"Lauren, what are you doing?." The Succubus asked as the doctor had her hand around her neck.
"You are going to fight me." Lauren replied.
"You have me mistaken, sweetie. I will not fight you. I will never lay a violent hand on you." The Succubus removed the hand from her neck and gently pushed Lauren away.
The blonde would not be denied and grabbed her again. "You can keep trying this all day. I will not fight you. Bo wants to train with you, but she will not fight you either. There is a darkness in you, that's why you are like this. But I know how to fix that." The Succubus grabbed Lauren's head and kissed her. It was warm and passionate. She felt the doctor moan into her mouth when she increased the pressure. She pulled back and pulled Lauren's chi. Megan and Vivian looked on in horror as black smoke came from Lauren's mouth and the succubus inhaled it into hers. Minutes later, she let go and pushed for Lauren to sit down. "Rest."
"The Morrigan will hear of this!." Vivian screamed.
"Hear of what? That I kissed her? That I took the darkness that she tames in me out of her? Sure, tell Evony and tell her I said to kiss my ass if she doesn't like it!." Blue eyes turned brown as Bo kneeled in front of Lauren. "Are you okay?."
"What just happened?." Lauren gasped.
"You were dark, Lauren. The same dark that happens to me when you have been threatened or hurt. The same dark that made me a killer for so many years. She took that darkness from you and swallowed it. You don't deserve to feel that. You don't deserve to be that." Bo took a seat and leaned back in her chair.
"Bo." Lauren shook her head.
"It's my blood, Lauren. It probably gave you some of my succubus tendencies. You're the scientist, you probably know the breakdown better than I do." Bo gently squeezed Lauren's leg and let it go.
"Lauren, are you really okay?." Vivian asked.
Lauren looked up and noted the three succubus surrounding her. All powerful. All concerned. But the one that shook her the most is the one that left her alone and unprotected. Sure, Nelson infiltrated a Fae compound, but he never would have come there, had Bo not pissed him off. Her physical wounds are gone but her mental wounds are still roaring inside of her. "I need to run some tests, alone." She stood and walked away from them.
"Lauren, I will be right here." Bo whispered as the woman walked past her. Lauren turned and made eye contact but didn't say anything.
"The Ash and Morrigan should know about this. In case we need to move, again." Vivian turned to Megan.
"Call her." Megan said and watched her walk away.
"Are you in love with Lauren, too?." Bo asked.
"I do love Lauren. As a friend. I care about her wellbeing and her safety matters to me. Not just because we were sent to protect her, but because she's a wonderful woman. The Fae shat all over her life, and now we're on her detail. That was a long winded answer, but yes, I do love her. But not like Vivian is growing to." Megan replied.
"I don't like the two of you, but if she wants you two around, I can't stop that. What I will stop is the bullshit you allow. I want to train with her, but I won't fight her. I haven't been around every time she's trained with you but if I ever see one bruise, one hair out of place, I will allow my succubus control for as long as she wants it. I don't know if you know Lauren and her history but it wasn't always pretty for people that thought they could put a blade to her neck or touch her in the wrong way. I will answer my own question and say that I love her. I have made many mistakes with her but I am not leaving. I will stay right here with her until things between us are better." Bo folded her arms and looked to see if Lauren was coming back out again. As much as she wants to run in and go to her, she needs to let her be a doctor. She felt the doctor respond to her kiss, so she is certain her succubus did all that she needed to do to undark Lauren.
Undark. The purest and kindest woman Bo knows, should never be dark. She can be angry, yes, but never dark like that. Bo bowed her head. She felt dark. Stupid for not protecting her in the first place. Stupid for not allowing her relationship to be her number one. Lauren is her number one. She has been for years. She just never told the woman or made her feel that way. Like the first time they made love into their relationship, Trick called. She should have let it go to voicemail. They couldn't get two days alone before the fae literally came calling for Bo. She's not Light. She is not Dark, so why? Why does she need to be their fighter? Their hero? Trick is the Blood King. If he can't fix his own shit, who can? She shuddered at her mental diary. She shuddered again and went for a walk.
Megan watched Bo get lost in her head and eventually walk away. She knows the woman will be back. So will Vivian from what is more than likely, a loud call. The succubus was walking back over and in a hurry too. "Are we on the move again?."
"No. We are staying here. We are to give Lauren the same protection but we are also to give her space and time with Bo, when she asks." Vivian rolled her eyes.
"I warned you. You kept thinking you were going to get with Lauren. But we have our orders and you must stand down." Megan shrugged.
"Bo shouldn't get a clear path either!." Vivian snapped.
"What did the Morrigan and Ash say, exactly?." Megan asked.
"After I explained what happened, they exactly said Lauren needs Bo's succubus if she goes loopy again. I don't mind her needing the succubus, it's Bo that pisses me off." Vivian shook her head.
Kenzi and Trick.
"I may as well move in. I keep coming here, and you keep telling me there is no word from Bo." Kenzi shook her head.
"Has she not called or sent a text?." Trick asked.
"Nothing. I'm seriously starting to get offended and worried. This isn't like Bo. She's been gone for weeks. I know she's chasing Lauren but if the woman wants to run, let her. If she comes back, then it will be meant to be." Kenzi took a seat.
"We know how Bo feels about Lauren. We know how her succubus feels about Lauren. No news can be good news. Especially in this situation. She needs to get her life right otherwise, she would be wasting time coming back here empty handed. Her succubus is involved in that equation too." Trick walked around the bar. He was wiping tables. Silly, really. He has staff to do this but it's keeping his mind as busy as Kenzi's needs to be to take her mind off of Bo. Dyson hadn't been in for days, that's good news too. He's probably mentally ashamed that he was attacked and it was Lauren that healed him. Ashamed that he can't be Bo's hero or her love. Kenzi said she should move in but it feels to him like Bo has moved out. Out of Toronto. Out of their little group. While she has his blood, that will always bind them, but it won't always make her come there. To visit and talk. To work on cases. But since she's not there. She's not been wounded. Hale and Evony have sent all fae cases to new detectives. They can't trust Dyson not to bumble anything up in his mental status.
"I'm hungry." Kenzi pulled Trick from his chores. He nodded and returned to the kitchen.
Lauren
The doctor lifted her head. She had run test after test and every result came back the same. Her hands still glow at certain times. Did she make herself a freak by using Bo's blood? She shook her head no at the question, if she's a freak that would make Bo a freak too. She will never think of the succubus that way. Bo can't help her nature. She can't help what she can do with her blood and her succubus.
She stood and walked to get a drink of water. She has everything she could possibly need as a scientist but as a woman, she's lonely. Nadia died years ago but she had already fallen in love with Bo. Then her succubus surfaced a few times and there was love from that side of the brunette too. She looked into a mirror and froze. Could that be who she fell in love with? No because Bo's been in control through most of all of it. Which means Bo is the one that broke Lauren's heart. Long before Nelson walked in. As healthy as she feels, the cracks are still there. The hurt is still there. Seeing the woman is both helping and hurting her. Helping because there is a chance they can talk and mend. The hurting is because Lauren isn't even half sure she can trust Bo with her heart. She knows she can trust her with her life because her succubus would show up and show out.
She's not really alone, but she is. She's the only human among the four of them. Megan and Vivian will do everything that she asks of them. Bo is there just because she's her ex. They wouldn't be exes had Bo thought about Lauren. Thought about what going out and getting her ass kicked and needing to heal with Dyson does to her. Thought about how her cases were coming between them and the last one literally did. Thought about their relationship before she thought about Dyson. Then Tamsin telling her about their kiss. Lauren is the laughingstock of the fae world because she was dating a succubus. In her own way, she's at fault for the kiss with Tamsin. She basically gave Bo an open black book to do whatever she wants with whomever she wants.
Megan and Vivian. They would have and could have been useful back then. If Bo can go out and make out with folks, why can't the doctor? No! Lauren internally screamed. She will not do that to herself. Get into a relationship just to cheat on Bo. Even though they wouldn't be cheating since they would have likely agreed on that. Lauren doesn't want to share herself or be in a relationship that she has to share with someone. They tried it and it didn't work.
She pulled her phone out and dialed. "Can you come here?."
"Sure, I will be right there." Bo smiled and pocketed her phone. She was still a good ways away from the house, but ran back just so she wouldn't be making the doctor wait too long. She ran past Megan and Vivian too. They couldn't do anything even if they wanted to because Bo was already in the door. "Lauren?!.", she screamed.
"Bo, I'm ready to move on." Lauren walked up behind the woman.
"From me?." Bo frowned.
"I'm ready to move on from the bullshit that hangs on me because of our relationship. We need to talk and get it out, have a seat." Lauren gestured before she took a seat of her own.
"Lauren all I can say is that I'm sorry. I can't be more vocal than that." Bo spoke softly. She wasn't expecting this.
"Bo, it is not all of your fault. We agreed you would heal from other people, but I should have said not to kiss other people for kicks. Whether you did it intentionally or not, I should have been told. I could go out and find a side chick, but I'm not that type of woman or person." Lauren shook her head and leaned forward.
"You can't date anyone but me." Bo's voice was dark and heavily intoxicated with jealousy.
"I could if I want, but I don't want to right now. I am just getting out from under the Light Fae and trying to find some stability. I will never be that same Lauren again. I won't have you here being strung along like you do Dyson thinking there will eventually be something between us again. I don't know that because as I am learning about my new life, I am also learning about the new me. I can't promise you a relationship, if that's what you are truly hanging around and waiting on, then you should go. I won't hold you back any further. I won't have your life and future in my hands." Lauren sat back again.
"Isn't that the story, Lauren. Your hands. I am in your hands, I have been for years. It has been good. It has been bad on both sides but I am where I want to be. You wanted out because I wasn't there. I wasn't home to protect you. I wasn't there when you needed me most. I can stay. I will be okay with whatever you decide. You are my choice, if I'm not yours, then I'm not yours." Bo spoke honestly. Her walk had done her good. She thought and thinks about nothing but them. She did send Kenzi and Trick an update but didn't give them an address or her coordinates. When they pushed, she pushed back and that was that. She can't help it. She wants to be with Lauren and Lauren should have known that by now.
"Okay. That's all I wanted to tell you. I am getting hungry and am going for a late meal." Lauren stood and Bo followed her out. Lauren went one way and she went another.
"Aren't you supposed to be seeing to her every need?." Bo asked Megan and Vivian who were standing at their posts.
"The Morrigan and Ash sent over a chef. Her meals will be plenty." Vivian replied.
"What are you not telling me?." Bo asked.
"Don't, Megan." Vivian shook her head.
"She needs to know, for Lauren's sake." Megan replied.
"What about, Lauren?." Bo's voice was as angry as her eyes.
"We have new orders. We are to stand down from Lauren. We can protect her, but nothing else can go on No hugs. No flirting. No physical contact of any kind." Megan replied.
"You mean Vivian here can't throw her panties at Lauren?." Bo laughed.
"One day, this will be over and I will kick your ass." Vivian eyed the woman.
"Lauren and I will never be over. But you are free to kiss mine, right now." Bo stepped to her.
"Bo, we are to protect Lauren. Nothing else is on our books. You are to be given time with her, when she requests it, but other than that, we have no say in her choices." Megan explained.
"Lauren likes the both of you. I want her to be happy, I will stand down from wanting to kick your asses too. But make no mistake about my choice, my choice is Lauren. I have a long way to go to prove that to her. Stay on your detail although no fae would dare come for her because they would be coming for me. Do what you want to ensure she gets all that she needs, I will handle the rest of her needs." Bo looked back and forth between them and walked away. She is hungry too. She can wait until Lauren has eaten her food before she goes and makes a meal for herself. She won't burden the chef with cooking for her too. Lauren deserves to be spoiled like that.
Lauren
"Dr. Lewis, your dinner is served." The chef came to get the woman from the small living area just off the dining room. Lauren nodded, stood and walked to the table.
She took a seat and picked up a fork. When it happened again she closed her eyes. "Shall I get the succubus?." The chef asked.
"No. Don't. This will pass." Lauren shook her head and drank some ice water.
"They need to know." The chef bent over the table.
"Fine. Find Bo and bring her in." Lauren set the fork down and sat back in her chair. She stared straight ahead as she waited for the two of them to walk in.
"Ms. Dennis, the doctor needs you." The chef tapped Bo's shoulder and she jumped at his touch.
"What's wrong?." Bo asked.
"I will let her tell you that." The chef pointed towards the dining room and turned to walk the other way.
Bo's heart started racing. This doesn't sound good. The hair on the back of her neck was starting to stand up too. She thought about Lauren and hurried up. "Lauren? What is it?."
"Watch." Lauren picked up her fork again and it happened again.
"Shit! When did that start?!." Bo dropped to her knees beside the doctor.
"Just now. But they've been warm for hours. I just never told anyone." Lauren replied.
"They weren't warm when you touched my neck." Bo took Lauren's hand and it wasn't warm. "It's not warm to me." She whispered.
Lauren rose up and grabbed a different fork. It didn't melt like the other two. "Bo."
"I know. I know. I'm the cool to your fire." Bo replied.
"I'm not ready, Bo. I'm not." Lauren moved away.
"Hey, you don't have to be. This is not a red flag telling us we are or should be a couple again because of this. I need to earn you, Lauren. I need to earn you as me, not as what my succubus can do for you." Bo let go of touching Lauren.
"Then help me eat. I don't want to keep destroying silverware until we can get this under control." Lauren moved back to her normal position. Bo nodded and pulled a chair over. Her hand shook but only because she is nervous about somehow screwing this up too.
TBC