Author's note: Ok so here is the 'confrontation'. For the record I added the Love scene chapter and the companion chapter after I had already written this chapter. I did not like the original, so did those two chapters to buy me some time...oh yeah and left you hanging a few times also. I hope this chapter goes well. To me this was the hardest one, so I really hope I did not screw it up. But here it is and thanks for the continued reading.
_xxxxx_
Gaia's Pov
The Ancient watched as the young succubus came in the door, a smile on her face at the assembled group. She noticed the Russian goth, almost leap the distance from bar to door to give her a hug. Seeing the look on the succubus' face relieved some of the tension that she had inadvertantly created with Trick's small hesitation on revealing who her daughter was. She believed that the succubus had every intention of helping her and from what she had learned of Bo while she been staying with Trick assured her that she was someone who got results. Bo said something, about meeting a very stubborn person, but was so focused on finally meeting her daughter she did not catch all of what she said. Gaia noticed that no one was following Bo, and for an instant she prepared herself for another disappointment on a lead. She watched as the succubus turned and went back to the door, only to lead a blonde in the door. As she watched the two approach her she had a vague feeling meeting the blonde before as she expanded her power out to try and place the young human. When she felt her own healing power, she fully recognized this as the blonde woman that had been burned and was in the Ash's compound. Bo had said this was the woman she was love with, had Bo forgotten that she was suppose to helping her with daughter. The anger and fury built in her at thinking that Bo had deceived her, and had used the time she had given her to spend time with this human. Gaia's fury was building, she did not want to have to make an example of someone who broke an Oath. And as her eyes turned red with a fury that demanded to be unleashed, she looked at the face of the blonde and saw fear. Gaia finally caught a brief look at the face of the blonde woman, and instantly saw the face of Marcus Atrious. She had his eyes and that damn dimple that she loved on him. And as her fury left as quick at it came, she watched the blonde drop to her knee with head bowed. She knew that it was a sign of submission, many fae had instructed their slaves in this postition. She did not understand why her daughter would have to be a slave, she was not a human after all. And then she saw Bo grab the blonde to lift her off the ground, just as she herself had stepped forward to do just that. But she felt the anger and fury of Thomas behind her, for a Dragon to be forced to submit to anyone especially a Fae would be a disaster. She turned to try and calm her friend and saw the intensity of his fury glowing in his golden eyes.
Thomas's Pov
Thomas stepped up towards Gaia as she saw her brief flare of anger towards the Blood King's reluctance. He had seen the look of surprise on the old way-keepers face and knew it was a surprise to what information that he had just received. He knew the full extent of what a Sister could do if she unleashed her wrath. Not really thinking before he stepped closer to the Ancient placing his hand on her shoulder and releasing a sense of calm in her. As he spoke softly, holding the crystal out for her to hold. He could feel the ever present pulsing of his granddaughter's essence with calming even him.
"Let them explain friend. They seem just as surprised at the identity." Thomas spoke calmly and evenly, calming the Ancient down just as quickly as her fury had developed. "Besides I am the one with the anger issue here."
As they both turned to look at the way-keeper, he thought he felt the presence of another Dragon nearby but the feeling was gone just as quickly. Thinking his own hopes were giving him false feelings, just as he was about to turn back to the Ancient the door to the back opened and a young woman came in. He recognized her as the woman from earlier in the evening as the woman he had asked directions from, he could see the resemblence to the other succubus in the room and knew this must be Bo. He saw a warrior's spirit in her bearing and he was impressed, most succubus were not warriors. As quickly as she came in though, she once more turned to the door and pulled a human into the room behind her. He caught the look that Gaia had saw the brief moment of fury, thinking he would not to again calm the Ancient. Then he saw the look of familarity on her face which caused him to once more look at the blonde. He was looking at a ghost, his son's features could clearly be seen in the human's features. This was Marcus's childe, his granddaughter returned to him he could not deny it. He stepped closer wanting to embrace her as the loving grandfather he was, and saw the fear in her eyes and then dropping to her knee with head bowed in submission. He knew the Fae custom of slavery and the signs of it when he saw it. These Fae had dared made a Dragon, especially his granddaughter at that, to submit into slavery. He would not stand for this, he regretted not finishing what he wanted to do in the past. He would make them pay for the mistreatment of his granddaughter, and his rage and power was unleashed outwards.
Bo's Pov
Bo nearly tumbled when Lauren had suddenly dropped, Bo had thought the blonde had simply tripped when she saw the familiar position of the blonde on her knee and head bowed.
"Get up, Lauren. How many times do I have to tell you, NO ONE OWNS YOU." Speaking that last part very clearly and distinctly, she had always felt that the Fae tradition of owning human slaves was disgusting, especially when she had found out about Lauren's status. As Bo, reached down to lift the blonde off her knees she she felt a wave of power that was so powerful she was literally thrown off her feet as she heard a loud explosion. She looked up to see the entire wall that connected the backroom to the bar proper was gone debris from it being slung out into the bar itself. As she quickly got up to protect the blonde, she saw the man standing behind Gaia. The look up pure anger on his face as he looked at the still kneeling doctor. She saw that Kenzi was alright and was behind a chair, everything around her shattered except the the chair she was kneeling behind not a scratch on her. Taking a step towards Lauren to protect her from this new threat, her own fury rising at the attack.
"Get the hell away from her or I will kill you." Bo shouted towards the man, who had been reaching for the blonde. "You touch her and so help me god I will make you wish I gave you a quick death." As the air seemed to shimmer around her, her eyes going bright blue.
Gaia placed herself in between the kneeling blonde and Thomas, she knew what Thomas was capable of doing. Three of her Sisters at met the Final Sleep when they had gone against the Dragons, there was a reason that Dragons had perfected the techniques of Calming. Their fury could literally destroy anything it could come in contact with, they had seen what they could do with it and had spent millennia in practicing to calm that primal fury of their nature. Gaia felt the wave of destruction practically leap off the Ancient Dragon, she was quick with placing a barrier around Kenzi the only human in the room that she knew of. The red crystal of her daughter lay shattered at her feet, its pulsing glow gone. None had seen the flow of it into the blonde's still hidden chest.
"What have you done?" Gaia screamed at Thomas. The essence of her daughter long gone now, her hands glowed a white so intense that it was blinding. She threw the ball of power towards the Dragon, hitting him in the chest. She watched as Aife hurried down the stairs with Trick, his eyes trying to see Bo and catching the look on his own granddaughter's face. "You have destroyed her, in your rage Thomas. I will destroy you as you destoyed her, and once more hit the Dragon in the middle of the chest with a ball of pure power. Thomas's noticed the shattered crystal and only grew angrier at his own inability to control his rage. He blamed the Fae for taking everything from him; his sons murdered, his daughter butchered, his grandchildren killed, everything the Fae touched they took. His rage sent out a wave of power that destroyed the wall in the room, opening it up to see the amass of Fae in the bar proper. Here was where he would start, they would all suffer like his kind had suffered. He would take his granddaughter and take her beyond the Veil, and then he would finish what he had wanted to do so long ago.
"Get the hell away from her or I will kill you." Was the only thing he heard before he could actually feel a small amount of his chi leave. It was not enough to stop him in the least but the fact that the succubus was even able to pull that from him, surprised him. No succubus should be able to do that. This Bo person was powerful, but nothing compared to his kind. And he sent a wave towards her that sent her back flying to the back wall. The blonde woman ran over to her to check her for injuries. As Thomas stalked towards her, Lauren had watched as Gaia sent wave after wave of power towards the man that was coming closer and closer, each time it was reflected out into the bar proper sending Fae scattering for cover. They began to fight among themselves as Light stumbled into Dark and vice versa, The rage of the Sister and the Dragon overflowing into the tension just below the surface of the Fae.
Hale made his way to Kenzi and was shocked when anything that was thrown towards her seemed to bounce off an invisible barrier. "Damn girl, didn't I tell you stay out of trouble."
"Oh this...this is just another Monday." Kenzi deadpanned although it was a bit slurred she was on her third bottle of vodka after all. As she took another drink, "You should see what we do on Friday nights."
Hale could only roll his eyes at the human as he was starting to use his whistling to try calm the fighting around him.
"Thomas!" Gaia yelled getting the Dragon's attention, sending another ball of power that hit him square in the face, staggering the tall man.
The Dal was a sea of chaos and violence as Ancient went against Ancient, Fae against Fae. Three men looked around walking calmly thru the chaos, to end up at the corner booth. Each had golden eyes that watched the blonde doctor help the succubus into a sitting position against the wall. As they stood as one to approach the two Ancients that were causing more damage than anyone else, they felt the sudden rush of wind towards the backroom as if a vacuum was sucking the air into it. And then a deafening roar knocking everyone to the floor, Matt looked back towards the backroom and what he saw both surprised and shocked him. Standing over the leg's of the succubus was a five foot long golden dragon, its eyes blazing a golden color that was white in intensity. He heard the beast roar, but heard in his head,
"ENOUGH," As it swerved its head back and forth between the two Ancients and the Fae that were looking back towards the sound of the roar. "ALL OF YOU SIT DOWN AND SHUT UP!"
Both Ancients immediately stopped and looked at the beast, the shock clearly registering on them as they both took a seat on the chairs that were still upright and intact. The Fae in the bar immediately sit down whether it was in chairs, booths or the floor itself.
Kenzi and Hale both looked to see the dragon guarding the succubus where Lauren had just been. It was Kenzi who gained her voice first. "I thought you said that was an illusion. Damn doc you look...scaly." Seeing the rolled eyes of Hale and the dragon. "What I had nothing else."
Gaia looked towards Thomas some of the anger being lifted as she saw some of his anger leave also. Both could feel the waves of calmness coming from the dragon. The Ancient was at a loss as she looked at the dragon and back to Thomas then back to the dragon.
"Just because we don't use it, doesn't mean we didn't once upon a time. We lost the ability long before we walked this realm." Thomas explained, "I am sorry I don't know what came over me."
Gaia watched as the succubus finally opened her eyes and jumped back seeing the golden reptile standing over her legs. It tail laying on her upper thighs.
"Whoa, what the hell," as she looked everywhere for the blonde. And seeing that everyone had stopped what they were doing and were sitting on the floor. Looking over towards Kenzi, she saw her nod towards the dragon and mouth, "hotpants"
As she placed her hand on Lauren's tail, she turned her face towards the succubus and she saw the familar golden aura of her girlfriend. The eyes still full of love and confusion, "You ok, babe? Bo asked the doctor. Looked towards Gaia with a hint of anger that refused to manifest itself, everytime she tried to get angry, a wave of calmness hit her. "Is that you doing the calming thing?"
"No that is Lauren doing it. Dragons have a way to take the calming techniques they perfected and practiced for a milenia and extend it out towards other. It usually takes centuries to master enough to begin to affect one person." Gaia explained, as Thomas nodded his head in agreement.
"To affect another Dragon is a very rare ability as well." Thomas further explained, shaking his head as his anger once again try to forces itself but was quenched by the calming wave of his granddaughter. "Gaia, I need you to delve inside my head, I think we may have been premature in our assumption we defeated the Garuda. My anger is trying to manifest again and I am not confident in my control."
As Gaia turned to focus on Thomas, she could hear Bo talk to Lauren. "So you going for a reptile look or what? Change back sweetie, I miss those golden locks of yours." As she stroked what would be considered a cheek on the dragon. As she saw the look of concentration on her face. "I told you, you were her daughter." Giving the doctor a wide grin, and giving the snout a small kiss. Bo saw Trick and Aife come up the stairs and were immediately shocked to see Bo with a small dragon across her legs.
"Bo?" Trick called out, seeing the smiling face of his granddaughter.
"Its ok, its only Lauren. Apparently she is taking this daughter of a dragon thing to a whole new level." Again giving the doctor that winning smile, as she still had a look of pure concentration on her. "Lauren? You okay?"
'I am stuck', Bo heard in her mind. 'I don't know how to change back. I don't want to be stuck. How am I going to treat my patients. I can't be with you if I am stuck like this.' Bo could only hear all this in her mind, as the blonde doctor started to panic in her efforts to transform back. Bo was starting to get overwhelmed with her girlfriend's distress, her thoughts we jumbling together so fast.
"Lauren, calm down. I can't follow you. You are speaking to fast." Bo tried to keep her voice steady and reassuring. She looked at Gaia and Thomas who both were able to get up both with questioning looks. "She is stuck, and she is panicing so much her mind is racing so fast."
"How do you know that, Bo" Trick asked as he made his way over to her cautiously. Indicating to Hale to get everyone out of the bar now. This would be better if they did not have such a huge audience. As Aife moved towards the bar to help out where she could, picking up one of the pieces of paper that had come from the fax machine earlier.
"Well that is interesting," Aife stated as everyone turned towards her for a moment. Seeing their faces toward her. "The date that the tomb was opened, that is the day I gave birth to Bo."
The looks in the room all had a confused look on this bit of news not seeing how it was important. And then Gaia understood and addressed the gathered people. "Edwick placed the Ward on Marcus' tomb to protect Lauren until a protector came. He assumed that I would be that protector, but it seems Bo was the protector. Its all about the wording used in magic, I kept telling him. Bo's birth fulfilled the condition, she came although she was just born it still fulfilled the condition of his wording."
Nodding in understanding, Trick confirmed what the Ancient Elder explained. As he moved towards Bo and Lauren once again. He could see the pained expression on Bo's face as she heard the panic in the doctor's mind.
Thomas had moved to the other side of the room, as Matt and 2 men Bo did not know but saw the golden auras around them. "Doc?" Trying to get the attention of the doctor as they moved towards her. "We are here to help okay. You need to try and relax." But the approach of the other two strangers and Matt, made the doctor panic again thinking they were here to capture her.
"Stop, everyone needs to get out of here. Everyone is just making her more overwhelmed. I will take care of it." Bo ordered everyone out. Looking at both Gaia and Thomas who looked as if they were going to argue. "You need to figure out what the hell is wrong with yourselves first, before you are coming anywhere near her. And for the record my Blood Oath has been fulfilled, so now we are doing things my way." As thunder cracked outside.
"Thomas? Let us help you then, you say you fought a Garuda?" Matt asked the Ancient Dragaon.
"Matrim what are you doing here?" Gaia recognizing her late husband's friend. "I thought I would never see you again." As she gave the guard a friendly hug.
"We have been searching for Marcus's daughter, we have been tracking Edwick for years hoping he would lead us to her. When you disappeared we figured you had succumbed to the Deep Sleep. And then we felt Marcus's tomb disturbed." As he explained why he and his comrades were there. As Thomas moved towards them all.
"I need your help, Mat. I thought I was able to defeat a Garuda but it used my own anger against me. I need your help if I am to going to be of any use to my granddaughter." As he looked over towards the small dragon as he watched Bo stroke the top its head trying to calm the turmoil she heard coming from the doctor. Turning towards Trick, "I apologize for the destruction, I will have it fixed." The look of sincerity on his face letting all that his actions were not all his alone. "This Garuda seems to be a crafty one, but I would rather see myself killed then to give it the satisfaction of controlling me."
"No need for apologies, it has been a rough day. And I am sure it will only get rougher for the next few. It is my turn to help you though, I will look after you granddaughter, since mine seems to not be going anywhere." As he gave the Ancient Dragon a knowing smile. Perhaps that peace would be coming sooner rather than later, they both thought at the same time.
"Gaia why don't you take a seat. I know Bo, and if anyone can help her through this it is her. Come let see how much cleaning it is going to take." As they moved towards the door, even though the wall had a hole large enough to walk through. Gaia walked over and squatted down eye level to Lauren.
"Don't worry, my angel. We will figure this out, and then we are going to have so much fun the three of us." Looking at Bo, before turning back to look at Lauren.
"Okay," Bo started off, getting Gaia's attention. "She needs you to hand Trick a list that is in her bag. Right side pocket in the front. It is a list of items she needs to put together for the cure for your curse." The look on the face of Gaia, was priceless the surprise. "Yeah, yeah I know she is brillant. And she will explain it all later after is back on two legs."
"Yes, I want to hear all about my brillant daughter's life, the good and the bad. But for now you take care of her. I will make sure Thomas is alright, there is a lot of things that he can help with." As she got up to leave, looking down at the two people.
"Yo doc, if you are still a lizard later, I am so going to make a pair of boots out of you." Kenzi snickered as Gaia pulled her thru the door. Just as a gout of flame shot out the doctor's snout.
"Whoa is right, careful with that. So do not want to get the 'girls' burned here." Bo laughed at the shocked explicitives that was coming through her mind from the doctor. As she watched the doctor glance down at said 'girls' then back into the succubus's eyes.
'What if I am stuck like this?' Lauren asked. She still was trying to figure out how to become a human again. She was damn genius, why was she not able to figure this out. 'Shouldn't I be able to just know how to do this.'
Shrugging her shoulders, "I don't know, babe. I had to learn the hard way with my powers. Maybe once your granddad is able he will be able to help. And for the record he has some serious anger issues."
Aife watched her daughter, as the dragon layed its head on her daughters lap. She could not make out what they were saying as Bo had dropped her voice to a soft whisper for the doctor's ears alone. Yes she needed to make up a lot of things, starting with her daughter.
"Well I told you this would be something that was going to change your life." Bo teased her girlfriend trying to get her to relax. Thinking if she was relaxed, she would be able to figure it out. Seeing glimpses into the mind of her very OCD and genius girlfriend's mind was exciting, funny, and exhausting all at the same time. As her breathing evened out she drifted off to sleep, moments after her girlfriend had been lulled to sleep by Bo's soft voice and hand stroking her head.
AN2: I hope it was worth the wait. And yeah, probally a cliff hanger again...but I got to have a breaking point somewhere. LOL Thanks for reading and review if you want.