Sorry for the delay, I have been traveling for work and have not had the time to update. I have a few

Days off so I decided to get a chapter in before I have to travel again. I also wanted to clear a couple things up with the last chapter. First, the person who attacked Bo was the drunk woman who was all over Lauren in Chapter 6, the same woman that Bo was going to fight with. Second, a couple of reviews I read stated that the time frame from where Bo left Dyson, to the time she was attacked was too fast. So I apologize for that. Anyhow, thank you all for your encouraging words and I hope you enjoy the following chapter.

Chapter 8

Bo's Place

When they arrived at the Dal after leaving the hospital, Lauren volunteered to get Bo settled. Lauren helped Bo out of her jacket before removing her own. She folded both jackets and placed them on the plush armchair in the living room. Lauren took a moment to look around Bo and Kenzi's place. The place looked a little dark and run down, but it carried a certain charm that was definitely reflective of the best friends. The sofa was a deep dark red, plush and inviting, complete with 2 matching armchairs. There were antique cherry wood end tables that matched the coffee table. The floors were hardwood and had a rustic feel to them. There was a large Persian rug that covered the floor in front of the sofa and stopped just before the fireplace. Above the fireplace hung a huge flat screen television, Lauren guessed that it was at least a 55 inch screen.

"Welcome to our humble abode." Bo smiled as she watched Lauren take it all in.

"I like it, it feels cozy and charming." Lauren replied, smiling back at Bo.

"It's a little outdated, but its home. Kenzi nicknamed this place the clubhouse. I'm not entirely sure why. Trick and my grandmother used to live here when he first opened the Dal, before they bought a house out by the lake. They were newlyweds at the time; it was their first place together. When he took me in as a teenager he let me live here since it was closer to school then his actual house was. It was pretty bare in here until Kenzi moved in. She did most of the decorating, if you can call it that." Bo chuckled softly. "Would you like something to drink?"

"No I'm good, thank you though." Lauren stood near the sofa playing with her fingers. Bo noticed that the blonde looked nervous. She moved towards Lauren at a gingerly pace, wrapping her hand gently around her elbow.

"Are you okay?" Bo looked at Lauren with concerned eyes.

"Yeah, it's just, I need to talk to you still, but with everything that has happened I'm not sure that now is a good time."

"Lauren, if you want to do this now we can. I can't go to work for a few more days, you're off tonight as well, I think now would be good. If you want, I'll order some Chinese, open a bottle of wine, and we can talk."

Lauren smiled at Bo and nodded in agreement. "Okay, but no wine Bo, you can't mix your pain pills with alcohol and you should take a seat and relax. I can order us dinner."

Bo took a step closer to the blonde, running her hand up and down Lauren's arm slowly. "Are those doctor's orders?" Bo's flirtatious tone was not lost on the doctor.

Lauren blushed as she felt a surge of warmth radiate throughout her body. She swallowed hard. "As your doctor, I'd have to recommend against mixing alcohol with pain pills, besides I'd hate to have you fall asleep on me." Lauren smirked.

"Oh, believe me doctor you'll never have to worry about that." Bo drawled out before capturing Lauren's lips in a short sweet kiss. Bo smiled and took a step out of Lauren's personal space. "Let me grab the takeout menu so we can order."

"No, you sit, I'll grab the menu." Lauren quirked an eyebrow at the brunette, letting her know she wouldn't take no for an answer.

Bo smiled and bowed her head slightly as she made her way to the couch, sitting carefully to avoid causing additional pain to her ribs. As she got comfortable she reached for the remote turning on the TV as Lauren joined her, menu in hand. The ladies decided what they wanted and placed the order, making sure to order extra for Kenzi. When the food arrived the women made small talk as they ate their dinner and watched a program detailing the life of Queen Elizabeth. Lauren was pushing her food around the plate not really eating any longer. Bo noticed and gently placed her hand on Lauren's knee, giving it a little squeeze.

"You wanna talk about it?" Bo inquired.

"I guess now is as good a time as any." Lauren took her plate as well as Bo's and placed them on the coffee table. She turned her body to face Bo, tucking a leg underneath her as the other rested on the floor. Bo mirrored Lauren's position, placing a pillow in back of her so that she could sit up straight. Bo rested her hand on Lauren's knee, encouraging her to start. Just then Kenzi came through the door.

"Hola chicas! Y'all done playing doctor?" She said as she headed into the kitchen grabbing the Chinese food left on the counter. "Oooo! Egg Rolls!"

Bo removed her hand from Lauren's knee and shook her head as she chuckled at her best friend's ADHD moment. "Sorry, she gets overly excited when it comes to food. Did you want to hold off the conversation until later?" Bo said nodding her head towards Kenzi.

"No, I'm glad she's here, I want her to hear this too." Lauren gave Bo a small smile.

Kenzi made herself comfortable on the arm chair nearest to the couch, propping her feet up on the coffee table, as she scooped out chow mien from the takeout container. "Want me to hear what?"

Lauren looked over at Kenzi, "I want to tell you guys what brought me here."

"Well by all means Hotpants, proceed." Kenzi said with a mouthful of food.

"Well, as you both are now aware of, I am a doctor. Before coming back to Canada, I was an attending physician in the ER of Cedars Sinai hospital in Los Angeles. I also worked in a research lab that mainly focused on Alzheimer's disease," Lauren looked over at Kenzi, "which is why I knew so much on the topic the day you and I talked in the Dal."

"Shit dude, you should of heard her BoBo, the way she spit out the info, damn! I totally understand why you get all hot and bothered when she geeks out!" Kenzi stated wide-eyed.

"Kenz!" Bo admonished as she blushed. Kenzi shrugged and looked at her BFF with a 'what I say' look.

Lauren laughed lightly as she proceeded with her story. "Anyways, to the outside world I had the perfect life, I had it all. The great job, financially I was more than well off, I drove the nice car, had the great big house in Calabasas, the wonderful doting girlfriend, who happened to be a very successful detective in the narcotics division with the LAPD. I….we were the envy of everyone around us." Lauren rolled her eyes and shook her head, giving a sad chuckle. "If they only knew the truth." She took a deep breath, willing herself to continue. "Nadia and I met during my last year at Yale. At the time she was a police officer and a part time student taking classes online. She was charming and attractive; she knew all the right things to say. I fell for her rather quickly. Before Nadia I only really had one other relationship but that was in high school. My relationship with Nadia was my first 'grown-up relationship.' Everything between us was great at first, we spent every moment we could together, and when we weren't physically together we were on the phone or texting. What I saw was a loving, protective girlfriend, my friends saw her for what she really was, controlling and possessive. You know, when my friends tried to warn me, I actually accused them of being jealous of my relationship. What a fool I was. I lost all my friends, or more accurately Nadia got me to cut ties with them. She convinced me they were trying to break us up and they wanted me to be miserable like them. The night of my graduation, my only 2 remaining friends threw me a graduation party at a local pub. Nadia was working that night but promised she would stop by on her lunch break. When she arrived at the pub I was dancing with a male classmate, she approached us on the dance floor and grabbed me roughly by the arm yanking me away from him. He tried to intervene and she beat the crap out of him. We were kicked out of the pub and when we got back to my apartment she went off, accusing me of cheating on her. That night was the first time she ever hit me, she slapped me so hard it knocked me to the ground and busted my lip." Lauren swallowed hard; her tears began to cascade down her face.

Bo reached over, taking one of Lauren's hands into her own. "Lauren you don't have to continue if you don't want to." Bo's voice was laced with concern. Kenzi moved closer to Lauren, sitting on the coffee table, and placing a comforting hand on Lauren's knee.

"I need to get this out Bo. I have held onto it for far too long." Bo gave Lauren's hand a little squeeze as Lauren continued. "I should have seen the red flags, or maybe I did see them and chose to ignore them, I don't know. Everything just progressed slowly, it started with her being controlling and possessive, and then it moved into her grabbing me roughly or shoving me into a wall. By the time it escalated into her hitting me, I was already in too deep; at least that's what I told myself. After that night, she swore she would change; she blamed the stress from her job as the cause for the incident. And I gave her the benefit of the doubt and stayed. Things did get better for a while, she didn't put her hands on me, but she sure cut me down with her words. She used to tell me how ugly I was, how nobody would ever want me, how my geeky-ness was a turn off, you name it I was called it. But I stayed. She eventually earned her degree and got a job with the LAPD Narcotics unit. I thought that maybe a move to a new city would help us get back on track, so I agreed to follow her to LA. Over the next couple of years we both excelled in our work. But, needless to say the emotional and physical abuse didn't stop. We argued a lot, which always led to her physically abusing me. But I stayed. I guess I got used to it. One night after a get together at a bar with her coworkers, she was drunk as usual, and when we got home she accused me of checking out some woman and then she beat me until I passed out from the pain."

Bo took a deep breath as she tried to calm the fire that was beginning to burn in her belly. She didn't want Lauren to see that she was getting angry. She couldn't believe that this Nadia woman put her hands on Lauren, physically and emotionally hurt Lauren, her Lauren. Bo closed her eyes taking another deep breath through her nose and letting it out slowly from her mouth as Lauren recounted the events from her past.

"I had to take a couple weeks off of work to heal; I told my boss that I was in a biking accident." Lauren rolled her eyes, "that's as bad as the whole, 'I tripped and hit my face on the door knob.' But I stayed. As some sort of weird apology Nadia went out and bought that coveted house in Calabasas. She started to work longer hours to pay the mortgage, or so she told me. Around that time I discovered that she was using drugs."

"Wait, a narcotics officer that was using what she was busting people for?" Kenzi said with a look that could only be interpreted as the "WTF" look.

"Yeah, Ironic huh?" Lauren shook her head. "I eventually found out that she was cheating on me and that was the final straw. I confronted her about it and told her that I was done. That I wanted out of our relationship, I just couldn't do it anymore. She responded by beating the hell out of me. I thought she was going to kill me. She choked me until I lost consciousness. When I came to, she informed me that I was going to become a prisoner in my own home, that I would only be allowed to go to work, and if I tried to leave she would find me…..and she would kill me. When I was finally able to get to my feet I looked in the mirror and couldn't recognize my own face. I literally looked like I went 12 rounds with Mike Tyson. It was then and there that I decided to run. I plotted and planned my escape for 6 months. Once I saved enough money, with some help from my mom, I ran. For 8 years I endured the physical and the emotional abuse. For 8 years I tried to justify why she did what she did and why I stayed. For 8 years I lived in hell, a hell that I tolerated." Lauren wiped her tears, "I made a successful escape back to Quebec, back to my mom and my brother. I changed my name from Karen Beattie to Lauren Lewis so Nadia couldn't track me. I avoided working in anything that had to do with science or medicine, that would be the first place she'd look. For 6 months I was safe and comfortable. I had my family back, I was happy, happy until she somehow got a hold of my mom's phone number and called her. Informing her that she would find me and she would get me back."

"So you ran here….and that's why Trick took you in." Bo stated as she finally connected the dots. Lauren nodded her head in agreement as tears escaped her eyes. Bo reached over and gently wiped away Lauren's tears. "Lauren, I will not let anything happen to you. If she was to dare show up here, I promise you, I will handle her."

"Yeah Hotpants, We'll take her out Russian mafia style." Kenzi said patting Lauren on the knee. "Do you know if she is in Canada?"

"No, I don't know where she is. I knew she had a massive amount of contacts in the States but I still have no Idea how she managed to track down my mom's number."

"Well, we have contacts within the Toronto PD, maybe we can track her, see if she's still in LA, see if she's still trying to locate you." Bo said.

"I don't think Dyson will be helping me out anytime soon, he hates me." Lauren said defeated.

"Yeah well, don't think I'm done with that whole situation, he is still gonna hear it from me. But I wasn't talking about Dyson, I was talking about Hale. I grew up with him; he's like a brother to me, not to mention Kenzi is totally in love with him." Bo said as she smiled at a blushing Kenzi.

"I am not in love with him. I do however lurve that boy's rock hard abs!" Kenzi said as she licked her lips. Bo and Lauren laughed at Kenzi who was seemingly lost in thought. Kenzi shook her head to get rid of the mental picture she was getting of Hale shirtless. "Seriously though, he would totally help out Doc." Kenzi stood to her feet placing a hand on Lauren's shoulder. "I'll give him a call, and don't worry, Hale won't go blabbing your business to anyone, you can trust him." Kenzi gave Lauren's shoulder a little squeeze as she took steps toward the hallway leading to her bedroom. "Oh and Lauren? I'm glad you're here, and remember, you got a friend in me."

Lauren gave Kenzi a tear filled smile and a nod before mouthing the words, "thank you." Kenzi nodded in return and disappeared into her bedroom. Lauren then focused her attention back on Bo.

"Well, there you have it, my big secret is out." Lauren looked away from Bo, casting her eyes down; her lap suddenly became more interesting. "Bo, I'll understand if this is too much to deal with, I come with a lot of baggage. Most people would be running for the hills."

Bo took a deep breath and a long look at the sad blonde in front of her. "Lauren? I'm sorry but-"

"Please don't say it Bo, I get it." Lauren quickly wiped the tears that began to fall again. Who was she kidding? Why would someone as beautiful as Bo, who could have whomever she desired, ever want someone who is as damaged as her. Lauren moved to stand, but before she could do so, Bo gently grabbed her wrist stopping her.

"Lauren, look at me…..please?" Lauren slowly picked up her head and made eye contact with the most beautiful brown eyes she'd ever seen. Bo smiled taking Lauren's hand once again. "I was going to say, I'm sorry, but I'm not most people. Your story hasn't scared me away. Nothing and I mean nothing you've revealed has changed the way I feel. I know you've been through a lot, most people would have crumbled. But you, you survived. You are probably the strongest person I have ever met." Bo cupped Lauren's cheek, gently rubbing her cheekbone with her thumb while looking deep into her amber eyes. "You are also the most beautiful, kindest, smartest, caring woman I have ever had the privilege of getting to know. So please, let's try this, us."

Lauren couldn't believe what she was hearing. After everything she had just talked about, here Bo was telling her she still wanted to try with her. Lauren looked in Bo's and could tell the brunette was absolutely serious. Lauren couldn't find the words to respond, so she did the next best thing. She grabbed Bo's face and brought her in for a bruising kiss. A kiss so full of passion, so full of everything Lauren wanted to say. After a few moments the kiss became more gentle, but still passionate. When the need for air arose, Lauren slowly broke the kiss and whispered in Bo's ear.

"Ask me again, I promise I'll say yes."

Bo leaned back a bit and smiled brightly at the blonde. "Lauren, would you go out on a date with me? After I'm healed of course."

"Yes." Lauren grinned from ear to ear.

Bo chuckled lightly, "As soon as I am all better you are all mine." Bo winked at Lauren.

Lauren's smile reached her eyes as she nodded. "I look forward to it Ms. Dennis."

Bo and Lauren gazed at each other for a moment longer, neither of them able to control the goofy smile that appeared on their faces. Lauren finally broke the trance and looked at her watch.

"I better get going Bo, it's late and you need your rest."

Before Bo could respond Kenzi came out of her room, almost skipping over to the ladies. "Lauren! Great news, Hale said he's in. After I gave him a quick rundown of the sitch, he said he'd start on it right of way. He's gonna meet you at the Dal tomorrow for breakfast to get all of Nadia's 411."

"Wow! That's great, thank you, thank you both." Lauren said as she stood to her feet. "Then I really better get going if I'm going to be up early to meet Hale." She looked at Bo, "do you need anything before I go?"

"No, I'll be fine, Kenzi's here. Go get some rest."

"You too. Kenzi if you need help with anything please don't hesitate to come get me."

"Will do Doc." Kenzi said as she saluted Lauren.

Lauren smiled at her before returning her attention to Bo. "Well, goodnight. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"See you tomorrow." Bo nodded in agreement.

Lauren bent down and kissed Bo on the cheek before heading out the door. Bo stared at the door long after the blonde had exited. She kept replaying in her mind what Lauren had talked to them about. The more she thought about it the more she got angry. She was determined to keep Lauren safe and away from Nadia.

"Bodacious? You ready for bed?" Kenzi said breaking Bo out of her thoughts.

"Yeah. Kenz? Why do you think she stayed and put up with the abuse?"

Kenzi sighed heavily as she took a seat next to Bo. "I don't know? Sometimes victims of abuse get so brainwashed by their abusers they start to believe what the abuser tells them, and they stay. It's a very difficult thing to go through. But Bo, Lauren is one of the lucky ones."

"How so?" Bo looked at Kenzi curiously.

"She made it out alive. Some victims of abuse don't."

"I guess you're right. Kenz, I really like Lauren. I will do anything to make her happy, keep her safe. She deserves it."

"So do you BoBo, and I think the doc wants to do the same for you." Kenzi slapped Bo's knee as she stood to her feet. "Let's get you to bed before hotpants yells at me for not following doctor's orders."

Kenzi helped Bo change into PJ's before getting her settled into bed. Bo layed in bed for a long time thinking about Lauren and what a relationship could be like with her. Bo smiled in the dark as she thought about Lauren in a white lab coat, in nothing but a lab coat and maybe some stilettos. Bo groaned as she realized she was only turning herself on and with her healing ribs she wasn't going to be able to do anything to relieve the ache she was starting to feel in her center. Bo pushed the thoughts out of her head as she took several calming breaths. The last thought Bo had before she finally drifted off was where she would take Lauren on their first date. That day couldn't come fast enough.