A/N: We're getting warmer, warmer…My name is Vslayer, and I am addicted to cliffhangers. Someone halp.
Lifted; Tamsin watched the ground grow further away, and then it stopped. Did she move her head upwards, or did someone make the effort for her? Kenzi was standing in front of the woman, shaking her shoulders vigorously. The valkyrie watched her lips move, no sound reaching her ears. What was she saying?
"Your lover doc's got this, Tams."
"Bo needs help at the front."
"Are you tripping on acid?"
"WAKE UP!"
Pain; a burning sting on her cheek. A loud ringing settled in her ear, growing more ferocious by the second. It stopped, abruptly, with a small pop. Blinking several times, Tamsin heard herself take a deep breath as everything came back into focus.
The screams, the fighting; the chaos. She had done this a million times before, lost men, hundreds and even thousands. None of them asked about her, wanted to be her friend and it's where she felt most comfortable, at peace. Loss seemed simple, worriless, through the eyes of a lonesome valkyrie.
Dyson, Lauren, Kenzi, Bo, Trick and Hale were more than expendable assets, they were her family. Could she lead while the stakes were this high, close to her heart, to home? "Thank you,"
"They're getting closer men! Push forward!" One of the soldiers yelled, as they did their best to keep the enemy out of the protective circle they had formed around the gang.
The valkyrie's eyes met Lauren's as she asked quickly: "How much time do you need?"
"A few minutes, to clean and bandage the wound." The doctor offered her a warm smile as she opened the medium sized satchel filled with medical supplies she had brought in case of emergency. She watched for a second as her girlfriend sprinted into the thick on it, pulling off an undead soldier off of Bo's back.
Her hand grasped the bottle of antiseptic as she turned to the pained wolf. "I have to disinfect the area. This is going to sting."
"You could be gentle with an old wolf," The detective teased with a weak grin.
Chuckling softly, the Lauren swiftly slipped on a medical glove a she pressed the cleansing chemical to the open wound. Dyson growled in pain, his large fingers squeezing her shoulder. "I didn't think you were the type."
"I'm not." Laughter caught in his throat as he took in a sharp breath. The tenderness of his flesh prevented him from breathing deeply.
"'Thou shalt flirt in front of both their current and ex-lover simultaneously', I'm pretty sure it's one of the Ten Commandments." Kenzi made a face as she watched the injured and his healer interact.
Tipping her chin towards the human, Lauren held up a thick cloth as she said: "Could Mosses give me a hand? I'll have to make a few quick stitches."
Grabbing the fabric from the doctor's hand, Kenzi crouched down next to the pair. "What sea needs to be parted?"
"Hold it over the gash while I prep the needle."
"Small job for a prophet." Kenzi flipped her hair dramatically, as she fulfilled the task request of her.
Raising a brow, the wolf cracked a smile. "Small job?"
Frowning, the petite brunette gazed into the doctor's gleaming whiskey eyes. "Is that dog speak for 'I want a bone'?" Both women laughed as they continued to make light of the serious situation.
Dyson knew what they were doing, what Lauren wasn't telling him, but he wouldn't ruin this moment, not for them and not for himself. Working through the throbbing pain in his side, he leaned forward and stretched his hand to ruffle Kenzi's raven hair, ignoring her insistent protests.
At the front, both Tamsin and Bo were in the middle of a skirmish. Their blades tightly pressed against the edge of their enemy's steel. Back to back, heel to heel, they used each other as a solid surface to lean on. Arms bent slightly, their muscles burned as they worked hard to push the sharp blades away from their faces and their vital organs, such as their jugular.
"How's Dyson?" The scuffling succubus asked through clenched teeth.
"Lauren's got the TLC under control." Squaring her shoulders, Tamsin straightened her back against Bo's and with the motion, forced the soldier off of her. She then smacked the hilt of her sword into the now cracked cheek bone.
Taking the opportunity of the shifted momentum, Tamsin leaned forward as the smaller brunette did the exact opposite. Bo rolled backwards along the blonde's spine, and as she swung her legs, the metal greaves connected under the undead's chin.
Landing on the pavement with a metallic clunk, the succubus now faced the valkyrie. She smirked up at the woman, unaware of the danger behind her.
"Dude! Watch out!" Tamsin pulled Bo's head down as she ducked the soldier's sharp steel. Swinging her own weapon back behind her head. She twisted it so the edge of her weapons slid along the undead's own blade to prevent it from scalping both of them.
Pushing her bladed hand upwards, Tamsin stood up swung once, taking the creature's hand off. The second swing beheaded him and was accompanied with a battle cry containing the words 'cock' and 'sucker'. As his knees touched the ground, his body crumbled and broke apart into a thick, black smoke.
Eyes wide as she spotted the raised sword behind the valkyrie's head, Bo took a swift step forward, placing her leg between both of Tamsin's as she trust her sword forward underneath the woman's arm. Palm flat against the front of the blonde's shoulder, it was only after their foes had been disposed of did she notice their bodies were tightly pressed together, as if caught in a lover's embrace.
Looking behind her shoulder, Tamsin rose both of her eyebrows and pressed her lips together in a tight line, impressed by the succubus' moves. "Never known a succubus who had such fine bladesman skills."
"Well, you should know that thrusting long things into people is part of the job description."
"Amongst other things." The valkyrie offered with a wink. Chuckling, she answered the unspoken questions floating in brown orbs. "You think you're the only Succubus I've ever met in my three thousand five hundred and seventy eight years?"
The inquiry hung in the air as the doctor approached both women, whom had since the interruption, broken apart from each other. Bo stepped forward, speaking in a worried and hasty tone: "How is he?"
"Good. For now," Looking at both women, Lauren continued, "-but we have to move quickly. He's lost a lot of blood."
Nodding, the succubus walked past the two blondes. "I'll give him some chi for the ride."
Tamsin watched the seductress walk away, making sure she was out of earshot before speaking, "How is he really?"
Talking with her hands, Lauren reminded Tamsin of the professional doctor she was, that she is. Something she often forgot. "Internal organs might be damaged and he needs a blood transfusion."
"You didn't tell him, did you?" Searching for her girlfriend's eyes, the taller blonde shifted her weight as she glanced at her former partner exchanging loving gazes with the brunette. Tamsin was far more troubled by the fact that there were six hearts at stake for the price of one life.
"Bo's chi can't heal his injuries, but it will sustain him for a short while."
"God-fucking-damnit!" Cursing out loud, the valkyrie rubbed her hand over her mouth. She turned to the soldiers, shouting over the sounds of war, "It's time shift into sixth gear. Pedal to the metal, men!"
"Hey," Placing a comforting hand on her lover's forearm, her words were just as sincere as their earlier exchange during love making. "I know you'll do everything you can to protect us."
"That makes one of-" The Icelandic native had to bite back her words, as a strong grip crushed her throat. She heard the undead soldiers shout something in the ancient Enochian speak - once thought to be the language of the angels, though the truth was the exact opposite.
Tamsin could make out a few words: "Get their leader!" More of them swarmed around her, and they lifted her up on their shoulders. Kicking her feet violently did absolutely nothing to make them loose their tight grip on her. "Get the others!" She yelled at the doctor, whom was far from obeying her orders.
Lauren took a step back and drew her bow, firing the magical arrows at the troops without reluctance. The first few embedded themselves in the undead's limbs, causing minimal to no damage. You need to relax, and focus. The doctor took a deep breath and took her time with her next shot. She was slower, yet there were far more effective.
Loud screams were closely accompanied with black smoke dissolving into the air. In just a few releases, Tamsin was back on her feet, helping the doctor fight off the vicious and insistent warriors. An arrow shot to one of the undead's shoulder; Tamsin hopped up, sword thrusting into his neck.
She spun around under one of their swings, another deadly projectile slashing through bone and brain matter as the valkyrie slashed a third soldier's legs, bringing the pointy end of her sword down into his chest before his body touched the ground.
Pulling out her sword with a sickening crunch, the Icelandic blonde spun the weapon in her hand so that the blade was turned the opposite direction the handler was facing. She smashed her palm against the hilt, finishing the motion into the fourth warrior's chest and sliced right through his heart.
The fifth, and quite honestly enraged undead, managed to draw the valkyrie's blood, as the edge of his blade brushed against her upper arm, cutting the thin material covering the soft and now bleeding flesh.
A swift, though misguided arrow, embedded itself in the upper part of his ribcage, in the same spot Dyson had caught the sharp tip of their sword. Not enough to take him down, the kick Tamsin delivered behind his knee however, was.
As he lay flat on the ground, his red, glowing eyes widened at the sight of the glimmering blade coming down onto him. The sword had been stuck into the ground, just an inch beside his unscathed head, the edge facing him.
Bending down, the valkyrie's hands gripped the dark hair on his head. Slender fingers slipped underneath the chest armor, holding it tightly. With a fierce growl, the woman pulled him into the sword. She now held the warrior in two pieces, the head in one hand and the rest of his body in the other.
Evaporating into the air like all of them had, Tamsin plucked her sword out of the ground and slid the blade into its sheath. Her metallic greaves patted down the remains into the pavement as she made her way to Lauren's side. "Holy fuck Legolas, where you been all my lives?"
Lauren's eyes grew wide as she saw the threat quickly approaching her beloved and readied her bow swiftly. "Duck!"
"How does that even answer my-cocksuck!" Bending her knees, Tamsin covered her head with her hands as she moved out of the arrow's deadly path. Why does this keep happening to me? People need to start using a better word that 'duck' that's why. "You two," The valkyrie pointed her finger at a couple of her own soldiers. "Take a break and take him. Follow us."
"Aye aye, Miss." Briefly saluting the women, they marched to the wolf's side, slinging his arms around their shoulders.
"We don't have much time, Tamsin, we have to hurry." The doctor pressed.
"Right," Looking back over her shoulder briefly, she cracked her knuckles even though she had no intention of using them. "Hulking out, look away." The words flew out of her skeletal mouth as she addressed Hades' army.
It took one syllable, and all eyes were on the valkyrie. "You don't want to fight us," Immediately their arms dropped at their sides, useless. "You want to fight each other-" Their sharp steel previously raised to fight Tamsin's soldiers, were now directed at their brethren. "-to the death." Was added in a groveling voice deeper than her own, yet still the same behind the echo of every word.
"Valkyrie smash!" Kenzi shouted enthusiastically as she came up behind the tall blonde, smashing her hand against the woman's back, whom flinched slightly.
"Wow." Bo followed closely, and stood between the doctor and the valkyrie, eyebrow raised. "That is some serious mojo, TamTam."
Before another war could break out from the use of the nickname, Lauren urged the group to move forward. "Let's get going." Taking the front, the gang was hot on her heels as they jogged down the ruined streets.
Almost an hour later, the friends and the two soldiers were nearing their destination. Three of them were familiar with the building standing approximately half a mile away from them: "Evony, you dead bitch." Tamsin hissed, as the group slowed down and eventually came to a halt.
"The Morrigan? S-she helped them?" Lauren asked, dumbfounded that a member of the fae race would do anything to endanger them. This was worse, this wasn't about hunting and killing, it was about complete extinction.
Raising a brow, Bo stared up at the tall building, jaw clenched. "Well that explains why she kept rejecting Hale's offer."
Kenzi, whom rested the safe edge of her katana against her shoulder, moved her free hand around dramatically, "Does she not know the end of humanity also means the end of her eyebrow's reign?"
"Oh she knows," The portal, unwavering, sat at the very top of high rise. They would have to get there, and quick, but with the elevators out of order, accomplishing this task would prove itself quite arduous. Pros: toned glutes. "She must have cut a deal with them."
"Nothing more enticing than a deal with a God." The brunette confessed. She frowned; however, as she watched the two blondes share a look. It was intense, somewhat regretful and laced with unresolved anger. Bo was curious, but it wasn't her place to ask, nor was it her business to know.
Tamsin placed a hand on her hip, wiping the sweat and dirt from her forehead with her forearm. "We know it's not about a box of cookies and a pat on the head. Whatever he offered her must be huge…and I'm not talking about his wang."
"So, he fixed her permanent state of bitchy?" Kenzi offered, semi-serious.
"I don't think anyone could fix that, Kenzster." The valkyrie chuckled before she let the women talk amongst themselves, as she checked up on the wolf. "How you doin' buddy?" She asked softly, patting a hand on his gruff, hair-covered cheek.
"Just swell and I'm making new friends." Dyson replied with a forced grin, which quickly turned into a cringe as he felt the stitches stretching and ripping at his sore skin.
The blonde's smile faltered, diminished into worry for a few seconds. "Don't bore them with your bullshit fishing stories." And it was gone, just like that, behind her joke.
"I might not have proof, but you have my word Valkyrie. I'm telling the truth."
"Is that what you tell women to get them in your bed?"
He chuckled, and coughed out: "Bitch,"
She did the same: "Liar."
"You're lucky I'm injured."
"For me or for you?" The woman asked with a cheeky grin, over her shoulder, as she had started walking away. She thanked the soldiers for carrying the injured man all the way out here and the group continued on their hasty stride.
Lauren ran ahead slightly, keeping an eye out for any sign of their enemies preparing for an assault attack or an ambush. The sound of footfalls, which she recognized immediately, grew louder until she spotted a semi-disheveled pony tail, made entirely out of golden blonde hair, from the corner of her eye.
"Hey," The Icelandic woman addressed the blonde somewhat awkwardly, pushing her legs faster to keep up with her. "Want some company?" Tamsin was willing to admit she was using her charming smile to her advantage in this moment.
"Sure." Lauren replied softly, yet to take a look at the woman beside her. "Try to keep up."
Though the valkyrie couldn't see the smirk stretched across the woman's face, she could hear it in her voice. "You're on, Doc."
The human doctor tried not to smile, and failed miserably. She was supposed to be angry at her girlfriend, not playful. With the current situation they were in however, there wasn't much time for laughs or personal discussions. Putting aside anger would benefit them both.
They travelled in silence, their heavy breaths and footsteps in tandem. As the neared their destination, Tamsin couldn't go into battle with a fight unresolved. One thing she learned from war is to never bring your personal problems with you, leave them home or deal with them before. A preoccupied mind is a selfish one, dangerous to your fellow soldiers.
Seeing as home was literally running right beside her, she had no choice but to address the situation. "I can't take back what I did. I acted on instinct, I did what I thought was best. It was an opportunity I wasn't willing to let go of, for you and for me. I never wanna let you go." Silence; for the longest time no words were spoken from either party. "Damnit, Lauren, say something."
Just when Tamsin thought all hope was lost to get anything out of Lauren, she woman finally stopped in mid-stride and faced her, chest heaving from physical exertion. The doctor's first words were as followed: "We're here."
Scrunching up her face, Tamsin shook her head. "Er…somethin' else."
Lauren opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat as she eyed what was following the group. Not an army, not a monster, but a gigantic wave; a Tsunami-sized one, and it was quickly gaining on them.
"EVERYONE INSIDE, NOW!" The valkyrie shouted and held the left side of the glass double doors open while Lauren helped everyone inside.
"Anyone brought a surfing board?" Kenzi asked Katana raised high, as she felt Tamsin push her forcefully inside.
"Keep the jokes for when our life isn't in immediate danger and get that ass up the stairs!"
"Yes ma'am! Derriere engaging in stair climbing." Tucking her helmet under her arm, Kenzi saluted their leader and hoped up, skipping two, and sometimes three, stairs at a time.
Tamsin slipped her sword through the door handles, jamming it in place and hoping it would buy them some time. She felt a shadow raise, and as she lifted her head up caught a glimpse of the gargantuan wave climb up a few stories high, before it came crashing down meters in front of the building.
"TAMSIN!" Lauren yelled from the stair case, which seemed to have snapped the woman out of her reverie as the valkyrie pushed herself off the door and dashed towards the stair case. A loud crash was heard, and her weapon held up nicely. That is, until the second wave came crashing down and broke the glass all round.
It wasn't too long that the first floor was flooded as the group worked through the burn in their thighs and calves. Still, they pushed on, conquering intermediate landings one after the other. Dyson, and his supporting soldiers, had to take a break as they reached the 30th floor.
The pain worsened, his body covered in cold sweat, his stitches had been ripped one by one from the physical effort and his blood was freely flowing down his side. "I-" A violent cough. "Just need…a break." He lied, knowing he couldn't go on. He couldn't feel his legs, and could barely move his arms as it simply took too much energy.
A hand gently placed on her arm caused Tamsin to turn her eyes away from cobalt to chocolate brown.
"I'll stay with him," Lauren spoke softly, her gaze sympathetic.
Their leader was quick to deny, "I'm not leaving you. I'm not leaving any of you behind."
"If I don't stitch the wound and give him a blood transfusion right now, he won't make it, Tamsin."
As much as she truly despised the idea of splitting up, the human was right. She watched as Bo moved to Dyson's side, worry in her glowing blue eyes as she gave him more of her chi. They reminded her a lot of the doctor and herself; she couldn't let them down.
Turning towards Lauren, whom had quickly examined the small gash on her upper arm, Tamsin asked with a sigh: "How do we know whose blood matches with his?"
"Mine does," The petite, raven-haired woman spoke up.
Lauren nodded and smiled at Kenzi, before gazing confidently at the tall blonde. "We'll be fine."
She didn't care to ask how she knew, she was just happy she did. "Alright, but they're staying with you." She pointed at the fae soldiers as she crouched down next to the injured detective.
Tamsin was horrible at goodbyes, and she told herself, as she stopped the tears from escaping while her throat burned, that this wasn't one of those situations. "Better take good care of her." Sliding her hand behind the wolf's head, she pushed his head against hers, so their foreheads were resting against each other.
"You know it." With the flow of energy from the combination of Bo's and Tamsin's chi fueling his actions, Dyson was able to lift his arm, and mimic his partner's position. "Go." The woman ruffled his hair and stood up.
Fiddling with her hands, the valkyrie tapped the busy doctor's shoulder with a hesitant finger. "Lauren. I'm sorry for-"
Taking the taller woman's hand in her own, she spoke wisely: "its okay, honey. I understand why you had to do it and under the circumstances…I would have done the same. Just please, be careful. Come back to me," Her eyes jumped onto the succubus, whom had just had a similar exchange with both Dyson and her best friend. "Both of you."
"Will do." Smiling, Bo saluted Lauren like any trained soldier would.
Kissing Lauren's hand still clasped in her own, Tamsin smiled at her one last time before releasing her hand and sprinting up the stairs. "I hope all that leather won't slow you down, succubus."
"You wish, valkyrie." Even in the very real threat of death, the pair continued their banter up the other twenty staircases left to reach the roof.
Both women stood in front of the door separating them from the roof. Neither flinched, nor moved to reach for the handle. Studying each other's face, they waited for the other to say something, anything.
"You ready?" The valkyrie asked, hands clenched into fists at her side.
"No, but do we really have a choice?"
"Nope."
"Okay. So, there's two powerful and evil Gods, threatening to end humanity, standing behind this door. What's there to be afraid of?"
Both women cringed at the words spoken. "Maybe you should leave motivational speeches to someone who knows the meaning of the word."
Her eyes darkening, Bo moved her hand towards the taller blonde. "Then go ahead, if you think you can do better."
"Fuck it," Pushing the door open, she stepped onto the roof.
The protesting succubus was close behind, moving her arms around in slight irritation. "Nice leadership qualities there blondie, that wasn't much-"
"Bo?"
"I'm still here, Tamsin." The seductress purposely bumped into the taller woman's shoulder to reinforce her words, and thus proving her point.
"Am I just feeling the after effects of the shrooms Dyson and I ate the other day, or is that-"
"Lauren?" The brunette could not believe the words slipping past her lips.
To answer their question: yes it is. Lauren, Doctor Lewis, lover and ex-lover, was standing beside the very large and intimidating Hades. His face was hidden by a black cloak, which covered his entire body. Dark purple tentacles swayed into the air, jutting out from his back. There was a certain dark, misty aura about him. This was evil in its purest form; an evil which touched the doctor's shoulder so lovingly that the scene unfolding itself in front of the heroin's eyes seemed absurd and farfetched; unreal.
What the fuck!?