Lauren and Crystal.
Lauren stood looking out the window. Crystal is so sound asleep, she could hear her snoring. The Doctor shook her head. She had been sloppy. Somehow she had been so sloppy they have been discovered. The brunette did not look threatening but to another human eye, she would look human too. Nothing about that woman screamed human. Well her manners, and not grabbing Lauren and pulling her by her hair back to her imminent and assuredly her death.
Dyson must have given up on his search and sent the Succubus instead. They are probably having sex and him feeding her was payment for her search. He probably loves her a lot too. He went through so many broken hearts, most of the women came to Lauren's lab thinking she had an instant cure for their pain. It was almost funny if it wasn't so sad. He was going through woman after woman. He even tried to hit on the Morrigan and she laughed him out of the building.
The Doctor shook her head free of those thoughts. The Succubus means nothing to her, other than needing to keep as far away from her as they can. She would probably drain Lauren this time and carry her to her car.
As smart as she is, the Doctor was stuck in place. They have more than enough cash to keep dipping and dodging in and out of hotels. But a hotel is how they found her and Nadia in the Congo. Now she has Crystal to worry about.
She looked over her shoulder and smiled at the sight. Crystal had Lauren's pillow in her arms and her head was buried in it. She really does love this woman. She's kind. Thoughtful and sweet. She's also knocked a few men and women out defending Lauren. Being one that values all life, it would be nearly impossible for Lauren to be violent. The Fae had thrown her around and humiliated her to the point she never once thought of raising a hand to anyone. She sighed and went to curl up in bed with the woman. They still have a few hours before they need to hit the road again.
Bo
Bo rubbed her eyes. She had been up all night thinking of Lauren. Thinking of them as a couple, even on a break. She couldn't think of anything that would cause Lauren to forget her. Her touch. Her face. Her eyes. Bo.
She slammed her hand against the table and hurried into the bathroom to shower. Her self-pity of one isn't going to help her or Lauren. She cried under the running water thinking of Lauren out there. Missing a huge piece of her life and memory. She cried thinking of the last time she saw Lauren. At Taft's. She let her walk away from her. When she should have grabbed her and told Taft to fuck himself. Dyson was a big boy, he could take care of himself, and Tamsin. Lauren was her friend. Her love. And she left her. Left her long enough that she couldn't find her if she tried. And now her efforts were for nothing because the Doctor had forgotten about Bo. About falling in love with her. The many times they fell into Bo's bed. Her only solace was that she still has her Succubus. If she can't use her actual powers, perhaps her alter ego will lead them to Lauren again. Or at least close enough to watch over Lauren long enough for Bo to come up with a plan to get her to talk to her.
Once she was dressed, she grabbed her car keys and left her current hideout. She had found it after thinking about Dyson and Kenzi tracking her down. If she was going to help Lauren, it is probably not a good idea to bring them along. Dyson's aura was telling the Succubus he still thinks he has a chance with her, and Kenzi…well Kenzi had done everything in her powers to try and make Bo think Lauren was dead.
Bo looked in her rear-view mirror. She took a good long look at her face. Without her Succubus powers, she is going to have to convince Lauren that she loves her. She's going to have to convince Lauren that they belong together. She's going to have to convince herself that she is worthy of Lauren's love. She doesn't even know why Lauren loves her. Her. Out of all the powerful women Fae they know, Lauren loves her. She stood in the sex club and told her she loved her since they met.
Bo swallowed hard at her latest thought. If and when Lauren gets her memories back. She is going to remember everything. Bo throwing her necklace on the ground and stomping off. The cold shoulder treatment. Hugging Dyson in front of her. Telling her they would talk and then taking weeks until she learned about Nadia to actually talk to Lauren. The Doctor could have told her to fuck off, and she would have been well within her rights to do so.
She slapped herself and started her car. Checking her surroundings, she put the car in reverse. She shook her head as she drove. It was taking everything in her not to cry again. She had screwed up Lauren. She is going to have to repair it with words. If Lauren has forgotten her, she probably has forgotten she's a Succubus. She's going to have to get Lauren to remember her without all of it. Their love. Her nature. All of it. She's going to have to use what she learned as a human to get her favorite human back.
The Dal Riata
Trick paced back and forth. He looked at his watch and it was getting later and later since Dyson was supposed to be back.
"He's not here huh? Aife laughed.
"What are you doing here? Trick groaned as he turned around.
"Now is that any way to talk to your only born child? Aife laughed.
"As you can see I'm busy". Trick gestured towards the exit.
"You sent your dog to look for Isabeau. Leave her alone old man. Or you will die any second now". Aife said seriously.
"Bo is playing a very dangerous game. She's pissing off people all over the colony looking for Dr. Lewis. At least when my search parties were out, they weren't stepping on Dark and Light Fae toes. I can only do so much". Trick said coldly.
"Bullshit. If someone doesn't like Isabeau, write their death in your blood. Don't try and play that helpless bartender bullshit on me. Nobody would dare touch her anyway. Now that the Morrigan knows I'm back in town. She really hates me, remember? Aife laughed.
Trick smacked himself on the top of his head. That's that last thing he wanted to happen. Aife and Evony together would be his worst nightmare come true.
"I will take my leave now. Seeing you nearly piss in your pants at the sight of me is all the reward I need..for now". The Succubus laughed as she left the bar just as fast as she came.
Trick cursed Dyson. He cursed him for being stupid enough to go and get Aife for Bo. He cursed him for not allowing Trick time to try and fool her into believing that he never knew where Aife was. One Succubus is not a problem, but a don't give a damn about anything Succubus, is a situation he never wanted to have to deal with again.
Dyson
Dyson groaned in pain. Bo breaking his nose was making it nearly impossible to find anyone's scent. Especially hers. He didn't even want to be looking for her, but Bo had highly pissed off some Elders. They wanted her to face justice. But Trick pulled rank and Dyson was forced to look for her. He had already tried Kenzi. She hadn't seen Bo since she left the Dal. So, he was out of leads. He is a bit relieved that Kenzi is Bo's human so that afforded her some protection with both Bo and Dyson being away.
The Dark and Light had already started fighting again because of Bo's antics. She had been sloppy in searching for Lauren. Overstepped Fae law and protocols without a second thought. If Lauren had stayed at the diner like Dyson had told her to, none of this would be necessary. Bo would be home with him, Trick and Kenzi. But he dares not say that in the presence of the Succubus. He has to make her believe he's on her side until he can get her on his side, for good.
Kenzi
Kenzi threw her bowl into the sink. The dishes were starting to pile up, and they were out of soap. She had been warned by Dyson and Trick to try and stay home at all costs. War hadn't officially been declared but she was safer inside the clubhouse.
She was pissed that Bo dragged her into the Dal like an animal. Just because she wanted to know where Aife was. That part wasn't all on Kenzi. She had been told afterwards that they had stashed Aife in a psych ward to keep Kenzi from asking her about her again. She was relieved the old Succubus was out of Bo's nucleus.
Bo
Bo had found another hideout. This one was cleaner than the other ones. She needed to stop and think. She had been driving around for hours. She even returned to the restaurant where she last saw Lauren and asked around. The Doctor and her lover hadn't been back again. Bo is sure they are lovers. Their auras were spiking hot around each other. She nearly wrecked her car in jealousy. If Lauren had fallen in love again, convincing her she loves Bo is going to be one hell of a task.
She did manage to get Crystal's last name. Not wanting to get Kenzi involved, she did some quick digging. The woman can give Lauren the world if she wants to. Bo could if she wanted to, but right now the most important thing is giving Lauren her memories back, then they can go from there.
From what she found on Crystal, she is very successful in the music business. She has a lot of powerful contacts. All human of course, but still very powerful. She had already found their house and there was nothing left of Lauren there. Only that they have been living lavishly. Lauren's Fae loft was pathetic compared to her new digs. Bo also tried the diner, it was a waste of time, but she had plenty of time on her hands.
What the actual fuck Bo blurted out. Is she being selfish by trying to take Lauren away from a life she was clearly enjoying before Bo's appearance made her run off into the night? She wants Lauren to know everything about herself. To pick her choice. The only good thing that works in Bo's favor is they aren't married yet.
Crystal is not like Nadia. Bo wanted Lauren to be happy with her. She really thought they were on their way before the Garuda interfered. As far as Bo knew right now, the only thing Fae wanted from humans is to feed on them. Her blood ran cold thinking of any Fae trying to feed off of Lauren. But she did. Once. To save Dyson. She cursed herself for that too. Lauren will remember that if she ever remembers Bo.
Then there is her father. If this is his doing, how is Bo going to fix it? She had spent all night trying to find powers she never knew she had. But nothing new came to mind. She took a deep breath, and a seat. If she is going to find Lauren, she's going to have to learn to think like Lauren. That's impossible because Lauren is the smartest person she has ever met. Where would she go? With the means she now had, she could never be seen again.
Lauren. Lauren. Lauren. Bo said quietly searching her head. Nothing was helpful. If Lauren was by herself, it would be one thing, but with Crystal with her, Lauren would be extra careful about their whereabouts and surroundings.
Bo wants to find her before the Fae do. Before Kenzi does. Before anyone that knows them can plant doubts in Lauren's amnesiac mind about her and Bo. Bo is going to have be herself. No bullshit. Just the Bo she knows Lauren loves. She doesn't even know Bo woke up Nadia and still loves her. She will never use that as a weapon to get Lauren back.
It sucks her actions lost her in the first place. She should have set her down that first time and explained why she was hurt Lauren slept with her under those conditions. She never should have raised her voice or did anything to make Lauren think she's not the one. She has been the one since she first touched Bo's shoulder.
The first time she looked in Lauren's eyes, she felt like she never had to run again. Then she ran. Ran out of her own bedroom trying to get away from Lauren as fast as she could. It was almost the same identical pain when she left home. Left Kyle in that vehicle. She was lost. Lost thinking Lauren didn't care for her like she did for Lauren. But the second time she kissed her, she threw that thought away. The guilt of Dyson's love being stolen from him to help Bo was starting to waiver. He had Ciara back at the time. Which meant it was the perfect time to commit to Lauren. Then that was stalled due to Fae business. But Lauren is all the business Bo cares about now. She just has to find her. Has to figure out a way to help her remember Bo. And the family she probably still has out there. Somewhere.
Holy fuck! Bo thought as she stood up and grabbed her keys again.
Lauren and Crystal
Lauren stared across the table. They went out for a late lunch. Lauren requested for a table that faced the door. That way she could sit with her back against the wall, and every patron that come and went would be in perfect view.
She smiled when Crystal dug into her dish. It is probably not the smartest thing to be out in public with a target on the Doctor's back. But Crystal deserved to be out and living her life with Lauren. They are both human. Their life spans don't afford them time to waste like the Fae enjoys.
She dug into her own food when the hustle and bustle had settled in the restaurant. She chose a salad and Crystal picked a cheeseburger. Not the healthiest thing but since they were on the run for their lives anyway, they may as well enjoy themselves. Unknown to Crystal, Lauren had planned to take her dancing when they were finished eating. If her life will soon be coming to an end. She wants to go out in the arms of the woman she loves.
Light Fae Compound.
"It is official. Hale Santiago is now and forever the Ash for as long as he lives". Blackthorn announced in front of the Elders.
Hale wiped his brow. The eyes on him had seen everything. Been in everything. If the last two were any indication of how stressful this position is, he is just glad that the Garuda is dead. "Thank you. I will not let you down. Any of you." He bowed before them.
They all settled in for their first official meeting with a new Ash in place. Speaking about the Garuda. The sloppiness of Lachlan allowing the human Doctor so much freedom when she was their ward. He had forgotten his place thinking he could let her do what she wants. Especially with the unaligned Succubus. Hale had to prove that he had plans in place to find her and bring her back to Fae justice. She had been gone for far too long and most Fae were dying because nobody knows what killed them.
Hale sighed in relief when the meeting finally concluded. He retired to his quarters but not after securing his office for the night. He finally grabbed a shower, a glass of wine, and settled in front of the fireplace. He could be doing worse for himself. Of course, his father gave him the Twig of Zamora, and he gave it to Kenzi. She returned it when the fighting started again.
The Fae hadn't been at each other's throats like this in years. But the Light Fae struck first thinking the Dark has Dr. Lewis. Then Bo happened too, and they all backed off. Until Bo took off again. Then the rumors started that she had Lauren and they wanted them both brought in. Until Aife showed up in Evony's office. Now it's just Lauren since she has no familial relationship to the Doctor. He shook his head and took in the peace and quiet. For tomorrow the noise, paranoias and overall other bullshit would start up again.
He coughed when a cold hand wrapped around his neck. "Get up!
"Bo! Stop! Hale choked out.
"I said get up. Get up and get dressed! If I have to dress you, you won't like what I pick out for you to wear". Bo seethed.
Hale ran out of the room and returned fully dressed. "What do you want Bo? We all thought you were long gone".
"You are coming with me. As Ash you should have something I need." Bo said coolly.
"What could that be? I don't know where Lauren is." Hale kept his distance from Bo. She didn't look like the Bo they had all grown used to.
"I won't answer any of your questions until have provided me with what I need. Now come." Bo snapped as the Siren followed her.
They rummaged through the Ash's old files and Bo's eyes lit up when she found something. She broke her word about answering Hale's questions and left him to his office.
When she thought of something else, she came back for Hale. She taped his mouth shut and threw him into the backseat of her car.
TBC