Disclaimer: Lost Girl belongs to Showcase or SYFY and I am only playing in their universe.
A/N: Hi All – Thanks so much for the reviews, reads, follows and favs. They are truly appreciated! As many of you have guessed the story is coming to a close. There are a few more things to wrap up, so one more chapter after this one… We left off with Hilde in need of Lauren's help…
"Guys, Guys, Guys," yelled Kenzi and she ran to the porch and pulled open the screen door. The succubus and the ogre were up and off the bench swing in seconds. Holding out a hand as she caught her breath, Kenzi finally wheezed out, "Lauren needs you," she pointed at Bo, "to run back through the door and get Hale for her. Bruce, you need to put on a big pot of boiling water. I need to get Lauren's med kit." Turning on her heels Kenzi ran back into the house with her friends directly behind her.
As the group entered the kitchen, they gawked at the solid, smooth wall that was in front of them. Rushing to the structure, Bo and Kenzi felt all around for any signs of the door to the shack. "Damn," muttered Bruce and the women turned around to see the big man with a pained expression on his face. He swallowed hard, "Hilde's magic created that portal, for it to fail her strength must be fading." The ogre turned quickly and grabbed a pot from the top of the refrigerator. "I'll just fill this up." He said but his voice held no emotion as if his feelings were bottled up so tight he might explode if he allowed anything to leak out. With a nod at Kenzi, Bo took the med kit from her hands headed up to Lauren. Kenzi waited for the ogre, she would stay with Bruce. As the big man turned Kenzi pulled him into a hug and let him know they were all there for him.
Making her way up stairs, Bo stopped at the doorway to Hilde's room. She saw Lauren holding the small woman's hand and crying. Thinking back to all that Lauren had shared at the cabin about her relationship with the hag, Bo wasn't surprised to find Lauren's emotions running slightly unchecked. The trial, the battle, and now having to face this, hell they should all be flat on their backs, the whole lot of them. Bo sighed and felt like she should just grab Hilde's other hand and join in with her own tears. So much about the quiet scene in front of her caused the succubus to worry. "If Hilde didn't recover would Lauren be lost too?" Bo thought then asked herself, "So what are you going to do now champion?" Within seconds she gave herself a big mental kick in the ass.
Wasn't this just a battle in another form? If Lauren's emotions got the better of her now, Hilde didn't stand a chance. Steeling herself Bo spoke up, "Hey Doc, you just going to sit there or are you going to do your medical thing and get our girl up and on the mend?" Lauren jumped at the strong confident sounding voice from the door. She wiped her eyes and looked at Bo. The succubus looked as tired as Lauren felt but she was trying to put on a strong front. Seeing the doctor's attention on her, Bo smiled, "Okay Beautiful, one more task before you rest." Bo held out the med kit.
Lauren shook herself, then stammered a bit, "I…I need you to go get Hale so…." The doctor saw Bo's face falter. Thinking back the doctor dropped her head for a moment as she remembered that the doorway vanished after they entered the kitchen. "The doorway is gone isn't it?" Bo nodded and held the kit out again. Standing and walking in a small circle, a look of utter exhaustion crossed Lauren's face. "Bo, I might be too close to her…."
There was a ragged sound from the bed and Hilde's body started to tremble as brittle sounding gasps shredded the quiet. Lauren was at the bed side in a moment. She started barking orders at Bo who was on move too. Thank goodness, just like everything Lauren owned, the med kit was perfectly organized. Calling for various instruments by description, Bo did her best to find the requested materials. Lauren had an idea of what she was looking at but she had to help her friend through this attack first before she could investigate further. "Bo there is a large pen tucked in the side. Find it."
Lauren was positioning the hag's head to double check the air way was open when Bo handed the largish plastic tube to the doctor. With no delay Lauren twisted open the pen, popped the release cap and slammed the pen down into the older fae's leg. There was little to no response, "Toss me the second one." In seconds the pen was in the doctor's hand. She directed the second shot into Hilde's other leg. The gasping stopped and Hilde's breathing resumed that shallow pattern Lauren recognized from when she first entered the room.
"I will get on the phone and have Trick get Hale on a plane right now." said Bo a bit wide eyed.
Lauren growled and then said in a controlled voice, "There is no time. That was an allergic reaction and I just used two of my four epinephrine shots for that small attack. Humans would never need two that close together but fae metabolism is different. Hilde is fading, Hale will not get here in time."
Bo understood, "The iron spears. She is an older fae and they are sensitive to iron."
"The deep wound must have iron fragments embedded inside. The others are healing up with the help of Kenzi's cure-all, but the large wound still looks very fresh." Lauren temperament had switched entirely.
"I was hoping that," Bo pointed to the slimy ointment, "was not part of the problem." She sniffed the globby looking material and grimaced. Lauren did not hear Bo's comments about Kenzi's creation; the doctor was working out her next move. Without Hale to heal the wound Lauren was in trouble. Seeing the furrowed brow, Bo asked, "What's the problem Lauren? Tell me."
Clearing her throat the doctor said, "Hale can cauterize the wound and begin the healing process. His sound waves are very precise and will stop any excess bleeding. I can stitch up the damage to the lung as I remove any fragments but I will be hard pressed to stop the bleeding from the flesh the iron had touched. Then there is the problem of finding the iron and picking it out. There can be no iron left inside her. A fae body will died slowly as the iron shifts and contaminates everything it touches, killing the tissue. It's a slow and painful way to go."
"You have got all that handled Doc," came a voice from the door. Kenzi was standing at the frame looking in. Seeing the look of confusion on her friend's face, the druid clarified, "You have succubus in you that can heal by pushing chi. You have the senses of a shifter, exceptional sight and smell. You are the best doctor of fae and humans in the whole friggin world, and you have the power of the earth to back you up. You have this handled Lauren." Kenzi stepped to stand by Bo. "Besides we're here to help you too."
Bo gave a laugh, "Couldn't have said it better myself. So where do we set up for surgery Lauren?" The doctor was going to argue but there was just the smallest sound of distress from Hilde. A catch in the pattern of her breathing and Lauren knew she was out of time. The iron was shifting and the damage was just getting worse the longer she delayed.
"The laundry room," said Lauren, "There is a metal table there and access to water. Clear everything out that you move. I need to wash up and then we can transfer Hilde. She is stable for now, you two go prep the room as much as you can. Use Bruce's boiling water to sterilize these" The doctor handed off a group of instruments then took a deep breath as she watched the two friends move out. With a double-check on Hilde, Lauren ran to the bathroom and jumped in the shower for the quickest rinse off of her life. With an effort Lauren ignored the gore that ran off her body as she let the water flow over her. She grabbed some clean clothes and was back with Hilde in less than five minutes.
"Bo I need you. Grab the ironing board and come up here." Yelled Lauren and within moments her partner and board were by her side along with an ogre and a druid. With as much care as possible they moved Hilde to the flat surface and had her transferred down to the small metal table of the laundry room. "Kenzi I need more of your cure-all in liquid and salve form. I also need a sleeping draft just in case Hilde starts to wake up during the operation. Can you help?"
"On it." Said Kenzi and she ran from the room. Bo watched her go and shook her head. She had not been around to watch her good friend in druid go mode. It was impressive.
"Bo," said Lauren bringing the succubus around, "I need to make sure I have enough chi…" Bo grabbed Lauren and kissed her soundly and started to push chi. Lauren made a small sound and tapped Bo's shoulder. There was confusion on the succubus's face as Bo pulled back. Lauren gave a small laugh, "Thank you very much but watch me during the operation okay I am going to be switching forms really fast and my energy levels might drop off from the stress on my body." Bo looked rather embarrassed but Lauren smiled and raised an eyebrow. "I will need more of that," letting her eyes drop to Bo's mouth, "When Hilde is out of the woods." Bo let out a small laugh and nodded that she would be available.
There was some noise from the kitchen and Lauren asked Bo to stay with Hilde as she stepped out. The blur of human motion that was Kenzi, was putting the final touches on her creations. Bruce was using tongs to move Lauren's instruments to a small metal bowl. The big man had just removed from the tools from the water. "Would you please place those in the laundry room?" Lauren asked gently and Bruce moved quickly in that direction.
Stepping outside Lauren move to an open patch of land and centered herself. "I missed you," she said and sent a strong pulse of energy into the ground. There was an instant recognition of her contact. The warmth she felt as her land greeted with a swirl of energy so thick it brought the taste of fresh herbs to her lips. Lauren bit her lip and wiped away the tears that came to her eye. This place was truly her home, the connection was undeniable. "We have some work to do. Hilde needs our help." The doctor whispered and pulsed the ground again. Standing still Lauren then made her request for energy; the answer to her request was massive. "Thank you," Lauren said as she moved back into the house.
There is a mental switch that trips when a person starts a task that requires total focus. As Lauren crossed the doorway of the room that held Hilde, the doctor portion of her brain fired. She walked to the sink and rewashed her hands. It was habit, a fae's body, even one as weak as Hilde, would easily fight off normal infection threats. Turning Lauren found that her instruments had been laid out. All her med kit supplies were stacked neatly, gauze and dressing at the ready. There was even a strong shop lamp standing at the ready. Looking up, Lauren saw an apprehensive Bo and Kenzi off the side. Kenzi shrugged at the prep work, "We watch a lot of T.V." Lauren gave them a smile and stepped up, it was time.
Pulling the dressing and packing away for the center wound, Lauren let her shifter sense go and caught the smell of the iron damage right away. Letting her enhanced speed take over she began to examine and clean the cavity. She shifted back and forth between her succubus and nature fae forms as she gathered than forced chi into small locations speeding healing in the area. Her hands were fast but steady as she worked. Without breaking focus Lauren said, "Bo move to Hilde's head and watch her breathing. Kenzi, I am going to need you to assist here." The women moved without argument.
"Hold this back," Lauren handed Kenzi a clamp. The druid stepped up and grabbed a clamp. There was a slight tremor to the girl's hand but it was not a problem for Lauren. "Found one," Lauren ground out between her teeth. With a fast motion she pulled out a needle like shard of the metal and dropped it into the small bowl. She quickly pulsed the area with chi and the flesh started to recover but it was not fast. Taking back the clamp from Kenzi, Lauren said with a concerned tone, "Kenzi grab an empty syringe from my kit and fill it with your liquid cure all. Hurry please." As the girl ran to get the needed materials Lauren pulsed again. The flesh responded but it was still slower than she would have liked. "Bo can you give me a hit." Bo leaned over and pushed chi into Lauren. Lauren transferred the chi and saw better results with the stronger energy Bo had shared. Kenzi showed up and furrowed her brow at the exchange.
"Really guys, is now the time?" Said the druid as Lauren grabbed the syringe. Bo shot her friend a half grin appreciating the tension breaking comment.
Bathing the contaminated area in a small amount of the cure-all provided the needed push for the recovery that Lauren wanted to see. The flesh responded quickly and when Lauren pulsed again with chi the iron tainted area healed up nicely. Turning to Kenzi, Lauren smiled and said, "Girl you got some skills." Kenzi beamed and grabbed the clamp. They had a protocol that was successful, now it was just time to work.
All in all there were twenty four major fragments of iron spread out through the wound. Lauren worked at intense speeds but even so the procedure took hours. The thin iron pieces were fragmenting as she attempted to remove them. The doctor had to be sure that every tiny piece was removed before she could heal the area. Lauren was flipping between forms at incredible speeds using the nature fae to tap the energy the land and Bo had shared with her, using her succubus nature to redirect the healing energy into the part of the wound that needed to be healed, then incorporating her enhanced sight and smell from her shifter form to help with the location of the next piece of metal in the wound. Bo and Kenzi did their best not to break Lauren's focus. The tiny flecks of iron she was pulling out were barely visible by the naked eye. The stress on the doctor as she worked to find them all was extreme.
The worst moment was when Hilde was hit by a second allergic event. It required Lauren to use the last of her epinephrine shots to open Hilde's air way. In real time the attack was short but it felt like an eternity as Lauren struggled to keep the wound from ripping further or for the tender newly healed flesh from opening back up. Bo had pushed chi into Hilde as a way to speed the flow of the epinephrine through the hag's body. It was a painful thing to watch as Hilde's body had contorted in its fight for air.
After that scare, Lauren worked even faster and with even more focus. The movement of Hilde's body had spread some of the metal. There was a huge risk that some would drift away unseen by Lauren. No longer asking for help, the doctor was just a mass of determination and concentration. Finally after hours had pasted, there was a clanking noise as forceps dropped into the metal bowl off to the side of the table. Bo and Kenzi looked up at Lauren who was staring down at the sutured area. They watched as the doctor place her hand above the closed wound and pulsed a weak stream of chi into the area. Bo saw what was coming and grabbed Lauren as she staggered due to exhaustion. The doctor looked into Bo's eyes, "I…I don't think I can do any more for her. We can't heal with more chi in case…..We will just have to see if I missed anything. Her body will let us know soon enough." Turning Lauren looked at Kenzi, "Could you please cover the wound with your salve, and then put a light dressing on the wound."
"Sure thing," said Kenzi, "I will be on first watch Doc." Lauren started to argue saying she just needed some coffee and didn't want to leave Hilde's side. Kenzi gave Bo a nod and the succubus pulsed and pulled just a tiny amount of chi from the woman in her arms to cause her to pass out. Bo picked up Lauren and held her close. "Damn," said Kenzi, "You have some girlfriend there Bo Bo, and she is going to be some kind of pissed at you in the morning."
Walking out the door, Bo smiled down at that doctor's beautiful face and said, "Don't I know it, on both counts."
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The hillside was covered in grasses and wildflowers. Lauren was lying on her back looking a bright blue sky with huge fluffy clouds so low that it just might be possible to reach out and touch them. The breeze was blowing to provide just the right amount of cooling for the warm summer day. "Clang," the sound rang out followed by another, "Clang, Clang." Lauren moved up to her elbows and looked down the hill. Bo was holding her hand out to a figure on the ground and helping him to stand up. The succubus was decked out in some type of heavy leather shirt and jeans. She held a long sword and small shield. The twosome were sparring one another. Bo was laughing as she motioned to her opponent. Lauren's champion had helped the man to stand and then made the first move to continue their encounter. Lauren growled and flashed yellow eyes as she recognized the man with Bo as Dyson.
"Do you honestly think that your champion has eyes for anyone but you daughter?" said a crackling voice laced with a large amount of mirth.
Lauren smiled and continued to watch Bo school the wolf shifter in the long sword, "I suppose not but it's an old hurt that rattles around my mind." The familiar humph made Lauren laugh. Turning her head, the doctor looked into the older woman's smiling face. "You gave me quite a scare little mother." The grin that touched Hilde's lips at Lauren's use of the new nick name for her, showed how much it pleased the hag to hear it. The doctor continued, "Please don't ever do that again."
"Like I planned it child." said Hilde with a dismissive tone. "I did not see their treachery coming. I have always failed to see how deceitful people can be. I am afraid that you have that problem too." Lauren thought of the way Bo had protected her back as the final council members had attacked her when she moved to leave the chamber and had to agree with Hilde.
"Clang….Clang, Clang." rang through the dream followed by a loud, "Damn it, Bo." Dyson was on the ground again. Lauren smiled and Hilde bumped her and laughed.
"I am afraid you are smitten daughter. Will you be leaving with her back to the city?" asked Hilde.
"No," said Lauren. She did not even pause as she said it. "No." she repeated as if to double check her thoughts. Hilde just kept looking forward. Lauren continued, "Something tells me that I have to return to the city for a short trip but this is my home now. I will not leave this place or you for long again. Bo and I will figure something out." There was some concern in her voice but no real doubt.
"Clang," Lauren frowned as the sound was louder than it had been, "Clang, Clang" Lauren was annoyed now. The peaceful setting was blurring and distorting. Looking at Hilde the doctor said, "I have to wake up now, I'll see you in a minute."
Hilde said with a smile, "Good because I am waiting for you, my daughter."
Lauren's eyes snapped open, she was in her bedroom and after a moment figured out she had been dreaming. Last thing she remembered was finishing up the operation on Hilde and then Bo pulsed her. Bo had pulsed her. With a flash of yellow eyes, Lauren was throwing on clothes and running to the laundry room. She let out a muffled yell as she found the place was spotless. No sign of Hilde, her equipment, the mess from the procedure, it was as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened there. Lauren ran through the bedrooms, they were all made up and there was no one around, Bo, Kenzi, even Bruce were gone. Where the hell was her patient? Lauren was about to call out when, "Clang, Clang, Clang…" sounded from outside. Heading for the front door, the doctor burst on to the porch and came to complete stop.
"Sleep well daughter?" came a weak but firm voice. Hilde was seated on the bench swing with a cup of Kenzi's cure-all in her hand. The older woman went to say something else but found herself in a gentle yet very thorough hug from Lauren. The doctor pretty much lost it for a small amount of time and the old fae was happy to hold her as she gathered herself back together. Carefully placing her drink down, Hilde hushed the doctor and stroked her hair as they sat together.
"I think you are a far more talented healer than I ever gave you credit for. I should be a goner, thank you for saving my life daughter." Said Hilde and that set Lauren off again. The old hag said, "Now stop that or I am going to make you drink this stuff with me." The hag let the cup of Kenzi's elixir drift towards the doctor's nose and that made Lauren laugh. "Clang, Clang, Clang" Hilde laughed.
"What is that?" asked Lauren. The dream invading noise was coming from the barn area.
"Oh that," Hilde grinned, "The others were getting underfoot, so I gave them a mission." Lauren sat up and looked at her friend. Hilde appeared a bit guilty, "Well, they were driving me insane with their fussing so I told them to go fix that old grape press I found a few months ago." Lauren looked confused, Hilde smiled, "I told them they were making some special fae medical equipment that would help me get the essential oils from… something I can't remember what I told them anyway…." Lauren was laughing now. The older fae smiled, "They are happy to be doing something to help and I am free to recover in peace." Hilde held up the cup of muck she was holding and downed it in two gulps. Hilde shuddered and so did Lauren. They sat quietly and just enjoyed each other's company for a long while as they listened to the noise coming from their busy loved ones.
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"They call me Dr. Love, they call me…." Lauren, who had stepped inside to make her and Hilde a bite to eat, reached out and grabbed the phone making a mental note to talk to Kenzi about that ring tone. The caller I.D. said Trick. Lauren wanted to decline but answered anyway. "Hi Trick." said the doctor.
"Lauren good to hear your voice, how is …. everyone." Lauren understood his stammering through the question. So much had happened to all of them. There needed to be a status report on everyone. Trick had helped by moving Hilde and the group assisting her to the shack. He had not traveled to the farm but instead moved back to the Light Fae compound to try to get a handle on the chaos that the trial and the battle had created.
Lauren answered carefully, "We survived Trick. We all survived."
Hearing her cautious tone, Trick answered, "Good to hear it. Is Bo around?"
Lauren laughed, "Trick you called to talk to me. I hear it in your voice. You don't need to go through Bo. Why do you need me back there?"
Sighing Trick answered, "It is just a formality, but as your representative I strongly…"
Lauren cut him off, "When Trick?"
"The sooner the better." he said and left it at that. Lauren let out a humph and hung up.
Lauren looked at the phone in her hand and considered how many ways she could destroy the little piece of technology. "Don't harm the messenger." Bo's voice was light but tinted with worry. "That phone has to last six more months before you can get a new one." Lauren head snapped up and she had Bo in her sights. Holding her hands out in a gesture of 'just give me a minute,' Bo said, "Okay let me explain."
The succubus had been watching Hilde from the barn as Kenzi and Bruce worked on the old piece of metal. They all knew that Hilde just wanted them to give her some space. The hag had made a remarkable recovery. Kenzi, Bo and Bruce took turns sitting with Hilde through the night. They were all amazed at the speed of the healing process. By early morning the hag was up and walking around against the wishes of everyone. Tired of being asked how she felt, Hilde had sent them on a mission to create an essential oil press needed to speed her recovery. The hag was not in a mood to be argued with so they agreed to do it only if she sat on the porch while they worked.
Kenzi, under Bruce's watchful eye, was having way too much fun beating the shit out of the rust covered device with a big hammer, so Bo agreed to be on Hilde watch which was really Lauren watch. When the doctor had exploded on to the porch, Bo breath caught as she watched the two women reunite. She thought about going to see if Lauren was okay but both Bruce and Kenzi talked her out of it. Best to let her cool down a little longer they both had said. When Lauren moved inside an hour later, Bo was done hiding. As she walked past Hilde, Bo asked her if Lauren was mad, the hag just giggled.
Now Lauren glared at the succubus in the doorway, "Well," the brunette cleared her throat, "First of all Hilde looks great. You did a fantastic job." Lauren tilted her head to the side. Bo swallowed and bravely continued, "Kenzi, Bruce and I took turns watching her as she slept through the night. You were exhausted. I was not going to stand by as you…" Lauren started walking towards her prey yellow flashing in her eye. "Oh shit." Bo was off and running but Lauren did not cut her any slack she shifted and was on her heels. Bo did not make it out of the house before strong pointy claws had her in a firm grip, Bo was thrown over the feline shifter's shoulder and marched up stairs.
"Okay, okay," said Bo in a pleading voice, "Pulsing you to knock you out was a bit much but in my defense it was Kenzi's idea…" Lauren growled loudly. Laughing now Bo was air bourn as Lauren threw her on the bed. The succubus landed with a bounce and put her hands up. "I surrender. I am so sorry, but you were dead on your feet and if we needed you I would have hit you with a blast of chi." Lauren shoved the succubus down on the bed. "Do with me what you will, but I do not regret my actions." The doctor shifted fast to human and kissed Bo hard on the lips. The succubus let out a moan as Lauren hands moved to interesting tender places. "Lauren I…" The pull of chi was fast and Bo started cussing as she felt dizzy and knew she was about to pass out.
The sound that woke Bo was familiar. Rolling over she blinked a few times and then shook her head. The sight of her remodeled bedroom in the shack made her laugh then she quickly wished she hadn't. Her head hurt from Lauren's succubus attack but Bo knew how to fix that. That sound was the new shower and if she was lucky the answer to all her problems was located right behind the door. Bo stood and moved towards the small spa retreat and pushed the door open. "Lucky me," thought Bo to herself as she caught a glimpse of the occupant of the shower. Closing the door softly behind her, it was a fast disrobe but Bo figured that Lauren already knew she was there. Stepping in to the warm, wet space, Bo said in a mock scolding voice, "Really, a succubus attack, did that make you feel better? Is my apology accepted now?" Lauren started laughing, stepping to the side allowing a strong jet of warm water to hit Bo in the face. Bo's eyes flashed blue, "Okay little missy this means war." sputtered the succubus who had grabbed the shower wand and wasn't afraid to use it.