Aife and Mason.
"Well that was fun". Aife laughed licking her lips.
"Stupid bastard. What did he really expect to accomplish coming here? Mason laughed as he pulled the man's body from the Dal Riata's chimney.
"I had thrown him out a few times already. I also told them that as long as Lauren was out of town, I would be in control of her clinic. He didn't like being fired over a simple procedure I guess". Aife laughed.
"I put more people over there. They are watching who comes and goes. Patients are being screened just to make sure they are wounded or really are needing to be seen". Mason replied as he pointed to another guard to get the man out of there and disposed of properly. There had also been a lot of homeless people sleeping outside of Lauren's clinic. He made sure they were fed and told not to sleep there again.
"Who the fuck climbs down a chimney when it's clearly lit? Did he not see the smoke? Aife laughed.
"He just wanted revenge. How many times did you need to tell him why you fired him? Lauren's resume alone shows she knows how to pick competent Doctors. I doubt she will be upset that you fired him". Mason replied as he washed his hands.
"I already replaced him". Aife said.
"That quickly? Mason asked as he turned to face the Succubus.
"Yes that quickly. I found the best Doctor in the area. Had to pull one from one of the hospitals, but he foamed at the mouth when I told him, he would be working for Dr. Lauren Lewis". Aife laughed.
"Aife you didn't...? Mason asked.
"No nothing like that. I just talked to this one". The Succubus laughed.
Mason shook his head and poured the Succubus a drink.
"How is Sam Dennis? Aife asked.
"He's doing really good. Not too many problems. He's been given a huge house, and his every need is met around the clock". Mason answered.
"You are not hooking him up with prostitutes are you? Aife asked.
"No ma'am. He picks his companions". Mason answered.
"And Mary Dennis? Aife asked as she downed her shot.
"Still homeless. As you requested, she is not getting any help at all. She's sleeping in an abandoned warehouse most nights and fresh mice are put in on a daily basis". Mason explained.
"That bitch is lucky that I allowed her to live. I will never forget the shit she put Isabeau through". Aife said angrily.
"I see you're talking about Mary Dennis". Lou Ann said as she walked in.
"Yes. I was just filling Aife in on Sam and Mary". Mason said moving from behind the bar.
"Sam's about to have lunch with a bunch of friends and Mary is holed up in the warehouse". Lou Ann said.
"Are these friends he knows? Aife asked.
"From what Martin tells me, they all grew up together and are meeting like a class reunion". Lou Ann replied as she took a seat.
"Good. I was making sure that no Fae had found him and is plotting to hurt him". Aife said.
"We are constantly on the lookout for threats. The Fae can't be that stupid and fuck with him or his security detail". Mason said.
"What about his house? Is it up to standards? More importantly, is it up to my standards? Aife asked.
"Three stories. He has a pool, Jacuzzi, gamerooms, a large garage. He even bought a few new trucks. He's well off Aife". Mason answered pouring Lou Ann a shot.
"He better be. I will be asking when you least expect it, slack off once, and it will be his security's asses, and then yours". The Succubus said seriously.
"Yes ma'am". Mason and Lou Ann said.
"Good. Now open for business. I am going downstairs for a bit". Aife said.
Mason nodded and Lou Ann finished her drink. Aife looked so serious that they knew not to press her now about anything. She was probably missing Bo, but would never say it. Not even to them.
Lou Ann felt it a little more. Aife was crying so much when she handed Bo to her to find a human family to take care of her. But she never spoke of that to anyone. She was Aife's baby. Going off to strangers and now that she was grown, Aife was trying to make up for those lost years. Even though it was for the best, it still stung the powerful Succubus. A weakness only Lou Ann knew she had.
"Lets get busy". Lou Ann said unlocking the doors, and welcomed their first group of customers in.
Bo and Lauren
The Succubus rolled over and found herself alone. She stretched her arms out and looked around the massive room. Lauren was nowhere to be seen. She gently groaned and rose up in the bed. Looking out, she could tell the day was going to be a beautiful one. She stood up and pulled on a robe before walking down the small staircase leading to the sitting area and kitchen. When she passed the small patio, she doubled back.
There stood Lauren, or she should say there was Lauren stretching. Her hair was in a ponytail. She was wearing a white tank top and matching shorts. When she jumped up in a split formation, Bo's eyes momentarily flashed blue. Shaking her head, she refocused on the Doctor.
She turned away and walked to get some coffee but hurried so she wouldn't miss the rest of Lauren's workout. She smiled thinking of the workout they gave each other all night long. Lauren was clearly in better shape than Bo and it was embarrassing because the Doctor was already up and able to move. Bo was stumbling a bit, but she loved it. She had never pushed her body as much as she had last night.
She wasn't dumb though. She knew it probably meant more to her than it did to Lauren. Even though they matched each other sexually, mentally there was still a distance between them. She didn't feel used. She felt like she had for a long time, like she was going to lose Lauren for one reason or another. Like the night Lauren asked for a break, there was still something off between them, and Bo needed to rally quickly before it got that far again.
"Good morning". Lauren said walking up behind Bo.
"Good Morning". Bo said clearing her throat.
"That smells good". Lauren said as she pulled an empty cup from the cupboard.
Bo nodded and took a seat as she watched Lauren work around the kitchen. The Doctor grabbed some bagels, cream cheese and some cream for her coffee.
"I didn't know you were up already". Bo said quietly.
"I had been up for hours, and when I saw the sun come up, I put on my tank top and shorts and went to stretch". Lauren said sitting at the small table across from Bo.
"I'm sorry". Bo said softly.
"For what? Lauren asked.
"I just get the feeling that I need to apologize for something, for everything. I don't know". Bo sighed softly taking a sip of water to try and calm her nerves.
"Is this about yesterday? Lauren asked taking a small bite of her bagel.
"Yesterday. Last night. Early this morning". Bo said looking everywhere but at Lauren or in her direction. Lauren set her cup down and thought for a moment. Bo did look lost like they were strangers.
"Bo last night happened because I wanted it to happen. Now I am not saying everything is brand new or the bumps in our road are gone, but if you didn't want it to happen, then you could have said something". Lauren said taking another bite of her bagel.
"I am fine with it, I just wasn't expecting it to happen like that". Bo said.
"Like what? Me in control for most of it? Lauren asked staring directly at the Succubus.
Bo bowed her head "Yes".
"Why are you here Bo? Lauren asked.
"Wait. What? Bo asked raising her head back up.
"Why are you here? Lauren asked again.
"What does that even mean Lauren? Bo asked.
"It means you don't have to always be in control of our sex life. If that's what you want then you may as well leave right now. But if you do, know that I will not follow you. I will not set any plans in motion to protect you. I thought we were going to spend this time getting to know each other again, and the one thing I have just learned from you, is that you want to be the dominant one". Lauren explained heatedly.
A light bulb went off deep inside of Lauren, and she stood up and moved away from the table.
"I get it now. You saw a weak little human to protect. Was I weak that first night? Was I weak with Nadia? Was I weak with Taft? Was I weak staying with Evony? Lauren snapped.
"Lauren that is not what this is about". Bo said turning around to stand up.
"Don't lie to me Bo. I can read you aura too, or have you forgotten? Lauren asked as the women stared at each other from opposite sides of the room.
"I just don't know what we are Lauren". Bo said softly.
"You mean you don't know if you still have to protect the weak human anymore. I was never weak. I took care of myself long before you came along, and if you are about to say I wasn't strong with Nadia, fuck you because it took a lot of will power not to leave her to the Fae to kill". Lauren snapped angrily.
"Lauren! Bo said.
"What do you want to sleep together again, so you can feel better? That's how we worked for you right? That's what made you happy even when I wasn't". Lauren said.
"Lauren can you sit with me? Please". Bo said pointing to a large couch.
"No. I'd rather stand". Lauren said.
"I love you Lauren. I do. I never once said you were weak nor did I imply it. I did say you are the strongest person I ever met, in case you have forgotten that. I just meant that I don't know where our relationship is. There was nothing sinister behind it". Bo said softly stepping towards the Doctor. Lauren took a few steps backwards.
The women stood quietly looking at each other. Lauren wasn't saying anything just studying what she could see in Bo. Not her aura. Not her head. Her heart.
"I need to shower". Lauren said as she turned to leave.
"We are not done talking about this Lauren". Bo said as the Doctor closed the bathroom door.
Bo shook her head and turned around and started to clean up the small mess in the kitchen. In a matter of seconds she had pissed Lauren off. It wasn't her intention. Her impatience about them surfaced and she handled it poorly.
She scrubbed a spot on the counter that wasn't even dirty in anger. She should have just accepted last night for what was offered and returned. Yes they needed to talk about this again because she definitely didn't want to leave or make Lauren feel like she wanted to be elsewhere. They were barely a week into their trip and already had a disagreement. Bo thought they would disagree on what to eat or what to watch on TV, not them.
Taking a deep breath, she went into the bathroom. Gently opening the door, and paranoid about peeping toms, she closed it behind her.
She turned her back to the shower, knowing if she saw even a slither of Lauren naked, it would arouse her Succubus and she needed to be Bo at the moment since it was Bo who screwed up earlier.
"Lauren I'm sorry. I just want us to be more than we are and my impatience got in the way". Bo said loudly over the shower water.
The Succubus stood there for almost five minutes of silence. Lauren hadn't responded at all. Not a single word. The water hadn't splashed in one way or another. Bo finally turned around, and the sight shocked her, Lauren was gone. She sighed, turned off the water, and left the bathroom.
Shaking her head, she wanted to scream. She wasn't even sure Lauren had heard her apology. The room was so steamy she couldn't be positive Lauren had been there at all.
She jumped when she heard the main door to their suite suddenly open. The blonde Doctor walked in with her hair wrapped in a towel and her body in a robe and slippers.
"What the hell Lauren? I thought you were in the bathroom". Bo snapped.
"I was and then realized I needed a blow dryer". Lauren said holding the object up for Bo to see.
"I was in there talking to you and I thought you were in there as well. But then you didn't respond at all'. Bo said.
"So talk". Lauren said removing the towel from her head.
When she noticed Lauren about to plug the blow dryer in, she rushed to speak. "I said I want us to be more than we are and my impatience got in the way, and for that I'm sorry". Bo said.
"Ok". Lauren said flicking the power on the blow dryer on and turned to look out the window as she ran a comb through her hair.
Bo rolled her eyes and went to shower. This is how they had been for years. Noncommunicative. Or one, namely Bo would walk off not wanting to talk at all. Or when she heard something she didn't like, she practically ran off or tried to get Lauren to. Like that moment when they were talking about Rainer. She pushed so the Doctor would walk off. She wanted Lauren to hurt like she had been hurting without her. The small smile Bo gave to Rainer, all of it.
And for what? A Revenant. A fraud. Someone new that Bo thought could take away old pains. The pain from Lauren leaving her. The pain of her mother dead, or so she thought. The pain of Trick lying to her over and over again. Kenzi kissing Dyson knowing how Bo felt about him. Dyson lying about not knowing where Lauren was, until she made him go find her. Then finding her at Evony's party, only to watch her stay, and not return with Bo like she should have.
The Succubus violently washed her hair in frustration. There was nobody but them now. Nobody calling them to work on a case. Nobody calling them to come for drinks at the Dal. Nobody but them on this trip. If she couldn't fix Lauren's anger, the Doctor might find another lover to hide her own pain, if she had any.
Once she was done washing, she quickly dressed and walked out to find Lauren. This time wasn't as dramatic as the last time, the Doctor was sitting on the couch with her feet up reading the local newspaper. "The blow dryer's over there". She said pointing across the room.
"Thank you". Bo said as she hurried to blow dry her hair enough so that the rest of it would air dry. She watched Lauren the whole time. The woman was focused solely on the newspaper and never once looked in Bo's direction. Patting her hair down, Bo was satisfied that it was dry enough and set the blow dryer down to cool off.
Bo walked over to Lauren and took a deep breath before she spoke. "Why did you stay with Evony?
Lauren set the newspaper down, she was done reading it, and laughed heartily.
"Is this funny? Bo asked.
"Yes it is funny. Evony seems to be a big problem for you, long after she's dead". Lauren said neatly folding the newspaper.
"Well you never explained that. You never explained why she was better suited to protect you, than I was". Bo said staring at Lauren, hard.
"You had manly men to go back home to. Men that would protect the big bad Succubus from the likes of lil ole human me". Lauren responded.
"Answer my question Lauren! Bo screamed.
"I did answer your question, and as usual, you don't like my answer. But I will explain it so you can understand. You had a wolf that would do anything to protect you, but even he was captured by the very people that were after me. You had Rainer after you were done with Dyson. There was no need to protect you any further because Rainer had foresight, and could protect you against Evony's threat. Even as a Revenant, he had those powers. When I left you at the clubhouse, and told Evony of my plans to make her human, I was going to leave for good. My life as I knew it was over. Nadia was gone, there was nothing holding me back with the Fae anymore. You had Rainer and I finally had clear cut freedom. The only problem was I still loved you. No matter how many times, you left me for those men, cases, or Kenzi, I loved you. When Hades infiltrated me, I almost begged him to remove those feelings, but I didn't, and he didn't". Lauren explained never taking her eyes off of Bo. As usual the Succubus stood stunned. Either she didn't like the answer or didn't know how to respond.
Bo took a seat in the nearest chair, but far from the couch where Lauren sat. Lauren was going to leave her. And after what she had witnessed at Hecuba, the Doctor could make it so that she was never found again.
"I know you don't like that answer, but you asked me". Lauren said quietly.
"It's fine. Now I know. I just didn't ever think you were going to leave for good". Bo said swallowing hard at the thought.
"What did you think I was going to do Bo? Wait for you to tire of Rainer? Go back to Dyson for the millionth time? I was a human, I didn't have time to gamble with life anymore like you did". Lauren said.
"Lauren". Bo whispered.
"I know. I know you're sorry about earlier Bo". Lauren said gently waving off whatever Bo was about to say.
"I just wasn't thinking about that Lauren. I wasn't thinking that you wouldn't always be around. And about earlier I'm sorry that I wasn't clear. I never thought of you as weak when it comes to that, and no I don't prefer to be the dominant one, I just wanted us to finally be a couple again. For it to mean as much to you as it did to me". Bo explained.
"It did mean a lot to me Bo. But I am not rushing into any type of marriage vow. We both need to be sure about this, or nothing we saw in the future will stick". Lauren said.
Bo raised an eyebrow. Lauren had her there. They could have a happily ever after, but if they weren't sure, it would hurt them and their family in the long run.
"I'm sure, and I am more than willing to make sure, that you are sure about this too". Bo said looking back at Lauren.
The Doctor nodded and stood up. She walked over to the window and looked out. She was already tiring of the Bahamas. But didn't want to spoil the rest of this leg of their trip for Bo.
"Are you ready to see Egypt for a third time? Bo asked from across the room.
"You remember that? Lauren asked.
"Of course I do. Besides, I think it will do the both of us good to get out of here. That beach will never be the same again to me". Bo blushed, now standing side by side with Lauren.
Lauren smiled.
"I guess we better p...". Bo started and heard noises behind them.
"Done". Lauren said taking one last look out of the window.
"Can we at least travel normally? Bo asked as she started to grab some of their bags.
"Ok". Lauren said as she picked up the rest of the bags. They made it to some luggage dollies and put their bags on them. Bo pulled them while Lauren went to check them out.
They climbed into the waiting car and waited for their bags to be loaded into the trunk. Lauren pulled out her cell phone and called to check them into their next hotel. There was one she had visited once and loved it.
"Where are we staying this time? Bo asked gently grabbing one of Lauren's hands.
"A royal suite at the Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh". Lauren answered.
"Bless you". Bo said.
"I didn't sneeze, it's a hotel Bo". Lauren laughed.
"I know. I was only teasing you". Bo smiled.
Lauren cleared her throat, and nodded.
"Hey are you ok? We don't have to go to Egypt". Bo said seriously.
"It's fine. I probably need to go back". Lauren said.
"Lauren? Bo asked.
The Doctor shook her head and closed her eyes.
"Hey. It's ok. You know you can tell me anything". Bo said softly rubbing Lauren's hand.
"My last day in Afghanistan, my convoy was rolling out to treat some deeply wounded soldiers. The Humvee I was riding in was bombed. It flipped over six times before it finally stopped. I was severely wounded and had to be airlifted to Egypt, since it had the only running hospital available to us. The Doctors there did everything they could with that they had to treat us. The worst of my wounds was a broken arm, leg and fractured back. Although I survived, a lot of people in my convoy didn't. Soldiers and innocent lives were lost. I had never gone back there until now". Lauren explained.
"We don't have to go, if you don't want to". Bo said tearfully pulling Lauren close to her. The Doctor allowed it and rested her head on Bo's shoulder.
"Yes we do. Or I do. I have to heal from this, and the only way that starts is to go back, and face that part of my past. Now that I am free from the Fae, this is a big chance and time to do that". Lauren replied as Bo constantly squeezed her upper body.
"When it becomes too hard, just think of it as us making new memories". Bo whispered. She wasn't sure what was going to happen to Lauren's mental status. But she needed to focus on the woman in her arms, more than anything she felt about them. Lauren needed her. All of her.
"I can't promise it will be like the Bahamas". Lauren whispered.
"Forget about that Lauren. This is about you. Not me. Not us. You". Bo said rubbing Lauren's back.
Lauren kissed Bo's hand and snuggled closer to her.
"Sleep. I will wake you when it's time to board our plane". Bo said, and sighed gently when the blonde nodded against her shoulder.
Bo lied. Once they reached the runway, Lauren was in deep sleep. The Succubus picked her up and carried her on the airplane. She strapped Lauren in and nodded for the airplane to take off. She sat next to Lauren and watched her. The Doctor tossed and turned as much as the seatbelt and the seat would allow. Bo could do nothing but pulse the woman and hope it worked.
Once they landed Bo carried Lauren off of the plane. The Doctor cringed as she shifted in Bo's arms, but the Succubus never loosened her grip. Bo stood holding Lauren until she saw a man holding a sign that read Dr. Lauren Lewis. She nodded for the ground crew to follow her with her bags and they loaded up into the car Lauren had rented.
After they reached their hotel. Bo finally woke Lauren up.
"Babe we're here". Bo said softly kissing Lauren on her forehead.
Lauren wiped her eyes and waited as she fully came to. Once she felt awake, she nodded and Bo nodded for the driver to open her door.
Bo checked them in, as Lauren stood behind her. She smiled at the clerk and turned to the Doctor. The women held hands as they were escorted to a small cart and driven to their suite. Bo tipped the driver as Lauren opened the main door.
Lauren walked in as Bo watched their bags being brought in. Once every bag was accounted for, Bo locked the door, and turned to look for Lauren. She found the Doctor in bed, fully clothed. She smiled gently, pulled Lauren's clothes off, leaving her in her bra and panties. Bo dressed down to her own and crawled into bed.
She didn't know how long they were going to be there, but knew all of her was going to be there for Lauren. Every step of the way. Closing her eyes, she pulled the Doctor to her and waited for Lauren to adjust to her body against hers. The Succubus stared straight up until she too fell asleep.
TBC