Second in ‘The Slayer Series’

Title: Twisted Fate

Author: Gillian Silverlight

Distribution: My site, those that have previous permission to post my fic, others please ask.

Disclaimer: They belong to Joss and the WB, the UPN and seems like just about everybody but me. I just play with them.

Spoilers: Minor for after ‘The Gift’

Summary: Lindsey seeks Angel out to work with him at Angel Investigations; Faith teams up with the group.

Rating: NC-17 (Sex, language, violence, character death)

Lyrics: “Twist of Fate” by Olivia Newton John, “The Right Kind of Wrong” by Leeann Rimes

Thanks: Many many thanks to my sister, Dyane Windshadow. With one comment she made this trilogy possible.

                                                                        Twisted Fate

 

PROLOGUE:

 

Buffy had been saved from the Powers That Be and had made peace with Angel about their relationship. She had decided that Spike was a better mate.

Angel had returned to LA to resume his work there, while Faith had to return to prison after her bereavement leave that Kate and Wesley had procured for her.

 

                                                **************************************

 

‘Do we deserve a second chance?

How did we fall into this circumstance?

We weren't so straight and narrow

This is much more than we deserve’

 

He was taking a big chance simply by returning to LA. Not only from Wolfram and Hart but from Angel as well. He decided to go all the way with that mistake and pulled into the parking area of the Hyperion, getting wearily out of his battered vintage red truck and walking to the front door of the hotel.

He wasn’t sure what kind of reception he would get, or the case was really more that he knew the reception he’d get but wondered if he could stall the results long enough to explain?

Squaring his shoulders, Lindsey McDonald pushed the front door of the Hyperion open and walked inside.

 

The lobby was dim in the afternoon light. The overhead fans swished through the air with a whisper of sound. Lindsey walked carefully but determinedly toward the office space in the corner. As he reached the door, it opened in front of him. Angel stood there, motionless in surprise at the sight of the last person he expected to see.

 

“Lindsey?!” Angel found a third expression, as he saw the former Wolfram and Hart lawyer.

 

“Hi, Angel. Long time no see.” Lindsey waited to see how bad the reception was going to be.

 

“What are you doing here? I thought you had left town. I thought we’d agreed you wouldn’t come back.” Angel told the man he’d fought for so long, making each statement a question.

 

“I did. We did. I wasn’t. But I had a few things happen besides your sign on the truck that caught my attention. I started thinking about it and it seemed like the better idea was to come talk to you about this.” Lindsey knew he wasn’t explaining well, but at least Angel was letting him talk instead of punching him out.

 

“What happened? Get to the point, Lindsey before I forget we parted peacefully.” Angel told him, waiting to see what the catch was going to be.

 

“Can we sit down? It might be kinda a long story.” Lindsey looked toward the sofa as he spoke.

 

Angel walked over and sat as he watched the lawyer. “Okay. Have a seat.”

 

Lindsey sat on the sofa across from the dark haired vampire. He pulled one leg up and crossed his ankle over his knee, dangling both hands across his leg.

“It started with the fun from your note on my truck. The first cop wasn’t amused.”

 

Angel had to fight to keep his smile from being a full-fledged grin.

 

“I explained it was a practical joke done by an acquaintance. But when the cop radioed my tag number in, he got a bit evasive and tried to get me into his car. He was going to kill me but I managed to get him first. It’s been like that ever since. I have to watch over my shoulder everywhere. I need to make this stop. I thought you might help me. In fact you’re the only one I know that is even likely to believe me, much less help me.” Lindsey ran his fingers though his hair in frustration.

“Then I heard a rumor on the street about you and I thought maybe we could help each other.” The lawyer paused to see if Angel would let anything drop of his own recent troubles.

Angel sat silently just looking at Lindsey.

 

*So much for that idea..* Lindsey thought, about his tactic with the vampire.

“ Okay, so here’s what I heard and what I thought. I heard that Kate was out of a job, off the force. I also heard that you got a visit from a couple of attorneys from Wolfram and Hart about your lease here. It sounds like maybe you need an attorney on your staff, Angel. Someone who knows who and what you are, what you do and the same about the guys who are after you. I can be that someone. I’d like to be that someone.

Having an in with the police force isn’t a bad idea either. Or at least someone who might still have some contacts there…

Ok, so here’s the deal. I want to go to work for you, Angel. I’ll help protect you from them and you help protect me from them. I’ll give you every ounce of loyalty I’ve got.”

 

“Exactly how much is that, Lindsey? If I agree, I sure hope it was more than you gave to ‘W&H’.” Angel told him seriously. The offer was good, but he didn’t want Lindsey to know that just yet. It would be a big help to keep W&H off of his back and having someone who knew them inside and out would be just what the brooding vampire needed.

 

“I understand, Angel. You have every right to question that.” McDonald took a deep breath. “I didn’t give them complete loyalty because I didn’t always agree with everything they were doing. Oh, in the beginning, yeah. But as it went on.. well, there was a lot they never said until it was too late. They had backed me into a corner and had a good grip around my throat. When you took out most of the top guys, it eased off somewhat. I got a chance to catch my bearings a bit and I didn’t like what I saw. They were just as willing to use me as they were to use you and anyone else they can touch.”

 

“So after you got your hand back, you walked out on them and they’re pissed.” Angel didn’t ask, he simply made it a statement.

 

“Pretty much. Funny, even though you did the cutting; I got over being angry with you for the loss. If I hadn’t betrayed you for them, if I hadn’t been doing what they wanted me to do trying to hurt you; I’d never have been in a position to lose my hand. So in a way, it’s really their fault for putting me in that position. I felt it was only fair that they give me back what they had cost me.” Lindsey explained his feelings somewhat to the vampire in front of him.

*Explaining myself to a vampire.. That’s so weird. But then it is Angel. He’s not like any other vampire. It’s more than just the soul.. What is it that makes him so different? *

“Angel, I’ve got an odd question for you. Something that just flashed through my mind… I’ve had to deal with vampires before with the firm, but you’re different. It’s not just the soul, there is something else about you that is different and I don’t understand what it is… You’re more than just a vampire… Do you know what it is?” Lindsey was truly curious.

 

The dark-haired vampire looked closely at the lawyer in front of him. Lindsey seemed to be asking an honest question. He’d put into words what Angel had felt for a long time. It had gotten stronger over the years since he had met Buffy.

“I understand what you are asking, Lindsey. I know what you’re talking about, but I’m not sure I know what it is. I know how it got there though.

I was like every other vampire until I fed from the gypsy girl and was cursed with my soul. Sometimes I don’t know if it’s a soul or just a conscience or both. When Buffy and I were… well…the first time…”  Angel took a deep breath. He wasn’t sure how to get through this part.

 

“The first time you made love to the woman you loved.” Lindsey stated it for him, simply and plainly.

 

“Ah, yeah… Thanks.” Angel looked at his former enemy, not sure what Lindsey was now. “Must be the lawyer in you. You put that well. The first time I made love to the woman I loved; I lost my soul. We didn’t know about the clause on it. It was a very bad few months. I was worse than ever, like all that time the demon in me was pent up and now was trying to make up for lost time. But the horrible thing was that I still loved her. Even as the demon; I still loved her.  But the demon hated her for it the whole time.. When we fought and Willow restored my soul, Buffy still had to ‘kill’ me. She still had to send me to hell. But it wasn’t Angelus that went, it was me.”

Angel’s voice trailed off for a few seconds as he was lost in thought. Lindsey just watched, not wanting to break the mood. Angel was finally talking about himself.

“I came back from Hell. I don’t know how or why, but I did. I was sick and weak and not much more than an animal for a while. I found Buffy though. I could always find Buffy…” Lindsey watched Angel travel in his mind to Buffy again.

“She helped me back to health and a lot happened then too. I had to face the people I had tortured. Not just remember what I had done, but actually face the ones I’d done it to… They got past it. Buffy forgave me.  Eventually the other slayer showed up, Faith and all that went down with her. When she was working for the Mayor and shot me with that poisoned arrow, Buffy tried to kill her. Buffy doesn’t deal with the darkness in herself well. She doesn’t admit it’s there, but it is inside all of us.

When Buffy couldn’t bring me Faith to drink, she made me drink her. I almost killed her, Lindsey. I loved her so much and almost killed her. But I didn’t, as she would say; and I was healed, she got better… Eventually I had to leave. It was going to kill both of us or cost me my soul again if I stayed.” Angel shifted in his seat before he continued.

“Once when she came here, we were attacked by a demon. When I fought it, I was cut and its blood mixed with mine making me human. I spent 24 hours with Buffy as a human man. But the demon came back even stronger and attacked again.  The Oracles said that if I stayed human, Buffy would die. So I gave my humanity back so she could live. She doesn’t remember. No one does except me. I think all this is what has made me like I am.”

 

“Damn, Angel. I had no idea. Which means W&H have no idea. Don’t ever let them know any of that. So this comes from the soul, losing it, regaining it, going to hell, coming back, drinking the blood of a Slayer, turning human and then back to a vampire. Yeah, that’s gotta make some changes in someone.

And you loved her that much? No wonder Darla didn’t make a difference, for all your obsession with her.” Lindsey just looked at the vampire in front of him.

 

“Yeah, I do love Buffy that much. We can’t be together. We can’t have a life together, but she is the only person that can cause that ‘perfect moment of happiness’.” Angel got up from the sofa and paced in slow motion around it.

 

Lindsey watched the man as he walked, thinking about all that Angel had told him. One thing stood out above the rest.

“Angel, don’t ever let anyone that can tell W&H know about Buffy. About how you feel about her. If you do, they’ll take her. Use her against you or kill her if she won’t.”

 

Angel stopped and looked hard at the man in front of him. “What about you, Lindsey? I told you.”

 

“Hey, pull back your fangs, Angel. I’m not telling them. I’m not telling them anything at all except maybe to go to Hell. But I think the senior partners live there already…

No, as weird as it is for both of us, that information is safe with me. They’re trying to kill me, that’s why I need your help. What they have done to you, to me, to Darla, and everyone else they touch is why I want to work with you and stop their plans.” Lindsey knew he had better calm Angel quickly before he was the next snack. He’d been close to being dead by a vampire. He’d seen them kill others and just felt glad it wasn’t him.

 

“Did you love Darla?” Angel asked McDonald unexpectedly.

 

“I thought I did. I don’t know if I’ve ever really loved anyone. I know I wanted her, but I don’t think that makes it love.

What about you? Anyone since Buffy?” Lindsey was curious and thought he had an idea.

 

“No. I was obsessed with Darla. I wanted to save her. I felt I owed it to her… I guess the closest I am to any female is Cordelia. But with what happened with Buffy, I don’t dare love anyone.” Angel said very morosely.

 

“I gotta idea about that. You were with Darla and kept your soul. I think that even if you did love someone else and were with them, you’d never be at the same place with them that you were with Buffy. Let me do some research on this and see what I can come up with. If what I suspect is true, then it’s only the combination of you and Buffy that will cause the problem. You know, Slayer and Vampire. If that’s true, you don’t have to worry about it with anyone else. I know it doesn’t make it feel any better about Buffy, but at least you don’t have to be alone.” Lindsey’s mind was working rapidly. He knew the names of the books he’d need. He bet that Watcher could find copies of them for him.

 

“Why, Lindsey?” It was all Angel could ask.

 

“A lot of reasons. I’m not even sure what they all are, except we’re on the same side now… Against W&H. And you helped me out last time.

I think we kinda understand each other. I feel like I have some debts to pay back.” Lindsey wasn’t sure why, but he knew this felt better to him than just about anything he’d done in a long time.

 

The two men just looked at each other, weighing the words that hung in the air between them.

Angel walked toward the lawyer and stood looking down at him. Lindsey stood up and looked up at Angel.

The vampire reached out and slapped the lawyer on the shoulder, breaking into a grin.

“Hell Lindsey, welcome aboard. If you betray me, I’ll Turn you myself and haul your butt to Sunnydale so they can give you your soul back.” Angel grinned a very evil grin at the young man in front of him.

 

Lindsey continued to look at the vampire. He knew the seriousness of Angel’s threat under the joking words. “You drive a hard bargain, but I think that one is sure to guarantee your employee’s loyalty. Shall I bring in my stuff and take it to my room now?”

 

“I assume you don’t have a place to live either?” Angel asked him with laughter in his voice.

 

“That’s right. Besides, a man always fights harder for his home than anything else.” Lindsey snapped the joke right back at Angel.

 

“Yeah, let’s go get you in a room.” Angel put his arm around the shorter man’s shoulders as they walked to Lindsey’s truck.

 

                                                ************************************

 

‘A higher voice has called the tune

Two hearts that lost the beat will now resume

The gift of life extension

By divine intervention’

 

Lindsey sat to one side of the room as the conversation flowed around him. It was right at the edge of an argument, but Angel was keeping it under control.

“I say he stays. We talked for a while this morning and I believe his reasons. I also gave him enough incentive to keep things straight and above board.

He knows W&H inside and out and can be a big help to us. Especially with that new pair of their goons breathing down our necks. He knows as much about research as you do, Wesley and if he can’t fight, he can learn. You did.”

Angel turned his gaze on Gunn.

“You can help him learn how to fight, and he can help keep your pals out of trouble when that comes up.”

Angel glanced at all three of his friends sitting in front of him.

“He knows about magick. We can use that occasionally around here as well. You’ve done a bit of work in that area before, Wesley. So have I in the past. With the three of us, we can pull together a spell or two if we need to… And he’s one more person to help keep you safe, Cordelia.”

Angel’s voice softened just a bit. “I worry about you.”

 

“Thank you, Angel. It feels sometimes like I’ve known you forever. I’m glad you’re my friend.” Cordelia looked at him with a soft expression.

Angel, Wesley and Gunn all saw ‘friendship’. From the outside looking in, Lindsey saw something else in that exchange between the two brunettes.

 

* They’d make a very good-looking couple. * The lawyer thought to himself a bit absently.

 

“Ok, so he’s in. I assume he’s living here in the hotel as well?” Wesley asked the vampire he’d come to respect and admire.

 

“Yeah. He’s safer here. Then too, it’s not like he’s got a lot of other places to go.”

Angel chuckled. “I’d like for you to get with him and get a list of the books he needs, Wesley. You can give him some tips on the various things we do and some of the training. After all, if you can train a Slayer, you can train a lawyer. They can’t be any more stubborn.”

Angel heard the quick intake of breath from Lindsey behind him as well as from Wesley. He saw Cordelia cover her mouth to hide a smirk. Gunn didn’t even bother do to that much.

“Cordy, I’d like for you and Gunn to get in touch with Kate and see if she will join us as well. Since she doesn’t have the police force to keep her occupied; her experience can come in handy for us here. With her training and Lindsey’s knowledge, we can even get a license and be legit as an agency.”

 

Angel looked at the nodding agreements around him. Time for the last big hurdle.

“There is one more thing. Lindsey is going to see if he can get Faith out on an early release. Especially if Kate will help and if you’ll assume responsibility on paper for her, Wesley.” Angel held up his hand to forestall comments. 

“I know she tortured you, Wesley. I’m hoping you can forgive her. After all, I, or rather Angelus tortured Giles and he forgave me. I’d like to be able to pair us off for work with one experienced or stronger partner and one less strong or less experienced. I was thinking of you, Wesley with Faith. I’d like to pair Lindsey with Kate; and Cordelia with me. I know that leaves you as odd one out, Gunn. But I also know you feel you need to give more help to your friends. This way we can also have an extra backup for any of the groups.”

Angel explained his idea to all of them and waited for the results.

 

“Yeah, ok. As long as you’re not tryin’ to get rid of me. I can work with any of the groups or keep working with Wes until you get that Slayer chick here.” Gunn told Angel.

 

“I’m okay to work with you, Angel.” Cordelia assured the vampire. “And it kinda works out good this way, you know? Ex-cop and ex-attorney… kinda. Slayer and Watcher. Then you and I who have known each other the longest.”

 

“I’ll be willing to work with Faith only on the condition that she listens to me. I know Buffy doesn’t always listen to Giles, but she has an instinctive talent and judgment that Faith doesn’t have. Except perhaps where vampires are concerned.” Wesley realized what he’d said and got quiet.

 

“Do you mean me, Wes?” Angel asked quietly. He’d heard that slip the watcher had made.

 

“Well, I was talking to Giles and he, ah.. well.. Buffy is still working with one of your offspring now.” Wesley was hoping the older vampire would drop the issue at this point. He didn’t want to have to tell Angel the rest of what Giles had confided in him.

 

“Ok, so Spike is still helping Buffy…?” Angel waited for the rest of the bomb to fall. He heard it in the undertones.

 

“Well, she’s (mumble, mumble, mumble)… Wesley really didn’t want to repeat all he had heard about how well Buffy and Spike were doing together. Much better than Buffy and Angel had ever been…

 

“WHAT!?” Angel and Cordelia both exclaimed.

Cordelia looked from Wesley to Angel.. “He said, that Buffy is in love with Spike now. Well, she never has staked him after all these years… I suppose it could be worse. At least he can’t lose his soul, Angel.”

Angel turned the glare on her that could stop demons in their tracks and make men quake in fear. He knew that was what Buffy had meant during their discussion after her return, but he hated to hear it and to have everybody else knowing as well…

 

Cordelia just looked calmly back at him. “What? You think that once she got a taste for vampire men that she’d be happy with human males? The girl can toss small cars. Can you imagine a guy’s ribs after she got excited and hugged him? Get over it, Angel. You broke up with her and have pushed her to move on. So if she does, just drop it and be happy for her.

Of course if that fails, you can just think about her finding out about you and Darla all those months.” Cordelia tossed at the vampire as she bent her head to file her nails.

 

Angel was hit hard by Cordelia’s words and sat perfectly still as only vampires can do, while the words ripped through his memory. He sighed as he realized the truth of the brunette’s words. Just as Spike had always seemed to know Buffy so well, Cordelia always seemed to see into the heart of him.

 

Back behind Angel, Lindsey listened to the brunette’s words. He heard the careful undercurrent of jealousy in her comments.

 

                                                ******************************************

 

Kate came back to the hotel with Gunn and Cordelia. She talked with Angel for a while as he explained the situation to her. The ex-police officer was agreeable since she was at loose ends after being fired from the force. She was a bit dubious about working with Lindsey. She knew his reputation far too well. Angel asked her to give him the benefit of the doubt, at least for a while.

“What can you say to me, Lindsey, that would convince me to give you the benefit of anything?” Kate asked the lawyer in an unforgiving tone.

 

“Not much, Kate. All I can do is ask you the same thing I asked Angel. Give me a chance to prove myself. I know I have a lot of proving to do with everybody. The rest of them are willing to at least give me a chance. Can’t you do that?” Lindsey asked her very seriously.

 

Kate stood and looked at the lawyer she’d crossed paths with all too often in the past. The ex-police woman looked back at the vampire, then back at Lindsey McDonald.

* Ok, if Angel can give him a chance, I guess I can too. I still don’t like him. But then… I didn’t like Angel once I found out he was a blood-sucking vampire. And he saved my life. I don’t guess a lawyer is any different. Just another kind of bloodsucker…*

 

“Alright, Lindsey. I’ll give you the same chance that Angel has given you. But if you even look like you’re gonna hurt anyone, I’ll blow you away myself.” Kate told him with a hard voice.

 

“Thanks, Kate. I’ll enjoy working with you too.” Lindsey winked at her and walked back to the books he was researching at the desk.

 

Kate walked Angel over to the corner. “Are you really sure about this?”

 

“Yeah, Kate.. Please? What exactly is the problem? You hated me for a while, but gave me a chance...” Angel asked the blonde.

 

Kate looked back at McDonald staring into the books in front of him. “I don’t know. He’s too… too damned... something!”

 

The vampire chuckled deep in his chest. “Why Kate.. You’re not attracted to our resident lawyer are you?”

 

Kate gave him a dirty look, turned on one heel and walked off, her back stiff. Angel watched her stalk over to Cordy.

 *I think I hit a nerve there. Hmmm. And Lindsey likes blondes. In fact, he seems to have the same taste in blondes that I do…*

Angel thought he’d just keep a careful eye on that situation.

 

                                                *************************************

‘Do we deserve a second chance?

How did we fall into this circumstance?’

 

The new crew of Angel Investigations had a meeting the next day.

Kate and Lindsey were going to get the license for the agency as a legal Private Investigation firm as well as look into the investigations by W&H regarding the hotel’s lease.

Cordelia and Wesley were getting the paperwork in order so they could have anything possible available in case of investigation into their business.

Lindsey was also getting Angel a good set of ID papers that would stand up to close scrutiny.

Gunn took the cell phone and headed back to do some clean up in his old neighborhood. He told Angel he’d call if he needed them for any back up.

 

Lindsey , Kate and Wesley had also looked into getting Faith released to Wesley’s custody. The paperwork should take about a week, then the case had to be heard in court.

 

                                    *******************************************

 

Two weeks later, everything was coming together. Faith had been released that afternoon. Wesley, Kate and Lindsey brought her back to the hotel and had gotten her settled into a room there as well.

Angel, Gunn and Wesley had set up a training room in a larger area of the hotel during the two weeks they had waited.

Cordelia had gotten sizes from Faith and had done some shopping for the Slayer so she’d have clothes to wear once she was released.

 

Angel, Wesley and Gunn did  most of the training for all of them, but Kate helped with some of it. Each of them knew techniques the others didn’t.

 

More often than not, Cordelia paired up with Kate, while Wesley paired up with either Lindsey or Gunn. Faith paired up with Angel usually, due to her Slayer strength and his vampire strength. But they also took turns with the others.

 

Faith and Lindsey were sparing one afternoon when she got a bit carried away on a throw. Lindsey sailed over her shoulder and hit the wall, sliding down it with a groan.

Faith rushed to the downed lawyer, apologizing as she tried to check him for any injuries.

 

“Lin, I’m so sorry. You ok, dude? I didn’t mean to throw you so hard.” Faith was truly worried about him.

Angel walked over and reached a hand down to help Lindsey off the floor.

 

“Damn, Faith.. A few more of those and I’ll need a body cast.” Lindsey smiled at the dark haired slayer to let her know he was teasing with her.

 

“I’m sorry, Lin. Let me go get you an ice pack. Gonna have a nasty bruise on that cheek.” Faith ran off to the kitchen to get the ice.

 

“Hell, Angel.. is Buffy that strong too?” Lindsey asked as he watched the retreating Slayer.

 

“Actually, she’s a lot stronger than Faith, as well as better trained and more disciplined.”

Angel replied ruefully. He’d been on the receiving end of full blows from both slayers and knew first hand who was stronger.

 

“And you want to foist her off on a human? Damn, Angel. Wes was right. She could get excited and hug a fellow too hard and break something important..” Lindsey rubbed the back of his neck. He was gonna be stiff later.

 

“Yeah, I hadn’t thought about that really. I mean, I knew.. but it just didn’t sink in, I guess. But seeing Faith throw you like that.. Yeah, Buffy and Faith both could really hurt someone.” Angel just looked in the direction of the kitchen while his thoughts were two hours away.

 

Faith bounced out of the kitchen and handed Lindsey the ice pack. “Hold that on your cheek for a while. Your nice face is gonna be fun colors later if you don’t. I’ll give you a break here and go beat up on my Watcher for a while.” She turned and headed for Wesley.

“Hey, Wes.. I broke my other partner; gonna work out with me now, please?”

 

“Are you planning to break me as well? Wesley asked the slayer in a dry tone of voice.

 

“Naw, He was doing so good, I forgot and threw a bit too hard. It was an accident, Wes.”

Faith wondered if Wesley would ever forgive her for what she had done to him. She didn’t feel she deserved to be forgiven, yet she did hope he would.

 

“Okay. Remember, this exercise is called ‘Don’t Crush the Watcher’.“ Wesley moved into a fighting stance with her as Angel watched them.

 

Within just a few moves, Faith had Wesley on the floor.

Lindsey had to laugh. “Looks like we’re gonna be wearing matching colors later, Wes.”

 

Wesley groaned as he accepted Faith’s hand up. “Perhaps I should spar with Cordelia..” the watcher mumbled under his breath.

 

“Hey! I heard that!” Cordelia had walked over to watch the workout as well. She knew what was coming next and wanted a good seat.

“Lindsey, pull up a spot of floor. This is about to get real good.” Cordelia sat down on the floor next to Lindsey and Kate.

 

Angel knew that Faith was feeling a bit hyper and that was causing her to use a bit more force than she realized. He knew that she’d have to work that off, so he stepped in to spar with her as he had with Buffy so many times in the past.

“Okay, Faith. Let’s get that extra energy worked off. Full out?”

 

“You sure?” She asked the vampire. She understood his question. He was willing to take her on with both of them at full strength.

 

“Yeah. You game?” Angel felt the need to do a full workout as well. He’d had to hold back with the others and was feeling a bit stressed from it.

 

“Sure. Let’s do it.” Faith launched herself at the taller vampire.

 

They both struck at each other in an almost lightening barrage of blows and kicks. Each one tried to dodge the blows, but when they did land; Angel and Faith just took them with a grunt.

The Slayer and the Vampire danced around each other as the others watched.

Lindsey leaned over toward Cordelia and Wesley. “And Buffy is better than Faith?”

 

“Oh, much.” Wesley replied as Cordelia answered. “You’d never believe it unless you saw it. I saw the two of them fight once… Buffy and Faith. Made me want to run hide just to see how they could hit each other. Those are two girls I never want mad at me.”

 

At the end of about 20 minutes, both brunettes were sweaty and breathing hard even though Angel didn’t need to breathe. Faith took one final leap and landed in Angel’s arms, her legs wrapped around his chest and arms around his neck.

“Faith, this is not a good move to use on a vampire.” Angel admonished her.

 

“Hey, it is if you want him to carry you upstairs so you can catch a shower.” She grinned at him.

 

Angel just growled at her as he slung her over his shoulder. He carried her as far as the others and sat her on her feet.

 

“What, no ride upstairs?” Faith asked the dark-haired vampire.

 

“Not after you beat me to a pulp, no.” Angel laughed at her.

 

“Faith, I’ll walk you up if you’ll assist me as well.” Wesley offered.

 

The brunette slayer, looked surprised at the watcher’s offer, but walked over to him and put an arm around his waist to match the one around hers. They headed off together up the stairs.

 

“What was that?!” Cordelia whispered to the vampire.

 

“Actually, she likes him.” Angel whispered back.

 

“Faith likes Wesley?” Cordelia was shocked. “Wow! But… you know. Maybe that would work.”

“No… No… NO!” Cordelia grabbed her head as the blinding pain of a vision ripped through her body. As she started to fall, Angel was there as always to catch her, easing her down to the floor as he sat and pulled her into his lap.

Kate came over with paper and pen.

 

Cordelia described what she saw as Kate wrote it all down.

“Kate, can you and Lindsey take that up to Faith and Wesley? I’ll bring Cordy up as soon as she feels like she can move.”

They had all learned how badly the visions affected the tall brunette. She tried to keep going afterwards, but all too often the pain seemed to linger.

Kate and Lindsey headed up the stairs in search of the Watcher and Slayer.

 

“Are you better, Cordy?” Angel was concerned. He really cared about her.

 

“No… I’m not. I need you to fix it.” Cordelia told him, tears just under her words.

 

“What can I do to help?” Angel asked her, his voice full of concern.

 

Cordelia reached up and put her arms around Angel’s neck and pulled his head down to hers, pressing her lips against his soft mouth.

The vampire stiffened for a second and then relaxed into the kiss. Her lips were soft under his. His became more demanding. Cordelia responded to the demands by parting her lips allowing him access to her mouth. His tongue darted in and fought with hers as she moaned into his mouth.

Angel pulled her closer as her arms tightened around him.

Minutes later, he broke the kiss to let her catch her breath,

“Cordelia… I…”

 

“Angel, if you apologize, I’ll never speak to you again!” She lay in his arms, curled up into his lap. “I’ve liked you since forever. You’re my friend and I feel safe with you.

Now, will you please just be quiet and do that again. My head feels better already.”

 

Angel chuckled at the girl in his arms and bent his head to capture her lips again with his. He was in control of the kiss this time and was determined to take full advantage of that fact.

When they broke the kiss this time, both of them were breathless and shaking.

 

“Now what do we do, Angel?” Cordelia asked in a husky whisper.

 

“We have to go handle the situation you saw in your vision, but afterwards… you and I are going to finish where we left off.. unless you don’t want to?” Angel asked her. He was afraid she’d change her mind and just as afraid she’d want to continue.

 

“Yes, I do want to. I understand the curse, Angel. But I’m not… and you did with… so do you think we’d….” Cordelia’s eyes reflected her questions as well as her worry under the glaze of desire.

 

“I know you’re not. And yes I did, I’m ashamed to say. That very subject has been researched recently and I think that we can, because you’re not… I want you to understand one thing, Cordelia. This has nothing to do with being a substitute. It has to do with who you are and the fact that I care about you.” Angel wanted to reassure her.

 

Cordelia’s eyes searched his face. She saw nothing but truth in the deep brown of his eyes as he looked at her. Truth and desire. She reached up and pulled his head back down to hers to kiss him gently before releasing him. “Same for me. It’s you that I want. I have for a while.”

 

“We’ll fix that, ok?” Angel looked at her as she nodded. He stood up, bringing her with him and setting her on the floor. He didn’t remove his arm from her waist as he walked her up the steps. Cordelia kept her arm firmly around him.

 

                                                ************************************

 

Back up the stairs in the lobby, Lindsey and Faith looked at Angel and Cordelia with a knowing look.

“Kate, can you stay with Cordelia while we go handle this?” Angel asked the blonde ex-police detective.

 

“Yeah. But then I get to go on the next one.” Kate told him in a teasing tone.

 

“Deal” Angel agreed as he grabbed his favorite weapon and headed out the door with Wesley, Faith and Lindsey.

Cordelia watched him leave and worried just like always.

 

                                    *******************************************

 

Angel and the others returned to the Hyperion several hours later. They were all a bit bloody even though most of it wasn’t theirs. After all, it was purple.

Everyone, except Angel and Faith, had a few bruises as well. Lindsey and Wesley knew they wouldn’t be winning any beauty contest the next day. After their encounters earlier with Faith and then the demon, they were both going to be rather colorful.

 

Cordelia and Kate walked over to the returning troops as they cleaned and put their weapons away.

Angel looked at the tall brunette, seeing the worried expression on her face. “We got him ok, Cordy. We’re all fine.”

 

“What? I wasn’t worried. I knew you guys would do great like always. Just making sure you’re not leaving blood all over the floor. That is…what that yucky purple goo is, right?”

 

“Yeah, it is. And let me tell ya’, it feels as bad as it looks. I’m gonna find a shower.” Lindsey told his co-workers as he answered Cordelia.

The ex-lawyer headed up the stairs, followed closely by Faith and Wesley. Gunn had already headed home.

At the door to his room, Lindsey called a tired  ‘Night’ to Faith and Wesley as they headed down the hallway.

Wesley had a room he often used when he needed to stay over night at the hotel. It came in handy for occasions such as this one; when it was late and he desperately needed a shower and sleep.

 

“Angel, I’m gonna head on up to bed too. I’m tired. I’ll see you in the morning. ‘Night, Cordy.” Kate told the two brunettes around a yawn.

 

“Night, Kate. Thanks.” Cordelia told the blonde ex-police woman as Kate headed up the stairs leaving her alone with Angel.

 

Cordelia was suddenly shy knowing what she and Angel had talked about before he’d gone out. “Uh, I think I’ll go take a shower as well, Angel.”

 

The tall dark-haired vampire reached out and gently took Cordelia’s arm. “Cordy… There’s room in my shower for two…” His voice was low, husky.

 

“Angel… Can you get rid of the purple blood first?” She sounded a bit chagrined. She really wanted to take him up on his offer, but purple demon blood was a bit more than she had bargained for as part of a first time close-encounter of the personal kind with the vampire.

 

A low chuckle oozed from Angel’s throat. “Yeah. Why not give me about 5 minutes and them come join me, Cordy… Please?”

 

Cordelia looked into his dark brown eyes. What she saw there made her knees weak and her breath catch in her throat. Her words came out as a whisper. “Yeah. I’d like that, Angel.’

She turned toward the stairs, then looked back over her shoulder at the vampire behind her. “Five minutes.” Her feet practically flew up the stairs.

 

Angel hurried to his room as well and started to strip as soon as he entered. He tossed the ruined clothes into the trash and headed into the shower.

He had to force his mind to pay attention to business and wash all the blood off before allowing the memory of the way Cordelia’s lips felt under his, the way she felt curled in his lap to surface.

The memory rushed thorough his veins like hot blood, causing a very obvious response in his body. Angel hung onto the wall for dear unlife.

* God, it’s been so long! Darla doesn’t even count in this. Please let me have enough control to not ruin everything with Cordy.*

A slight sound interrupted his thoughts as Cordelia carefully entered his bathroom and slid the shower door open as she dropped her robe on the floor behind her.

Angel had never seen Cordelia Chase blush in all the time he’d known her, but she did as she stepped nude into the shower with him. He looked at her and inhaled sharply. “Cordy, you’re beautiful!”

His voice was a husky, almost strangled whisper.

 

Cordelia looked at the wet naked man in front of her, forgetting that he was a vampire, even if he did have a soul. He was gorgeous.

His body was tight, shoulders broad, stomach flat and sculptured… *…and huge! *

Cordelia raised her eyes to his and fell into the dark pools of them. She took a step closer to him as he reached for her. She was drowning in his eyes. She wanted to melt into his body.

Without thinking, she reached up and wrapped her arms around Angel’s neck, pulling his head down to hers, covering his lips with hers as he stepped into her, making a nearly flat line of connection between their two bodies.

 

Angel could feel her nipples harden against his chest. Cordelia could feel the hardness of him pressing against her stomach.

 

The water slid over them as they kissed, exploring each other with hands as their tongues explored..

Angel reached a hand between them and gently rolled a nipple between thumb and finger. Cordelia gasped into his mouth, filling him with the sound of her arousal.

 

Her hands slid down the wet planes of his back to the upper curve of his buttocks. She let them slide to the sides, running her palms against the flat sides of his hips to his muscular thighs, and then reversed their course

 

Angel broke the kiss and traced a cool damp trail down the side of her neck, pausing at the soft warm beat of her just beneath the skin. The vein pulsed under his tongue with a jumping beat. With a groan from both of them, he trailed his mouth away from that throbbing warmth and across her shoulder. Her hands clinched, nails biting into his flesh at the curve of his buttocks.

 

While his mouth was busy on her skin, Angel’s hands were also busy gently exploring the warm damp center of her. He brushed across the bundle of nerves causing her head to fall back as she whimpered deep in her throat..

 

Cordelia reached between them to run her hands over his chest, swirling a fingertip around a flat male nipple before trailing lower to gently brush his hard member. She felt the silky skin and wrapped her hand around him, squeezing gently. It was Angel’s turn to whimper.

 

He dipped a finger into her wet warmth, and followed it with a second one. He felt her trembling against him.

As he slowly worked his fingers in and out of her, thumb hitting the sensitive bunch of nerves each time, he felt her trembling grow as it spread to the muscles around his fingers.

Cordelia felt the energy fill her up, rushing over her and spilling out her mouth as she cried out while her inner flesh grasped and clutched at Angel’s fingers.

 

The tall dark vampire waited a few moments for her trembling to ease and withdrew his fingers, bringing them to his mouth as she watched him. He licked the taste of her from them as her eyes widened and her breath grew ragged again.

The tall brunette clung to him with both arms so she’d not melt into a puddle at his feet. The dark vampire reached around to pick her up with both hands supporting her just where her thighs met the curve of her buttocks.

She raised her legs to wrap them around his waist as he lifted her slightly and then lowered her right where she wanted to be.

Cordelia felt the thick hard length of him slowly slide into her as he pressed her back into the wall. When he finally filled her, she gave a small mewling sound and attacked his mouth with hers again.

 

They moved together, slow at first and then with increasing speed as the need and desire rose up through both of them.

As Cordelia felt the rising tide of ecstasy fill her again; she wove her hands through Angel’s wet hair and pulled his head down to her neck.

He knew what she was asking and had no idea how she knew. He didn’t know if he could control it well enough; but if she wanted him to, he was determined to please her.

Angel felt the first fluttering of her inner walls around him as the almost forgotten tightening of his groin told him he was seconds from his own release.

He allowed his game-face to come forth and carefully nicked her neck as he clamped his mouth over the tiny wounds to taste her on his tongue.

He exploded deep inside of her as she clinched and released him inside of her while whimpering cries of his name fell from her lips.

The two lovers clung to each other in the cooling water from the shower.

 

Angel gently licked the tiny wounds in her skin as the drops of blood stopped. Cordelia managed to unwind her fingers from his hair.

Her legs were still trembling as Angel set her feet carefully back on the floor of the shower. He had to admit, he felt rather trembly himself.

 

“Cordelia…” Angel whispered.

 

“Angel… don’t. Don’t say anything you don’t mean. It was wonderful. You’re wonderful. Do you think we can manage to get to the bed before I fall down?” Cordelia whispered against his cheek as she clung to him.

 

“I can just about manage that, I think.” He picked her up in his arms, snagging a couple of towels for them and carried her to the bed where he sat her down on the edge of it wrapping a towel around her body. Draping his own towel around his shoulders, he caught the ends of hers and started to dry her off.

Getting dry turned into a great deal of playing and licking the water off of each other. That led to them indulging in the same activity again, only horizontal this time.

It was almost dawn when the two brunettes fell into an exhausted, sated sleep in each other’s arms.

 

                                    *********************************************

 

It was about one pm when Cordelia and Angel finally made their way down the stairs to find Lindsey and Faith sitting around the big research table sipping coffee.

Cordelia blushed again as she headed for the coffee and to heat a cup of blood for Angel.

 

“Well, dude, do I need ta’ stake ya’ this morning?” Faith grinned at the vampire.

 

“Wha…” Angel started but Lindsey quickly interrupted him.

 

“Give it a rest, man. You two were NOT quiet at all last night. Don’t even deny it.” Lindsey just grinned at the vampire as he teased him.

 

“Ok. Your research was right, Lin.” Angel told him with finality to his tone.

 

Cordelia walked back over to the table, and handed Angel his cup as she sat next to him with Lindsey on the other side of her. “You did that research, Lindsey? Thank you.” Cordelia leaned over and kissed the very surprised lawyer on the cheek.

 

“Way to go, Angel!” Faith cheered him on…

 

“Glad we could provide you with some amusement this morning. Can I have my breakfast now?” Angel growled at his two smirking co-workers.

 

“Yeah, I see it will go well with your midnight snack.” Lindsey taunted, seeing the twin nicks on Cordelia’s neck.

 

Angel quickly turned to the grinning man. “You! You did that research for her!”

 

Faith and Lindsey both burst out laughing as Cordelia leaned over and whispered in her lover’s ear. “Yes, he did. I’m glad he did and told me about it. Now be quiet! They know enough about our bedroom life already.”

 

Angel sighed. He knew when he was being ganged up on. He leaned over and gave Cordy a gentle kiss on the lips before returning to his mug of ‘breakfast’.

 

                                    ********************************************

 

 It was several days later when the two lawyers from Wolfram & Hart returned to the hotel. Angel was up and awake as they had timed their arrival for that purpose.

 

“We’ve done a bit more research into your leasing agreement and the owners are considering our offer to purchase the hotel when your lease is nearing its close.” The young oriental lawyer smirked at the tall vampire.

 

“That’s fine. You make all the threats you want. I’ll just let you lawyers to talk to our firm’s lawyer.” Angel told them quite calmly.

 

“We looked into your ‘firm’ as you call it and you have no license to act as private investigators.”  The second lawyer smirked.

 

“I think you’re mistaken. You boys should do better research than that.” Angel corrected them, still calm.

 

Lindsey walked quietly into the lobby behind the W&H attorneys..

“I’d be happy to show you our business license and private investigator permit if you’d prefer.” His ‘attorney’ voice was in full force.

 

The younger lawyer whirled at the sound of the voice behind him. He knew that voice!

“Wha… How…”

 

“Not the most effective way to ask your questions. That working okay for you in the courtroom these days?” Lindsey taunted the man. He was calm, but the hint of sarcastic amusement could be heard beneath his words

 

“Guys, meet the resident lawyer for Angel Investigations, Inc. This is Mr. Lindsey McDonald. He’s a good man in a courtroom fight as well as a sword fight.” Angel told the startled legal rookies.

 

“Lindsey. I’m sure management will be glad to know you’re doing so well.” The young oriental attorney told the smirking younger man.

 

“I’m sure they will. Be kind enough to give them my regards and tell them to stay the hell away from us and out of our business or I’ll make it my business to get into theirs and they really won’t like that.” Lindsey couldn’t suppress the venom under his words toward his previous employers.

 

Both men had been inching toward the front door of the lobby as they talked. They stepped boldly toward the entrance now, anxious to leave. They wanted to be away from this powerful ex-firm partner as well as from the vampire backing him up. The Management would not be happy about this situation and might well express that ire at the messengers.

“We’ll give them your regards. Good day, gentlemen.”

They walked out the front door, leaving it swinging behind them.

 

Angel looked at Lindsey while the lawyer glared at the door as it sung gently. ”That went well, don’t you think?”

 

The lawyer looked back at the grinning vampire. “Angel… You’re an evil man..”

With never a falter of his grin, the vampire agreed with his employee. “I know.”

The tall dark haired vampire turned toward the back of the hotel to find Cordelia.

 

“Hey, Lin.. Pretty good there. Now what do we do?” Faith had been watching from the corner of the room during the entire exchange with the W&H attorneys.

 

“I’m feeling a bit tense. Wanna see if you can beat that out of me again?” Lindsey dared the brunette slayer with a melt-you-into-the-floor-smile.

 

A slow smile crept across her face. “Yeah. Sounds like a good time.”

Faith linked her arm with the lawyer’s as they walked down the stairs to the workout room.

 

                                    ***********************************************

 

‘It's gotta be a strange twist of fate

Telling me that Heaven can wait

Telling me to get it right this time’

 

Lindsey had hit the floor four times before he finally managed to knock Faith’s feet out from under her and pin her down.

He’d started to smirk at her when her knee caught him in the back of the head knocking his face into hers. He’d managed to stop just a fraction of an inch before he slammed her cheekbone with his nose.

With both hands holding the slayer’s shoulders to the floor, but off balance from Faith’s kick, Lindsey was seconds from literally falling face first into Faith.

The small brunette decided to stop the lawyer’s uncontrolled yielding to gravity with her lips.

Lindsey froze in surprise as Faith’s mouth slid across his lips. She simply smiled back at him before leaning up just enough to kiss him again.

This time he simply gave in to a superior assault.

He held his weight off of her body with his forearms braced on the floor as he deepened the kiss, demanding entrance to her mouth.

Faith was more than happy to surrender this time.

As their kiss became more intense, both slayer and lawyer moaned. Lindsey finally broke the kiss only to look down at the woman lying beneath him.

“Where are we going with this, Faith?” Lindsey wanted to know where his boundaries were and if his co-worker was serious or just teasing him.

 

“Where do you want it to go, Lin?” Faith answered his question with her own. Her voice was not as sure of itself as usual.

 

“I think I’m the one with the upper hand right now, and I asked first.” was his only reply as he smiled at her.

*She has pretty eyes too. I just never noticed..*

 

Faith suddenly wrapped both legs around Lindsey’s waist and grabbed his shirt in her hands, giving a lunge that rolled them over leaving her straddling him.

“What was that about the upper hand?”

 

“And you really think I’m gonna complain about this position? I’m fine with either one, honey.”  He flashed her that smile again, hoping she might actually melt this time.

 

“Playin’ is ok, Lin. But I was kinda hoping you might want to do something besides play.” Faith was unsure of where they both were right now. She didn’t want to make a move that would ruin her chances of possibly having a real relationship with this very attractive man beneath her.

Lindsey slid his hands up Faith’s arms and pushed gently at her shoulders. “Faith, let me up. I want to talk to you about this; but I’d like to be on a more equal footing, ok?”

 

*Damn.. ruined this one before I even started. Should’da known he’d not be interested in me..*  Faith sighed slightly as she moved so Lindsey could sit up beside her.

“I’ll go get cleaned up and let you do whatever you need to do…” She started to get up.

 

Lindsey quickly caught her arm. “Faith, don’t go. Please? I don’t want to have just a fling with you. But if you want to see if we can build a real relationship, I’d like that.”

His words shocked her motionless. Slowly the insecure brunette turned to look at the man beside her. “You mean, you’d really be interested in me?” Her voice was filled with doubt and disbelief.

 

“Yeah, I would. You’re an attractive woman, Faith. I know we got off to a bad start back when you weren’t yourself and I was owned by Wolfram and Hart… But this is different now. We’re different. At least I think we are. But I don’t want to be just a quick conquest and tossed aside. Been there, done that, really hated it.” Lindsey had his own insecurities to deal with in relationships.

 

“Me too. Never been wanted just for me, ya know? I was hoping you might… and it could maybe be real…” She’d had to be hard for so long, she wasn’t really sure how to let the softer side of herself out. * If I even have one… * Faith thought.

 

“Hell, I’ve talked judges down. I should be able to tell you how I feel without all this awkwardness.” Lindsey took a deep breath and started again.

“I really like you, Faith. But I want a real relationship if you’d like to have one with me. I don’t really want just a romp in bed with you. Not that I don’t want you, cause I do… But I want something real. Someone I can care about and that cares about me instead of what they think I can do for them or they can get from me.” Lindsey looked into her eyes, waiting to be rejected.

 

“Lindsey, I’ve never had anyone want me for me. I was afraid I’d screwed this up before I even started. I’m not good at this at all, but I’d like a real relationship with you too. I just don’t wanna be used any more, ya know?” Faith wanted him to understand. Vampires and demons she could beat up. She knew how to do that, but relationships baffled her. She’d never had one that counted before and didn’t know how to do this.

 

“I guess we just agreed on that then. So… Will you go to dinner and a movie with me tonight?” Lindsey asked her almost shyly.

 

“A date, Lin? Yeah. Yeah, I’d like that. We gonna go in your old truck?” Faith teased him. She felt a bit more secure of where she was with this attractive lawyer now.

 

“You got a problem with my truck? I love that truck!” He grabbed her suddenly with both arms around her and pulled her into his lap, looking into her face. “Yeah, in my old truck.”

 

“It’s a good truck, Lin. So I need to get dressed up?” Faith asked a bit coyly.

 

“No. I know a relaxed little place at 14th and Santa Monica. Sandwiches, beer, pool tables.. Movie close by… That work for you?” It was an inexpensive place. Lindsey occasionally missed that large salary he used to have, but he knew they could talk there. Maybe they’d even let him do a set next door at the pub.

“Ok, pick you up about 7 then?”

 

“I think I’m free about 7. Gotta get in a work out first though.” Faith grinned at him. She had a date! A real date with Lindsey!

Butterflies flocked in her stomach. She’d have to go talk to Kate and get some advice about a real date. But right now, she’d have to get that workout in without hurting her date too badly to go out with her.

 

“I think I can help you with that work out, but it’s gonna cost ya.” Lindsey leaned down slightly to capture her lips with his own as his arms tightened around her.

Faith leaned into him and he plundered her mouth with his own for a few seconds and then broke the kiss.

“We better get that workout before we start something we can’t finish right now.”

 

“Yeah. Good idea. Now I just have to not break you before tonight…” Faith smiled at Lindsey trying desperately to catch her breath.

*The man CAN kiss! *

Faith and Lindsey got up from the floor and each of them grabbed a glass of water before squaring off again to spar.

 

                                    *********************************************

 

The thought of their date later did more to help Faith keep control over her moves and actions that just about anything that Wesley had suggested to her lately.

She worked on timing her throws as well as controlling just how much force she used with each one.

Faith was surprised at how much better each move worked with more concentration focused behind it.

Lindsey was amazed at the control the slayer showed. He’d not seen her have that much discipline behind her moves before. He was also surprised to be able to actually walk out of a sparring session with Faith and be all in one piece without bruises.

 

*Maybe a reason to exert some control was what she needed before and never had…*  Lindsey started to think, and realized he was assuming more than he should.

*Well, we’ll see how tonight goes and then later. If she keeps this up, maybe that really is the reason she needed. *

Lindsey knew that Angel would notice anything different between he and Faith, so the lawyer planned on talking to the vampire about it later, depending on what actually happened tonight.

After the teasing Angel and Cordelia had endured recently at his and Faiths hands, Lindsey knew there was no way that Angel wouldn’t pay them back in kind.

 

“That was great, Faith. I think I can avoid any unusual colors tonight as well.” Lindsey grinned at the brunette slayer beside him.

“How about we go get cleaned up and then I’ll meet you at your room to pick you up around that 7-ish we discussed?”

 

Faith looked up at the young attractive lawyer, tracing the curve of his lips with her eyes before she smiled at him.” Good idea. Catch you after a bit then?”

 

He laid a hand on her shoulder and brushed her lips with a light kiss. “Sounds like a plan.”

Lindsey slid his hand down Faith’s arm to her hand and held it as they took the steps two at a time.

Once on the upper floors, the couple separated to go to their own rooms.

Faith had just shut her door as Lindsey reached out to turn the handle of his own door…

“Lindsey…” Angel’s voice called him down the hallway.

 

The younger man stopped and turned to face the dark eyed vampire he worked for now, as Angel walked up the hallway toward him.

Draping an arm casually over his shoulder, Angel suggested, “Why don’t we step into your room for a minute, Lindsey.”

 

*Oh hell! He knows already! Damn, can’t have any secrets from this guy at all. I hope he’s not pissed, but he is using my full name…*

“Sure, Angel. What’s up, dude?” Lindsey asked feigning innocence.

 

The two men stepped into the lawyer’s room and closed the door. Angel stood with his back to the door just looking at Lindsey. “Maybe that’s the question I should be asking you, Lindsey?”

 

“Nothing’s up yet, Angel. I have a date with Faith tonight. Gonna take her to grab a bite to eat, maybe a movie and just play it by ear. That okay with you?” Lindsey was keeping his temper under control. He knew that Angel felt protective of Faith, but they were both adults and could make decisions for themselves.

“Depends on you, Lindsey. Faith’s been pretty hurt and used in the past. I don’t really want to see that happen to her again.”

 

Lindsey slumped down in the chair at his desk.

“I don’t want to see her used either. I don’t plan to be the user or the usee here. I’m sure you remember I already have experience in both departments. Faith and I talked and I told her pretty plainly that I don’t want just a fling with her. I’d like to see if we can make a real relationship with each other. That means we have to talk and be careful.”

 

“Good. I was worried.” Angel just looked at Lindsey, his thoughts not evident on his face.

 

“I know, ‘Dad’.” Lindsey stood abruptly and ran his hand through his hair in that familiar frustration gesture of his. “I don’t want to use her, and I don’t want her to use me. I know we’ve both had enough of that in our lives. I understand that you’re concerned about her and I appreciate that. But Angel, we’re both adults and can make our own decisions on this.”

 

The humor of the situation caught up with Angel as the smile crossed his eyes as well as shadowed his lips. “I know Faith too, Lindsey. She can use you just as easily as you can use her. Maybe I’m worried about you as well, ‘son’.”

 

The ex-firm lawyer had to laugh finally. “ Yeah, I know what you mean.” His expression turned very sober and serious as he continued. “I care about Faith. I’m attracted to her. Maybe, just maybe, being in a good relationship is what she needs, Angel. When we worked out after we talked about this and made our date, she was more controlled and disciplined than I’ve seen her so far. Hell, I even got through that work out without any bruises.”

 

Angel thought about the man’s comments for a few moments before he finally replied.

“You may be right. Maybe she needs a more personal reason to focus better. I know I was always in that role for Buffy for a long time. I can’t be that for Faith, but maybe this can work. Maybe you can be that reason for her…”

Angel turned around to grasp the door handle, then looked back over his shoulder at Lindsey. “Have a good evening and be careful. Take the phone with you in case of any problems. I know ‘W&H’ would like to get both of you.”

Angel’s dark eyes looked deep into the lawyer’s blue eyes. “Don’t hurt her, Lindsey. And don’t let her hurt you.”

The vampire stepped through the doorway and closed it behind him, leaving Lindsey alone with his thoughts, as the lawyer stripped, heading to the shower.

 

                                                ***************************************

 

‘It might be a mistake

A mistake I'm makin'

But what your givin I am happy to be takin

‘Cause all that will make me feel

The way I feel when I'm in your arms’

 

Faith showered and threw a robe on before checking next door to see if Kate was in her room. Fortunately the ex-police office was and opened the door to the brunette slayer.

“Hey, Faith. What can I do for you?”

 

“Kate.. uh, I need to ask you a few things.. Can I come in, please?” Faith was hesitant. She wasn’t sure how or what to ask and knew Kate wasn’t all that fond of her.

 

Puzzled by the uncertainty in the younger girl’s voice, Kate asked her in. “Sure, Faith. Is there a problem?”

Kate walked over to the small sofa she had in her room and motioned Faith to the chair across from it. Both women sat down before Faith nervously blurted out her problem.

 

“I have a date with Lindsey tonight and I really like him and want to try a real relationship and I’m not sure what to do. Can you help me, please?”

 

The girl was so nervous that Kate had trouble not laughing at her rush of words.

“Sure, Faith. Well, what do you really want to know? What you should do or not do?”

 

“That would help a lot to start with. I’ve never been in a relationship before. Never had anyone who cared about me just for me.” The memory of the Mayor in Sunnydale flashed through her mind, but she knew that wasn’t a good example. Even he had a ‘use’ for the younger inexperienced slayer.

“I’ve had sex, but never been loved and I really care about him, Kate. I don’t wanna mess this up.”

 

Kate looked at the young girl in front of her. For all her strength and ability, regardless of the fact that she was a Slayer; she was still an unsure young woman who’d had to struggle throughout her life. In that moment, Kate’s dislike of Faith lessened.

“Yeah, I think we can find you some answers. First, don’t be so hard with him. It’s okay to be a woman, to be feminine and let him open doors and pull out chairs for you. But don’t be so shy that you let him control the situation.” Kate smiled at Faith.

“Go with something nice to wear, but not slutty; take it easy on the make-up, just look nice. Let him know you care about him but don’t throw yourself at him. Any of that make sense to you?”

 

“Yeah. Yeah, it did. I guess this is one time that I really can use Buffy as a model. Just kinda follow my heart while I protect it, that it?”

 

Kate smiled again. ”Yeah. I’d say that was the gist of it.”

 

Faith stood up and looked down at the floor before edging toward the door. She stopped and looked back at the blonde woman. “Thanks, Kate. I really mean that. I’m… I’m sorry for the things that… you know, happened before…”

 

Kate took the several steps to the brunette and laid a hand on her shoulder. “It’s ok, Faith. We all make mistakes sometimes. Really big ones occasionally. Have a good time tonight and I wish you luck. I hope you find what you’re looking for, just don’t expect it to materialize all at once. Taking it easy is okay too.”

 

The two women, one blonde one brunette, just looked at each other. Faith finally felt something click into place inside of her as she looked into Kate’s eyes.

“Thank you. Thank you so much.”

Faith turned and left Kate’s room, heading down the hall to her own again.

 

Back in her own room, Faith looked through her closet to see what she had to wear. Lindsey said casual. Faith pulled out a pair of jeans that were snug enough to look good without looking trashy, then a scoop-necked sleeveless top. It was a deep crimson color that Faith knew set off her dark hair and eyes and enhanced her skin tones.

Finally she added a pair of casual sandals with a bit of a wedge heel. Lindsey was tall enough that she could wear a bit of heel without being taller than him, yet she didn’t feel like he was too tall for her.

Angel was a very attractive man, but even if there hadn’t been the complication of his past and current relationship with Buffy; well, he was taller than Faith liked her men to be. Lindsey was just right

 

The brunette slayer finished by adding just a bit of lipstick in an understated tone instead of her usual flamboyant color just as there was a knock on her door.

As she took the few steps toward the door to open it, Faith was glad that she’d not had to wait once she was ready. The butterfly population in her stomach was already enough to make an entomologist envious. She certainly hadn’t needed to allow them time to re-group and add more forces!

 

Faith opened the door to her room and Lindsey stood there smiling at her. She took a deep steadying breath as she took in his dark teal tee shirt and jeans.

The shirt was that wonderful shade that was just a bit more green than blue and made his eyes even bluer than normal. The jeans were worn enough to look comfortable yet fit him snugly outlining the well-defined muscles in his legs and thighs he’d acquired from their weeks of training.

She thought he looked wonderful.

 

“Hi. We ready?” Faith asked trying hard to not appear anxious as she swallowed against the nervousness inside.

 

“Yeah. You look great, Faith. That’s a wonderful color on you.” Lindsey told her as he reached out a hand to take hers.

 

Faith stepped out the door of her room as she clasped Lindsey’s hand and closed the door behind her.

“Thanks. That’s a great color on you as well.” She complimented him as they started down the steps.

 

They had almost made it to the lobby door when they heard Angel behind them.

“Have fun kids, stay out of trouble.” He couldn’t quite suppress the note of resignation in his voice.

They heard it loud and clear. Glancing at the other, their eyes met for just a second as they both answered the vampire. “We’ll be good, ‘Dad’. Don’t wait up!”

 

Laughing, Lindsey and Faith slid through the lobby doors, hands still joined.

“Never thought we’d get the ‘father’ routine from Angel!” Faith giggled.

 

“Yeah, I got the ‘talk’ in my room earlier.” Lindsey sounded a bit chagrined.

Faith stopped in the middle of the walk and pulled Lindsey around so she could see his face. “You’ve got to be kidding, right?”

 

“Naw. Serious. The man cares about both of us, you know.”

Faith looked down at the ground again. “Yeah…”

 

Lindsey heard the undertone in her voice and reached to tip her chin back up with a finger underneath it. “Hey.. It’s good that he cares about us. He has a right to be pretty angry at both of us, but if he can forgive us, don’t you think we need to be forgiving ourselves a bit too?”

 

Drawing in a deep breath and exhaling in a sigh, Faith tried to settle her rampaging thoughts and worries. “Yeah. You’re right, Lin. I’ll try.”

Lindsey chuckled deep in his throat as he released her hand to put an arm around her shoulders and turn her back toward the parking lot where his truck sat waiting.

“Good. That’s my girl. Now let’s go have fun and leave all the ghosts here for the night.”

Faith looked at his profile suddenly because of the relaxed possessiveness of his words and smiled to herself.

“Sounds like a plan. Fun it is..”

 

                                    ****************************************************

 

‘I know all about,

Yea about your reputation

And now it's down to be a heartbreak situation

But I can't help it if I'm helpless

Every time that I'm with you, ah’

 

Lindsey and Faith had stopped to have a bite to eat and a beer each, then decided to walk over to the theater.

They sat in the dark nibbling popcorn and sharing a soda. Occasionally they’d whisper comments to each other about the film.

Lindsey kept looking more and more at the profile of the woman sitting next to him instead of the movie. Finally he put an arm around her shoulder and impulsively kissed her on the cheek.

Faith turned quickly to look at him. “What was that for?”

 

“Just because… You’re sweet and fun to be with and I’m having a very nice evening.” Lindsey grinned at her in the dim light reflecting from the screen.

 

“Thanks, Lin. I… I’m having a very nice evening too. You’re good to be with, Lin.” Faith wasn’t sure what else to say without spoiling things although her thoughts were filled with comments she’d like to make. Kate told her to take it slow, so that’s what she was doing.

“Wanna catch a nightcap when we go back to pick up the truck?” The young lawyer whispered to the slayer.

 

“That’d be nice, Lin. Finish the movie first though?” She snuggled into the curve of his arm not waiting for his reply.

 

“Yeah. Good idea.” He whispered with a slight chuckle into her hair as he kissed her head.

They turned back to the movie screen.

 

                                                **************************************

 

Faith and Lindsey walked into the small dark bar behind the little spot where that had eaten earlier.

It was a bit crowded and as Lindsey got a beer from the bartender for both of them, they headed to the back room of the bar.

The attraction seemed to be a slender man with almost white blonde hair playing a guitar on the stage.

The room seemed to be standing room only, so Lindsey wedged himself into a corner and pulled Faith back to lean against him as they watched the singer and drank their beer.

 

After he finished that set, the singer took a break and walked out into the bar. Lindsey was a bit curious and walked over to chat with the man.

After wading his way through a throng of women, the young lawyer made his way to the slender singer.

They were about the same height, so looked eye to eye.

 

“Nice song there. You doin’ an actual show or do they just do an ‘amateur night’, not to imply that you sound like an amateur.” Lindsey was trying to work his way around to get up to the stage to sing for Faith but didn’t want to offend the man.

 

“ ‘S’ok. I do this for fun. It’s not really my day-job. Why d’you ask? Do you sing?”

The slender man asked the lawyer.

He had an odd trace of an accent, almost like he often spoke differently.

 

“Actually, I do. Sing occasionally in a little place across town called Caritas, but was out with a really sweet girl tonight and had kinda hoped to sing a song for her.”

 

“I see. Well, how about you pop up and sing with me next set? Do any Springsteen?”

 

Lindsey laughed. “I kinda had one of his songs in mind. Says what I wanted to tell her.”

 

“Bloody good show then. I’ll let my guys know and you meet me on stage in about 10? I assume you play?”

 

“Yeah. I’ll see you then. Let me go tell her where I am so she won’t worry and I’ll meet you there.” Lindsey extended his hand. “Thanks a lot. I really appreciate this. My name is Lindsey.”

 

 The man took Lindsey hand to shake it briefly. “Nice to meet you, man. I’m James.”

 

“Cool. See you in a few, James.” Lindsey turned heading back toward Faith.

 

Lindsey reached Faith through the crowd finally. She looked relieved to see him return.

“Okay, Faith? “

 

“Yeah, now. I was a bit nervous all alone here.”

 

Lindsey pulled her to him in a hug. “I won’t run off and leave you. I went to chat with the singer for a minute. His name is James and he’s gonna let me go up and do a song with him. Can you wait here for me while I do that? I really wanted to do this song for you.”

 

“Wow, you sing, Lin? I didn’t know that. Yeah, that’d be cool.”

 

“There he goes back up on stage. Let me run up there and do this. Wait right here for me?” Lindsey looked into Faith’s eyes as he asked the question.

She simply nodded at him as he squeezed her shoulder then turned through the crowd to the stage steps.

Faith saw him speak briefly to the man at the steps and then go up them behind the curtain. Just a few minutes later, the curtains opened and there was Lindsey looking comfortable on stage with the slender blonde he’d said was James. Both men had a guitar and Faith realized that the singer was introducing Lindsey to the crowd.

 

With a few notes, they started into the song.

 

‘Took my baby to a picture show

Found a seat in the back row

Sound came up lights went down

Rambo he was blowin' 'em down

I don't need no gun in my fist baby

All I need is your sweet kiss

To get me feelin' like a real man

Well you can beat on your chest

Hell any monkey can

But you got me feelin' like a real man

Oh feelin' like a real man’

 

Faith realized that Lindsey was singing to her! He was looking right at her as he sang.

She watched the two men and noticed they seemed to be having fun singing together.

She had no idea that the lawyer could sing at all, much less that good.

The two did a couple more songs together before Lindsey left the stage and rejoined her.

 

“Ready to go, Faith?” Lindsey asked. His face was flushed and he seemed to be sweating a bit from the lights and his exertions on the stage.

She wasn’t sure what to think about what he had sung, but she took the hand he offered her and they walked back to his truck.

 

When he had gotten in on the driver’ side, he reached a hand across and taking her hand, pulled her gently toward him. Once the brunette was sitting close to the young lawyer, he put an arm around her and started the truck.

They drove in silence back to the hotel, with her nestled in the curve of his arm as he ran his hand gently up and down her arm sending shivers through her spine and making it very hard to breath.

 

                                                ****************************************

 

Lindsey parked the truck in the covered parking area for the hotel. He turned the engine off without making any effort to get out of the vehicle. Turning toward Faith, he pulled her closer and dipped his head to capture her lips under his.

Faith made a small sound deep in her throat as he kissed her even more expertly than he had earlier.

 

When they both finally parted to catch their breath, the young lawyer and the brunette slayer were breathing hard.

“Faith… I don’t want tonight to end. It’s been a wonderful evening with you beside me. Will you come up to my room with me? If all you want to do is sleep, it’s okay. I just want to hold you next to me.”

 

Faith searched his face, looking for something, anything that would let her know this wasn’t a joke, that she wasn’t going to be used.

“Lin… I want to. Not just to sleep. I want you, Lin. But I’m afraid to screw this up.”

Just as suddenly, she changed the subject slightly on him. “Did you mean what you sang in that song?”

 

Lindsey touched her face with his fingertips, tracing along the line of her cheekbone to her jaw and finally traced around her lips before he brushed them again with his own.

“Ever word of it, Faith. I want you too, and no, I don’t think this is a screw-up.”

 

She took a deep breath and gathered the rags of her courage around her.

“Yes, Lindsey. Yes, please?”

It was several minutes before either of them spoke or caught their breath again.

Holding Faith’s hand, Lindsey helped her out of the truck, then wrapped his arm back around her as they walked in the back door of the hotel and quietly up to his room.

 

                                                *******************************************

 

Angel heard the footsteps and quiet whispers out in the hallway. As he opened the door slightly to look out, he saw Lindsey and Faith disappear into the attorney’s room and the door close behind them.

“That Lindsey and Faith?” Cordelia asked right behind the dark haired vampire as Angel jumped suddenly.

He turned back into the room to see the tee-shirt clad beauty behind him, hand on her shapely hip.

“Cordy, don’t sneak up on me like that!” Angel whispered urgently back at her.

 

“Like people can normally sneak up on you oh-mister-I-have-vampire-ears? Leave them alone. They are both adults, and I think they’d be good for each other.”

Cordelia turned and walked back to the bed to lounge seductively on it as she looked at Angel.

She saw the vampire’s eyes darken with suppressed passion as he watched her. He moved back toward the bed.

 

“You think so?” He asked the tall brunette with a hint of suppressed laughter.

 

“Yeah, I do. Just like I think we’re good for each other… At least if you’ll come back and show me that one little trick again…?” She sat up and pulled the tee shirt over her head, further tumbling her already mussed hair. Angel drank in the sight of her nude body as she leaned back down on one arm, watching him.

Angel put one knee on the bed and pulled her into his arms as he rolled over her and did just as she had asked him.

 

                                                **********************************************

 

Down the hallway in Lindsey’s room, faith was lying on the bed as Lindsey lay over her, kissing her. Most of his weight was supported by his forearms on the bed on either side of her, but still giving him free use of his hands on her shoulders, neck and face.

Faith had both knees bent, allowing him to nestle in between her thighs as their lower bodies touched. She was very busy running her hands over his smooth muscular back under his shirt as their tongues fought with each other.

 

One by one, articles of clothing were unfastened, disposed of and removed from each of them until they were lying side by side completely nude.

Faith took advantage of her slayer strength and turned over, with Lindsey under her. Lacing her fingers in his as she held his hands, she slid and nibbled her way down his body with lips, tongue and teeth until she reached the object of her desire.

He’d been pressing his very hard shaft into her thigh earlier.

She pointed her tongue and ran the tip of it slowly up the length of his shaft.

*Might not be extra-long, but it sure is nice and thick. * Faith thought as she licked her way up him.

Lindsey gasped as he felt her very hot, wet tongue caress him.

 

Sliding her mouth up to the tip, she licked him into her mouth and sucked gently to take more of him into that hot wet space.

Working with diligence, Faith had the lawyer writhing under her as she licked and sucked him closer and closer to release without letting him have that last inch of relief.

Finally reversing her path and working her way back up his beautiful hard body, she covered him with her own as she kissed him deeply.

 

Still holding her hands, Lindsey wrapped his arms around her then suddenly rolled her over again, pinning her arms and his, underneath her own body.

 He ducked his head down her body catching a nipple between his teeth and gently bit down as the tip of his tongue flicked the end of the nipple in his mouth.

Faith groaned and arched up to him as her nails bit down his back.

Lindsey switched his attentions to the other breast as he worked one hand out from under the brunette.

Raising his head slightly, he looked at her passion-darkened eyes and smiled at her.

“I believe you were torturing me earlier? Just repaying the favor..” Lindsey dipped his head back to his enjoyable task.

 

“Lin.. Lindsey.. Please..!”

 

He looked back up at her plea. “Please what, Faith? What can I do to please you?”

 

“I want you inside of me, Lindsey. Now!”

 

“More than willing, dearest. Give me just a second..” Lindsey reached across to the drawer next to the bed and in seconds had slipped the protective sheath over his hardened member.

Lindsey was supporting himself on one arm while he guided the tip of himself to her wet warmth.

Faith had moved both arms from behind her to around his back, pulling him in closer to her. She wanted to feel as much of him as possible.

 

Sliding into her warmth, Lindsey had to stop for a few seconds to adjust to the feel of her around him. It had been quite some time for him since he’d been with anyone and those famed slayer muscles were nearly his undoing before he managed to get himself under control.

He knew it had been even longer for Faith, and wanted to let her adjust to his size.

 

She wrapped her legs around his hips and pulled him even closer as she arched up into him. “Lindsey, make love to me, please. This is torture…”

 

The blue-eyed lawyer chuckled slightly as he gently started to move inside of her. “It’s been a while for both of us, honey. I want to be able to last long enough to do both of us some good.”

 

“Trust me, you are…” Faith gasped back at him as he felt her inner muscles start to quiver around him.

Seconds later a wordless almost-scream fell from her mouth as the orgasm overwhelmed her.

The clinching pressure around him was too much and he followed her in seconds.

 

They lay together trying to recover from the spine-tingling rush of release that had overwhelmed both of them.

Slowly Lindsey rolled to the side, holding Faith so she rolled with him and he stayed sheathed inside of her. He reached out a hand to brush the hair from her face.

“Honey, I’m so sorry..”

 

Faith quickly touched his lips with shaking fingers. “No. You have nothing at all to be sorry for, Lin. It was wonderful. We might have been quick, but it was wonderful.”

The slayer puller her head away so she could look him in the eyes.

“Besides… I guess you got another ‘go’ in there.” She leaned back to kiss him again.

 

It was a long night for both of them with very little sleep.

 

                                    *************************************************

 

The next afternoon, Cordelia and Angel were up for once before Lindsey and Faith.

The couple came quietly down the stairs holding hands, only to find Angel and Cordelia sitting at the same table Faith and Lindsey had occupied several weeks earlier.

 

“Well, I see you’ve finally decided to grace us with your presence today.” Cordelia snickered at the lawyer and slayer.

 

“It’s okay, guys. Don’t mind Cordy this morning. She’s just irritable because someone kept her awake all night with a lot of strange noise.” Angel got in his own jibe at the pair.

 

“Oh, you mean besides you, Soul Boy?” Faith turned to face Cordelia then. “Poor Cordy… All awake and Mr. soul-ful wouldn’t keep ya occupied?”

 

“Ooo! Good one, Faith. I see our resident lawyer gave you your venom injections last night then.” Cordelia swiped right back.

 

A very familiar voice fell down the stairs behind them. “So did you let my slayer get any sleep at all last night, Mr. McDonald?” Wesley stood there with crossed arms.

 

“Actually… No. We slept this morning, if all of you really want to know.” Lindsey kissed Faith cheek and headed for the coffee.

He made two cups and brought one back to her as she sat between him and Cordelia at the table.

Without looking up, Faith tossed her own comment back to her watcher.

“Yeah, Wes. And I didn’t even break’em.”

 

Angel and Cordelia had to laugh at that comment. Unbeknownst to either Faith or Lindsey, they had speculated earlier about Faith’s control in not hurting her partner under such circumstances.

 

“Now that that’s over; after everyone is sufficiently caffinated, I’d like to get in some training this afternoon before we have to go patrol tonight.” Wesley dropped on all of them as he headed for the downstairs.

 

                                                ******************************************

 

A couple of hours later, Faith and Lindsey had gone out to patrol while Kate and Cordelia took a turn as well. Wesley had asked Angel to stay for a few minutes so they could talk.

 

“She was much more aware of her actions that I’ve ever seen her, Angel. Do you think this has to do with Lindsey?”

 

“It might, Wes. He mentioned to me yesterday that she was a lot more controlled in practice with him than he’d ever seen her before. Maybe his idea that she needed a reason to concentrate more is accurate.” Angel shrugged.

The vampire thought that Faith had worked really well and so had Lindsey. They seemed to compliment each other quite well. Or maybe just relieving some of their own sexual tension had helped matters for both of them.

Angel knew that his own recent discoveries had helped both his and Cordelia’s tension.

The dark haired vampire smiled at the memory of their activities the previous night.

 

“Angel!” Wesley was staring at him, arms crossed, frown on his face.

 

“Oh, sorry, Wes. I must have let my mind wander for a minute.”

 

“Wander? It bloody well took a bloody hike, Angel. I’ve been talking to you for the last five minutes. I doubt you heard a word I said. Between you and Cordelia and now Lindsey and Faith… I can’t imagine how we’ll manage to get anything done.”

 

Angel put his hand on the ex-watcher’s shoulder. “Wes, why don’t you ask Kate out? It’d do you both good. You like her, she likes you. Then maybe our pairings won’t bother you quite so much? You’ve been kinda testy since you and Virginia broke up, you know?”

 

“Quite. Do you really think she’d go out with me?” Wesley ‘s voice had gotten suddenly serious.

 

“You won’t know unless you ask her, now will you?” Angel chuckled at his friend.

“How about we all go over to Caritas when the two teams get back?”

 

“Well, that has some definite possibilities. I shall consider it.” Wesley turned to head back up the stairs, sufficiently distracted now by Angel.

His distraction was interrupted by the sudden reappearance of Faith and Lindsey. Both breathless, and rather the worse for wear.

 

“Hey, what happened? Are you two okay?” Angel was at their side in an instant.

 

Faith leaned over slightly, putting her hands on her knees as she tried to catch her breath. Last night’s attempt at breath catching had been a lot more fun.

“Yeah, we’re… okay. At least in one… piece.”

 

“Speak for yourself.” Lindsey grumbled.

 

“Well for goodness sake, what happened!” Worry was almost palatable in Wesley’s question.

 

“We were attacked by four men. They weren’t there for the good times or to give us a hint. They were trying to kill us.” Faith told them between gulps of air.

 

“What happened? What did they look like? What did they do? Where are they now?” Wesley and Angel fired questions at them.

 

“Hey! One at a time!” Faith snapped back.

 

Lindsey laid a hand on her arm and she calmed.

“We were checking out that area around the scrap yard where you’d seen that demon last week, Angel.” Lindsey started explaining the events.

“Next thing we knew, we had 4 dudes jump us. They seemed to be after Faith instead of me or both of us. I knocked one of them out, she threw another one into the dumpster, and we slung the other two into each other knocking them out.”

 

“I see. What else can you tell me about them?” Wesley pried further.

 

“They were wearing these weird jackets with a bird on them and stocking face masks.”

Faith picked up the tale where Lindsey had dropped it.

 

“Birds? What kind of birds?” Wesley sounded suddenly concerned.

 

“Don’t know.. Looked kinda like a punk or Goth eagle. They were all red except for their feet and beaks. Those were black. Dudes could sure fight.” Faith slumped down onto the floor and leaned against the wall.

 

“Oh, my word! They were Raptors!” Wesley was very agitated by now.

 

“Wes, what’s a ‘raptor’?” Angel asked in that deadly quiet voice that meant someone was in trouble.

 

“Oh Lord! The Raptors are a special team of the Watcher’s Council. They are trained and their ranks kept filled generation after generation even if they aren’t needed. They’re a special assassin team sent to take out Slayers.” Wesley explained, sounding exhausted from even thinking about it.

 

“Take out a Slayer?!” Three voices echoed the words at once.

 

“Yes. From time to time, some Slayers have gone rogue, have been turned, have taken up with vampires instead of killing them, have abandoned their duties… any number of things over the centuries. The Raptors will be sent to seek the Slayer out, and kill her. Then of course a new Slayer is Called.” Wesley took a deep breath and sighed heavily.

“Between Faith and Buffy, I’m surprised the Council hasn’t sent them out before.”

 

“Why?” Angel asked. His voice was more of a low growl instead of a question.

 

“Don’t growl at me, Angel. I’m just explaining. I didn’t call them or invent them.”

Wesley continued.

“After all. Faith went rogue for a while. They tried several times to kill her already. Buffy refuses to obey them and calls the shots for them. She’s died twice now and that’s why we have Faith. They won’t get another Slayer until Faith dies. They know Buffy is on more than borrowed time and is stronger than any Slayer ever. That frightens them, I can well imagine. So they can leave Buffy in place, kill Faith and have a new Slayer that they can control.

Then too… Faith is working with you, Angel. Buffy is working with Spike. You were previously with Buffy and lost your soul. Perhaps they fear a similar situation or are just disturbed by both Slayers working with the very vampires they are taught to kill. And both of you are from the same line.”

 

“So what do we do, Wes?” Faith asked in a very small voice.

 

“You don't go anywhere alone, is what!” Lindsey told her quickly.

 

“Lindsey! I don’t need a damned baby-sitter!” Faith almost yelled at her lover, tears rolling down her face.

           

Lindsey caught her shoulders in his hands, pulling her to him. The slayer laid her head on his shoulder as her arms twined around his neck.

“No, honey, you don’t need a baby-sitter. You do need protection. I’ll be there to protect you, Faith.”

The young lawyer held her carefully, as if she was a fragile porcelain doll.

 

“Faith, he’s right. You need protection. If it’s just you and Angel, they’ll try to not only kill you but Angel as well. You can’t kill them. You don’t dare. Neither can Angel. We need to tell Kate about this and patrol as a group until this is stopped.”

 

                                                ****************************************

They decided that a night to relax before they regrouped and tracked down the Raptors might be a good moral builder and allow the crew to relax. They were all going to Caritas. Of course, Loren might be able to give them some insight on the situation if they sang for him.

Cordelia loved the idiot vampire she slept with now, but she had no illusions about him.

Angel couldn’t carry a tune in a bucket with the lid on it.

 

“Ah, Kate… Since we’re going to Caritas, I was wondering… Would you… Is it possible...”

Wesley was very nervous about what he was trying to do.

 

“Wesley, I can’t give you an answer if you can’t get the question out, you know.” Kate told him gently. She had an idea and a hope where he was trying to go with his question.

 

“Yes, of course. Kate, will you go to Caritas as my date?”

 

“Yes, I’d love to.”

 

“If you don’t wish to, I certainly understand and I realize this may be sudden… What?!”

 

The blonde ex-police office laughed. “Wesley, I’d love to be your date for tonight.” She reached forward and kissed him on the cheek before turning away. “Now, I have to go get ready.”

 

Wesley stood in the middle of the hallway watching her walk away as he touched his cheek; surprised that she had kissed him. With a shake of his shoulders, he broke into a jaunty walk to his room at the hotel to dress as well.

*Seems like we wind up staying here more often than not these days. I wonder if moving here might not be better… But if there is a new relationship on the horizion, maybe a place of my own is really better. * Wesley’s thoughts were busy as he headed toward his room.

 

                                                **************************************

 

Faith had been worried about running into the ‘Raptors’ again tonight, so she dressed in something that she could fight in if necessary.

She settled for a pair of tight leather pants and a deep wine silk tank top. She hoped Lindsey like them.

 

Lindsey was just as worried about what Faith would think about his clothes, which was unusual for him with any woman.

He was also aware of the possibility of a fight tonight and went with a pair of black jeans and ankle boots combined with a deep crimson silk shirt.

Little did he know…

 

Cordelia had been easing Angel out of the all-black look. Tonight she got him into a deep blue silk shirt and he had insisted on the black leather pants he liked. She decided to match him in a cerulean blue silk tank top and black leather skirt.

 

Wesley and Kate were just as concerned about what to wear for this first date.

Unbeknownst to each other, Wesley and Kate both went with green silk shirts. Kate’s was also a tank top, but with a black suede skirt while Wesley chose black linen pants.

 

As the six friends met downstairs, they all stopped to stare at the others.

“What is this? We all look like uniforms here.” Cordelia asked with acerbity.

 

"It wasn’t planned, but we all must have been thinking along the same lines with these Raptors afoot.” Angel told his lover and his friends.

*Loren will certainly not be able to resist saying something about this!*  Angel thought as he looked at how they were all dressed and sighed.

Each couple went to their own car and planned to meet at the bar.

 

“You look great Faith. The only thing I might wish for different is a skirt.” Lindsey gave his slayer lover a look that spoke volumes.

 

“I’d love to do that, Lin. But just in case… Well, I can’t fight in a skirt like B can.”

 

“That’s okay. I like you just like you are, honey.” Lindsey pulled her closer to him as he drove.

 

                                    *******************************************

 

Once they all arrived at Caritas and headed toward their usual table, Loren made his way over to them.

The green-skinned demon looked them all up and down. “Well, you kids have a new uniform for your group? And in matching pairs too. Very nice.”

 

Angel whispered to Cordelia. “See, what did I tell you?”

 

“No, Loren, it just happened this way.” Faith told the Host.

“Ah, but nothing is simply co-incidence, lovely. You and lawyer boy gonna grace us with a song tonight? Might be a good idea. I’ll go work you in to the schedule.” He turned and walked away without waiting for a reply. Seconds later a waiter showed up to bring each of them their favorite drink.

 

“But we didn’t order anything.” Wesley protested.

 

“S’ok, the Boss took care of it for you.” The man set the drinks down and left.

 

“Guess he knows something we don’t and wants to know more. What shall we sing?” Lindsey asked his date.

 

“I don’t really want to sing, Lin.” Faith told him with a slight pout.

 

“Honey, he’s not gonna let us get away without it.”

 

“Yeah.” Faith sighed at the unfairness of it all.

 

                                    **************************************

 

About an hour later, Lindsey and Faith took the stage. Loren brought the lawyer a guitar to use and gathering her courage, Faith prepared to sing with Lindsey.

They had settled on a song from the movie they had seen the other night.

 

             ‘I know all about,

             Yea about your reputation

             And now it's down to be a heartbreak situation

             But I can't help it if I'm helpless

             Every time that I'm with you, ah

 

             You walk in and my strength walks out the door

             Say my name and I can’t fight it any more

             Oh I know, I should go

             But I need your touch just too damn much

             Lovin you, That isn't really something I should do

             I shouldn't wanna spend my time with you ya

             Well I should try to be strong

             But baby you’re the right kind of wrong

             But baby you’re the right kind of wrong

             Ya, baby you’re the right kind of wrong’

 

“Actually they’re quite good together.” Wesley remarked to Kate as they listened to their colleagues on the stage.

Angel noticed and remarked to Cordelia that the two seemed to be unaware of anyone except each other.

“We both know what that’s like, Angel. Let them have it. Her life is in danger right now.” Cordelia told the dark haired brooding vampire cryptically.

 

Finally the song was over and the slayer and lawyer made their way back to the table. Loren was waiting on them.

“I see you two have really worked out your differences. Way to go, gang! All of you have this pairing thing working well. But you need to protect your slayer here at a moments notice.” He noticed the looks they were giving him.

“Oh, I think she’ll be ok, but it may be touch and go for a while.”

Loren started to walk away when he turned back suddenly. “Match that other one up the same as the two current ones, okay? That’s the best way to go.”

He slid into the crowd and disappeared.

They didn’t see the Host of the rest of the night. It was almost like he was avoiding them, but he wouldn’t really do that, would he?

 

                                                *********************************************

 

“What did he mean ‘match that other one up the same as the two current ones’ ? What exactly was Loren talking about?” Angel was still trying to figure out the puzzling statement when they arrived back at the Hyperion.

 

“We’ll sleep on it, Angel and possibly understand it better tomorrow. I’ll need to call Giles and warn him about the ‘Raptors’ being in town. I also think that Faith should have the phone with her wherever she is and have someone else with her at all times.” 

Wesley was seriously concerned about the assassins pursuing Faith.

 

Cordelia and Angel headed up the stairs to Angel’s room, while Faith and Lindsey went to his room. Wesley and Kate were left standing in the lobby.

“Wes, I’m really tired. Would you walk me up to my room?”

 

“Certainly, Kate. Are you alright?”

 

“Yeah. It’s just been a long night.” Kate replied. She was really exhausted but didn’t want the attractive ex-watcher to think she wasn’t interested in him.

As they walked up the stairs Kate took Wesley’s hand in her’s, twinning her fingers in his.

Standing outside her door, she pulled him closer to her and leaned her head against his shoulder.” I don’t want you to think that I’m not interested. I am. I really am, Wes. I’d kinda like to take things a bit slower than the others, if you don’t mind.” She looked up into his blue eyes.

“I suspect we’ll get to the same point they are, unless that’s not what you want?”

 

“No… I’d like very much for us to get to that point. You’re a very attractive and intelligent and desirable woman. I respect you too much to have just a ‘fling’ as the others would put it.”

 

“Good. I feel the same way. Thank you for understanding, Wesley.” Kate stood on tiptoe and kissed him gently.

Wesley caught her up in both arms and deepened the kiss as she parted her lips to invite him in.

He took the invitation as their tongues explored each other. Kate pressed closer to him as her hands wandered up and down his back across the silk over his leanness.

Finally breaking the kiss, they were both trembling.

 

“I think I should seek my apartment tonight. If I’m this close to you, I’ll be much too tempted by your nearness.” Wesley told her rather shakily.

 

“I understand all too well exactly what you mean. I don’t know if I’d get any sleep tonight knowing you were right across the hallway.”

 

Wesley dipped his head to kiss the blonde ex-police office again, then stepped back resisting temptation.

 

“Goodnight, Wesley. I’ll see you tomorrow?”

 

“Most assuredly, Kate. Goodnight, sweet lady.”

He turned and headed back down the stairs as she went inside her room, closing the door and leaning back against it.

Kate sighed as she thought of the feel of Wesley’s lips on hers and speculated on what the man would be like in bed.

*Ok, Kate! You’ll never get any sleep like this. Slow is ok, but don’t torture both of you with your fears!* She knew she was afraid of a relationship and knew she’d just have to keep telling herself this would be ok. Wesley was NOT that jerk she’d dated so long ago.

Smiling, Kate got ready for bed.

 

                                    **********************************************

‘Don't understand what's going on

Woke up this morning, all the hurt was gone

This is a new beginning

I'm back in the land of the living’

 

Everyone was up early the next morning a Wesley arrived around 8am. Kate went to kiss his cheek and hand him a cup of coffee.

Eyebrows went up all around the table.

 

“Way to go, Wes!” Faith cheered her watcher on..

 

“Faith!” Wesley started to say something else, but decided to let it drop. These people were all his family and he’d teased them, so it was only fair that it was his turn now.

“Never mind, Faith. I was out of line. I teased you.. Fair is fair.”

Wesley walked back over to his Slayer and kissed the top of her brunette head.

She looked up in surprise.

“Does this mean.. That you’ve...” Faith’s voice dropped to barely a whisper of sound. “That you’ve forgiven me finally for the horrible things I did to you?”

 

Wesley sat his coffee cup down without looking. Kate grabbed it as he did.

Wesley never took his eyes from Faith’s as he knelt down in front of her and took both of her hands.

“I should be asking you to forgive me, Faith. I didn’t understand. I made no effort to understand, and simply believed everything the Council told me. You were hurting, confused, scared and I wasn’t there for you. There is nothing to forgive, love.”

 

Faith frantically searched his face for any trace of a lie. Finding nothing but reassurance, she flung herself into his arms, crying as she clutched him to her.

Wesley allowed her to cry for several minutes before he whispered in her ear. “Faith, if you don’t allow your watcher to breathe, we may have a problem.”

The tearful brunette slayer pulled away from her watcher and looked at his as a smile started to tug at her lips. “Thank you, Wes. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”

 

“As I will to you.” The slender brunette watcher told his young brunette slayer.

“Finish your coffee, dear. I desperately need mine.”

Smiles were everywhere and laughter resounded at the terse comments about caffeine.

 

Wesley sat finally and pulled the phone closer as he called Giles in Sunnydale.

They talked for several minutes, each bringing the other up to date on the recent events and how each set of warriors were fairing. Finally hanging up the phone, Wesley relayed the information to the rest of his crew.

“Giles is going to look into the matter from his end. They’ve not seen any of the Raptors, so they must be here specifically for Faith. Buffy and Spike as well as the others are all well. Willow will be looking into the matter with her spells. Giles sent his love and said to be careful!”

 

                                                *************************************

 

‘ a higher voice has called the tune

Two hearts that lost the beat will now resume

The gift of life extension

By divine intervention’

 

The LA gang had decided it would be safer for Faith to have more than just one partner with her, as was their usual habit. So another pair went with Faith.

 

Faith, Lindsey, Angel and Wesley were checking out the waterfront area where Kate had heard about some reports of a new vampire nest.

So far they hadn’t heard or seen anything unusual.

 

At the hotel, Kate and Cordelia were talking when Cordy suddenly clutched her head as Kate ran to grab her.

The vision stabbed through her like a knife, but it was clear as glass this time.

Cordelia staggered but fought to get to her feet.

 

“Cordy, calm down. We’ll write it down and call..” Kate tried to reassure her.

 

“NO! We have to go now! They’re gonna kill Faith. Angel and Wesley and Lindsey are in the way, so they kill them too!” Cordelia was crying from the pain and the sight of her friends dying and her lover crumbling to dust.

 

“Now! I know where they are… Can you get them on the cell phone?” Kate asked desperately as she hung on to Cordelia’s arm while they tried to run to the car.

 

“Yeah, get me to the car and I’ll call them.”

The two women almost fell into Cordelia’s car with Kate driving. Taking the streets as fast as possible, Kate ignored all the traffic rules. Cordelia had the cell phone ringing as she cursed all of them for not answering.

 

“Hello! We’re trying to be quiet here!”

 

“Wesley, shut up! They’re coming! I saw them kill all of you! We’re on the way!” Cordelia was almost screaming in the phone before she cut the connection.

She reached into the glove box for the aspirin bottle and dry-swallowed four of them as Kate took another corner on two wheels.

Just minutes later, they pulled up to the waterfront, shutting off the car and running down the docks.

Ahead of them, they heard the fighting.

 

                                                *****************************************

 

Just as Cordelia cut the phone connection, Angel heard the sound of several men in the shadows.

The four Raptors burst from the shadows, each diving at one of the foursome.

As each of them fought for their life, a fifth Raptor crept quietly up behind Faith. The one she was fighting maneuvered her into position and the fifth one flung a garrote over her head, tightening it as the first man grabbed both of her arms trying to hold her still long enough for the fifth one to strangle her.

 

Lindsey caught a glimpse of the crossbow that was raised toward Angel and leaped away from his own ‘Raptor’ to tackle Angel’s.

“Faith!” Wesley cried as the man fighting him slugged him again.

 

Angel had had enough; Faith was dying before their eyes as the men kept them tied up in fights. The vampire grabbed the man in front of him and snapped his neck. Lunging for the man with Wesley as the Raptor pulled a knife to stab the watcher; Angel snatched the knife away and stabbed the assassin with it instead.

Lindsey had stabbed the man with the crossbow with his own bolt, leaving him laying on the ground with the other three as Angel and Wesley ran toward the two men overpowering Faith.

Just as Angel reached them, Faith collapsed.

The vampire ripped the man away from behind her while Wesley stabbed the first man with the knife Angel had taken from one of the attackers. Lindsey reached Faith as she lay on the ground and as rapidly as possible, unwound the cord from her neck. He struggled vainly to find a pulse.

“Angel! She doesn’t have a pulse!”

 

Angel grabbed the last man by the throat as his demon face dropped over his human features. “You better hope she lives. Don’t ever touch our Slayers again. You tell the Council we mean every word of it!.” He bit down into the man’s neck before throwing him over the edge of the pier into the ocean.

Turning to face Wesley, he told the Watcher, “I didn’t kill him. I need that message to go back to the Council.”

 

“Pity.” Was the only word Wesley said as he too turned to Faith.

Lindsey had started doing CPR on the stricken Slayer.

 

“I’ll do compressions if you’ll ventilate her.” Wesley told Lindsey tersely.

“Call 911, Angel.”

Lindsey and Wesley switched places and resumed work on the fallen Slayer as Cordelia and Kate ran around the corner.

 

“Is she…?” Cordelia started.

 

“We’re not sure. They’re trying to revive her. We’d all be dead if not for your warning, Cordy. They had a fifth man with them this time.” Angel explained as he watched the resuscitation going on.

 

“Angel, help me get rid of these bodies!” Kate yelled at him “Leave one of them only.”

 

Between the two of them, they stuffed the other three bodies down into a sewer drain.

Cordelia switched off with Wesley and Lindsey on the CPR.

The ambulance was on the way.

Angel could only stand and watch.

“Angel, I know you don’t breathe normally; but you could blow air into her lungs and do compressions, right?” Kate asked the worried vampire next to her.

 

Angel hung his head. “I don’t know CPR. If Xander hadn’t been there when Buffy drowned with the Master, she’d have died then.

 

Kate looked hard at the vampire. “As soon as this is over, you are learning CPR, Mister!”

 

Kate went to change places with Lindsey and Cordelia. Cordy’s face was flushed from ventilating Faith. Kate took over doing the compressions.

“Angel! Get over here!” Cordelia yelled at her lover.

“You are gonna have to breathe for her. I’ll tell you when to blow. See how I’m doing it?”

Cordelia gave him a crash course on what she was doing. Angel took over the respirations until as Wesley, Lindsey and Cordelia rested.

 

Just then, Faith gave a weak cough. Lindsey had been checking every couple of minutes for a pulse like he’d been taught, but Faith’s came back suddenly.

Right on queue, the ambulance pulled up.

 

                                                ****************************************

 

‘It's gotta be a strange twist of fate

Telling me that Heaven can wait

Telling me to get it right this time

Life doesn't mean a thing

Without the love you bring

Love is what we've found

The second time around’

 

“Yes, she’s alive. They kept her in the hospital over night. Lindsey is there with her now.

…..

I think getting Willow to locate the new slayer is an excellent idea. We need to get to her before the Council does. Yes, Buffy and Spike would be an excellent choice with Willow.”

Wesley paused in his conversation with Giles.

“I have a good friend who is a Watcher. He’s not in good favor very often as he’s much more like you are, and like I am now. He questions everything about the Council. He’s a good man and would do well for her when we find the new Slayer.”

……

“His name? Colin Murray. Yes, he is Scottish, but let’s not hold that against him. Right, I’ll call him and get him over here, while Buffy and Spike look for this new girl.”

…..

“Do you think so? I’d not thought about that, but you’re most likely right. Spike thought of it? Good show!”

……

“Angel mentioned an childe he’d not heard from in some time. He says the man is still alive, but we’ll need to have his soul replaced if we can’t get him chipped. No? Well, a soul it is then. Yes, Cordelia, Kate, Lindsey and Gunn will look after Faith while we round up the others and take care of the rest of that business. Let me know when you’re ready to go and we’ll be there.”

Wesley hung up the phone.

 

“Ok, Giles will send Buffy and Spike to find her. Willow will go with them after she locates the girl with a spell. We need to find Nathan, Angel and get him a shiny new soul. Giles will have everything ready. I’ll contact Colin and get him over here. Once all of that is in place, we can finish the rest of it.” Wesley looked grim, but somewhat hopeful.

 

“Faith will be home this afternoon from the hospital. She’s doing okay. Her ribs are sore as is to be expected, and her throat is very sore and bruised, but her slayer enhanced healing will get her better quickly.” Kate reported to the men in the room with her. “Lindsey hasn’t left her side.”

 

“He’s turned into a rather good man to have around.” Wesley turned to look at Angel.
”Giles said that Spike thinks the Host’s comment is regarding how our two current slayers work. Each one has a vampire backup in addition to their Watcher. They have a support team, at least one of who can do magick. So your idea of finding Nathan is excellent. Good instincts there, Angel. Colin is also a Wiccan in addition to being a Watcher. He can fill that role for this new girl until we can locate another witch for her.”

 

“Good. I’m anxious to take that trip.” Angel told them, the growl hadn’t left his voice often over the last 24 hours.

*How dare they try to kill one of my slayers!*

 

                                                ******************************************

 

Buffy and Spike found her by following the sounds of the fighting. They turned the corner Willow had indicated and there she was. The new Slayer was a curvaceous slender young woman with below the shoulder length, almost black hair. She fought hard although seemed to have little training.

Buffy thought of her first weeks as a Slayer after she was Called.

Squeezing Spike’s hand on one side of her, and Willow’s on the other; Spike and Buffy rushed in to help the girl against the overwhelming odds of the vampires around her.

Willow cast a protective shield around Buffy and Spike.

The new Slayer wouldn’t know anything about Spike except that he was a Vampire, and Willow planned to always protect Buffy whenever possible now.

 

In short order, the vamps were all dust. Buffy stood looking at the dark haired girl in front of her.

“W-who are you? Why did you help me? And he.. He’s a vampire!”

 

Buffy grabbed the girl’s arm before the stake could move far toward Spike.

“Yes, he’s a vampire, but he’s my vampire. This is going to be very confusing, I know. I remember what it was like for me. I’m Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This is my mate, Spike. And my best friend and witch back up, Willow. We came to take you to my watcher and help you.”

 

“I- I had a Watcher, but she died the first night. Please help me! I don’t want to die!”

 

“It’s no fun, but it’s not so bad. I’ve done it twice, which is why there are three Slayers now. Me, Faith and you. What’s your name?”

 

“You’re Buffy? Buffy Summers from Sunnydale? The Hellmouth?”

 

Buffy just nodded at the frightened girl.

 

“My Watcher told me about you. You’re the most famous Slayer ever, even if they don’t like you. It’s the vampires, you know… And you don’t do what they tell you..”

 

“Yeah. I know. That’s why we’re here. We can teach you how to stay alive. The Council will just get you killed. To them, you’re expendable. They’ll just get another one just like you. What’s your name?”

 

“I’m sorry. This has just been so overwhelming all at once. I’m Michelle Allen, the Vampire Slayer.”

 

“Nice to meet you, Michelle. Now you’re not alone.”

 

 

                                                Gillian Silverlight 6/27/01