The jig was up. Dyson wasn't coming back. It had been hours since she'd heard from him last. The Fae are never consistently loyal. She saw that as three of them fled the compound.
As usual she has to keep her wits about her. Taft was surely dead by now since Dyson was chasing him. That's that. She had done her last duty and helped them solve yet another case. They are probably at the Dal right now drinking, dancing, and laughing. She grabbed what little belonged to her and left out the back.
Months later.
The brunette looked at the bed behind her. Then she looked outside into the unknown darkness. Stay or go? Stay or go? She'd been in that conundrum for what feels like an eternity. Finally, she made up her mind and jumped.
Down she went into the dark. She looked back up and didn't see where she had jumped from. What the hell is going on? Has she died and not known it? She folded her arms and readied for her landing. Plump. Normally a person landing would be a thump, but she landed in a double bush. She sat up and looked around. The terrain didn't look familiar, at all. She crawled to a creek and drank some water. She wanted to dip her head inside to wash her face and hair, but the deeper water looked too gross for that.
She turned over and looked around. She still didn't see much as it was still dark out. She's going to have to wing it on instinct. Follow the water? At least it would provide her with something to drink should she get thirsty before she finds another human form. Or an animal, she gulped. She can't remember her name, but she does remember scents are lost in the water. So, she squeezed the bottom of her dress free of excess water and ran. She wasn't sure what direction she was headed in, but the water hadn't run dry yet.
An hour later, she thanked the higher beings for what she saw. A shack. Good, she thought. Shelter and hopefully, somewhere clean to rest. She smiled when the door opened easily. Someone must be home. She walked in and spoke as bold as she could given how hungry and tired she was. Not a single being responded.
She was right. The place was immaculately clean. She walked into the kitchen and opened the fridge. Healthy food. Damn it, she thought. Well, any food is better than no food. She pulled the salad out and immediately found salad dressing. She stuffed her face and wiped her mouth with a ragged kitchen towel.
She threw the container into the trash can and walked upstairs. She went through the rooms and found some towels in a closet. They didn't smell so great, but neither did she. She walked into the bathroom and found some bath wash and showered. She threw her dirty dress into the trash can and went back to the living room. She pulled the Afghan hanging over the couch over her body and laid down to sleep.
The blonde sighed as she neared her latest hideout. She has to keep moving. One more night and she will find another place to seek solace and warmth. She was on the run and can't remember why. She assumes it is because of bombs she and her brother created that killed people. Murderer, she mumbled as she opened the shack door. She wasn't in the place long before she found she had company. Company with balls given she was using the blonde's hand creation as cover.
She let the woman sleep and walked to the kitchen. Of course, of course, she'd eaten her food. She shut the cooler and walked into the bathroom. She was out of shower wash too. Damn it. But once a scientist, always a scientist. She used her skills and made soap out of the contents found under the bathroom sink. She quickly showered and found a bed in the back of the shack. The lady on the couch hadn't found that room. She sighed as she climbed in bed and closed her eyes.
The next morning.
The brunette moaned as she adjusted her sleep position. To be an old couch, the thing is so comfortable. She suddenly opened her eyes and was met with the most beautiful sight she'd ever seen.
"Good morning." The sight said.
She jumped up and pulled the Afghan tight against her body. She'd forgotten she was sleeping naked. "Who are you?".
"I'm nobody." The blonde shrugged.
"Everyone has a name. Tell me yours and I will tell you mine." The brunette said.
"Fine, my name is Karen." The blonde walked away from the couch.
"Nice to meet you, Karen. My name is Beth." The brunette smiled. Something about this woman is very intriguing. Something about her is pulling her to her. She's certain that same pull pulled her to this place.
"Well, Beth, I'm not staying long. Feel free to help yourself to whatever you want." The blonde walked around looking for everything she would need to leave.
"Is this not your place?". Beth asked.
"No. I just crashed here for a few days. The real owners will probably be back soon. Which is why I'm not staying." Karen pulled her bag over her shoulder. "Nice meeting you." She waved as she walked out.
Beth sat there. Her mind is a fucking fog, and nothing is coming back to her. She is sure that woman could be a clue, but she can't trust her gut right now. She must leave too before these owners return. The last thing she needs is to be arrested. She went to search for clothes and hoped she would find something good enough to get out of there.
Karen was a couple of blocks away and she kept looking over her shoulder. Looking for something to drive or ride. She smiled when a car pulled up.
"Get in!." A man smiled.
"Umm, okay." Karen shrugged.
"You're a doctor right? The man asked.
"Umm, who wants to know?". Karen asked.
"A friend, dear. Only a friend." The man turned his truck down a long road.
Karen held her bag tightly against her body. She looked around the truck and realized she's in a mobile home. She looked to the back and saw a bed. She longed to sleep again, but not with this guy at the wheel. He was doing things with his hands that can't be explained. She needed to play dumb.
Beth opened the door to the shack, and it was like the sky had caught fire. Lauren.
Karen opened her eyes, and it was like the sky had caught fire. Bo.
She turned her head, and everything had started to make sense. Vex is driving her to her death. A violent one.
"Vex." She spoke softly.
"Aww, look who finally remembers old Vexy." Vex smiled as he parked his truck. "Get out, you've got a patient to treat. This patient won't take no for an answer."
Lauren couldn't deny any patient treatment. Even if it's a Fae patient. She walked in behind Vex and was floored. "This is the patient?".
"Yes, now do you see why I said she won't take no for an answer?". Vex asked and took a seat on the other side of the room.
Lauren shook her head. Of all patients, she has to be the one to treat this one. "Okay. I'll get started."
Bo ran into the street and looked both ways. She bowed her head when she saw a car she recognized.
"Bo!? Are you alright?." Dyson ran to her.
"Dyson!?." Bo jumped into his arms. They held each other for what felt like almost ten minutes.
"Are you okay?." Dyson asked.
"Yes. I'm better now." Bo smiled as she rubbed his beard. For all that she was feeling, she knew she was safe now with the wolf.
"Have you fed recently, Bo?". Dyson asked.
"No." Bo smiled. She leaned in and gently touched his lips before pulling back and feeding.
"That's not normally how I feed you." Dyson whispered as he ran his hand down her back.
"Dyson, I just want to go home." Bo sighed and walked away from him.
"She doesn't deserve you, Bo. Not leaving you like this and for this long." Dyson looked over at Bo. She looked back at him, and her face was blank. She didn't say a word as she climbed in. She didn't say a word the entire drive home. Maybe Trick will liven her up again.
Lauren and Vex.
"So, what happened to her?". Lauren asked.
"I'm not right sure. I was hoping you could figure that out." Vex shrugged.
"Hey, can you hear me?". Lauren asked.
"This, this is who you brought?!". The woman snapped.
"She's the only doctor I could find. Given who you are and who she is, I'd say I've done a damn fine job." Vex scoffed. The Fae women can be so uppity and ungrateful.
"Can you tell me what happened to you?". Lauren asked.
"I got bad chi from someone, I think." The woman coughed.
"What kind of Fae?". Lauren asked.
"Hell, if I know, that one you treated, I think." The woman coughed again.
"The cabbitt? You fed from her?". Lauren asked.
"Look, I'd been stabbed, and I was dying. I still am. I told Vex to find me a doctor, but not one that's going to bust my balls with a lot of questions. Help me, and you'll never want or need to bow to any Fae again." The woman gently squeezed Lauren's hand.
"Aife don't lie, Doc. I've been doing pretty well." Vex smiled.
"Well, luckily for her, I remember that cabbit and kept a little bit of her DNA. I can treat this succubus." Lauren finally set her bag down and went through it. Once she found what she was looking for, she took some of Aife's blood and went to work.
"If she saved thousands of Fae from that cursed plague, she will save you old woman". Vex toasted them both with a beer.
Three months later.
Trick was busy serving his granddaughter and the rest of the usual suspects. I took you right to her, now you're looking around for her? Tsk. That's how it has been the last few months. Her succubus kept reminding her of that old shack and how Karen was really Lauren. But every time she reminded her alter ego, she reminded the succubus that Lauren chose to stay away. She is choosing to stay away,
Bo kept looking around. She kept lifting her nose. For the first month, she tried to convince Dyson to go look for Lauren. But he wouldn't go. He didn't want to. For the second month, she kept pushing him and finally gave up in the third month. He had been right. If Lauren wanted to come home, she could. She would.
Lauren and Vex.
"Are you getting that itch, Doc?." Vex asked.
"Leave it alone, Vex." Lauren rolled her eyes. They'd talked about this for months. For three months, it'd only been the three of them. Aife was better but had fallen into a coma. It was setting Lauren back to the old days. Lauren had offered to call Bo and tell her about her mother, but Aife pulled the patient confidentiality card on her. So, the doctor had to keep her mouth shut. Even while the succubus herself can't speak.
"I don't know why you love her. She can't be faithful to you. She's probably banging the dog as we stand here." Vex looked down at Aife.
"I can't call Bo, not without my patient's consent. I can't call her and not tell her about her mother. I can't even call Trick. Although he doesn't mean shit to me, he's still Aife's father." Lauren spoke softly.
For the first time, he felt sorry for the Doctor. She's a good one, even when he himself and the other Fae won't admit it. He'd make a move on her, but she's not his type. She deserves better than Bo. Much better.
"Hey, she's waking up." Lauren smiled in relief. She didn't want to have to explain how she lost another coma patient. It took her weeks to come up with a treatment that Aife's body didn't reject. A cabbit should never be fed from again.
"Here old girl, drink something." Vex came forward with a glass of whiskey.
Aife drank the whole thing and sat up in bed. "Get me something to wear."
"I've already found something." Vex pulled the closet door open. Aife smiled when she saw a black skirt, blouse, and jacket.
"Now can I tell Bo?." Lauren asked.
"We'll do better than that, dear. We'll surprise her." Aife winked as she was helped into the shower.
Lauren sighed in relief. She never liked keeping secrets, none of this magnitude anyway. Bo deserves to know. For years she thought her mother was dead, only to find her again. Now she will know for sure that the succubus is still alive, again.
As for her own feelings about Bo, she's torn. Torn between believing Bo believes she is dead too and knowing she wasn't worthy enough to take her with her when they all left Taft's. The doctor remembers that day clearly. She saw Bo and Tamsin and Dyson all sprint away from the building. Leaving her in a corner of the OR where she had just saved Dyson's miserable life. He said he would come back for her once he found Bo. She should have known that was a lie.
"Cheer up Doc. We are about to have a lot of fun now." Vex smiled as he came into Lauren's view.
"Alright gang, here's how it's going to go." Aife emerged and they all huddled up near the couch.
"Why are we whispering?". Lauren asked.
"Because a queen keeps everything a secret that can benefit her in some way." Aife winked as she began talking again.
"Are you good with that plan, doc?." Vex asked.
Lauren smiled. "I am."
"Good, then let's go." Aife smiled as they all gathered their things and walked outside.
Aife stood and sucked in the fresh air. It had been months since she'd been outdoors. "Get ready gang, we're about to have a lot of fun!". The old succubus smiled wide.
The Dal
Bo sighed again into her drink. She and Kenzi sat at the bar drinking while Tamsin and Dyson played pool behind her. Tamsin was still a teen, and her aura was pissing Bo off, but she couldn't figure out why. Like Bo, Tamsin seemed to have lost some of her memories too. But that still wasn't sitting right with her succubus. The thing inside of her almost growled when she'd get near the Valkyrie. Here they sat, drinking bottle after bottle. Kenzi was long beyond tipsy, but she was still knocking them back.
If Bo admitted it, she'd admit she was bored. Like she used to be working at that bar years ago. That night she took Kenzi home and almost fled the next day. She knows why she's bored. There's nothing going on. Dyson still wants to fuck her brains out, and a few times she was almost tempted but her succubus would always shut down and by then Bo had changed her mind again.
Then she'd think of Lauren and her entire body would react at the thought of being on top or below the woman. That fired up her succubus. Her eyes would go temporarily blue, and back to brown. She hadn't spoken to Bo again since they left that old shack. She's on vacation, just like Lauren. Bo rolled her eyes and ordered a stronger drink.
"You lose, again." Tamsin stomped her foot in glee.
"I let you." Dyson smiled.
"No, you didn't. I won fair and square." Tamsin put her cue stick up and walked to the lady's room.
Bo turned towards the Valkyrie. "Take Kenzi. Throw some water on her face."
"Come on Kenz." Tamsin smiled as she pulled the woman along with her. Kenzi mumbled something but nothing anyone could understand.
Bo went back to her drink. Dyson found another Fae to play pool with and the balls busting momentarily shocked the succubus. She knows what he's doing. He's trying not to ask her to sleep with him again. He can't help himself. He asks her ten times a day or more.
The doors opened and Dyson growled at the patron that walked in. "Down dog." Vex laughed.
"What are you doing here?". Dyson growled.
"The door says come one, come all. It doesn't say no Vex allowed." Vex laughed. Bo turned to look at Vex. He certainly dresses better.
"Ole boy, can I borrow you for a second?". Vex turned to Trick.
Trick sighed and walked over to Vex and followed him into the next room. If he didn't, there would be bloodshed in his Dal and that would cost him customers. The place was practically deserted. Only his immediate family was keeping him in business. Dyson paid for himself, and Tamsin and Bo paid for herself. Kenzi never has to.
"Ok, Vex, make this quick." Trick sighed.
"He's ready." Vex smiled as the door behind him opened. He looked at Aife and at Trick and left them to talk at the succubus insistence.
An hour later, the bar had a crowd of customers. Vex was smiling as he sat at the bar, people watching. He watched Bo in her misery. She looked lonely, even with the hound dog just a few feet behind her. Poor girl, he thought. Kenzi and Tamsin sat at a back table. Kenzi was half passed out. Even though she had almost ten cups of coffee in front of her.
The crowd jumped at the sound of two cars crashing. "Bloody hell". Vex groaned and ran out of the bar followed by throngs of people.
"Vex! Get here I need you!". A voice screamed.
The Mesmer ran towards the voice. "What do you need, doc?".
"They are trapped. Can you remove the car from on top of their bodies?". Lauren asked.
"Sure thing. Hold on". Vex raised his hands and pulled with all of his might. The car was not as heavy as it looked.
"What the hell is going on?!". Bo ran over to the accident. She stopped in her tracks. "Lauren!?
The doctor was on her knees and tending to every victim that she could reach. "Where is that damn ambulance!?". She screamed.
"They are on their way!". A bystander screamed.
Bo's mouth was held open by the shock of the very alive but very bloodied doctor attending to the wounded. Dyson tried to walk over. "Don't! You don't know what to do!". Lauren screamed. Bo wanted to grab the woman and hold her. But she can't because the doctor was steady busy.
After a few hours the last ambulance drove off with sirens blaring. "Let's get you inside and cleaned up, Lauren". Vex smiled as he walked her in. He wanted to laugh at Bo and Dyson's reactions but knew the biggest stunner was yet to come. Once the Fae and blonde were satisfied with the Doctor's appearance, he escorted her into the main bar area.
"Hello, Dr. Lewis." A woman stood and greeted her.
"Sarah. Nice to see you again." Lauren smiled as they both sat.
Bo was on the other side of the room. Lauren was clearly ignoring her. Her eyes went blue in anger when she spotted Lauren. She was laughing and smiling with a brunette that was sitting with her. She licked her lips and stood. She made her way through every man and woman that was trying to dance with her or more. She got closer and felt her skin was red with jealousy.
"Well, my clinic will be up and running, very soon. I will be in charge of everything. You will be my second in command." Lauren smiled warmly.
"This is going to be so awesome Lauren. I knew our time in that wretched compound would pay off someday." Sarah smiled.
"That's why I picked you as my second. I know you will know your job and do your job. Without ever breaking your oath." Lauren gently patted the woman's hand.
"Lauren!." Bo seethed as she stood just feet away from them.
Lauren sighed and turned her head. "Bo."
"What are you doing here, Lauren?". Bo asked.
"That's confidential. Something you won't learn from me." Lauren turned around apologetically to Sarah.
"It's okay, Dr. Lewis. I know her. Everyone does." Sarah slid a piece of paper over to Lauren and the doctor immediately put it in her pocket.
"I'll call you soon, Sarah. Get out of here before the bullshit starts." Lauren gestured behind her. She didn't have to look back to know Bo was still standing there. With Dyson standing behind Bo.
"She's a traitor, Bo. She can't be here." Dyson seethed as he moved to stand side by side with the Succubus.
Lauren smiled as she stood. "Come near me wolf, and you'll die where you stand. Your stitches were shit, too."
"Is that a threat?!." Dyson growled.
"No, it's a promise. Unlike Bo here, I keep mine." Lauren threw money on the table and pulled her bag over her shoulder.
"You aren't leaving Lauren, you can't. You already tried, remember?." Dyson laughed.
"I can go wherever I want and right now, I want to go home." Lauren smiled as she turned to walk away from them. She was held back by a warm hand.
"You aren't leaving." Bo seethed.
"Isabeau! Take your hands off of my human!." Aife screamed with Trick standing beside her. "Vex!."
Bo's eyes went wide at the sight of her mother. Her succubus turned them back on Lauren. "What?".
TBC
A/N This is my very last fic. I have thought about it for months and have decided to put it out.