CHARTERS 39

Dyson wiped his brow and took a drink of water. The sun was beating down on him; he had already taken off his jacket, putting it in his backpack when it became too warm.

He smiled, he had made good time and he enjoyed the trek. Dyson took a deep breath, filling his lungs, in all the time he had taken to double back and approach the villa from the side, the air had been refreshing, salty and clean.

As he closed his eyes he noticed something different in the air it was vaguely familiar and he knew it would come back to him in time. Looking at the map once more Dyson estimated that he was at least a quarter mile from the villa.

He decided it was time to change.

He shrugged off his backpack opening a side panel and took out a small leather bag. It contained a pair of running shorts, a small washcloth, t-shirt, knife, currency and identification. He placed the items on the ground next to the backpack.

Dyson removed his clothes and stored them away. He noticed a crevice in an outcropping of rocks, after examining it he decided it was a good place to stow his belongings, feeling no one would discover it.

Dyson slowly moved his head from side to side stretching, shaking out his limbs before getting down to all fours. He took a deep breath and centered himself, his eyes closed as he felt the tell-tale signs of his vertebrae popping as his back arched.

He groaned, the pain, even after all these years was still something he had to go through and was never easy, no matter how much it looked that way. He could not help the yelp escaping from him as his body reformed into his more natural state: wolf.

When the transformation was finally completed, he gazed at the landscape with his wolf eyes and noticed the difference right away. He sniffed the air a few times. He glanced down, seeing the bag he gripped the handles with his teeth and began to run towards the villa.

"Sweetheart, why don't I call you right back." Lauren told Bo when the car stopped.

"You promise?" Lauren could hear the uncertainty in Bo's voice.

"I promise. I love you Bo." she replied honestly.

"I love you too Lauren."

Lauren hung up and walked as quickly as she could; with Jacob's help, inside the travel agency after giving Hale a look of confusion.

"Trust me." he told her as he entered the agency and started speaking with a woman.

'She's either an employee or the owner,' Lauren thought. She wasn't sure about the look the other woman was giving her, she was frowning.

Hale motioned Lauren and Jacob to come closer while he continued to speak in a hushed tone, his hands on his hips.

The woman looked away for a moment, and then nodded her head. "It's on you then." she told him.

"I'll take full responsibility." Hale replied, as he looked towards Lauren. "Dr. Lewis, this is Bashirah Falak Manar..."

"Most people call me Peggy." she interjected, smiling as she held her hand out.

"Hello." Lauren replied, shaking the offered hand before looking back at Hale.

"Will you excuse me for a moment?" Peggy asked, before walking behind the counter and to a filing cabinet.

Lauren watched as "Peggy" opened the filling cabinet and started pulling out files, placing them on top before pulling out a manuscript sized file with a smile. She nudged the drawer closed with her hip and walked back to them.

"Could you sign here please?" Peggy said, as she placed the heavy tome in front of Lauren and opening it to the first of many, many pages.

Lauren coughed as dust rose from the file, before cautiously taking the pen Peggy had given her. "What's this?" she asked as she started reading.

"Oh, it's a binding contract, a formality really." Peggy explained, as if Lauren would know exactly what was in front of her. "Basically it says you take full responsibility for any type of mishaps..."

"Mishaps?" Lauren repeated as she looked up quickly.

Peggy smiled brightly, in her element. "You know – you end up in the wrong place. Your luggage doesn't arrive. You get trapped in a wall; get dropped into an active volcano. You lose a body part – you know the usual." she said, flipping the pages to the end of the document, tapping it with her finger. "Travelers insurance – in case you don't make it." she said quietly. Peggy looked at Hale and Jacob before turning her attention back to Lauren. "I would highly recommend it."

"Why? What type of flight is this?" Lauren asked, perplexed and a bit frightened.

Peggy gasped. "You haven't told her?" she shot Hale a look.

Hale rubbed the back of his neck and shook his head.

"Is it that dangerous?" Lauren asked.

"Nah Doc. Don't let her scare you. You want to get to Bo right?" Hale hated asking Lauren that question. He knew the answer and he knew it would sweep away any thoughts of how dangerous this trip for Lauren could be.

"Of course I do!" Lauren shot back. "How can you ask that?"

"Well, this is the only way to get to her with our time constraints."

Lauren took a deep breath before clicking the pen and signing her name. She was doing this on an act of faith, something she had long ago put aside – a remnant of her childhood when she believed if she'd said her prayers at night she had no reason to believe that the monster under her bed; the one her brother had told her about, wouldn't get her while she slept.

Now years later, here she stood; pen in hand, in a travel agency, a grown woman, a doctor, a scientist, a woman of knowledge, someone not prone to flights of fancy, not after five plus years of working – serving – the Fae, here she was putting her faith into Hale, into Peggy to get her to Bo.

There weren't many things she took on face value, not any more; not since she became indentured to the Fae, but this was one of them.

So, she signed.

"Initial here, here and here please." Peggy pointed out as soon as Lauren signed her name.

Lauren prayed; another thing she had stopped years ago, silently that everything would work out.

"Alright then." Peggy announced as soon a Lauren finished and she tucked the binding contract underneath the counter. "So." she clapped her hands gleefully. "Let's get this show on the road, shall we? This is going to be so much fun."

Those were the last words Lauren heard before waking up.

Her head was pounding, her entire body was a large mass of aches and pains. She wasn't sure what hurt more, her leg which was throbbing in time with her pulse, or everywhere else.

She opened her eyes, only to shut them tightly. Lauren took stock and knew she was lying down. She flexed her fingers and toes and let out a small breath of relief.

As far as she could tell, she had made it intact.

The brief glimpse she had taken let her know wherever she was, it was bright, blinding. The gentle caress of a cooling breeze made her skin cry out as it soothed her.

"Lauren."

She grimaced. "Shh." she answered as quietly as she could. She heard muffled tones all around her before she slipped back into the welcoming embrace of unconsciousness.

Hale looked over at Salus... 'Jacob, stick with Jacob.' he told himself. He watched as Jacob took Lauren's pulse before checking her leg.

"From my brief examination, she seems fine. The trip simply took more out of her than we thought." Jacob told Hale, with a worried look on his face.

They had arrived approximately thirty minutes ago at the private estate of Ash Gregiorio Di Nae. Hale had already spoken with him and explained the situation to a certain point.

Hale knew Ash Di Nae was not one hundred percent on board with the situation, he kept asking questions, ones Hale could not answer and had to beg off.

"This is highly irregular, but your father and I go back a very long way." Ash Di Nae had told him while they sat in his study drinking tea.

"Thank you Ash. I appreciate it." he replied. "Now, if you'll excuse me..."

"Of course. Give my regards to your father the next time you see him."

Hale nodded his head. "I will. Thank you again." He left the study and made his way into the room Lauren was resting from the trip. He walked in hearing Lauren say "Shh," before passing out again.

"Can you wake her?" Hale asked, looking down at his watch impatiently. "We don't have the luxury of time on our side."

"Of course." Jacob answered with a sigh.

Hale walked over to Jacob. "Look, I don't like it any more than you do, but we have to get going. The Ash has given me... us, a car and the sooner we leave the better. You said we're about an hour away from the villa."

Jacob nodded, they were. "Will it only be the three of us?" he asked as he stepped closed toward Lauren.

Hale shook his head. "No. I got permission for Raymond to accompany us."

"Is that going to be enough?" Jacob asked as he placed his hands on Lauren's head.

Hale looked inwardly and thought about Dyson. He thought he knew the man. They had worked together for years and this wasn't something he ever expected to happen.

It shook him to his core thinking they would not all make it back, which was the reason he had gotten permission for Raymond to go with them. Normally the local Ash would have provided security for any high ranking or visiting dignitary, but Hale said Raymond would be sufficient.

Hale had explained to Ash Di Nae, that he had done more than enough and he could not impose any more than he had. He already crossed the line that had stretched to the breaking point when he turned a blind eye on the whole baby issue.

Hale sighed deeply and shook his head. One thing was sure, no matter the outcome, Dyson could not be allowed to leave the island alive. "We can't take any of the Ash's security team from here. We can't have them get involved." Hale replied. "We can't afford the questions that might get asked."

Jacob looked at Hale and saw the conflicting emotions on his face. "I understand."

"I don't think you do." Hale answered, bitterly.

"Of course I do." Jacob replied. "You're going to do something that goes against everything you've ever thought or ever imagined. Detective Thornwood is, was your friend. You worked together for a long time and I would not be surprised if you had cared for each other like family. No one should have to go through this."

"We've had our problems." Hale sighed, thinking of when he caught Dyson and Val together. "He's changed." he shook his head slowly. "I don't recognize him anymore. Dyson that asshole didn't have to do this." Hale grunted. "Dyson could have left them alone. Hell, Lauren stepped aside when Bo tried to win his ass back." He explained. "But no, he had to go all Alpha on Lauren's ass and now look at where we are."

"Love." Jacob paused momentarily, thinking about Kenzi in a manner he had no right to. "Makes us do illogical, foolish things." Jacob said softly, looking at the Ash. "When you care for someone, when you love someone, their pain becomes yours, their happiness, yours. You will do anything for that person, regardless of the consequences. Dyson thought he was going to have a child with Bo and when he found out otherwise, he simply couldn't take it. His love became twisted, warped and it has led us to this. Under different circumstances, we would not be here."

Jacob turned from Hale and placed his hand on Lauren's forehead, closing his eyes, which had gone black, and slowly brought Lauren back to consciousness.

Hale watched Jacob worked and thought he did understand.

"Come on BoBo, we need to get you up to the bedroom." Kenzi said, swallowing convulsively, as she daintily stepped around the viscous fluid which had formed a puddle underneath Bo's feet. "Just let me know when the next contraction hits, okay?"

"Yeah." Bo grunted, as she carefully leaned on Kenzi and began walking out of the living room.

They both stopped at the bottom of the stairs and looked up.

"We can do this." Kenzi said, trying to boost Bo's morale.

"Sure we can." Bo replied, not believing a single word.

Up until five, ten minutes ago, taking the steps upstairs had not seem so, insurmountable, so daunting and somewhat precarious. Now, each step would be taken with deliberation, with forethought, considering the pros and cons of lifting her foot onto the stair, how to compensate for the added weight Bo was now carrying.

Lauren would have been impressed, considering the amount of precision involved and most likely would have had a power point presentation explaining exactly what to do and when.

"Umm, I'll be right back." Kenzi blurted as she left Bo and grabbed the spear and flare gun. She ran back quickly and stopped in front of Bo, "Did I miss anything?" she asked, secretly hoping the kid would have popped out in the small amount of time she had been gone.

"No, I'm fine." Bo replied trying to get comfortable.

"Okay then." Kenzi said as she tucked the flare gun behind her back, and slung the spear gun on her shoulder. "Well, let's get this party started."

Bo arched an eyebrow. "Party?"

"Right, party later." She sighed. "Come on, it's just a few steps and then you can lie down." Kenzi urged, as they began the slow walk up to the master bedroom that had a king size bed they noticed when they first checked the place out after arriving.

Bo growled as she gritted her teeth.

"Just lean on me." Kenzi told her as she wrapped her left arm around Bo's waist her heart going out to her bestie as she watched a trickle of sweat disappear into Bo's now soaked shirt. Kenzi had to knock the most inappropriate thought out of her mind when she wondered if Lauren would mind too much if she were to lick that bead. "What the Fuck!"

Bo looked behind her as quickly as she could. "What? Is it Dyson?" She could not see the shape shifter and wondered what had happened. "What the hell Kenzi?"

Kenzi slowly shook her head. "I... I'm sorry Bo... I." Kenzi couldn't face her. She was embarrassed by her thoughts.

"You what?" Bo huffed, as she held onto the banister.

"There's something wrong with me." Kenzi replied, as she started panting.

"What's wrong?" Bo managed to say before another contraction hit her. Once it passed, if it hadn't been for the banister she would have taken a step or two, or ten backwards. Her normally straight best friend, her closest friend, her sister; who never pegged above a two on the attraction scale was pegging a nine. "Kenz, call Jacob right now!"

Kenzi could hear Bo's voice, how it surrounded her, she licked her suddenly parched lips as she looked at Bo like she was a bottle of Shipwrecked 1907 Heidsieck champagne.

"Damn it Kenzi, snap out of it!" Bo practically demanded. She knew that Lauren and the others had arrived, Jacob had called her not long afterwards. He had explained they were at the local Ash's estate and the trip had taken more out of Lauren than they imagined, but that she was fine.

"She's resting, that's all." he told her. "We'll be on our way shortly."

It was the only reason Bo agreed to go upstairs, she knew Lauren would be with her soon. Now she stopped in her tracks because Kenzi was looking at her like a brand new version of Robot Hookers that hadn't been opened yet.

Bo looked down at her hand when the cell phone vibrated. "Kenz... just stay right there okay? Hello?" she said as she kept her eyes on Kenzi.

"Bo... its Jacob."

"Where the hell are you!?" she shouted.

"We're on our way, what's wrong?" Jacob asked, confused and concerned by the anxiety he could hear in Bo's voice.

Bo gritted her teeth as she took a step back. "Something's wrong with Kenzi." she gasped as another contraction hit her and she bent over as her body was wracked in pain.

Jacob found it difficult to breathey. "Is it Dyson? Is he there, did he hurt her?" He would never forgive himself if something had befallen Kenzi.

"What?" Bo pulled the phone away from her ear. She shook her head. "No, he's not here, but Kenzi is pegging a nine!" she told him as if that would explain everything.

"What in the world? What do you mean by Kenzi is pegging a nine?" Jacob asked, bewildered by Bo's statement.

Lauren heart began racing in her chest when she heard Jacob's side of the conversation, she grabbed the phone from his hand. "Bo..."

Breathing a sigh of relief now that she was speaking with her girlfriend, Bo knew Lauren would be able to explain what was going on with Kenzi. "Lauren... Kenzi's looking at me like I look at you when you start talking about gradient isotope dohickeys."

Lauren gasped and began to blush.

She knew exactly what look Bo was describing.

Bo had never hidden her reactions when she began speaking of her experiments. The look she would give her was one of pure lust and Lauren would find herself sprawled across some surface, be it a wall, table, floor, couch, or more mundane, her bed as Bo made her intentions clear.

And Lauren was not above admitting to herself; when she was all alone, how she would tell Bo things simply to evoke such a passionate response from the Succubus. But now, it seems that Kenzi was looking at Bo in the same manner.

This was not good.

"Jacob, is there any reason why someone who has never been affected by Bo's proximity is now acting as if they want to devour her?"

Jacob was thrown by the question. "Are you saying that Kenzi is attracted to Bo?" he asked wanting clarification.

"Yes."

Jacob looked down for a moment, searching his memories for anything which could answer this problematic situation. "Umm, I have an idea, but it's not concrete..." he told her.

Hale looked intently at both Lauren and Jacob. 'This is interesting.' he thought. In all the time he'd know Kenzi, she had never treated Bo as anything other than a friend. She had in fact made it quite clear that Bo didn't do it for her.

"What is it?" Lauren asked.

"Well, again, this is simply conjecture..." Jacob said wanting Lauren to understand that he was in fact guessing. Without all the facts that was all he could do at the moment.

Lauren nodded her head.

"There is a group of Fae called the Mercan..."

"The Mercan? I've never heard of them." Hale interrupted.

"You probably wouldn't have. They are only a handful left that I am aware of. Their reproductive cycle is so tenuous, so fragile that the male of tribe secrete a pheromone to keep the female in a heighten state of arousal during birth..."

"What does this have to do with Kenzi?" Lauren asked, as she held tight as the car took a sharp turn. "Or Bo for that matter? She's not a Mercan!"

"I said, this is conjecture. We don't have nearly enough information on how Succubi have offspring. I could be very wrong about this. I just don't know." he answered sharply.

'You're right, I'm sorry Jacob." Lauren told him. He had ever right to be mad, they were asking him for answers as if he knew everything. It couldn't be helped that he sometimes did know the answers.

"Getting back to the Mercan." Jacob sighed. "The pheromones keep the mates close by during the birthing process." he explained.

"Are you telling me the guys give birth?" Hale asked as he gulped.

"Yes, its not all that unusual. Look at the seahorse for example." Jacob nodded.

"That's an animal." Hale clarified.

"There are many species of Fae that we have no idea how they reproduce. The ones we do know of just happen to follow the same path as humans." he told Hale. Jacob noticed Lauren nodding in agreement. "The females impregnate their mates and take on the protective role during the pregnancy. By excreting the pheromones it insures the safety of the father and the child. The mother will not leave and will protect the family with her life if needed."

"What does this have to do with Kenzi?" Bo asked as she listened in on the conversation.

"It's quite possible that you are doing the same..."

"But Kenzi isn't my..."

"It does not matter – not at this point in time. She is the closest one there." Jacob told her.

"Great." Bo sighed, as she shook her head. Could this get any worse? "What's going to happen when you guys finally get here? If Kenzi is in protection mode how are you going to get past her?" Bo's question was answered by silence. "Hello? Anyone still there?"

"I don't know." Jacob acknowledged.

"What do you mean you don't know?" Lauren asked, fear creeping into her voice.

"I'm not sure, I've never heard of this happening. This is all brand new to me as well." Jacob replied frustrated by his lack of knowledge.

"This isn't helping me." Bo gasped as another contraction hit her.

"This may be highly unusual, but it's a good thing." Jacob told her.

"How is this a good thing?" Bo grunted as she took a step up.

"Kenzi will not let anything happen to either you or the baby."

"I already know that." Bo answered as she took a deep breath and climbed the last step all the while keeping an eye on Kenzi who hadn't taken her eyes of her during the conversation. Bo was relieved to see she had made it to the top of the stairs. Now if she could only make it to the bedroom.

Kenzi followed her quietly.

"Let her help you Bo, she doesn't have a choice in the matter." Jacob told her.

"Great! Why didn't this come up before!" Bo gritted her teeth against the pain she was feeling.

"Bo, sweetheart, there are so many things we never thought about." Lauren interjected.

"BoBo, I don't want to hurt you – I'd die first." Kenzi said quietly as she slowly approached her.

Bo shook her head. "I'm so sorry Kenzi." she apologized before reaching out and pulling Kenzi towards her and pulsing her. She felt tears running down her cheeks as Kenzi moaned and held her tighter until she collapsed in her arms.

"Bo! What's going on!" Lauren yelled. She could hear Kenzi's fevered moans and could not help but feel possessive and a little put out. She should be there. She would risk her life to save Bo's and the baby's. It was her responsibility and at each turn someone or something had taken it from her.

Bo tucked the phone in her bra as she slowly laid Kenzi to the floor. She would not let Kenzi feel used, she couldn't. Of course it meant she was on her own until everyone got here, but it was a risk she was willing to take for Kenzi's peace of mind.

Bo may not have control of certain body functions, but she was damned if she would cause Kenzi any pain. She pulled the phone from her shirt – taking one last glance in Kenzi's direction and moved albeit slowly into the bedroom.

"Bo answer me!"

"Stop yelling!" Bo retorted as she gingerly got onto the bed. "I had to pulse Kenzi alright!"

"What to you mean, you had to?"

"I couldn't do it to her Lauren. I couldn't use her." Bo gasped as the enormity of what she'd had done to her best friend washed over her again.

"Where's Kenzi now?" Hale asked, having sat by relatively quietly while listening to the conversation.

"She... she's on the landing at the top of the stairs."

"What is she doing there?" Jacob jumped in.

Bo's smile was bittersweet. "Oh, she's sleeping off the best... she's sleeping."

"Sweetheart..." Lauren called out over the phone, trying to get her attention. "Bo, what are you wearing?" Lauren ignored the looks both Hale and Jacob gave her.

Bo pulled the cell phone away from her face and looked at it. "Umm... Lauren? I don't think this is the time for a little... you know."

Lauren rolled her eyes. "If you're wearing pants, you'll need to take them off, for the baby."

Bo felt herself blush, which was remarkable as she rarely did. "Oh... yeah. Okay, hold on." Bo placed the phone down and kicked off her shoes. 'That's my Lauren, ever practical.' she thought.

Bo could just imagine the conversation she would have had with Kenzi right now.

"Kenz, I need your help."

"What do you need Succumom?"

"Help me take off my pants."

"You want me to what?" she squeaked.

"My pants help me take them off."

"BoBo, you know I love you, but I don't..."

"It's for the baby for crying out loud! And it wouldn't be the first time you taken them off."

"You were drunk and someone puked all over them."

Bo smiled bitter-sweetly at the imagined conversation. "God I'm sorry Kenz."

Dyson approached the villa – his muzzle sniffing the air, his hackles bared themselves, there was a change coming from inside. He padded over as quietly as he could, it had taken him longer that he thought.

He was sure there would have been some sort of commotion had they seen him approaching, yet there was no indication that either of the women knew how close he was. Had something happened? He would have cared once before, now it could only be to his advantage.

He ran from the closet fir tree to the winding porch that circled the villa, he was panting around the bag he still carried in his mouth.

Again his raised his muzzle and smelled the air. There was definitely something different, he quickly went around, stopping at various intervals. He cocked his head when he heard muffled voices coming from inside.

If wolves could smile, he would be grinning from ear to ear.

'Fools.' he thought. He backtracked to the shed he had seen earlier. It seemed as good enough of a place to revert back to human form.

He glanced around once more prior to dropping his bag and beginning his transformation. He tried to keep the groans and occasional whimper to a minimum. Dyson stretched and shook his arms and legs as he stood up.

He hated how everything seemed duller to his senses. The breeze made him shiver, he quickly opened the bag and took out a t-shirt, sliding it over his head before reaching in and taking out a pair of shorts and putting them on.

He reached in once more and pulled out his hunting knife, he twisted from side to side, enjoying the way the sun reflected off its surface.

Taking a deep breath, he picked up the bag and placed it at the side of the door. He reached up and took the amulet and tucked it under the shirt. No need to announce that he was wearing it.

He settled himself.

He was moments away from his destiny.

He opened the door to the shed and slipped out. He jogged over to the front door, he reached out and turned the knob, it opened with a slight click.

Dyson could feel his heart racing, the thrill of the hunt was coursing through his veins. He stepped inside and quietly shut the door behind him.

The knife twirled in his hand as he cautiously made his way in.

AUTHOR'S NOTES:

Which I apparently forgot to write.

I know, its been a VERY long time since I've updated the story. This chapter should have been up a while now, but as Kravyn may have noticed I've added some content to it. I am not happy with this chapter, at all.

I had stopped writing because I wasn't happy with it. You should have seen what I did. I actually had written myself into a bind. I completely forgot what I had written and when I went to type it out I realized, I had written two different versions of the entire, "Lets get Bo upstairs," section.

Ask Kravyn, I sent two files, one with the story as is, the other with the corrections, which is what you'll find here. I have read what should have been the last chapter plus epilogue and seen I've done it again. Not, that I've written the same scene differently, but I may not be able to use much of it because of what I've written here.

This is what I get for stretching my wing, so to speak.

I have not given up on the story.

It's taken far too much out of me to let it linger and gather dust.

Please bare with me and thank you for all the comments you've left.