alone, hell you could just step in and …." Kenzi didn't finish instead she turned and ran for the door. She mumbled something as she left. Dyson growled, slammed his fist into the couch and then ran after her. He grabbed the door and howled as a strong snap of electricity popped him. "Screw you." He yelled shaking his hand and he made to walk back to the living room. With a second yell he turned and ran back to the door, the shifter slapped at the doorknob and found that the spell was over. Dashing outside he saw the old pickup truck peeling out of the lot. Banging his fist into the wall, he watched the vehicle go. Dyson was about to turn away when he saw the two SUV's. They just appeared out of the shadow, hidden by another of those stupid illusion spells. "Kenzi Damn it! Bruce I need you." he yelled into the house but didn't wait for the ogre's response. Dyson was off in pursuit.
Kenzi wiped the tears from her eyes as she wheeled the old truck around a corner. She was being stupid. Of course he would not care if Lauren turned herself in. Dyson was in love with Bo. It would allow him back into Bo's life. Hell, she had been the one that got his love back for him. "No good deed." She thought to herself. Refocus, what the hell was Lauren thinking. She would drive over there and talk some sense into that woman and then she and the two superfae would jump in the truck and hit the road. No wolves allowed especially if they had great abs, a charming smile, had always been honest… crap, crap, crap…" Kenzi yelled as she hit the steering wheel. They were friends, Dyson and her, and that was all it would ever be.
She signaled to make the next left and a glance in the rear view mirror flashed the image of the menacing black tail. Kenzi's stomach seized as she watched the SUV speed up. Stepping on the gas she headed for her turn, maybe she could find a way to lose them. As she rounded the corner, Kenzi let out a little scream seeing a second SUV racing down the street towards her. She did her best to maneuver the old truck but it was not meant for quick getaways. Kenzi attempted to make a U-turn, she was only five or six blocks away from the shack. The SUVs closed in fast. The vehicle nearest the truck moved up behind striking the back left hand side. The impact spun the truck violently. It was only by sheer luck that the truck didn't flip. When Kenzi regained control she found that she was pinned in.
Four bounty hunters stepped out of each of the vehicles. Kenzi let out a squeak of alarm as she recognized them as part of Evony's crew from the night Dyson was shot. Cursing her stupidity at leaving the house, Kenzi had checked the obvious hiding spots but she had somehow missed them. Of course, she had not really been thinking straight at the time. Kenzi dropped low in the seat as she heard the men's laughter.
"Hey, little human, your fear smells so good." said one voice dripping with menace, "I think you might just taste as good as you smell." Kenzi held her hand up and flipped them the bird. The men laughed harder. "Take her," said a deeper voice. Kenzi mumbled quickly and when her attacker touched the door handle there was a loud pop and then a rather girly scream of pain. "God damn it!" yelled the first voice and the sound of crunching boots moved away. Kenzi smiled in relief. Score one for the fearful human.
"Okay you don't want to play nice. I think Evony has you marked down as just as good dead as alive so I will give you one chance to step out of the truck or we are going to kill…." There was an odd crunching sound that ended the flow of words.
The roar that broke through the next few seconds was unmistakable. Kenzi peeked up over the edge of the door and out the side window. Dyson was in his man wolf form. He was working over two of the bounty hunters with his claws and teeth. Bruce was working on several more, he had a sledge hammer and the crunching sound was cleared up as he swung the tool with violent efficiency. The heavy metal meeting flesh and bone was surprisingly loud. Kenzi made to open the door but Dyson roared in her direction and she quickly ducked back down.
There was no escaping the two men, once Dyson and Bruce had been enemies but now they were working in harmony. Dyson yelled and tossed a man in the air Bruce made a rapid twirling motion with the heavy sledge hammer and connected breaking bone and sending teeth flying. Within the battle itself time stretched making the encounter feel drawn out, but to the outsider the battle was over in a few short minutes. At the end of the encounter the tiny battlefield was littered with the bodies of the enemy. The ogre beat his chest and yelled and Dyson howled to match his friend's war cry.
Kenzi opened the door to congratulate them but stopped short as both men glared at her. Bruce jabbed his finger at the truck. Both men cared for the girl and were irate that she had put herself in danger. With a quick spin, Kenzi climbed back in to the cab, just before Bruce pushed into the driver's seat. Before Kenzi could get out the other side, Dyson was seated at shotgun. Kenzi opened her mouth to say something but both of them snapped angry eyes at her. The short ride back to the shack was made in silence. Hilde was sitting on the porch when they pulled in. The men walked into the house without a word. Kenzi, who was equally as angry now, sat down by Hilde. The hag just waited and finally Kenzi said, "Boys are stupid." Hilde couldn't help it, she let out a loud laugh and then got quiet again. Kenzi groaned, "I didn't mean to cause any problems. I did check before I left. Dyson is just…"
"Dyson is just what?" the deep voice of the man in question made Kenzi freeze then blush then panic. She stood and then raced into the house not looking at the wolf once. Bruce who was on his way to the porch too jumped out of the girl's way. "What is wrong with her?" said Dyson to no one in particular as he walked to the truck to clean up the cab. Hilde looked at Bruce and then to Dyson.
"Some boys are stupid." Then she laughed again. "Bruce go talk to him please. We don't need these two at each other's throats." The ogre shook his head and then walked out to have a bit of a heart to heart with the grumpy wolf. Hilde checked the sky, it would be best if the air was cleared before the real storm arrived.