Trick
The old man paced back and forth in the bar. He had been doubting calling Bo ever since Lauren called. He closed down early just so he could have some privacy to think. Nothing he was coming up with was good. Or could be good for Bo. Lauren sounds angry. He's seen her angry before. It was rare, but it was nasty. He looked at the clock and walked to the phone.
"What?!." Bo answered the phone.
"Bo, it's me. It's Trick." He sighed.
"Like I said, what?." Bo groaned.
"Bo, you need to get to the Dal, right now." Trick started pacing again.
"There's nothing for me there, Trick. I thought I made that clear." Bo rolled her eyes in Kenzi's direction.
"Bo, it's Lauren." Trick turned around like Bo was in the bar with him.
"What? What happened to Lauren?." Bo took a drink from Kenzi.
"She wants to see you, now. Here.". Trick took a seat.
"Shit! Why didn't you say so?." Bo scrambled around the suite looking for her heels. She and Kenzi were just about to settle in and watch a few movies.
Trick shook his head and hung up. This could go either way for Bo. An upset Bo is an upset succubus. They could all be dead within the hour or hours depending upon what Lauren has in store for his granddaughter.
Bo and Kenzi
"Bo, slow down. Breathe." Kenzi pulled her shoes on as fast as she could.
"It's Lauren, Kenzi. Trick said she's asking for me. I have to go. I have to find out what she wants and what I did to her." Bo checked her appearance and waited for Kenzi.
"You will have to drive. I'm too nervous." Bo threw her keys at the woman and jumped into the vehicle.
Kenzi nodded and pulled off as fast as she could. When they had to stop, she checked on Bo. The woman was jumpy as hell. Her hands were shaking and glowing. She turned away from her and shook her head. Whatever Lauren wants better be damn good. Bo had suffered for months and weeks when she was looking for Lauren. When she found her and was rejected, it got much worse. Even though it wasn't exactly Lauren's fault.
Dyson and Hale.
"What the hell was that?." Hale shook his head.
"I don't know. Trick has never shut the bar down so quickly and suddenly. Most of the Fae have gone to the Dark Fae bars. You and I will have to go home or buy our own liquor." Dyson twitched his mouth. There is something going on with Trick. He actually called Hale to come and then sent them all away.
"Well, let's find some fun. My work day is done and I'm single and ready to mingle." Hale popped a fedora on his head.
"Better not let Kenzi hear you say that." Dyson laughed.
Lauren and Crystal.
Crystal kept an eye on Lauren as she listened to directions to the Dal Riata. Her gut was screaming with her to turn around and pretend to get lost. But her heart knows that's a stupid idea. She loves this woman. She loves her enough to make her confront Bo, so they can all find some kind of peace and direction to move on.
She had never found a love like Lauren before. So geeky, caring, super sexy and thoughtful. "Lauren, I have to admit, I'm torn about this. But I know you won't sleep much with all of this between us."
"We can always turn around. But this is not just about me. It's about you. This woman has disturbed our lives. Threw them into chaos. We will go so I can talk to her and then we can leave and get back to our lives." Lauren squeezed the woman's free hand.
"Lauren, I think you love this woman. You can sit and say you don't but I think you do. I won't force your choice. As long as it's an honest decision, I will respect it. Either way." Crystal's heart started pounding when Lauren pointed for her to turn. The Doctor is right. Their lives have been in chaos since Bo found Lauren. She could be single within the next few hours. But she loves Lauren, so all of this is worth it.
Lauren sat staring out the window. On one hand, if she had made her serum stronger, none of this would be happening. On the other hand, she didn't, so she has to deal with the fallout. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes. That was what started all of this in the first place. She closed her eyes to everything that was in front of her. She should have run and kept running. She hadn't gotten far before she found Crystal. But Crystal wasn't in her life during the time she was reflecting on.
Bo. She cursed the woman. She had done so much and gotten so little in return from the Succubus. She is never going to be enough. A smarter Doctor would have come to that conclusion at the start. She tensed when Crystal turned into the parking lot. A few cars were there. Some she didn't recognize. That damn Trick probably has a party going on.
"Ready?." Crystal whispered.
"I'm ready." Lauren breathed and smiled. It wasn't all Bo that she dreads seeing. It's the others. Her trusty Kenzi. Boy-toy Dyson. Lip locker Tamsin.
The women climbed out of the car, took each other's hand and walked slowly towards the doors. Crystal bowed her head as she pulled it open for Lauren.
"Hey, it's ok." Lauren lifted the woman's head. The same smells of the Dal greeted Lauren and she didn't wave back. They walked the short distance and turned into the bar.
Lauren put her hand up when Trick walked over to them. "Beers. Two of them."
Trick nodded and walked to fetch them. Lauren helped Crystal sit before she took one of the beers from Trick.
"Lauren..." Trick started.
"I'm not here for you. I'm here to talk to Bo. Nothing else matters." Lauren waved him off again.
"Can I get you something?." Trick asked Crystal.
"This will be all." Crystal shook her head and turned her attention back to Lauren. The doctor looks calmer than she did in the car.
"She better be coming, Trick. I don't have all night." Lauren looked at her watch. It had been a couple of hours since she called him.
"I called her. She's probably stuck in traffic." Trick shrugged.
"The streets are practically deserted." Lauren sipped on her beer.
"I don't know then, Lauren." Trick walked behind the bar. This is not the same Dr. Lewis they all know. She's testy and cold.
The three turned when they heard the doors opening. Lauren heard Kenzi first and rolled her eyes. Of course. That only leaves two people off the stooge list she mentioned before. Bo walked in behind Kenzi. Her eyes immediately found Lauren.
"Do you need backup?." Kenzi asked as she eyed Crystal.
"No, Kenzi. Don't say anything. In fact, sit here. I will go and talk to Lauren." Bo pushed the woman on a barstool and waved Trick over to give her friend something to wrap her hands around.
The succubus slowly walked over to Lauren's table and stopped when the Doctor suddenly stood. "Downstairs." The blonde gestured for Bo to go first.
"Is she coming too?." Bo asked.
Lauren raised her head and Bo dropped the subject. The women walked step for step. Heel for heel, they went down the stairs.
Bo stopped walking and turned. Lauren was still standing on the last step, and staring right at her. "Lauren."
"Here is good enough." Lauren lightly tapped her boot to signal her stance.
"Lauren, you don't have to be afraid of me." Bo stared horrified.
"I'm not scared of you. I just know the Fae. I have to protect myself from whatever slinks down here." Lauren looked over shoulder for half a second and turned back to Bo.
"I'm glad you remember me. We can talk now." Bo wanted to smile but Lauren's aura was a mixture of emotions. Nothing like she'd ever read from the Doctor before.
"I will talk." Lauren raised her head.
"Lauren. Please." Bo whispered.
"I remember you, Bo Dennis. You're a Succubus, Trick's granddaughter. Aife's daughter. Kenzi's best friend. Dyson's love. Tamsin's spin the bottle partner." Lauren rambled off.
"I'm sorry, what?." Bo backed up. Her eyes went wide at the end of Lauren's ramblings.
"Don't tell me you've been able to stay off of him." Lauren tsked with half a smile.
"Lauren?! I haven't slept with Dyson." Bo gasped.
"Lauren?! Are you okay?." Crystal yelled down.
"I'm fine, sweetie." Lauren slightly turned.
"Lauren. Do we really need to talk with her here?." Bo pointed upstairs.
"You have your friends, I have mine." Lauren replied.
"She's not your friend. She's your girlfriend." Bo choked out. Bo's insides fluttered like when they talked about Nadia. Just up those same stairs.
"This was a mistake." Lauren turned to leave.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Lauren. Is that what you want to hear?." Bo asked softly.
"No. Your desperate apology won't erase what I saw." Lauren turned and put her back against the wall.
"Then tell me what you saw. I have racked my brains trying to come up with the reason you would purposely inject yourself to forget me." Bo walked in a circle by the fireplace.
"After I jumped into the car with Crystal. I was jumped from behind by some guy in the back. As I struggled and just before I passed out, I saw you. I saw you look me dead in my eyes, smile and turn to him. You turned to Dyson after you watched me being drugged. You watched me being attacked and did nothing but lean on his welcoming shoulder. Where is your ring?." Lauren rolled her tongue in her mouth.
"What ring?." Bo looked at her hands.
"You wouldn't be wearing it now though, right. Not with me here." Lauren laughed.
"Lauren...". Bo sighed.
"Dyson's wedding reflected in the sunlight. I assumed you married him. Probably fucked him as he drove down the street, and why wouldn't you? Kenzi and Trick were waiting for their favorite couple to come home. Trick probably wanted a grandchild. But I don't smell baby shit upstairs". Lauren rocked one boot heel on the stairs.
Bo stopped walking. She stared at the ground. She took some deep breaths. She closed her eyes and thought back. She was right about what must have happened. Lauren is upset because Bo did see a car on the road. She did ask if they should stop and help. She did lean into Dyson. He was still wearing a wedding ring.
She sighed. "Lauren?."
"I don't want anything from you, Bo. Because I am nothing to you. Nothing but someone for you to stomp out of the room on, throw things at, or leave for dead in a stranger's car." Lauren waved her off before she could reach her.
"So, you're leaving me for Crystal?." Bo stood horrified.
"Never mention her name again. You don't deserve to." Lauren bit her lip in anger.
"You accused me of going to Dyson. How is this any different?." Bo gestured with her hands.
"Crystal was trapped in a Fae conspiracy. I know what that's like. Dyson has been sniffing around you like the dog he is for years. Another Fae conspiracy you will never acknowledge." Lauren adjusted her leather jacket.
"It might help you to know Doctor, that I didn't remember you then. I didn't. I wouldn't have left you like that! You know that!." Bo shook the anger out of her voice.
"No, I don't. You remembered him but you couldn't remember me? Nobody is going to believe that lie." Lauren laughed.
"Lauren, I was tricked. Tricked into forgetting you. Instead of coming home to me, you stayed gone. Then injected yourself to forget me. I've searched years for you. Years." Bo shook the tears that fell from her face to the floor.
Lauren turned to Bo. She looked at her. She looked like the Bo she used to know. But things had changed. She has changed. "Dyson is a wolf. Are you really going to stand there and expect me to believe that he couldn't smell my scent? This is a waste of time. Time no human can spare wasting on a Fae. I thought if I came here and we talked, I would feel better. But I feel worse. Much worse than I felt putting that first injection into my arm.
I had to go to the Morrigan and beg her to protect me while I worked in her labs. It took me many days and nights to create that serum. Days you didn't find me. Or didn't care to. I loved you so much, Bo. So much. But you couldn't be trusted with my heart and coldly shattered it. But don't worry about it. Your suitors will come along shortly." Lauren turned to leave. But she was stopped.
"Lauren". Bo pleaded softly with her hand wrapped around the woman's arm.
"Let me go!." Lauren screamed.
"I can't let you go, Lauren. I can't. I love you." Bo released the woman and cried more when Lauren turned and went up the stairs.
"Hey, are you okay? I heard your scream." Crystal hurried over to the blonde. Lauren turned to the woman and Crystal bowed her head. "Okay. Here."
Lauren looked down. "What are you doing?."
"These are the keys to the car. Take them. Take them for as long as you need them. I can find my way home." Crystal checked her pockets for anything else that may belong to Lauren. She knows she doesn't anymore.
"Crystal. Don't do this. Not now." Lauren shook her head and tears fell.
"Come on". Crystal pulled her out of the bar and out of Kenzi's prying sight. The girl was knocking liquor back like she owns the place.
The women walked and climbed into the car. "Lauren. I love you, I do. But I'm not her. I'm not Bo."
"Crystal! I love you, I do." Lauren whispered.
"I don't doubt that. But there is still something between the two of you. Something your eyes tell me. Even when your mouth can't." Crystal smiled softly and wiped Lauren's tears away with her hand.
Lauren turned to look out the window and then turned back again. "I can't be in her world. I can't. I'm not welcome in it. I'm not free in it. She saw me that day. That day on the side of the road. She saw me and turned away. Even when I was being knocked out, she kept going."
Crystal sat quiet. She loves this woman so much. But she can't and won't be in a triangle. Not for a split second. There are millions of women in the world and her one in a million woman doesn't belong to her. Not anymore. "When you tossed and turned, I wondered what you were dreaming about. I wondered what was causing you such distress. After injecting yourself with that serum, you're even more uptight and restless. There is something big going on. Something I won't be a part of. You said yourself that this world is not safe for humans. But that Fae in there. She is relentless. I heard it in her voice. It's the same sound in your voice when you tell someone you love them. She won't let go of you. She can't".
Lauren shook her head. "I can't trust her, Crystal. She saw me in danger and did nothing. I know I explained the Fae world to you. Bo is a Succubus. A Succubus that I've seen protect me twice. Why didn't she stop? Why didn't she make him pull over? Don't you see I won't be safe here. Ever. She may know me, the old me. But I don't know her. Not anymore."
"Your heart does. Your mind does. Your subconscious does. I don't want to walk away from you Lauren. But I won't stay either. Your love changed the minute you woke up today." Crystal wiped her own tears away.
"I don't know what to do." Lauren shook in her seat.
"The Morrigan. Go to her. She will protect you. Keep you safe." Crystal suggested.
Lauren started the car and drove until she reached the compound.
"Ma'am, Dr. Lewis is here". Bruce knocked on the Morrigan's doors.
"Lauren. Lauren. Lauren. Why the fuck are you still in this shit world?." The Morrigan shook her head.
"I told her to come here. She needs somewhere safe to sleep." Crystal stepped forward.
"You reversed that damn serum? Oh honey, you were free of that bitch." The Morrigan laughed.
"Evony, please. She has nowhere else to go." Crystal pleaded.
"Fine. Find the Doctor her own private quarters and take Crystal to her people. Same offer as before Crystal. I better not lose a single royalty on your next album. Humans. I swear." Evony laughed.
Crystal gently took Lauren's hand and followed Bruce. They walked for what felt like miles before he opened the doors to a huge ass bedroom. It looked like an office but bigger.
"So, this is where we end?." Lauren asked.
"We are still friends Lauren. I'll stay close. I'm still going to call and check on you. But you have some things on your plate that I don't want to add to. If this doesn't work out, call me. I will be right there. Wherever you are." Crystal is an amazing artist but she can't produce anything like the love she sees in Lauren's eyes.
The women held each other until Crystal broke away. She walked out and never looked back.
Lauren turned and fell on the bed. She cried until she fell asleep. When she woke the next morning. She noticed the doors had been closed some time during the night. She went to open them and found her bags. She brought them in and quickly showered.
Crystal is right. She can't be here while Lauren goes through this. She's a living breathing girlfriend. Not someone in a coma waiting on Lauren to bring her out. She showered and dressed. "If she's going to get through this, she needs to get started. They might still love each other. But she won't be as easy as she was the first time around.
Trick's lair
"Aww, what the fuck is this?!." Aife screamed.
"Heartbreak." Kenzi walked in.
"Trick, get your ass down here!." Aife screamed again.
"What is it now, Aife?! Trick screamed back.
"What? Look at my daughter. Look at her. She's a wreck. No Succubus should look like this!." The Succubus screamed.
"Lauren was here last night. Bo has been down here since she left." Trick explained.
"Find me this, Lauren." Aife pulsed Dyson.
"Oh, double dick balls". Kenzi rolled her eyes and went to Bo.
TBC