CHAPTER 32

"You need to calm down." Trick said into his cell phone. "Cool off then come back here, they'll be leaving soon. Yes I know, I don't like it anymore than you do, but I gave my word." Trick said as he started pacing.

"I'll be right back. I love you." Bo told Lauren.

"I love you too, go on." Lauren replied.

Bo walked towards Trick's office and as she approached the door she could hear his voice. She reached out for the door knob when she stopped.

"You need to listen to me. We don't know what will happen between now and then. Her body could reject it, then we'd have nothing to worry about... don't do anything rash."

Bo gasped – she did not want to believe what she'd heard.

"Dyson..."

Bo backed away from the door, horror growing with each step. 'No... no.' she thought. 'This can't be happening. Not Trick.'

Bo knew they had to leave and now, but she also realized she couldn't simply leave without telling him. It would raise suspicion. She had to tell Lauren.

Bo took a deep breath, steadying herself. "Hey Trick!" she called out.

"Listen, Bo is looking for me. I'll talk to you soon."

"Trick! Are you in there?"

"Bo, I was just about to go back out. I had to take care of something first." he told her smiling when she entered his office.

She bit the inside of her cheek. "Not a problem, I just wanted to tell you we're heading out."

Trick sighed. "It has been an eventful day."

"You can say that again."

Trick walked over to Bo and took her hand in his.

Bo resisted the urge to snatch her hand from his grasp.

"I know you've made up your mind – but I have to ask – are you sure about this?"

Bo felt her resolve build. "Yes I am. And I'm so glad you're supporting me on this." she leaned over and hugged her grandfather.

"Of course." Trick replied hugging her back.

Bo eased out of the embrace and walked back to the bar.

Lauren frowned when she saw Bo's face, she looked a little pale. "Are you okay?" she asked.

Bo nodded.

"Well, I suppose congratulations are in order Lauren." Trick said as he followed Bo.

Lauren smiled. "Thank you Trick."

"You two will be careful."

Lauren looked in Bo's direction. "I'll make sure Bo's well taken care of."

Trick tried not to grimace. "I trust you Lauren."

"We'd better go. Jacob and Kenzi are getting dinner." Bo said wanting to get out to the Dal as soon as possible.

"Of course," Trick nodded. "I'll see you soon."

Bo grabbed Lauren's hand and practically ran out of the Dal.

"Bo, what's going on?" Lauren asked when they reached the car.

"Lauren, can you drive please?"

"Bo..."

"I'll tell you when we get home, I promise."

Lauren brought Bo into her arms and could feel her trembling. Something had happened between the time Bo had left to find Trick and their return. "Okay, come on sweetheart, let's go home."

"So Jake, will you tell me?"

"Tell you?" he asked as he paid for the food.

"You know, how Bo ended up with Dyson's and Lauren's kid." Kenzi asked when they exited the restaurant.

Jacob opened the car door for Kenzi. "Of course." he replied before closing it and heading to the driver's side. He got in and waited until Kenzi had fastened her seatbelt before turning on the engine. "Well, it's like this." he began.

"Eww... that's gross." Kenzi grimaced after he had told her.

Jacob laughed. "Lauren... Dr. Lewis looked quite pale when I explained it to her."

"You know." Kenzi said glancing at him. "You can call her Lauren in front of us." she told him as she reached out and gave his arm a squeeze.

Jacob gulped as the warmth of Kenzi's hand his arm tingled. "I... I did not wish to presume."

"Oh please." she said as she dug through the bags. "It's not like she wouldn't let you." she scoffed. She grabbed an egg roll. "Shit! Hawt... hawt." she waved her hand in front of her mouth.

"Are you okay?" Jacob quickly looked in her direction before returning his attention to the road.

"I'm fine... I do it all the time." she said as she chewed. Kenzi reached into her pocket and grabbed her cell phone. "Hiya Hotpants."

"Kenzi, how soon will you get to the Shack?"

"About ten minutes. What gives?"

"Something's wrong and Bo won't say anything until you get home."

"Is it the baby?" Kenzi asked quietly, her heart dropping to her stomach.

Jacob turned in Kenzi's direction when he heard her ask about the child.

"No, I don't think so. I'm sure she would have said something..." Lauren looked behind her towards the bathroom.

"We'll be there soon."

"Could you ask Jacob to bring my medical bag with him, just to be safe?"

"Sure. Take care of her."

"I will."

"What's wrong?" Jacob asked when Kenzi ended the call.

"Lauren said something's going on with Bo and she wants you to bring her bag when we get home." she said preoccupied with what could be happening.

"Kenzi..."

"Yeah." she looked at him.

"Hold on."

"SHIT!" Kenzi cried out when Jacob floored the gas pedal.

She looked at him and saw the look of concentration on his face as he weaved in and out of traffic, always signaling which made Kenzi roll her eyes. 'Figures.' she thought to herself as she watched the scenery pass by.

She couldn't stop the bubble of laughter that escaped her when they finally skidded to a stop.

Jacob put the car in park and turned it off. "Are you okay?"

"Dude! That was awesome!"

Jacob smiled. "I'm sorry. I don't normally drive that way. But I sensed the urgency..."

"You can be my wheel man anytime you want."

Jacob got out of the car, hurried to Kenzi's side and opened the door.

"Why don't you get Lauren's bag and I'll meet you inside." she told him as she gathered the take out bags.

Jacob nodded and watched her until she made it to the door.

"BoBo... Hot Pants!" Kenzi cried out, placing the bags of food on the counter.

Lauren came downstairs drying her hands.

"Where's BoBo?" Kenzi asked.

Lauren gestured behind her draping the towel on her shoulder. "She's taking a bath... doctor's orders." she replied. "Where's Jacob?"

"He should be here in a minute. What's going on?"

Lauren rubbed her forehead. "I'm not sure. She went to say good-bye to Trick and when she came back she was pale and trembling."

"Did Trickster say anything?" Kenzi asked worried about her bestie.

Lauren shook her head. "No, not a thing – except to congratulate me."

"It doesn't make any sense..."

They both turned and looked at the door.

Kenzi walked over and opened it. She sighed. "Geez... you don't need to knock." she said when she saw Jacob standing in the doorway before walking back to Lauren.

"I brought your bag as requested." he told Lauren as he closed the door behind him.

"Thank you. Why don't you two eat something before it gets cold? I'm going to check on Bo."

Bo sat in the tub hugging her knees to her chest tightly. Although the water was warm, she still trembled.

"Bo... I'm coming in, okay?" Lauren said standing outside the bathroom door.

Bo did not want Lauren to see her this way. She hated showing her weakness to anyone. But this did not solely affect her.

Bo felt very protective about the baby and Trick's words kept echoing in her mind: Her body could reject it...

It.

He called Lauren's baby an It.

She felt sick inside.

She had been slowly rubbing her stomach when Lauren had left earlier, presumably to call Kenzi and let her know what was going on.

"I won't let anything happen to you." she whispered.

Lauren cracked the door open. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah."

Lauren took in Bo's appearance and her heart went out to her.

Was Bo having second thoughts?

Had Bo changed her mind and was trying to decide how to tell her?

"Hey." Lauren said softly as she sat on the rim of the bathtub.

"Is Kenzi here?"

Lauren smiled. "Yes. They got here a few minutes ago."

Bo nodded. "Can you hand me the towel?"

"Of course." Lauren grabbed it and waited until Bo stood up and started to dry her off. Normally, this was something Lauren loved doing, as it almost always led to pursuits which would lead them back to having another bath.

This time was different, she could feel it.

Lauren helped Bo step out of the tub and led the very docile woman into the bedroom where she dressed her in a pullover; one of hers, and sweatpants.

"We'll get through this Bo." Lauren whispered. "I promise. Do you want to go downstairs now?"

Bo nodded.

They walked hand and hand down the stairs.