AUTHOR'S NOTE: Fair warning... things are about to get interesting. At least I think so. Also, I have up to chapter 14 back and corrected. I am really wondering what you're going to think about the rest of this story. As before, disclaimers are on Chapter One.
Thanks to my beta, EBlane and my bestie, Becca, who has yet to read this, but once it's finished I'll e-mail it to her. For all of you who have "pushed" me into a multi-chapter story, I hope you're happy with what I've written.
CHAPTER SEVEN
"BoBo... are you sure you're okay?" Kenzi asked as she held on to Bo's hair.
Bo rinsed out her mouth and spit the water out. "Tell me again how simple this job was?"
Kenzi huffed. "How was I supposed to know that the skanky bitch "Mr. Handsy" was boffing was packing mace?"
"I don't think the water's working," Bo groaned as her eyes and face continued to burn.
"Hold on Bo. I'll be right back. We passed a gas station down the street; maybe they've got milk."
"Hurry Kenz..."
"I'm sorry Bo," Kenzi said before running as fast as the five-inch heeled boots would allow.
Lauren stared at the results.
She had called Jacob back into her office, disabling the surveillance camera prior to his arrival.
"Sit down please," she said as soon as he closed the door behind him. "First of all, I'm not going to ask you if the results are confirmed or if they've been double or tripled checked," Lauren said, noticing the relief on his face.
"Am I correct in presuming you were not expecting these results?" he asked her.
Lauren looked down at the lab report and shook her head. "No, I wasn't."
"You don't have to worry about me Dr. Lewis..."
Lauren looked up quickly. "Worry about you?" she asked confusion coloring her voice.
Jacob leaned forward.
He liked and respected Dr. Lewis.
She was truly unlike any physician he had ever worked for or with in any capacity.
And at his age – five hundred years and counting - that was saying something.
He had followed Lauren's career since Dr Everett's first mention of her human protégé and was duly impressed. She had a raw talent, in his estimation; one to be cultivated, nurtured and praised from time to time.
When the former Ash – Lachlan's predecessor – was rendered comatose in the devastating explosion that had rocked the Light Fae compound, Jacob knew there would be openings in the medical lab and wanted to take advantage of that opportunity.
He had to hide his true identity.
He did not want to usurp her position as medical director.
No.
He simply wanted to observe her work…
And he did.
He was impressed.
Her intelligence was near genius and he had wondered if Fae genes occupied some part of her family tree.
Be that as it may, there was no getting over the fact she was one of a kind and the Fae would be sorely pressed to replace her.
Jacob was positive it was her humanity, which most of her Fae patients dismissed with disdain, that made her truly shine in a class all her own.
He was honored that she trusted him with her personal requests. Now it seemed he may have spoken out of turn.
He hoped she would not hold it against him. There were things he wanted to teach her when the time was right.
Now was not the time.
"You have my word, no one will find out from me. I made sure to use my personal equipment to run the tests..."
Lauren reached out and put her hand on his. She sighed. "Jacob, I trust you. I know you would never... I trust you," she reiterated. "How could I not, after all that Dr. Everett said about you," she smiled.
Jacob sat up straight. "You know?" he blurted, in shock.
"Of course," she answered matter-of-factly.
"But how... when?" he sputtered.
"That's not important right now, what matters is that Dr. Everett trusted you and that's good enough for me."
His respect for Lauren Lewis skyrocketed.
Lauren sat back.
She looked at her "lab assistant" and watched as a myriad of emotions crossed his face.
She would ponder the ramifications of the knowledge she revealed in this conversation later.
"Thank you Dr. Lewis..."
"You might as well call me Lauren, Doctor..."
"No, don't. Please," he interrupted.
"I don't understand, Doctor..."
He shook his head. "If the Ash knew who I was, he'd insist that I take over the directorship, regardless of your relationship with him; he'd have no choice. And you've worked too hard to get where you are today for them to strip you of your title and position just because of who I am. I couldn't do that to you, Lauren," he said.
"Thank you Jacob," she said as she wiped the stray from her cheek, overwhelmed with gratitude.
His assessment was absolutely correct; Hale would have no choice but to relieve Lauren of her title and position if Jacob's identity became known.
She was, after all, human, while Jacob was a legendary healer among the Fae. Reading his published papers had left Lauren astounded at his insight.
The opportunity to work alongside him and learn from him was one she would continue to make the most of, regardless of their current job titles.
"So Lauren..."
"Yes."
"What are you going to do?"
Lauren closed her eyes.