The Dal

"So Fitzpatrick. Do you want to tell me why Lauren doesn't remember me? Albert asked staring at Trick as he rubbed his chin. He knew this routine. He was trying to come up with an excuse on the fly.

"That was part of the curse. If she remembered you then she wouldn't be so obedient in staying with the Light Fae." Trick said tiredly. When he woke up this morning, he wasn't prepared for this. Deep down he wished Lauren wouldn't return and he would only have to deal with Bo and Aife's rage. He could always handle the Elders anger.

"You should have known this would come back to bite you in the ass Blood King." Albert said threateningly.

"You can't threaten me! Trick said pointing to his arms.

"I can and I will but since your treachery involves Lauren too. I shall let her kick your ass if she so wishes." Albert said.

"It doesn't have to come to that." Trick said walking behind the bar. He needed to put a barrier between him and Albert.

Albert watched Trick. He knew he had just returned and there was no way he was going to allow the man to hide from him or this. He had held up his end of the bargain and Trick failed on his. He was proud of what he had seen in Lauren. She was brilliant just like her mother. Margaret was always a handful and deeply into Science just like Lauren. He opened her book that she left on the countertop to try and learn more about her. Namely her train of thought.

Berlin

"My Queen I am so sorry to have to disturb you but this is big. I thought you'd want to know." Arthur panted following Bo and Aife into her throne room.

"What is it Arthur? Aife said taking her seat.

"The wolf is here my Queen." Arthur said.

"Where is he and what has he done? Aife asked never taking her eyes off of Arthur.

"Nothing that I know of but our top secret information could be in danger." Arthur said widening his eyes at her as a hint.

"I see. Well as long as we can find him and keep tabs on him there is nothing he can tell anyone that I can't get out of." Aife laughed.

Arthur was so nervous beads of sweat were starting to form on his face. He swallowed hard in fear of what the Queen would and could do to him.

"Arthur! Aife screamed.

"My Queen? He bowed.

"I asked if you the Guard was out looking for him? Aife screamed.

"Yes my Queen I sent them out ahead of your return." Alfred said wiping his forehead with a handkerchief.

"Then I guess you have work to do." Aife nodded towards the door.

"Yes my Queen." Arthur said turning to leave.

"Mom what's going on? Bo asked looking around the throne room.

"Your bf is here which means it's nothing I nor any hand I command can't handle." Aife said watching Bo's fascination with her throne room.

"He is not my boyfriend mom." Bo said.

"Sweetie that dog is always in heat over you." Aife laughed. Dyson was so obvious that he may as well pee on Bo to claim her. A thought she knew must have popped into his peabrain of a mind.

"What could Dyson want here? He is basically Trick's right hand man." Bo sighed taking a seat.

"I don't know but I will have a lot of fun beating his ass to find out." Aife laughed.

Lauren and Dyson.

"Don't shoot! Dyson said holding his palms up.

"You will leave this family alone." Lauren said coldly. It was taking everything in her not to pull the trigger.

"Like I said Lauren I have to take them back to Toronto. The Elders sent me for them." Dyson pleaded.

Lauren could smell the funk and this time it wasn't just Dyson. She had a hunch as to why they would want this family. Would they want the others as well? This shit would not be happening again. Not if she could help it.

Lauren watched the Cranes running towards the door behind her. They didn't know who she was but she was less threatening than the wolf had been when he was practically growling in their faces.

"Go to your basement and lock the door. I will come for you once this bastard is gone". Lauren said towards them. When the older lady nodded Lauren smiled at her.

"Lauren you can't stop me from talking to them." Dyson said. He wasn't sure why the Elders wanted them but he knew going back without them they would have his ass. He had been held in the dungeon until they came for him. He wasn't even allowed to change clothes. Just given a sheet of paper with instructions, names and addresses.

"They're human. You know us right? Weak. Pathetic. Flat screen tv lovers." Lauren laughed. She remembered all of his bullshit insults directed at her or not when she went to meet Bo for drinks that one night long ago.

"I need them." Dyson said. He'd hoped he and Lauren could at least be civil and come to some sort of understanding.

"Tell me why and for once in your life, don't lie to my face." Lauren bristled.

"Nadia." Dyson said and screamed.

"What about her? Lauren bristled watching Dyson grimace in pain after she had shot him in his stomach.

"They want to use them like they used her." Dyson mumbled holding his stomach as blood poured out.

"Then I guess you better go and tell them you came back empty handed. Without me or them." Lauren said putting her gun back in it's holster.

"There are others we can go after." Dyson growled.

"Yeah well you won't be going after them tonight." Lauren said pointing towards his wound.

"Dr. Lewis please." Dyson pleaded.

"I can't help you. I'm off the clock but if you hurry, you will find Succubi lined up and down the street. If it makes you feel better I saw quite a few brunettes." Lauren laughed. She studied them enough to know how to spot them.

They both turned after they heard a creak in the floor.

"Well would you look at that! It's your favorite one." Lauren laughed pointing at Bo.

"Shit. I can't be here." Bo said talking to noone in particular as she turned to go. It was all she could say. She couldn't even talk with Lauren.

"He will live. I'm sure you will see to that right? Lauren asked over her shoulder.

"Bo! Don't leave me here! Dyson screamed out in pain.

"The wound should not be that deep. You know that pup cries when he cuts his pinky finger." Lauren laughed noticing Bo was still standing at the door.

Bo closed her eyes. This was a mess. Not only did she want to help Lauren. She couldn't. She couldn't do anything about what Lauren had just done. Dyson would need to find his own way out of there. Shaking her head she finally walked out.

"Where is she going? Dyson asked scrambling to his feet.

"Looks like the wolf has to crawl out of here huh? Lauren laughed.

"Now could ya go? I have a mess to clean here", Lauren said pointing towards the floor.

Bo was screwed. That was not a good situation she had just walked out on. But she remembered the rules. She couldn't help Lauren. The blonde was too beautiful to turn into an underfae. "Ick." She thought. The Succubus inside of her was starting to stir. She needed to get out of there. She was too involved as it was just being in the proximity.

"Hey hey! I told her I would be back news." Bo said towards the Guard storming in their direction.

Per the Queen. "You were taking too long. If he was found dead or alive, she wouldn't give a fuck. End quote", the Guard said.

Bo laughed as she shook her head. That was Aife alright.

"See I told you sweetie the Queen don't play! The blonde Succubus Bo had met earlier said as she laughed pointing at Dyson. If he was about to meet his death, he was kind of handsome but she still wouldn't tap that.

Bo followed the Guard to their Humvees and climbed into the back seat of one. She had walked since it was only a few miles away from the castle but wanted to see what Aife was going to do. She held on as they sped away.

Lauren

I had walked down to the Cranes basement after I had cleaned up the mess I left in their living room. They were hesitant to come out but felt safe enough to after I assured them that I knew Dyson and he was gone. Frankly I didn't care where Bo took him, hopefully to the morgue. I know. I know. As a Doctor I shouldn't believe in that. But my life was literally traded for his and the whole situation reeks of his hand in all of it.

"Thank you Karen." The older woman said and my mouth dropped wide open. There was no need for introductions it seemed.

"You know who I am? I asked softly.

"I knew who you were the minute you walked in the door. Blonde but still you." She replied.

"I am sorry Ms...", I started.

"Mrs. Crane. I never married again." She said gesturing for me to have a seat but I declined. Having a seat would mean I felt comfortable and to be honest I didn't feel comfortable. I felt jumpy and needed to keep my back towards the wall.

"Mrs. Crane I am so sorry. I never meant for any of this to happen." I said.

"I read the police reports. I know every detail. All I want to know from you is why? Mrs. Crane asked.

"That's it? That's all you want from me? I asked.

"You saved our lives from that animal and you didn't have to. So yes I want to know why my husband had to die." Mrs. Crane said.

I took a few deep and hard breaths bowing my head in shame. Raising it I began to tell her after she had excused her kids to leave the room.

"My brother and I wanted to change the world. We started with blowing up pipelines. But that was only supposed to be when they were empty. He took one of my newest pipe bombs and left with it. We had agreed that we would make sure the place was empty. I assumed he had checked it out first. He swore to me he did after the explosion." I said.

I bowed my head again. I needed to contain the tears that were about to fall. I wanted her to know that I was sorry but I didn't want to make her start crying.

"Mike wasn't supposed to be there. None of them were. They had been called in to work over time." Mrs Crane said.

But that didn't dim my guilt. I had taken a father from his family and no telling how many others were parents or parents to be.

"I promise you we never did that again." I said.

"Probably because you were caught." Mrs. Crane said heatedly pulling me out of my pity party.

"I have carried that guilt since the day it happened. I didn't know what he had done until I saw it on the news just as he showed up at my door." I said.

"My kids never got over it. They keep thinking every footstep in the door will be him coming home. As you saw they are nearly adults now." Mrs. Crane said.

She was right. They had 2 boys and three girls or that's who was in the house when I had arrived. I could tell she was being nice and as patient with me as she could be but how do you say sorry enough when you have taken away so much? I wanted to offer my medical advice but I'm used to treating physical wounds, not emotional ones.

"I'm so sorry again and I'm sorry about Dyson." I said meeting her eyes.

"Well hopefully he has made his final visit to us." Mrs. Crane said.

"Final? What? Has he been here before? I asked looking around.

"He hounded us for years back in Toronto. I thought we had finally gotten away from him." Mrs. Crane said.

"How long? I asked my anger was growing now but I wasn't going to show her that.

"Four years ago off and on and then he showed up again a few months ago that's when I finally packed up and moved here. My kids just got here last month." Mrs. Crane said.

I did the math in my head. That bastard. It all made sense. While they were busy cursing Nadia their golden boy was off trying to secure a backup plan. All of those cases and belittlement I had to deal with. But this wasn't Mrs. Crane's fault and I had to make sure they were safe and stayed that way. All of them.

"He won't be coming back here. I guarantee it." I bristled.

"Thank you for saving our lives before. Hopefully he will never come back two of my daughters are expecting." Mrs. Crane said tiredly. I needed to get out of there. I didn't want to tire her out any further.

"I will go. Again I am so sorry for your husband. I wish I could bring him back. All of them back." I said softly.

She stared at me. I couldn't tell if she was going to snap or pull out some kind of weapon. I wondered how much she knew about the Fae. When I arrived Dyson was growling as he talked.

"One more question before I go. Did he ever talk to you like he was when I showed up? I asked.

"I know about the Fae. I have for years but my kids never did. If that's what your concerned about." Mrs. Crane said.

"Did he threaten you back then too? I asked.

"He tried. But I know a dog when I smell one having worked at a Veterinary clinic." Mrs. Crane said.

I would work to make sure this family and the others were never disturbed by the Fae again.

"I will go now. Thank you for listening to me. I don't think anyone else would have been as gracious." I said.

"If you hadn't shown up I think he would have eaten us. He really should brush his teeth when he's in human form." Mrs. Crane said.

That did it for me. Dyson had been there because how would she know what he really is.

"I will tell him that when I tell him to stay away from you and the rest of your family." I said.

"Thank you Karen." Mrs. Crane said.

"Thank you. I really am sorry." I said.

"Just make sure you never or none of them ever darken our door steps again." Mrs. Crane said.

"I will." I promised. A promise I would keep too. She had a right to make that request. I never realized how many people were involved in this but I did now. Too many.

Aife's Throne Room

"Ahhhh. I have such good dog catchers." Aife laughed as Dyson was brought before her.

"What the hell is going on here? Dyson asked.

"Isn't it obvious woof woof? I run this here." Aife laughed pointing around the room.

"What do you want with me? Dyson asked.

"Don't bat your eyes at me pup. I never wanted your ass and you know it." Aife said taking a sip of wine.

"What do you want?! Dyson screamed. He still hadn't healed yet.

"Someone get bow wow some towels and something for his owwie." Aife laughed.

"I'm fine." Dyson bristled.

"Uhh your dripping blood on my new carpet." Aife said coming down from her throne.

"I said I'm fine and had you left me alone, I would be gone! Dyson snapped.

"Watch your tone! Well damn now I need new shoes." Aife laughed after kicking Dyson in his wound.

"Either tell me what you want or release me. I haven't done anything wrong." Dyson said.

"Only brought your dumbass over here. I told you I run this. I will decide what to do with you. And whew someone needs a bath." Aife said stepping away from the wolf.

"He's right my Queen. He hasn't broken any laws yet! Arthur said but backed away when Aife turned to stare him down.

"Let's see what I can come up with. Being in Berlin when he's not welcome. Stinking up the place with his smell. Peeing on a fire hydrant. Are you writing these down Arthur? Aife laughed.

Bo walked over to Aife and whispered in her ear.

"Ohhhh you're right baby. If I kill him here, I will have to bury him here. Let him be buried at the Dal Riata." Aife laughed. She had just remembered what Albert said and thanks to Bo. She knew what Dyson was up to something suspicious and if it involved Lauren, they couldn't help.

Dyson stared at Bo and Aife and wondered what they were talking about. How would they know what he was supposed to be doing and then it hit him, he had told Lauren what his cause was so naturally they had to be in on it.

"Take him down to Shelly and Renee. Have them heal him as punishment and escort his scrawny ass to Bashira. Watch him leave and report back to me when he's gone. I want this bastard out of my country." Aife ordered the Guard.

"Yes my Queen." Arthur and the Guard said bowing in unison.

"What are you doing to do mom? Bo asked.

"We are going back to see what the Elders do to him. They have shifters that will kick his ass. I must find some popcorn on the way." Aife laughed.

"Mom Lauren was with him so if this is part of her Dawning we can't interfere." Bo said.

"If you saw her with him, you already did." Aife said softly.

"I showed up when he was bleeding and left. I didn't even talk to her." Bo said just as softly.

"So Dr. Lewis shot him? Damn I always miss the good shit. That's why I'm going back and if they don't kill him, I will. For invading my country of course. Nothing to do with Dr. Lewis." Aife laughed rubbing her hands together. She would get to see Trick sweat it out over his favorite never was son.

Bo shook her head. She wanted to stay and be there for Lauren but she couldn't. It was already the longest she had ever gone without talking to her when she wasn't upset. But why was she ever upset with her to begin with? Had Lauren did anything wrong? She wasn't free to do anything without the Ash's consent. Wait. Trick's consent since he started her bullshit servitude. She would return to Toronto too. Just to keep an eye on the biggest asses she had ever seen when she wasn't being one herself.

Lauren

After I had left the Cranes I checked out of my hotel early. If the Fae knew about them then they knew about the others. Dyson was right for once when he said there would be others.

I had already looked at the list. I was off to New York now. The big apple. I felt like an apple was in my throat I was so nervous. I was nervous that they had already gotten to them and did things I didn't want to think of. Nobody would be cursed. Nobody would be chained to or placed in a pod prison for years.

Dyson shocked me when he mentioned Nadia. He never indicated that he ever knew about Nadia. I never once saw him near her after we were taken by the Fae. I almost wished the Garuda had invaded his body. That's how angry I am at that bastard. But once again the Succubus helped him like I wasn't standing there at all.

The Dal Riata

It had been three hours since Dyson had left Berlin with Aife and Bo hot on his tail. A tail Aife laughed knowing that's all he did in his miserable life. Chase his tail like the dog he was. If Trick told him to bite himself, he would.

"We're back! Aife yelled entering the Dal.

"Bo! Bo! You have to listen to me! Dyson yelled running up to her.

"No I don't. This is one case you will work alone Detective." Bo said pulling away from him grabbing a bottle from behind the bar.

"Bo you don't understand. The Elders will kill me! Dyson said grabbing her again.

"I am only going to tell you one more time boy. Work on your own cases. I gave you life and I would gladly take it back", Bo said snapping her blue eyes in his direction.

"Bo! Dyson said.

"It won't be Bo that does it", The Succubus winked.

TBC.