Downtown Toronto
Bo was out on some early morning errands when she noticed a blonde woman. She rushed over, and gently tapped the woman on her shoulder.
The woman spun around, clearly upset that her personal space had been violated. "Can I help you? The woman seethed.
"I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. It's early for me, and I thought you were someone else." Bo said in full blown embarrassment.
"Well unless her name is Crystal like mine is, I'm not her. Now if you don't mind, I have things to do." Crystal said opening her car door.
Bo stepped back and watched the woman drive off. "Get it together Bo". She said gently slapping her head.
She walked to her own car and climbed inside. She stared into Crystal's direction and couldn't shake the feeling she was getting from the woman. She didn't pulse her, she only touched her. There was something about her. Something that drew Bo to her in the first place. She glanced at her bags, and started her car. Kenzi was expecting her, and she was ready to get home. To put this embarrassing moment behind her.
Pulling up to the clubhouse, she grabbed every sack, and climbed out. She looked behind her, and still couldn't shake that feeling again. Her thoughts were drowned out by Kenzi's loud music.
"Kenzi! Bo screamed.
"What? We don't have neighbors. You were taking longer than I expected you to." Kenzi said as she walked down the stairs.
"I know. I had another one of those moments." Bo said.
"Lauren? Kenzi asked gently.
Bo sighed hard. "Where is she? I thought I spotted her, but it wasn't her. The woman literally looked nothing like her. She probably thinks I'm a freak."
Kenzi turned her music off and gently turned back to Bo. "Bo. Trick's been looking. Dyson's been looking since he told us he stashed her at that nasty diner. You said yourself that she was going to run just before Lachlan was killed. Maybe this is her running. Or…"
"Don't Kenzi. Don't say that again! Bo snapped. Her eyes momentarily flashed blue. She walked over to the kitchen and grabbed a beer.
Kenzi walked over and snatched it from her. "Bo it's time you seriously thought of that. It's been almost two years. Nobody has found her. She's probably dead. She's human, just like me."
"Lauren's not dead. She's out there! I just have to find her. Your cereal is in that bag. The tools and shampoo are in that bag. I'm going to get a nap in before I go looking again." Bo stormed off.
Kenzi watched Bo throw her jacket on the couch and walk up to her bedroom. She once mentioned Fae didn't need much sleep, but Bo clearly did. She hadn't been sleeping much at all since Dyson brought her home. Not since they all remembered Bo. Then she had been after everyone. Dragged them all to Taft's compound. Searched every room, and turned up nothing.
Dyson told them everything Lauren had said to him just after bandaging him up. They'd planned on her to hide at a diner, and that he would come and get her when it was safe for her to come home. Then they all forgot about Bo and Lauren had quit her job at the diner. The owner had shut down afterwards because he couldn't keep help. Not with Bo practically bullying them about Lauren. Dyson had to remind her that humans didn't know about them. So she couldn't use her powers on them. She busted every window in anger, and Dyson carried her out of there. He took her home to Kenzi and it's been one episode after another.
They left Bo at home and went to talk to Trick. His people were coming up empty too. It was as though the doctor vanished from the earth. The Morrigan didn't have her either, because Bo had nearly drained her into confessing that Lauren's disappearance wasn't her doing. The Elders had banned Bo from both compounds. They didn't even have an Ash because nobody wanted that job. Especially considering Lauren's still a ward of the Light Fae. They would have to see her to believe she is still alive, before they would agree to free her. They locked up the Ash throne room to prove they weren't going to elect a new one. They'd die at the Succubus hands the minute anyone took that job.
Kenzi sighed. A part of her wished they truly knew if Lauren was dead or not. Dyson couldn't find her scent, not even a dead one at the diner
"She's sleeping again? Dyson asked.
"Let her. She saw another woman she thought was Lauren. She will probably see the doc in her sleep. Right now, that wouldn't be a bad thing." Kenzi replied.
"We need to find Lauren before Bo's Succubus takes over for good. We will all be dead." Dyson said watching the stairs.
"If she knows how to hide her scent, we may never find her. But it's time to get real with Bo. Lauren's dead or she doesn't want to be found! Kenzi snapped gently. She felt for Bo. But if Dyson's wolf abilities can't find Lauren's whereabouts or corpse, Bo is hanging on to a fantasy.
Outside of Toronto
"Hey babe. When did you get here? Crystal smiled.
"Just now." Lauren smiled as she leaned in to kiss her.
"I thought you'd be at the hospital all day." Crystal smiled.
"It wasn't really busy. I ran out of things to do and decided to come home early." Lauren smiled taking a glass of wine from Crystal.
"You know you don't have to work or ever need an excuse to come home early." Crystal said turning back to the book she was reading.
"No I don't. We are well off. Just trying to feed the Scientist in me." Lauren laughed.
"And that scientist along with my record producing job has paid our bills, far in advance." Crystal smiled.
Lauren nodded. Have you eaten lunch yet? She asked.
"Not yet. I wanted to read a little first. I went into town and picked up some equipment. A brunette approached me. I don't know who she was looking for, but thought I was her. Just weird." Crystal shrugged.
"She probably found who she was looking for." Lauren said as she walked towards the kitchen.
"You're probably right. The look of disappointment in her eyes was intense. She must love this woman." Crystal said as she followed Lauren.
"Did you wear your wig again? Lauren teased.
"That ugly thing is your wig my love, and no I didn't." Crystal smiled as they both pulled food out of the refrigerator, and down from the cupboards.
"Soup and….? Lauren asked as she held up a few cans.
"A nice house salad." Crystal smiled. She grabbed some fresh spinach and started chopping. Lauren put the soup on, and helped where she could.
Crystal is like a breath of fresh air when you've been cooped up all winter. They live in a two story cabin house. But it was built from the ground up to their specifications. Lauren has a tiny lab because she didn't want Crystal feeling like Lauren's first priority was her work. So she'd work at home, every now and then. Crystal had an even smaller studio to work when she wants to. It's their life, and they love it and each other.
They set down to each lunch and then went out on to their massive second floor patio. They had a great view and plenty of space for their cars and multiple vehicles. Since Lauren was done for the day and Crystal is too, they shut their phones off. Something they had recently started doing when Crystal was getting calls at all hours from paranoid artists thinking their respective albums and downloads were going to bomb.
For her part, Lauren told the hospital staff that when she leaves, she's done for the day. So unless it's a true emergency, they should call one of the hundreds of other doctors in.
Sounds dull but it's relaxing, and it works for them. But they don't really lead dull lives. They hike, camp, go for long drives or rides on bicycles and motorcycles. Host dinners and BBQs during hockey season. The one thing they won't do is hunt. Lauren doesn't like killing things for amusement or sport, so they don't use their weapons.
Lauren had witnessed death far more than she ever cared to again. Either when she was in the military, on the run or with the Light Fae. She'd left all of them behind her. Especially asshole Dyson. He'd stopped taking her calls, they were after her, so she took Crystal and ran from all of that. She'd remembered the last time she saw him. She bandaged up his wound and sped off in a black van she'd hotwired. Once Dyson's voicemail mailbox continued to be full, she'd stopped calling. Which was a good thing. If she went back, the Elders would assuredly kill her. Dyson wasn't strong enough to protect her from them. Since he never called, she'd assumed it wasn't safe for her to go back. But there wasn't anything but death to go back to. Even with Hale as the Ash, her life would still be miserable. The lab. The Dal. Home. Wash and rinse. Her servitude was over. And she only needed to leave with Taft to get it.
She almost laughed finding Dyson in one of his cages. If Taft hadn't caught them talking, he probably wouldn't have put her in the cage with the Cabbitt. Then she figured out a way to make him vulnerable for Dyson to dispose of. His guards were still a threat to Lauren because she was still a fugitive with the human authorities. So he had to kill them too. Once Dyson saw her off and mentioned the diner, Lauren never looked back. Their one call was enough for her to know she could never go back and live. He wasn't going to even try to protect her. Once Trick spoke on something, it happened. He was only the Blood King. He wouldn't dirty his hands for a human. Not even a human that saved his life.
Hours had passed and the ladies had decided to dine out for the night.
Bo
Bo looked tired and defeated. She'd even threatened Evony again, and got absolutely nowhere. She thought of that day at Taft's over and over again. Trying to find a clue in what Lauren told her. Something that would lead her to her. She gritted her teeth when she remembered her fight with Tamsin. Those idiot girls had said Tamsin was working for a bad man. Then she threw that bottle at Bo. When it didn't work, she wanted to kill her but decided against it. Then when it was time to get the gang, Bo made her own plan. Hoping Dyson would smell Bo's scent on the Valkyrie and eat her after killing Taft. She remembered her asking about Lauren. No way in hell was Bo going to lead her to Lauren. She's far more important than the Valkyrie is. So Bo would go to the Dal, for Kenzi. Then she saw Tamsin's truck go over the cliff and explode. She'd tried to get to them, but the flames were too hot. Then she made it to the Dal, and couldn't find Trick or Kenzi to help. Then a black smoke took her. Dyson found her in the woods. She didn't even know his name but knew she could trust him. Then she remembered him, and he took her home.
She felt like she was being soaked in artic ice water when she finally remembered Lauren. Then went back to Taft's, the diner and everywhere she could think of to find her. She wasn't at her loft. It was embarrassing that's the only place she knew to look, besides the lab, or the Dal. Who is this woman she's been above, under and next to? Why didn't Bo know anything else about her? Probably because she hadn't sat still enough to ask. To pry like other Fae would. She didn't want to be that type of Fae. That type of person with Lauren.
They aren't even a couple anymore and that made her feel like shit too. Kenzi's safe and sound. But Lauren. Lauren was left behind. By the one person she shouldn't have been. But that's not true. She wanted to keep Lauren safe and sound and trusted her to be smart enough to get out of there. Surely she would've seen Dyson chasing Taft down. One threat would be neutralized.
She'd left Kenzi with Dyson and Tamsin. A Tamsin so young, she couldn't remember her past life. But Bo remembers. She remembers Tamsin pulling her hair out, the day Lauren asked for a break. She remembers the mocking way she said Lauren's name. Both can't be a coincidence. But Bo will have to get those answers from Lauren.
She pulled over and looked around. She was almost in the middle of nowhere. She looked at her map and the red X's. She'd made good time, but was running out of ideas and patience.
Stretching, she rubbed her eyes and checked the map again. She noticed a few more spots were left and started her car up again.
As she drove down the road she nearly wrecked her car after hearing, she's in there. She pulled into the next parking lot. There, could only be this restaurant. She pulled on her jacket and looked around. She'd never been to this place. Slowly she walked in, if Lauren's inside, she'd likely make a scene, or run. Neither of which Bo wanted to happen.
She pulled a cap on too just to be able to assess the environment. She pulled the door open and winced when the old thing made a loud noise.
So much for a surprise entrance, Bo thought internally. She pulled her cap down and walked to the nearest empty table. She grabbed a menu and pretended to read it. She ordered a cup of coffee and slowly lifted her head. Her ears perked up when she heard her voice. Lauren she smiled internally. She ordered a small sandwich and kept ordering coffee refills.
Her insides were mush but she didn't care. There was nothing to get in her way or to distract her now. She slammed a few glasses of water and popped a mint that accompanied her check into her mouth. She had to get some air, paid her tab, and snuck out. She took a seat on the nearest bench and waited.
She had imagined this for years. To see Lauren again. To hear her voice. Kenzi had told her over and over again that Lauren was dead, but Bo never believed it. Her Succubus didn't either, which is why they finally found her. No Elders. No Morrigan. No Ash. Just them. Bo and Lauren. She decided to people watch and listen to traffic until Lauren emerged with her colleague, but hopefully alone.
"I'm stuffed." Crystal smiled rubbing her stomach.
"This dessert is really good. I don't want to leave as a single bite." Lauren smiled.
"Take your time beautiful. We've got all night, and they won't be closing up for hours." Crystal winked as she patted Lauren's hand.
Lauren nodded and dug into her cake again. Crystal spoiled her, and she wasn't going to complain. She spoiled her with affection. With foot massages. With shoulder massages when she needed to read a patient file. Breakfast in bed after Lauren worked a long shift the night before. They lucked out when a day position opened up. That's mostly what Crystal worked, unless it was really important enough to work nights. But even then Lauren was welcome to sit in on her sessions or not. Whatever she was comfortable with. Lauren afforded Crystal the same respect. She could visit her at the hospital as long as she respected her patient's privacy. Just like her lab at home.
"Now I'm stuffed." Lauren said wiping her mouth with a linen napkin. Crystal signaled for their check and they grabbed their things.
They laughed and held hands on the way out. Crystal stopped laughing when she spotted Bo.
"Are you stalking me?! Crystal asked angrily.
"Look I'm not following you. I just came to see a friend. Your colleague". Bo said motioning towards the doctor.
"Crystal? Who is this? Lauren asked as she stepped in front of the woman.
"She's the one that thought I was someone else. Now she seems to be doing the same to you. But I got this Lauren". Crystal said gently pulling Lauren back behind her.
"I wasn't looking for you. I was looking for her. I'm...an old friend". Bo said innocently.
"Let's get out of here my Lauren". Crystal said squeezing Lauren's hand.
"Good idea because I don't know her." Lauren laughed.
"You know me Lauren! I know you too! Just let me talk to you for five minutes and then you can go, if you want to." Bo said almost tearfully.
"I don't know you. Let's go Crystal! Lauren smiled gently.
"I know you Lauren! I know about Nadia! Bo screamed and exhaled when Lauren stopped walking.
"How do you know about Nadia? Lauren asked now standing eye to eye with Bo.
"She died at my hands. Remember? Bo pleaded for Lauren to remember.
"Nadia died three years ago. I should know. I was her doctor, and I never met you before in my life. Come near Crystal again, and you will regret it." Lauren said coldly.
"I've searched for you for years Lauren. I've been all over this area looking for you today. You know me. I know you do. I don't know why you can't remember me. But I know how to fix that." Bo said gently raising her hand to touch Lauren's cheek. Lauren felt nothing but a cold hand and she was insulted.
She took Bo's hand and nearly twisted it completely around. Bo didn't wince or make any face in pain. No human could withstand those twists and turns. She's a doctor who nearly broke the woman's hand. Lauren dropped it, and hurried Crystal away. She didn't know the woman, but had a pretty good idea who sent her after her.
"Lauren! Bo screamed and dropped her head when the woman never turned around.
When Lauren and Crystal sped away. Bo screamed. They had her. Lauren was literally within their reach.
She screamed again. She slammed her hands down on the steering wheel, and cried. Her Succubus had shut down on her, when she needed her most. When she was able to calm down, she figured out why. Because it was Lauren. We'll try another way Bo smiled as she started her car.
TBC