"What are you doing here?." Lauren asked.
"You almost had me, Lauren. I was ready to go out and do what you asked of me. Then it hit me. It shouldn't matter where I live if we are going to start over. If you need me, I will be in my room unpacking for one more night." Bo replied as she walked inside and past the doctor.
Lauren's mouth hung open as she watched her go. "Goodnight." Bo said over her shoulder as she closed the bedroom door behind her.
The blonde walked to her bedroom, closed the door and took a seat on the bed. Bo is right. She came across as uppity insisting the succubus find a better place to live. That has never bothered her before. Why should it bother her now? She pulled her clothes off and readied to shower.
The next morning.
"Coffee's ready and breakfast is over there." Bo pointed from the dining room table as she ate her breakfast.
"Wow, you really made yourself at home." Lauren noted.
"I did. But I know this is not my home." Bo replied as she took another bite.
"Bo.." Lauren sighed.
"Eat first, Lauren. Then we can talk." Bo spoke softly as she was near finished with her food. She wiped her mouth and pushed her plate forward. Taking a deep breath. She looked around the room. The tv was on low volume and there was some kind of science show on. She settled in to watch it and wait for Lauren to finish.
"Bo, I do owe you an apology. I didn't mean to come off as rude and uppity. I just thought if we are going to date, we should start fresh. Fresh where we live and fresh where we go. Actually date and not immediately move in with each other. You don't know me and I don't know you. A lot has changed since we slept together. We need that time to ourselves to see if this is even worth pursuing, again." Lauren stared into deep dark eyes. If Bo was thinking something, her face wasn't showing it.
"I accept your apology. You are right. We do need to do things differently. Your walls need to come down like mine do, Lauren. Or we won't be anything other than friends. I was ready to ask you to be in a relationship again. After I had a talk with Tamsin, I was going to ask you to be in a relationship again. She was under the assumption that we were a couple since we slept together. That was never going to happen because all I want is you. I tried to do what you said last night but I wasn't even gone out of the parking lot before I had to laugh and come back here. You don't love me because of where I live. I don't love you because of where you live. We love each other because we are Bo and Lauren. Nothing else outside of us matters. No Dyson. No Kenzi. No Tamsin." Bo leaned back in her seat and stood when Lauren did. "I'll wash these." She spoke as she took Lauren's plate from her. The doctor nodded and walked to sit in the living area. "I just turned the tv on, you can change the channel, if you want." Bo spoke from the kitchen.
"This is fine. Thank you and thanks for breakfast." Lauren smiled as she drank her juice. She was trying to cut down on drinking coffee. She had never been too fond of the stuff to begin with.
Trick
Trick shook his head. Lauren almost dying set off chaos in the colony. Bo going in to save her. Getting Aife to help save Bo. It is almost funny really. Given what the Fae had done to Lauren her life is the most important amongst all of them. Bo's succubus is more vicious than Trick has ever seen any succubus be. "Where have you been? You haven't been harassing my daughter have you?."
"I was but then she disappeared. If you are not going to be concerned about what she could and can be doing, I won't be either. Besides, have you heard from Bo or Lauren?." Dyson took a seat at the far end of the bar.
"I haven't heard a word which means they are probably together." Trick sighed. This time it was far more damaging than what the Lich wanted to do to the doctor. "We just need to focus on other things, for the time being".
"Where's Tamsin?." Dyson asked.
"I don't know. I assumed she was with you and you two were working a case. Anything besides trying to upset Aife." Trick grabbed some glasses to polish. It gives him something to do besides worry what Aife could be or is bombing.
"I should go and find her. We could get a case to work on from the squad." Dyson stood and finished his drink.
"Do that. Do that. But stay away from Aife." Trick yelled as the wolf walked towards the doors. The old barkeep sighed in relief. The bar is his again. The peace and quiet is nice. He only hopes it holds in the streets too.
Aife.
"With Isabeau's permission, I am going to run this freaking colony." The old succubus smiled into her drink. No longer was she strapped to a bed. No longer did she have to care about anything other than her daughter. She looked around the raunchy bar and smiled at the next man that walked in. "Time to feed."
Bo.
"The dishes are done. I will see you later." Bo waved bye and walked out. Lauren noticed she didn't take any bags or her jacket with her. She must be coming back.
Bo pulled her phone out and drove away. Fresh. That word is stuck in her mind. Everything she does needs to emulate that word. Which is why she suddenly left Lauren's. She drove a good distance and jumped out. "I am glad you are all here. Don't say a word because I am going to say everything that needs to be said and there won't be any argument afterwards. Since we and most of the Fae by now know who my father was, I make the rules. The divide is over. Fae will remain Fae. Nobody will be forced to choose because your only loyalty will be to me and Lauren. No fighting. No killing. No bombing anyone. Trick, I know what you are and your blood laws aren't to be re-enacted either. Now, that's all I came to say." She walked out before Trick, Aife, Tamsin or Dyson could say anything and she knew they would.
"Well, damn, she is just doing what I did when I bombed the Ash, blowing up the Fae and we are all free to do whatever the fuck we want to do, but no killing. Damn. Ah, well. There's ways to fuck up without actually fucking with people." Aife laughed as she downed her drink and threw the glass at Trick.
"Kenzi, Kenzi, you left for a good reason. There is no need for you to have to come back here. Lauren's fine and I'm fine." Bo spoke as she drove.
"Are you sure the doc's alright? You know, Lauren. She could be sick as hell and wouldn't tell us." Kenzi replied.
"You do have a point there. As far as I know, she's fine. I will certainly be asking her about that." Bo smiled at Kenzi's concern. A long time ago, that Kenzi wouldn't have cared this much about the doctor. But now that she does, it's nice to see. When they hung up, Bo thought about what Kenzi had said. Lauren could be ill and they wouldn't know. It has never been lost on the succubus that the doctor is a human. A ballsy one, but still human. She drove on and looked out at everything as she drove.
Lauren
The doctor sat with her arms behind her head as she played with her hair. She blew out a breath and looked towards the tv. This show isn't keeping her occupied enough. Which is probably why she rarely watches anything. There are no patients to treat. No body to examine to determine why they died. In short, she's not being a scientist.
She grabbed the remote and turned it off. Standing, she walked over to pull the curtains open and looked out. It wasn't noon yet, but it was close to it. Go back to the clinic? Build her own? Join one that is already up and running? Teach at a local school? Go out on speaking engagements? Human or Fae, her knowledge is far more expanded than it used to be when she was graduating from med school.
She blew a breath and walked to get a drink of water. Closing her eyes, she thought of the scent the room still held, Bo's. For all of everything that is wrong in their relationship, there is a lot of right. She wanted Bo to really choose and by everything that's surrounding her, she has. Her sheath and blade sat on the coffee table. It's like a doctor and their stethoscope. Don't leave home without it. Bo no longer needs it to fight. She never really has. The blonde took a seat on the couch and stared at it a little longer. Bo's best fights have always come from her heart. So, why can't the doctor trust that this one is too? She closed her eyes and sat back.
For over five years, the doctor had to pretend she didn't know how to love. The Ash knew she did and could. He used that to his advantage. She wore her love for Nadia on her lab coat sleeves and her arms underneath it. Every Fae she treated was a step to finding the cure. Every order followed was on his menu. Then, she learned who really cursed Nadia. That was enough to send her running, and she almost ran for good. But her heart was in the young succubus that just showed up out of nowhere in the world she never saw coming. She jumped when she heard a noise. "Ready for lunch?." Bo walked in with bags of takeout. I didn't know what you were in the mood for, so I bought a few choices."
Lauren waited on the couch for a second longer and then went to help plate the food. The food she wanted that is. "This looks really good. Thanks, Bo." She smiled as she took her plate to the dining table and took her seat.
"You don't need to thank me. I know you, you won't eat unless someone watches you eat. But I'm a little hungry, too. So, it's time we both ate something else." Bo smiled as she took the same seat she had before.
The women ate in mostly silence until Bo spoke. "Kenzi said hello. She was ready to come back here, but I told her there was no need for that. I went to the Dal before that and told everyone that the divide is over. I am sure the Elders won't like it, but they are no longer in a position to question me or my rules. Everyone knows who I am and that will be our protection. That extends to Kenzi as well."
Lauren raised her eyebrows and lowered them. Bo had done a lot in such a short amount of time. The question about what the Elders would think had already been answered. This is a new Bo, one Lauren doesn't know yet but still, Bo. "I don't know what you want me to say, Bo. I am still on last night's decision. We can date, but not live together."
"I didn't say I was moving in. I did say last night was one more night's sleep. It's not evening yet, so this is just our lunch time, Lauren. You don't have to say anything. You don't have to commit your life to me or promise anything. We can go about this as slowly as you would like to go. There is nothing you need to fear either. I left them with a strong message. You are off limits. That's one big rule. No disrespect. None of that." Bo went back to eating. She looked at the clock to note the time and continued on with her meal.
Lauren ate her fill and topped it off with a drink of juice. "Make sure that you get a good night's sleep for tomorrow, you have a doctor's appointment." Bo stood and took the trash to the trash. Washed up and grabbed her things. She left the sheath on the table and left Lauren with her stunned face.
"Wow". Lauren said to herself. Took another shower and settled on the couch to really watch something, anything that she can find to watch.
Bo
The succubus was on her game and needed to stay on it to find somewhere nicer to stay. She drove around a few neighborhoods before finally stopping to ask about one specific house. Kenzi was long gone. Nothing was living in the old shack but her. So, she is looking for herself, not because Lauren suggested it.
She walked in and looked around. It's nice and just big enough for her to do what she wants to do. Once she met with the realtor, she made her choice and that house was it. She found a small couch and settled in. She can shop for more at a later time. She smiled at her hand. She never knew how she did what she did until she did it. It saves money.
The next afternoon.
Bo pulled up, jumped out and knocked on the door. Lauren could ignore the doorbell but persistent knocking is hard to ignore. "I'm coming, I'm coming." The blonde's head poked out of the door and Bo stood back and waited.
"I know you don't like it, but it has to be done. It needs to be done." Bo spoke as she drove them to Lauren's appointment.
"It has been some time since I had a physical but you are right. I do need one to make sure nothing was damaged by Iris." Lauren nodded.
"It wasn't easy finding a doctor, so I had Trick to find one. One that specializes in human and Fae patients, in case something weird is found." Bo sighed as they pulled to a stop. "It is not just you, Lauren. I am going to be examined, too. Although, I feel stronger than I have ever felt before. But, your health comes first." Bo parked the car and they both, nervously, climbed out of her car.
"Dr. Lewis and Ms. Dennis, welcome." A tall and slender man greeted them.
"Ahh. You know who she is, that's good." Bo held Lauren's hand and gently pushed her forward.
"I can already sense your succubus, so, I will be quick with the both of you." The doctor smiled and clapped his hands.
"Trick did good." Bo smiled and nodded towards Lauren. The blonde wasn't as nervous as she looked. She's a patient. That's rare but it is a good idea to get a fresh perspective.
Bo smiled as the curtains were closed. Good girl, Kenzi, she thought. Pointing out that Lauren can be ill and wouldn't tell them. Or could be ill not knowing, and wouldn't have anything to tell.
"Ms. Dennis? Your turn." The doctor popped out of Lauren's room and into another.
"What about her?." Bo asked.
"We put a rush on her bloodwork. Any findings will be relayed to her." The doctor smiled.
Bo frowned but entered the exam room so that Lauren wouldn't be waiting too long for the doctor to get back to her room. "Well, there is certainly nothing wrong with you, physically that is." The doctor pulled off his gloves and stood back. He knows getting Bo's blood on him could make him her thrall. Trick had warned him against it.
The women sat patiently in the lobby as they waited for Lauren's results. Bo's patience was starting to wear thin when the doctor called the blonde into the room. "Bo can come." Lauren turned.
Bo's eyes went wide and she skipped inside. "Well?."
"Trick said you aren't very patient." The doctor laughed and quickly turned serious. "Lauren's fine. Nothing out of the ordinary is wrong with her that a balanced diet won't cure. Her weight is a little low but other than that, you are in splendid health."
Bo sighed in relief and dropped her head. "After you." She said lifting it again.
"I know you were worried. Very worried." Lauren spoke softly from her seat.
"Lauren, I just had to make sure. I know you can doctor yourself, but I wanted someone other than you to tell me that you are fine." Bo looked at Lauren and back to the road in front of them. In front of them, she thought. It's a long one, too.
"I am not upset. I needed it. You needed it." Lauren fastened her seat belt. Bo nodded and fastened her own. "Where do you want me to drop you off?. Bo asked.
"Let's find a good trail and go for a walk. It's not too hot or too cold." Lauren looked around.
"That's nice!." Bo smiled as she found a spot. The women nodded and climbed out of the car. They waited for some cyclists to pass before stepping onto the trail.
"Do you want to rent some bikes?." Bo asked.
"No. Let's walk." Lauren shook her head when Bo pointed towards some bikes.
Bo nodded and dropped her hand. This is another fresh moment. It brought her back to when she first met the doctor in her lab. Everything was shiny and sophisticated. But the blonde wasn't as snobby as Bo expected someone working for the Ash to be. She was calm, nice and Lauren reminds her of that moment. Calm and doing what she wants to do. Without the necklace and Ash orders hanging over her. This time she is free to do what she wants with Bo.
"Come on, we can run now." Lauren smiled and pulled on Bo. Bo looked at her feet. She was dressed in boots but she will make the best of it and her feet have never felt lighter.
Empty lot.
"Find me this succubus, we will not stand for this or that doctor will not be standing or sitting, anywhere, at all!." An Elder screamed.
"Shit, not this again." Tamsin rolled her eyes. The succubus is coming and she needs to warn Bo why shes's coming out, this time. Bo will not answer her phone, so she needs to find her and tell her to her face.
TBC.