Bo stood gaping at Lauren with her mouth open. After a few stunned moments, she collected herself. "Lauren, what are you wearing?" Wearing was the wrong word, it was more like that dress was painted on Lauren's body it was so tight.

Lauren feigned innocence and looked herself over. "What?"

Bo growled. "You're doing this on purpose." Her eyes traveled up and down Lauren's body taking in the sight for a second time.

"Doing what?" Lauren asked pretending to not know what Bo was referring to. "I wanted to look nice for you for our first date." A glint of mischievousness danced over her eyes.

Bo bit her lip as Lauren exited the apartment. She held back, for a second, and took a glance at Lauren's bareback, and backside. "Good lord woman." She breathed out resting her hand on Lauren's waist, practically able to feel Lauren's skin through the thin material. She sighed happily at the feeling.

They reached Bo's car, and Lauren slid into the passenger seat. Bo frowned staring down at her. "That dress is super distracting."

Lauren rubbed her hands down her legs to smooth out the dress. "I don't know what you're talking about. It's just a dress." She said playfully.

Bo shook her head. "My girlfriend's a monster." She added a smirk at the end.

Bo got behind the wheel, and Lauren took her hand. "This is just payback for the outfit you wore on our first real date." She licked her bottom lip quick at the memory. "You had me so flustered I couldn't form thoughts."

Bo chuckled. "Worked perfectly, though." She squeezed Lauren's hand as she said it.

"For you maybe. But it's pretty hard to be charming when your date has you thinking about undressing her the whole night."

"Well, you didn't show it. You came off cool and confident."

Lauren chuckled at her younger self-coming off as 'cool and confident'. "Where are we going?" She asked looking out the window.

"I'm taking you to a nice dinner." Bo stole a look at her. "Our last dinner together didn't go so well." She added gingerly.

Lauren shook her head. "My father is repulsive." Not wanting to push the conversation into a negative place, but not being able to stop herself, Lauren continued. "You'd think all the girlfriends I've had and my complete lack of interest in men would give him a clue."

"I'm sorry, babe."

"No, I'm sorry for putting you through that. It can't be fun to sit there and listen to him."

"But worry about me, I can put up with a lot."

They smiled at each other and sat in a calm, relaxed silence until they reached the restaurant.

XXXX

A few patrons stopped and stared at Lauren admiringly when they walked into the restaurant. "Yep, just a dress," Bo said, shaking her head lightheartedly. Lauren's eyebrows rose knowingly, and she smirked back.

They ordered their drinks and Bo was trying her best to not ogle Lauren too much, but honestly it was very difficult. She silently cursed herself for the no sex rule, what was she thinking? It would be impossible if Lauren kept looking so delicious. She laughed at herself with the realization that Lauren looked alluring even in pajamas.

Lauren excused herself and went to the restroom to wash up, on her way she ran into the chef from the hospital. They had chatted over e-mail a few times, and she learned his name was Chad.

"Is this your restaurant?" She asked with an amused smile at his wide eyes.

He seemed genuinely shocked to see her. "Yes. This is where I work."

Lauren felt the awkwardness in the air. "I'm happy to try your food. I'm here on a date with my girlfriend." She gestured in the direction of where Bo was sitting.

His eyes moved to Bo and he cleared his throat and shifted his weight uneasily. A moment later, he asked about Bo.

"She's a detective." She said answering his question about whether or not Bo was a doctor also.

"Oh," He said shortly. "I have to get back to work." He quickly added and rushed off back to the kitchen.

Restaurants like this always made Bo feel out of place, it screamed pretentiousness. She casually played with her napkin waiting for Lauren to return. She frowned at the menu, not knowing what to order.

"Who was that?" Bo asked when Lauren returned to the table.

"That chef I told you about, he works here." Lauren answered picking up her menu and reading closely.

Lauren gave Bo a few suggestions on what to order and Bo, at random, picked one that didn't sound too fancy.

The conversation moved to work, and Lauren sighed deeply.

"I've been thinking about taking some time off. I've wanted to be a surgeon for so long. But I'm starting to wonder if that was something I decided on my own, or if my father pushed it on me at a young age." She poured more wine but was mindful not to drink too much. She had to work early in the morning. Tomorrow was the start of a new rotation and she wanted her mind sharp for whatever assignment she got.

Bo sipped her water, her eyes drifted down Lauren's neckline. She was driving and therefore not drinking. Plus, she needed to be in control to resist Lauren. "Lauren, as long as I've known you you've been excited about becoming a doctor."

"A doctor yes, but there's a variety of things I could do in medicine. I don't have to be a surgeon to be a doctor. Like…something I've always been interested in is research. To be in on cutting edge genetic research, for example, would be exhilarating. So many discoveries are happening every day, and I could be a part of that." This is the first time Lauren had spoken to anyone about this, even though, she'd been thinking about it for a long time.

Bo paused and thought for a moment. "Are you sure you're not just bored with residency work?"

"I'll admit I am getting bored with it. But it's more than that. With surgeries, I can save one life at a time but to be involved in the research I could save hundreds or thousands of lives with a single discovery."

"Well, you know, I'll support you no matter what you decide. Surgeon, research, trash lady, doesn't make any difference to me."

Lauren chuckled. "I have a meeting with one of my teachers, soon. I'll see what she has to say and take that into consideration before making a decision." She ran her fingers through her hair. "Not having a clear plan in life is a new experience for me. I want to make the right choice."

XXXX

They stepped out of the restaurant into the cool night air, and Bo took Lauren's hand. "Come on, let's go for a walk. How long has it been since we've just walked holding hands and talked?"

"Hmm. I guess at the beginning of our relationship when we were romancing each other." Lauren said moving her body closer into Bo's body.

"Exactly."

Lauren rested her head on Bo and wrapped her arm around her waist. "This was a great idea, Bo. Reconnecting."

Bo kissed her head. "Good. Although, that dress is making me rethink things."

Lauren shivered, and Bo rubbed her hands up and down her arm to warm her. "Did you ever think we'd end up here? Like this?"

Lauren's words brought Bo to a halt. There was a long pause. "I never thought I'd be stupid enough to jeopardize our relationship."

A moment of uncomfortable silence passed, and Lauren cupped Bo's face. "Can I kiss you?" She moistened her lips quickly. "Or is that against your rules."

Bo's eyebrows rose, and she leaned into Lauren's mouth. Her hands traveled down the sides of Lauren's body and rested on the small of her back. The dress was really thin and Bo was acutely aware of how close her skin was to Lauren's bare skin.

Somehow, they made it back to Lauren's apartment. And true to her word, Bo refused to go inside.

"Don't you want dessert?" Lauren asked her eyes locked on Bo's lips.

"Hmm." Bo groaned and shook her head.

"Are you sure?"

They reached for each other simultaneously, and Bo pressed Lauren against the door. Lauren wrapped her arms around Bo's neck drawing her even closer. Bo's hands wandered over Lauren's body and settled on her leg. She pulled Lauren's leg up over her hip for more contact, sliding her hand slowly up Lauren's dress.

Someone cleared their throat behind them, causing them to pull apart quickly.

Tamsin stood staring at the floor, and she pointed to the door. "I just needed to…" She paused and quickly glanced at their flushed faces. "Get into the apartment."

Lauren put her hand over her mouth, stifling a laugh. "Tamsin, I'm so sorry." She mumbled out.

Bo reached over and pulled Lauren's dress down as it was hiked up almost high enough to reveal everything underneath.

Tamsin nodded and unlocked the door. "Whatever works as foreplay. Who am I to judge?" She said and disappeared into the apartment.

With Tamsin gone, Bo drew Lauren in for a goodbye kiss that they were both hesitant to have end. "Bye, Lauren," Bo said in a low voice, giving her one last quick peck before walking away.

Lauren watched her go, and when she rounded the corner, she walked quickly into the apartment to apologize to her roommate.

XXXX

Lauren didn't see Tamsin when she looked around, so she went to change into more comfortable clothes.

Wearing her pajamas and carrying ice cream, Lauren knocked lightly on Tamsin's bedroom door. When Tamsin answered Lauren lifted the ice cream to her line of sight. "I'm sorry ice-cream." She offered.

Tamsin smiled and took the pint and spoon from her. "Thanks, Lewis. But I know all about the Bo and Lauren bubble."

"The what?" Lauren asked in confusion.

Tamsin took a big bite of the ice cream. "You know how you two get so wrapped up in each other, you forget everything else." She offered the pint to Lauren, and she accepted.

"That's one way to put it, I guess." She handed the ice cream back to Tamsin. "But I am sorry."

Tamsin shrugged. "I get a front row view of a live-action soap opera. It's entertaining."

Lauren frowned. "We're not that bad." She paused and stared at her uncomfortably. "Are we?"

"Nah, I'm just giving you some grief. Actually, it's kind of sweet, in a weird way." Tamsin chuckled at the memory of their living room fight, and their complete lack of awareness of her being there. She'd never seen anything like that before.

"What must you think of me as a roommate. Between relationship drama, family drama." Lauren wrinkled her face. "Maybe I should charge you less for rent for putting up with it all."

Tamsin's eyes widened. "That would be great." She joked back, nudging Lauren's shoulder.

They moved into the living room and chatted back and forth for an hour before Lauren yawned and retreated to her room.

XXXX

Lauren slipped off her scrubs changing into fresh ones. Jules blushed and looked away quickly. "I'm back on Evony's service this rotation, so maybe I'll see a surgery or two." Lauren was saying casually not picking up on the awkward energy in the room.

"That's great, Lauren," Jules said timidly, averting her eyes away from her.

Standing in front of the mirror, Lauren tied her hair back and smoothed out her scrubs. "What no jokes about Evony slowly seducing me into bed."

Jules shook her head and quickly left the locker room without saying another word. Lauren watched her quick exit and shrugged to herself.

Lauren saw Evony's legs first when she walked up, she didn't know why her eyes went there first. But she quickly lifted them and found Evony grinning back at her. "See something you like, Dr. Lewis?"

"What?" Lauren stammered out.

Evony gestured to the tablet in her hand. "Our scheduled surgeries." She leaned closer. "What did you think I was talking about?"

Although, clearly rattled Lauren obediently scrolled through the schedule. "A lot of interesting surgeries on here for sure."

"You are so odd. Has anyone ever told you that?"

"Should we get started?" Lauren asked directly, not taking the bait for another row with Evony.

Evony smirked and took the tablet from Lauren brushing her fingers over her hand and lingering that for a second longer than was necessary.

Lauren pulled her hand back and clasped her hands together behind her back and followed Evony, who already walked off.

XXXX

Dyson and Bo returned from another crime scene and groaned, in unison, slumping into their chairs.

Tamsin carrying a cup of coffee saw their down faces and walked over. "You know I had a thought about your case." Now that Tamsin was Hale's partner she was working on another assignment. "I've had a lot of jobs, but one job I loved was being a tattoo artist."

Dyson and Bo exchanged glances with raised eyebrows. Tamsin never talked about herself but when she did she always said something that shocked them.

Tamsin frowned at them. "What?" She darted her eyes back and forth between them, when they didn't respond, she continued. "Well, they see a variety of different symbols, artwork, pretty much everything. Maybe you should take that symbol to a couple and see if one realizes it."

Dyson sprung to his feet and threw an arm around her. "You're a genius." He patted her shoulder, his face cracked into a cheerful grin. "That's brilliant."

Tamsin looked down away from his face. She hated to admit how much she was starting to like his goofy smiles. She lifted her head back up, and they smiled at each other.

Bo sat considering this angle, for a moment, she leaned her elbows on her desk while she thought.

Dyson and Tamsin turned, remembering Bo and waited for her response. Dyson took the few steps back to Bo's desk and hovered over her. "What do you think?"

"Since you're familiar with the tattoo world, Tamsin. Will you come with us?" Bo asked, flipping through the paperwork on her desk.

A brief flicker of surprise crossed Tamsin's face. "I'd have to ask Ryan."

Bo rolled her eyes and stood quickly. "No, ask Hale, with his promotion he can give you permission."

XXXX

Bo was getting cranky. They were on their third tattoo shop visit and no one recognized the symbol. She pushed her fingers into her temples waiting for the artist to finish up, so they could talk to him.

Dyson was looking at the art on the wall. "I think I should get a tattoo. I've always wanted one." He twisted his head to Tamsin. "Do you have any tattoos?"

"Six."

Dyson glanced at Bo, for her reaction, but she wasn't listening. "Where?" He asked his eyebrow arched with curiosity.

Tamsin shrugged her shoulders. "Lots of places."

Tapping her fingers on the counter, Bo interrupted the exchange. "How much longer? We've been here almost an hour." She shifted to look at Tamsin. "Can't you go back there and talk to him?" Bo handed the paper with the symbol on it to Tamsin.

In the back room, Tamsin showed the tattoo artist the symbol. He was distracted working on a large woman's back but he took a second to look it over. "Yeah, I've seen that before." He mumbled out, a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. "Two brothers came in for ink about…" He paused to think. "Two or so months ago."

"Do you know what it means?" Tamsin asked, slipping the paper into her back pocket.

"Like rebirth…or awakening or something stupid like that. Sounds like that new age bullshit to me."

"Do you have an address or do you remember a name?" She watched as he outlined the tattoo on the woman's back.

"Sure lady I keep the addresses of all my clients." He jeeringly laughed at her and started choking on the smoke. "Actually, I remember their names…funny enough. It made me laugh. Chad and Ched." He laughed again. "Their parents must have hated them."

He had no more information to give, so Tamsin thanked him and left the room.

When she returned she relayed the information to Dyson and Bo. "Finally, a lead. A name isn't much, but it's a place to start." Bo said her demeanor now more relaxed.

XXX

Evony sat down behind her desk and stared at Lauren intently. A few seconds later, she leaned forward on her elbows studying her even closer.

Lauren stopped reading and glanced up to find Evony watching her. "What?" She finally asked after a pause.

"You did good work today. But you seem off, somehow." She leaned back and clasped her fingers together. "Do you want to talk about it?"

Lauren wiped a few pieces of hair off her face. "You once told me that I lack focus." She started.

Evony nodded in agreement. "You do."

"Anyway, I've been…recently…thinking about switching things up and focusing on research instead of surgery," Lauren admitted to Evony somewhat hesitantly.

"You want to be stuck in a boring lab all day looking through a microscope?" Evony shook her head in disapproval.

"If it weren't for people doing the boring research there'd be no advances in medicine." Lauren snapped back, glaring indignantly at her.

"What's this really about? Are things getting too hard for you?"

Lauren frowned and chewed on the inside of her cheek. "No. Things are not too difficult and besides research offers a different type of challenge."

Evony laughed. "Yes and you can be home by five o'clock every night." Evony's eyes were still fixed on her as if challenging her.

"What does that mean?" Lauren asked rolling her eyes. She should have known this would be Evony's reaction, but it still annoyed her.

"I've known many female surgeons who run off to start families, have children. This life isn't for everyone."

"Well, I'm not married and I have no children. This isn't about that." She paused. "Plus, I'm too young for both."

A skeptical expression crossed Evony's face, and she moved to sit next to Lauren and Lauren followed her movements with her eyes.

Evony shot her an attentive look. "But isn't that something you want. Marriage and children?" She squinted her eyes watching Lauren's face.

"Why do you care what I want in ten years?" Lauren felt unsettled and was far too aware of Evony and how close they were sitting. Evony's knee was brushing against her leg.

"I don't want to waste my time on a surgeon who isn't committed." She tipped her face closer until it was right next to Lauren.

Lauren swallowed hard at the closeness. "Like I said I'm not sure about wanting to continue with surgery." She didn't back away from Evony and she didn't know why.

Their eyes held and Evony inched even closer, her lips almost touching Lauren's. "That would be a shame," Evony whispered and they were so close their breath mixed. "You'd make a great surgeon."

Lauren blinked quickly as Evony drew back and strolled back behind her desk. Lauren sat stunned, but Evony changed the conversation and talked about their next patient.

XXXX

Bo moved across the street and marched confidently toward a run-down looking old house. Ryan had refused to give them permission to look into any leads, so Bo decided to check out a few by herself. So far, most of the cult activity turned out to be nothing but teenagers or support groups or nothing at all. Nevertheless, she had come across some rumors about a group that moved into town a few months ago and lived in this run-down neighborhood.

She surveyed her surroundings. This house was in need of repair and landscaping, but it seemed normal enough. Bo stood at the front of the door and knocked, her badge in hand, waiting.

There was nothing to indicate that serial killers lived in this house, on the outside it appeared as any other house. During her research, she had discovered a few complaints had been called in about the residents who lived there, mostly for noise disturbances. The on-duty cops never found anything wrong, however, Bo knew that unless they were given a good reason some cops would simply give a warning and move on without investigating further. Uniform cops were overworked and didn't always have time to put too much into each call.

No one answered, and Bo wasn't surprised. It was the middle of the day. They were most likely at work. But she'd come all this way and decided to look around a bit. Approaching the back of the house, Bo noted that it was in worse shape than the front. She hesitated when her eyes fell on an old wooden shed in the back of the yard. She glanced over her shoulder quickly and walked determinately toward it.

She was amazed to find it unlocked. She crossed the threshold into the small space. There were black and brown smudges covering the walls. Tools with a grimy film coated on them lined the walls. She had a sudden, mysterious feeling that something wasn't right about this situation.

Suddenly, she jumped back when she heard something move under her feet. She stooped down and removed the dusty rug and found a door.

Her hand went to her phone, to call Dyson for back up, but another sound stopped her, and she pulled at the door. The rusty hinges squeaked and creaked but it didn't dislodge.

Finally, after pulling with all her strength the door opened. She peered down into the dark and saw a concrete staircase leading into more darkness. She put her hand over her nose at the rank scent from inside that swept over her face. She strained to hear and heard what sounded ominously like chains scratching over concrete.

She heard heavy boots loudly hitting the ground behind her. Slowly, she reached automatically for the gun on her hip. Still staring at the dark staircase, the click of a gun rang in her ears. Knelt down, in a vulnerable position, hand on her gun, with another gun pointed at her back, Bo's heart hammered in her chest, and she was frozen.