A/N: As a faithful reviewer suggested a certain scenario for our two hot blondies, I happily complied with this request. Does Tamsin ask the Doc if she saw anyone, if so, does she truly want to know? We're about to find out ;) I might not be pumping these chapters quicker then I would have liked, as I started working 40 hours a week which gives me considerably less time to write, but I still hope you'll all enjoy this slightly lengthier chapter.
Special thanks to my lovely, not-so-official Beta, also known as EchoGalen.
Slowly placing a boot in front of the other, knees bent and back slightly curved. Hunting bow drawn and held firmly between expert fingers, emerald eyes scanned the area like a predator. Three, long, dark green stripes painted her face diagonally, covering parts of the usual pale skin. The Wolf and their apprentice followed close behind, adopting the same stance and clad in similar clothing: dark tank top and digital camo pants from the Canadian Army.
The apprentice, commonly referred to as Doctor, had a wooden compound bow that Trick had gifted the human with. The weapon, passed down from generation to generation in the Blood King's family, not only held sentimental value as an heirloom, but also held a powerful enchantment.
Said to have been cut out from the World Tree Yggdrasil, the bow grants the beholder unlimited ammunition. No quiver is needed, as the arrows are conjured when the bow senses the hunter's readiness to strike its prey.
The trio had followed an underfae imp into an old warehouse; it smelled of death and metal, like everything these days. Just a week after the Valkyrie's arrival and Odin's predictions, the city was a mess and, many thought, so was the rest of the world. No one was aware, as phone lines and cable all but died as the citizens left their jobs to prepare themselves, and their families, from the approaching doomsday.
Stocking up on dry or canned foods, water and weapons to defend their stash, greediness was rampant; everything goes, most of it inhuman, but perceived as fair considering the circumstances. Social hierarchy overturned, morals and values self-centered.
The gang had sought refuge in the Fae bar, which its owner had placed a protection spell to assure the safety of its occupants. The doors had been reinforced and most of the rooms accommodated the lot of soldiers currently sharpening their skills for war.
Tamsin and Dyson had been training Lauren with the magical bow, and after a week of learning proper techniques, refining her aim, the best friends decided it was time for some moving target practice. Imps were very agile and quick tricksters; they multiply when they're killed which makes them the perfect field trials for the Doctor.
All three companions cursed out loud, one exclaiming a famous doctor's name, the others shouting profanities which may or may not have to do with both holiness and hell. The imp had dropped an old, rusty umbrella, previously sporting bright red and white colors, alternatively. The abrupt impact causing the group's already jumpy nerves to explode, so to speak.
Dyson had prematurely shot an arrow somewhere at the high ceiling. The clank from the tip hitting the metal walls of the building echoed around for a short second.
Tamsin turned to her former partner, shooting daggers at him with wide eyes. "Trust you to shoot your load early. Jesus Christ, Dyson." The woman whispered harshly.
To which he replied: "Try it before you knock it."
"Tried it, knocked it. Not for me."
Before another syllable could be uttered, soft hands were clamped on both of their mouths. Brown eyes bounced from bright green to sea blue as Lauren shushed them both. Letting her hands fall, her fingers curled around the beautiful wood of her bow and she nodded her head towards an I-beam, dangling from a lift's hook.
The green imp, much like a chameleon, blended with its surroundings perfectly and the trio wouldn't have been able to spot him if not for his position being given away as he jumped on the beam, making it move back and forth. Straightening her back, shifting her weight on her left foot, Lauren stretched the bow's string until the side of her thumb brushed her cheekbone. As the arrow materialized, one eye closed, she aimed the tip at her prey and let the string go swiftly.
The projectile traveled at such a speed that if they'd happen to blink in the moment it was released, they would have missed it wiz through the air and strike Lauren's target, embedding itself into the creature's stomach.
The imp stared down at the arrow, wrapped its long, slender fingers around it, throwing its head back and pulling its tongue out as it dramatically acted its own demise. As it fell off the edge of the suspended I-beam, the creature glowed and screeched as it separated itself into two equal counterparts in mid free-fall flight.
Lauren turned to her girlfriend, large smile on her face as she spoke excitedly: "I-I got him!"
"Three o'clock times two, Doc."
"Oh right!" Readying her bow, the woman repeated the wise words the Valkyrie had taught her: "Never lose sight of the enemy and don't let them surprise you." Two arrows tightly clamped between the woman's fingers ripped through the air with one goal in mind: killing. That they did, hitting their intended targets with a sickening crunch.
"Whoo! Double kill," Tamsin cheered, pumping her first upwards.
"Nice shot, Doctor." Characteristically calm, the Wolf nodded his head at the petite blonde, impressed by her accuracy. The bow seemed to have taken quite a liking to the human and it the bond they have created was stronger than he's ever seen.
The trio was prepared for the imps to multiply again, thus doubling the amount of devious creatures. Though, it didn't stop there. They tripled and quadrupled without meeting their demise and Tamsin's eyes grew wider as she observed the quick reproduction. "Woah, are they supposed to be multiplying without…"
"Definitely not, no." The blonde Doctor's words simply confirmed what the Valkyrie dreaded to hear.
The imps surrounded the group, one of them charging at the Wolf from behind his back. Sensing the air displacement caused by the movement, Dyson lifted his forearm in a swift motion; knuckles cracking bones, as the creature flew backwards, rolling to a stop somewhere in the far corner of the warehouse. Growling, his sharp teeth made an appearance as he growled, standing his ground like a dog protecting its territory from intruders.
Tamsin grabbed Lauren's bicep and pulled her back slowly."Right, well, great practice! Let's skedaddle the fuck outta here,"
The trio made a run for it, bursting through the double doors, bouncy and chuckling imps hot on their heels. Tamsin let out a whistle at the Wolf, whom grabbed an arrow that had been dipped in banshee blood, and chucked it at the woman before he slipped into the passenger's side of the soft top Jeep; leaving Lauren to take the wheel.
Placing a boot on the left wheel arch, the Valkyrie quickly hopped up over the door-less side, landing in the back. Leaning against the rollbar supports, she set up her shot and let the deadly arrow go. It struck one of them, and when the imp burst, the poison traveled through its blood and coated its tiny comrades. This only burned them, but did not finish the job, as intended.
Glancing back at the pair at the front, Tamsin hit the rollbar twice and shouted out over her shoulder: "Get this baby rollin'!"
The engine roared to life, leaving the screeching imps behind with their dust, and painful scars to remember them bye.
They moved through the streets slowly, swerving and avoiding what littered the once busy roads. Abandoned cars, many covered in blood brought forth by the pure primal instinct to survive. Windows broken, what they once held had been ravaged, pillaged and was now scavenged. Previously plentiful resources such as food and water had become scarce in a matter of days.
The roadblocks the police had constructed only took a few hours for the crazed citizens to demolish through them; its twenty pairs of hands working to flip over a police cruiser and just one to throw a Molotov cocktail at it.
Fingers flexed around the hunting weapon, green eyes surveyed the area, ready to defend what was theirs. These days, it was people you had to be wary of, not monsters that go bump in the night. They fought, and even killed, if only to acquire enough water to survive for another day. Humanity's nemesis, though not a five hundred pound monster with a mini-gun, were the only ones capable of both destroying and mending it.
When her eyes caught brown ones in the rear view mirror, Tamsin smiled and winked at the Doctor.
Dyson, whom caught the exchange and was fully aware that the Icelandic blonde couldn't hear them, said, "She really loves you."
"And I really love her too." The woman replied, without taking her eyes away from the road, sincerely as she steered the Wrangler away from a cluster of debris in the middle of the road, using the empty sidewalk to make it across.
"She'll protect you at any cost, even if it's with her own life," Dyson continued, his voice dipped down lower to get his point across.
The human quickly glanced at her passenger with a light crease in her brow. "You can tell me, Dyson, whatever it is you're trying to say."
"She's proud of you for wanting to fight. We all are."
"I'm surprised you all didn't laugh it off and told me to 'get back in my lab'." The woman joked as the trio passed by a group of angry rioters, one of which seemed to catch her attention more than the others: her hair was blonde, but the cut was messy as if done by a three year old. She was clad in a hospital gown; one can only believe she wasn't there for a common injury. Shotgun in hand and a determined look on her face, Lauren could only hope the reinforced doors at the Dal would hold off crazed lunatics.
He set his large hand, over Lauren's, which was sitting on the shift stick. "Even a blind man could see your strength. You're a great asset to us; to the Fae."
"Ladies," The blonde interrupted, leaning against the horizontal rollbar as she leaned forward. "We're almost there." Nodding her chin at the familiar street in front of them. When the pair nodded, Tamsin crouched down to gather the bags of supplies they had also gathered on this trip. As she looked up, Lauren was just pulling them into the alley behind the Fae bar.
Securing her weapon around her shoulders, the Valkyrie used the top rollbar to swing herself out of the now still vehicle. She threw a bag at Dyson, smirking as it crashed into his stomach. Taking two for herself, the three companions strutted to the backdoor.
Tamsin kicked he door with her boot. "Open up! The big bad wolves are here to blow your house down." Shooting her former partner a grin, she winked; he chuckled low in his throat.
"You wish," Much to their surprise, the quick retort came from none other than the smirking doctor.
Dyson laughed out loud, as he shared a high five with the petite woman in front of the slack jawed Valkyrie. A few clinks and clanks later, the door opened. The Wolf threw his arm around Lauren's shoulders as they walked in together.
Tamsin, whom shook her head, finally decided it was probably a good idea to put a foot in front of the other. Scowling, she headed straight for Kenzi, and the bar - the two being one in the same-, the Icelandic blonde decided as she nonchalantly threw the bags on top of the wooden surface.
The friends greeted each other with their handshake. "'Sup, 'lil bit?"
"Skipping class." The dark-haired woman replied, sipping on a glass of ale. Though it was piss warm and Trick would give her the look if she took too much, Kenzi was grateful for every drop.
"Rebel."
"You know how it be." She dusted her shoulders off smugly, enjoying her friend's carefree laugh. Things around the bar had been nothing but 'we're all going to die' which, to be honest, made the young woman's mascara bleed. The Fae were not one to take an apocalypse lightly, Kenzi thought. "How goith the scavenging?" She asked, peering curiously at the full bags.
Tamsin glanced at the Dyson and Lauren, whom were talking about something and laughing. Jealousy? Far from it. The blonde couldn't be more in Dyson's debt for taking care of her precious Doctor; seeing her two favorite blondes with genuine smiles on their faces gave a purpose to her immortal life.
Turning back to her Goth friend, Tamsin smiled. "Pretty good," she answered vaguely as she rummaged through one of the bags. When her slender fingers found what they sought, she pulled said object out and chucked it at her friend, whom barely caught it and fumbled a few times with it. "Thought you'd like it."
Kenzi stared in awe at the miniature bottle of Jack Daniels, filled with two ounces of the dark whiskey. "It's the most precious thing I've ever laid my eyes on," Holding it close to her chest, eyes wide as she let her gaze jump from her new treasure to the Valkyrie. "I will cherish it forever." The woman whispered.
Snorting a laugh, Tamsin said: "Or chug it down in a second."
Hard as she tried, the human could not be offended by that statement as it was nothing but truth. Accepting this fact, she placed the tiny bottle down and shrugged. "-And what a glorious second it will be."
"Right." Putting her bow down, Tamsin fetched a chocolate bar from the bag and happily munched on it. With a mouth full of half masticated chocolate and a frown, she asked, "Where's everyone?"
"Sword fighting with Bo and Trick," Kenzi replied, as she demonstrated her own fighting techniques: using the minuscule bottle of JD like it was the hilt of a lightsaber, she moved her arms around while making the sound effects to match.
"Hurt yourself, you will. The Force, you must learn to control," She offered wisely, tapping both of the woman's shoulders with the tip of her chocolate bar, as if knighting her.
Lauren sneaked her way behind the taller blonde. Ducking under the arm, which now lay across her shoulders. Turning her head, she pressed he lips to Tamsin's soft cheek while intertwining their fingers together. "Would Master Yoda care to share this chocolate with her beloved?"
Taking a massive bite out of the candy, Tamsin held it up as far as her arm would go. "Your own, you will get. To become a-HEY!" The woman protested loudly, dissatisfied about getting her sugary snack – which would undoubtedly go straight to her ass – snatched away.
The blonde swiftly ducked back under Tamsin's arm and backed away slowly as she made a show of showing her exactly what she was missing; rolling her eyes back and moaning as she savored the treat.
"Don't make me chase you around." Tamsin's footsteps were deliberate as she stalked towards her girlfriend.
"I can't hear you over how good this is." The armed Doctor teased, pointing to her ears.
The love birds were far too occupied chasing each other around the pool tables to notice Kenzi's quiet grumbles. Dyson had also jumped in and both of them had corned a laughing Lauren whom had just finished swallowing the last of the candy bar and was about to be on the receiving end of a double tickle attack.
"That's some weird ass foreplay." Kenzi opened her mouth and downed another shot in an attempt to ignore all the mushy feelings flying around the room.
A cat, stripped black and orange, jumped onto the bar. The petite brunette had found it outside and after a minute of pouting and pleading, Trick let the animal stay with them. There was a blue collar around his neck, the initials 'L.J' engraved on it. His eyes were bright green, resembling Tamsin's which gave them both that predatory, feral look.
Scratching the underside of the purring animal's jaw, Kenzi sighed as she spoke with a high pitched, baby voice: "You think they're gross too, right? What is love anyways? Show me a married man and I'll show him a Succubus who'll make him forget all about his commitment."
Kenzi looked around to make sure no one had heard her converse with a cat, who much as they tried, could only respond with meows. You're not crazy, you're not crazy, you're not-Mmh, Vodka.
The Valkyrie walked into their makeshift bedroom – fingers laced around two wine glasses and a bottle tucked underneath her arm - in the keg room; a cot with a decent mattress had been placed against the side of the slowly draining barrels and a few candles had been placed around to light up the area at night. The city's electricity had been cut-off a few days ago, and the group made sure to stock up on wood to make good old fashioned fires to cook.
A smile tugged the corner of her lips as she saw the petite Doctor, sitting down on their bed, hunched over and crossed-legged. A look of deep concentration adorned her features while she read one of her medical mumbo-jumbo books. "Light reading, Doc?"
"Doctor Taft suggests that we can alter a person's personality and entire DNA structure by implanting bone marrow from another individual. If this is possible, there's no telling what we could do." Whiskey eyes glued to the black words on the white page, Lauren continued to marvel at how incredible this discovery could become, if it were true.
Closing the door behind her with her foot, she walked towards the bed and sat on the edge by her geeking girlfriend's crossed legs. "Sounds like Doctor Frankenfucker is full of shit."
"We can't say for sure until I've ran a few tests, but-"
"Someone's missing her lab," Tamsin cut in, as she set the glasses and bottle down on the ground by her dirtied military boots.
Closing the book with a thud, a large smile playing on her lips before she lifted her eyes to meet Tamsin's stare. "Maybe just a little."
"Mmm. Well, here," Curling strong fingers around the neck of the bottle, the cork was removed with a loud pop. "I got something to take the edge off." The Icelandic native announced proudly as she poured the dark amethyst liquid into the clear glasses.
Wide-eyed, Lauren whom hadn't noticed the alcohol until the Valkyrie had opened it, was shocked at the rare find. You're thinking 'but they're in a bar, wouldn't they have a lot of wine?', that is true, however, this wasn't just any wine, it was the Doctor's favorite wine. "Tamsin, where did you find this?"
The blonde handed a glass to her partner as she leaned back on her free arm. "I have my ways," She admitted smugly.
Chuckling softly, the Doctor moved her back against the barrels, opening her legs and patting the vacant area between them. "I have no doubt about that."
Accepting the offer, Tamsin quickly kicked off and discarded the boots and then scooted backwards, resting her head on the upper part of the woman's chest. Finally relaxing from their eventful day, she threw an arm over the propped up leg beside her.
Sliding down slightly, Lauren leaned forward and rested her chin on the taller woman's shoulder, kissing the bare skin below. Sliding her hand from Tamsin's shoulder, to let it rest onto her collar bone, the Doctor threw her head back as let the soft, yet strong liquid make its way across her tastes buds and cascade down her throat.
"So," Tamsin started, unsure, her mouth moving to the left and then the right as she slid her index around the rim of her glass. The Valkyrie dreaded asking this question, she hated that it even crossed her mind, and as much as she despised having to ruin this positive mood they had set, she had to know for the sake of her peace of mind.
"When I…kicked the bucket, did ya-did you…see anyone?" Simple in theory, and grammar, this question was one of the hardest she had ever had to pose to her lover.
Feeling the warm body – which she had become accustomed to sleeping with every night - tense up, the Doctor shifted her position slightly so she was able to see her girlfriend's face, illuminated by the shimmering candle glow. She understood that this inquiry was completely fair and she was going to answer in all honesty. After all, Tamsin would have done the same if the roles had been reversed.
"Day sixty-four, two weeks before you came back: Dyson set me up, on a blind date, without my accord." Lauren responded matter-of-factly. The cheery edge in her tone, causing the nervous blonde to chuckle slightly.
Fiddling with the cup, a part of her didn't want to know, while the other part's curiosity was peaked, even if it would be painful to hear. "What happened?"
"I am not going back out there to-to humiliate myself in front of a woman I don't even know!" The Doctor gestured angrily at the tall man in front of her. The pair had retreated into the alley behind the restaurant as Lauren dragged Dyson outside when she realized they weren't having dinner, but he had set her up on a blind date.
Placing both of his large hands on the petite woman's shoulders, he attempted to defuse the situation: "You were doing just fine."
Letting out a sigh, the dark blonde folded both of her arms across her chest. "I…I can't do this, Dyson. I feel like I'm cheating on her."
"I know it's only been two months, Lauren, but what you've been doing isn't healthy."
"She's coming back," Lauren breathed, glaring at her best friend across from her, "you said it yourself, Dyson."
"We don't know where or when, and when she does she'll be a newborn." The new friends had done some heavy research on Valkyrie's and their life cycles. They had learned that after they had expired, they were reborn and continued to serve Odin on a fresh cycle.
"I'll wait for her,"
"By that time, you'll be…"
Old and wrinkly and unwanted, alone with a dozen cats, Lauren thought to herself. Irritated, not only by her mortality, but by the condescending nature of his words, she spoke harshly: "Thank you, once again, for reminding me I'm just a human. Something your kind loves to do." Shrugging the hands off her shoulders, Lauren turned around to walk away, a definite huff in her step.
"Lauren, I'm only trying to help."
What a fine job you're doing, the Doctor wanted to say, though it wouldn't be fair. He was only trying to do what Tamsin had asked of him. Wrapping her arms around herself, her gaze fell onto her shoes. The wind picked up and tossed her hair and her leather jacket around, though she remained in this position.
"Just try, if not for me, for Tamsin. I know this is what she wants for you. If you don't like this girl, just leave. You have no obligations."
After a meal that stale and gave her stomach cramps, two bottles of cheap wine and some insistent flirting on her date's part, Lauren had taken her back to her new apartment. Even as she suggested it to the woman, she couldn't believe what she was saying. Her mouth was speaking words her brain would never say, or have the courage to. Sure, she was attractive and the Doctor wasn't knew to channeling grief with one-night stands, but it still didn't feel right. Nothing did.
Back against the wall, head lolled back, a pair of unfamiliar lips trailed its way down her stomach.
The alcohol swimming in her head caused her to enjoy this feeling, if only for a few short seconds until her rational brain won over. Opening her un-focused eyes, she stared down at the mass of brown hair, hair which she wished to the high heavens was pale blonde.
The woman's fingers slipped around the button of her jeans as she undid them, winking up at the blonde as she did so.
Her eyes were blue, like the ocean, but not enough to make her forget the bright emerald ones still engraved in her mind.
Her date stood up, hands under the Doctor's shirt as she slowly lifted it up.
The woman was tall, taller than Lauren, but not as tall as the Valkyrie.
Lips pressed against hers, the brunette's mouth devouring hers like she was the last meal on earth.
As she halfheartedly reciprocated the kiss, she noticed every movement of the stranger's lips were different, less experienced with tasting her own. Not to mention, they weren't as soft as Tamsin's.
Pushing the woman back in a harsh and sudden movement, Lauren started to panic. "I'm sorry, you should go." It wasn't the woman's fault; she shouldn't take it out on her. The problem was her heart, and what very little was left after Tamsin took part of it into her grave.
"Did I do something wrong? Was I moving too fast? I-"
"No, no, It's not you. I just-I can't do this…right now." She added the last part as to not come off as a complete nut case.
Apprehensive of the stranger's feelings, she nodded and took a step back to grab her jacket from where it had been discarded on the ground. "I'll leave you my number, if ever you want to continue where we left off."
Lauren didn't say anything as she watched the brunette lay a piece of paper on her kitchen counter before letting herself out. Breathing became increasingly difficult as a pang in her stomach rose up into her throat; heat quickly rising in her chest and then face.
Slapping a hand over her mouth, the Doctor's unstable legs led her into the bathroom. Falling to her knees just in front of the cold, white toilet she quickly lifted up the cover and emptied her stomach of the horrible food she ate for dinner. Why Dyson had picked that restaurant, was a mystery of its own.
After cleaning herself, Lauren stared at her reflection in the mirror. What she was frightened her; an empty shell of a person she once was proud to be. How was she going to get over her, if that was even humanly possible? Turning on the faucet, her eyes still glued on the reflection in the mirror, she waited for it to mist up with the steam of the water. It was scolding, the water, and she put her hands beneath it- not even feeling the pain- and bent to wash it over her face. How was had Tamsin taken over her heart so furiously? How was she ever going to live without her? How?