CHAPTER 30

Jacob had just made it to the table when he heard Kenzi's cry.

"HEY HOT PANTS!"

He immediately turned in Kenzi's direction and Lauren stood up.

"What's wrong?" she called out as she started to hurry over.

"Hello!" Kenzi gestured wildly. "BoBo's hungry and it isn't for food."

Lauren stopped short and looked into Bo's face; she could see the neon blue shining in them.

"My offer still stands." Jacob told Lauren quietly his hand on her shoulder, gazing into her face.

Lauren was going to tell him it was not necessary, but she knew she was in no condition to help Bo at the moment. Although she was moving around and speaking without any difficulty, she was not one hundred percent. She was still feeling the effects of Bo's feed earlier.

There was no other choice.

"Thank you Jacob." Lauren said as she turned around and sat back down.

Jacob took this as her acceptance of the matter. He straightened his shoulders and walked over to Bo. "If you can give me just a moment?"

Bo nodded.

"What the Hell are you doing?" Kenzi asked him annoyed when he walked to her.

"The same thing you would do if it ever came to this. Dr. Lewis," he said looking behind him. "Bo cannot feed off her again. It's too soon. Dr. Lewis' body cannot handle it."

Kenzi's shoulders slumped. "I didn't think about that."

Jacob slowly reached out and placed his hand on Kenzi's shoulder, lightly. "I can see how difficult this is for her and I hope she knows that I offer this solely out of friendship and nothing more."

Kenzi looked up and could see the sincerity in his face. "I guess I'll keep Lauren company then?"

"I doubt this will take very long."

"Yeah, well... behave." she told him.

Jacob smiled. "You have..."

"Your word... yada… yada. Go on, go on." she said, pushing him in Bo's direction.

Jacob could feel his heart begin to pound as he neared Bo. It was not out of fear or desire, but out of curiosity. He offered his hand to her, who stared at it for a moment before placing hers in his.

"I think it would be better if we stepped aside." he told her, gesturing to where the couch was. "I don't believe Dr. Lewis or Kenzi should have to witness this."

Bo felt the guilt hit her and was about to pull away when she felt Jacob tighten his grip on her hand.

"Do not worry – you are not injured. You do not need to heal sexually. It is a simple feed - something to take the edge off."

Bo looked down at their intertwined hands.

Jacob was right.

She was not hurt.

She did not need to heal sexually.

And most of all, he was not Dyson.

"More importantly let's not forget. You are feeding for two now." he said.

Bo looked up quickly and could see the smile on his face. "Had to play the baby card huh?"

"I had to do something. You really should not feel guilty about this."

"Fine – let's do it."

Jacob released Bo's hand. "After you." he gestured.

"Wanna make sure I do this huh?" she asked as she walked past him.

'Yes I do.' he answered silently.

Kenzi sat down slowly.

She wasn't sure if Lauren would appreciate her presence right now. She didn't know if Bo had asked Lauren to forgive what she had said earlier.

If Bo had, Kenzi knew she was getting off easy.

But if Bo hadn't, Kenzi wasn't sure what she should do.

Lauren was being far too quiet for her taste.

She'd much rather hear her spout something geeky that only Jake would understand. But at least it would be the Lauren she knew and not this, quiet – staring into space - version of Lauren, who so far had not acknowledged her yet.

Needing to do something to kill time until BoBo and Jake returned, Kenzi reached out and grabbed a paper napkin and started shredding it.

She was surprised to feel Lauren's hand cover hers, stilling her movements, before pulling it away and folding her hands together tightly.

Kenzi began to push away from the table.

"Don't move Kenzi." Lauren told her. "Don't do anything."

Kenzi watched as Lauren closed her eyes. She gasped as she watched tears slip between Lauren's eyelashes and down her cheeks.

She was at a loss; she didn't know what to do.

This wasn't Bo, she couldn't joke around. And she doubted Trick had a stash of triple fudge ice cream in the back.

Lauren took a deep breath trying to get her emotions under control. She was tired, bone weary. She had made a decision which could get Bo killed. What was she thinking?

How could she be so selfish?

Had she wanted a child so badly she would risk Bo's life?

Her own?

"Did you know; I normally don't mind silence... the quiet solitude? It allows me the opportunity to think about things clearly, without interruption or distraction." Lauren said.

Kenzi nodded.

"Now, I have all these thoughts running in my head and I don't know what to do. I don't know if I've made the right decision..."

"Hey..." Kenzi said leaning forward. "You better listen. Bo trusts you. She believes in you. If you've changed your mind about this... you better tell her now, or get your shit together." Kenzi told her. "And you do it before she gets back."

Lauren's anger flared for a moment before she recognized the intent of Kenzi's words.

Kenzi was right; she had to get her shit together. She had to stop second-guessing everything.

Taking a deep breath, Lauren clamped down on her emotions. "I'll be right back. I think I'll go see Hale now." she said.

Kenzi watched as Lauren pushed away from the table and walked slowly to Hale's office in the back.

"Hiya Doc, have a seat." Hale said when Lauren entered.

Lauren dipped her head and sat down.

Hale was concerned when he noticed Lauren's bloodshot eyes – he could tell she had been crying.

He wondered what happened after he left but he could not delve deeper into it.

"You wanted to see me?" she asked.

"Yeah." he replied as he took out a file he had printed out. "I guess you know why I've asked you here."

Lauren nodded. "I have a feeling it's due to what Kenzi informed you of."

"Doc... Lauren... I really need you to re-pledge yourself." Hale told her.

Lauren looked at him. "And what will happen if I don't?"

Hale sighed. He had to tell her the truth. "It'll be out of my hands – Doc, please."

"I thought Lachlan's chattel would belong to the next Ash, you?"

"Technically speaking that would be true. But you see you're a special case."

Lauren frowned. "Special case?"

"We both know you were brought into servitude by coercion... for the most part. And I'm sorry," he said sincerely. "You got a raw deal."

"Please go on." Lauren prompted. She did not want to go over the betrayal she felt when she found out about Nadia's curse. How Nadia had spent five long years in a coma so she would end up pledging her live to the Light.

Lauren had no idea how long Nadia would have survived in the pod.

She sighed.

It had taken her time, but she finally let go of the guilt she felt and she was left with an overwhelming sense of sadness for the life Nadia would never experience.

"Once Nadia was released from the curse..."

"I re-pledged myself to Lachlan..." Lauren said. She was not surprised when Hale mentioned Nadia's curse and not the coma excuse she had fallen for.

"Yes you did, but, we both know what happened during the Stag hunt."

"And?" she wondered what he was getting to.

"Because of that... something I was on board with, Lachlan was holding a title that he hadn't truly won." Hale told her.

Lauren was in shock.

"There's been no Ash?" She had not thought of that, she doubted any of them had.

Hale shook his head slowly.

If word had gotten out, there would have been utter chaos.

"No one can know Lauren, no one." he stressed.

"Of course." she readily agreed. "You have my word."

"Listen Doc." Hale said as he walked around the table and sat down on the edge. "If you don't re-pledge yourself to the Light, then I'll have to let the Morrigan know. She's within her rights to make you an offer."

"Are you worried I'll accept?" she asked him.

Hale waved his hands in front of him. "No... not at all. I like to think I know you. You're good people, but the Elders." he sighed. "To them you're a human doctor with way too much information to be allowed to leave the Light. And Lauren, I couldn't protect you if that were to happen."

"I see." she muttered to herself thinking of the implications. "Can I have some time?" she asked.

Hale nodded. "I can only give you seventy-two hours."

Lauren stood up. "Thank you Hale."

He waved her off. "Nah Doc, thank you for all you've done. I'm sorry no one's said it before, it's long overdue."

"I should get back."

Hale stood up. "Seventy-two hours, not a minute more."

"I understand." Lauren started walking away when she stopped.

"Is there something on your mind?"

Lauren turned around. "You could get in a lot of trouble..." she said, deliberately avoiding mentioning the exact reason.

"Me? I've got this, beside there are no substantiating witnesses to whatever you're alluding to." Hale knew Kenzi would not say a word, the new guy; there was the wild card, but Hale had a feeling he was there for the Doc and that was good enough for him and Trick wouldn't do anything to harm his granddaughter.

Dyson, he could cause trouble. He hoped not, but from what he had heard earlier, he might have to keep close tabs on him.

Lauren smiled.