~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
~Part: 11~
Oh the job was hers and Willow was questioning her sanity. It took her and Lindsey close to three hours to mop up the mess in the bathroom and clean the rest of the penthouse. It seemed the more they got cleaned the messier it got. Sophie was a force to be reckoned with. It was a miracle that she finally fell asleep, Willow was close to dropping to her knees and thanking the goddess.
Was this normal behavior for a child? It couldn't be. She never remembered being so...destructive. It was unnatural.
"You know you might consider childproofing your home." Willow muttered as she dropped to the couch in exhaustion.
"Mmmm, after I'm finished dying I'll be right on that." Lindsey grunted. "Thank you so much for helping me clean. Still want the job?"
"Of course." Willow heard her voice, she knew it was her. What was she thinking? That she had to show Angel and the others that she could do this.
Lindsey leaned back, closing his eyes. "So you knew Cordelia in High School?" Lindsey had wanted to ask Willow all afternoon about her acquaintance with Angel's seer. But he had told himself to let it be. That the last time they talked about Cordelia, Willow had almost left.
"Yeah, she dated my best friend." Willow thoughtlessly said, realizing that her mistake too late. Geez how Willow like of her to blow this just hours after getting the job.
"She dated your beat friend? Bet you loved that." Lindsey chuckled.
"Oh yeah, I handled it very maturely." Willow smiled at the memory she hadn't thought of in years.
"So what was your best friend's name?" Her mind raced. She couldn't say Xander, what if they had files on the Sunnydale group? Then he'd know that she not only knew Cordelia and Angel, but also had been the one to curse Angel again with a soul.
"Devin." Well so maybe Devin and her had never talked, but he had dated Cordelia and survived. "He was the president and Co-Founder of the I hate Cordelia Chase Club. I was Vice President. My other friend Amy was Treasurer." Willow thought about her little furry friend and hoped that Spike was keeping to his promise and taking good care of her.
"How did Amy take Cordelia dating the president?" Lindsey couldn't help but chuckle. It sounded like a regular childhood, something he himself had never really experienced.
"Umm, she wasn't around." Willow wondered why she was sharing all this information with a stranger. A stranger that happened to hate her best friends.
"Your bag is ringing." Lindsey looked at her black backpack. "I'm going to get something to drink, can I get you something?" Willow nodded as she fished around the bag for her phone.
"Hello?"
"Willow its Angel." Willow froze, her eyes darting in the direction Lindsey had headed off in.
"H-hey."
"Listen I thought I'd come for a visit. I really feel bad about the way I treated you and want to patch things up." Willow squeezed her eyes shut. This could not be happening.
"No that's not necessary." Lindsey was coming out of the kitchen carrying two sodas.
"Willow please. I was too harsh with you. It scares me that you may think I don't consider you a close friend." Willow was having an attack of guilt. Angel sounded so sincere, as though he was truly upset about how they had left things between them. "How about I come up tonight and we go get something to eat and talk."
She was tempted to tell Angel that he didn't eat, but with Lindsey in the room it would sound suspicious. Her other line ringed giving her a chance to put Angel on hold.
"Hello?"
"Wills it's me. Bad news and you have to promise not to turn me into a rat." Cordelia was breathless.
"Gee wonder what it could be?" Willow's tone dropped above a whisper, as she turned her back on Lindsey.
"No need to get all snippety with me. It was either that or have Angel arrive in Sunnyhell to see you."
"Well he still wants to." Willow was close to panicking. Here she had not only Angel on one line but now Cordelia and Lindsey was just feet behind her, hearing every word she said.
"You can't let him!"
"I have to go, see you tonight." Clicking the phone back over, and taking a deep breath Willow tried to stay as calm as possible. "Sorry about that. Listen, I'm busy right now. I'll call you when I get home."
"Willow are you sure you don't want me to come up so we can talk about this? What I did to you by not trusting in you, I feel horrible."
The guilt kicked her in the gut again. "No really I'll be fine. I'll call you." Closing the phone and turning the ringer off, Willow returned to the couch, taking the soda Lindsey had brought from the kitchen and taking a long drink.
"Boyfriend trouble?" Lindsey watched as Willow's face turned red and wanted to kick himself. This was why he didn't socialize with people. When he tried to reach out and just make a connection with another human he always went past some unknown boundary. "It's none of my business."
Studying his face, Willow felt sorry for Lindsey. <Evil, remember he is evil. Show no mercy.> "No, it was my best friend's ex-boyfriend. He's a little over protective, and we recently had an argument. He wanted me to go back home...after my aunt died. Thinks that LA is too dangerous for me." <You're pathetic.>
"Home being Sunnydale?" Lindsey chuckled at the humor of it. This guy, the ex-boyfriend thought the Hellmouth was safer than LA. The guy probably had no idea what kind of evil was living next door.
"Yes. But I wanted to stick around for awhile." <Shut up idiot. Maybe you'd like to tell him about how you got the scar on your knee when you were eight. He's the enemy, he doesn't need to know all about you.> "He made me get on a bus to go home. I got off at the first stop and came back here. I'm staying with a friend." <Shut up Loser!>
"He thinks you went back huh?" Lindsey laughed, and he stopped in the middle realizing how good it felt to actually laugh.
"Yup. If he finds out that I'm back in LA he'll throw a fit." <That's an understatement and you know it. >
"Well your secret is safe with me." Lindsey's smile fell when a loud sound came from Sophie's room. "Ready for round two?"
~~~~~~<---------->~~~~~~
Angel sat staring off into space. He had just gotten off the phone with Willow and things had gone as he had planned. He had laid it on thick, knowing that she would feel guilty. But as he went on he realized he had truly meant most of what he had said. He had treated her harshly, not giving an inch. It was the thought of her spending time with Lindsey that made him see red.
Willow's beauty and innocence would draw Lindsey to her like a moth to a flame. Damn that girl for not listening. When this game was over he was going to...going to... different pictures flashed before him. He wanted to yell, rant and rave for hours. He wanted to force her back to Sunnydale, make her do what he originally told her to do. He wanted to kiss those pouty lips, make her dizzy with passion.
He knew this was going to happen. Deep down inside he knew that if he spent too much time with Willow he'd want her for his own. And he hadn't really spent all that much time with her. He had felt the pull every time he was around Willow after he had come back from Hell. But by carefully distancing himself from her, and forcing his attentions on Buffy, he had been able to avoid any emotional attachment with the little witch.
But here she was, and his plan worked excellently. He had successfully distanced the little witch right out of his life. Now he had to figure out what to do. What he wanted. But he'd be damned if McDonald got her.
~Part: 12~
"Thomas, come in." Holland Manners waved the dirty rodent faced man into his office. Out of habit the Holland went to offer a firm handshake, but the god awful stench radiating of the other man made him think twice about it. "I have a little job for you to do, nothing all that challenging mind you."
The small man looked nervously around the imposing office; he hated this place always had. These people always looked down on him, thinking that they were high and mighty. But in the end, no matter how clean they were or what kind of cars they drove they were the same. They were all dead inside. All predestined for an eternity in hell.
Holland cleared his throat; not liking the way Thomas was scrutinizing him. "One of my up and comings seems to have gotten himself off track, forgetting his priorities. I need to...rid me of a distraction of his."
Thomas's face stayed impassive, giving no hint whether he would take Holland up on his offer. "This is a delicate situation, and I'm sure you will be as... professional as possible. Lindsey McDonald has seemed to become a father over night, which could prove disastrous right before the year end review with the senior partners."
"What do you want me to do?" Thomas cut to the chase, not caring the why's of the job. To him the why's just was an easy attempt to ride the other person the slightest guilt they may feel. Give him facts.
"I think its pretty clear. I need his daughter out of the picture. Lindsey has always had this nasty habit of having a conscious. Constantly tattering on the line, not really knowing what he wants. I can't afford that right now." Holland grabbed a stack of papers he shoved them toward the other man. "This is all you need to know. Where he lives, his hours. He called today and said that he just hired a Nanny. If you have to take her out as well."
Thomas looked at the pictures. "Where's the Nanny?"
"We don't have anything on her as of yet. Lindsey just hired her today." Holland felt Thomas's intense stare and knew that it was no excuse. They should have everything on the girl Lindsey hired, all the way down to her DNA. "It won't matter as long as you take care of this quickly."
"I don't like going into a situation not knowing all the facts." Thomas threw the pile information back on Holland's over polished cherry wood desk and headed toward the door.
"It's one little girl, and some nobody." Holland couldn't believe that this could happening. Some piece of trash off the street was saying no to him. No one said no to him, *ever*. Thomas was almost out the door. "Fine, I'll double my original offer."
"Triple." Thomas didn't turn around, but had stopped in his tracks.
"There's no way... Fine triple. But I want this situation a distant memory. And Thomas, I want Lindsey unharmed. What you do to the Nanny and the little girl is none of my concern as long as they're taken care of." Holland called out at a retreating back.
~~~~~~<---------->~~~~~~
"Oh my Goddess Cordelia you have no idea just how over active that girl is. I mean she's like Xander on a three-day sugar high. She bounced from one thing to the next so fast that it made my eyes blur." Willow leaned back her exhausted head. Cordelia sat next to her, drinking in everything hat had to do with Sophie.
"What else?" Cordelia was dying to hear it all, from start to finish.
"Cordelia!" Willow moaned. "I already told you everything. Lindsey and I spent most of the day chasing after her just to keep her out of mischief."
"Lindsey." Cordelia made a face at the mention of his name.
"He's not all that bad." Willow froze, as the words just seemed to pop out of her mouth. When was she going to learn to stop doing that, just saying things without thinking?
"Yeah right not bad in that he's evil and scheming and...and evil."
"Cordelia from what I gathered Sophie really is his daughter. His high school sweetheart was her mother. He didn't really go into much detail, but just the way he talked about her I think that he really had feelings for her."
"I care. He's made our lives a living hell. He brought Darla back to torment Angel, and for that I will *never* forgive him." Cordelia's rant was cut off by a knock at the door, cutting off their conversation. Both girls sat wide eyed when the second more persistent knock came.
"Cordy?" Angel's voice came through the door as Willow and Cordelia jumped up from the couch to stand staring at one another wide eyed.
"Cordelia are you home?" Angel's voice came again, making the girls move at once right into one another as they made a mad scramble to the guestroom.
"What are you doing?" Willow hissed. "You're supposed to be here, this is your apartment. Answer the door."
"Nah-uh." More knocking came this time, followed by the sound of Angel trying to turn the doorknob. "Dennis?"
"Answer the door!" Willow shoved Cordelia out of the room and hurried to the closet.
Cordelia considered ignoring Willow's command, but instead found herself opening her front door. "Angel! Thought I heard someone knocking." Wincing at how forced her voice sounded; Cordelia stood her ground not letting Angel enter.
"Are you okay? I was worried." Angel took a step to the right to get around the barrier that Cordelia had created. "You don't have company do you? I thought I heard another voice."
"Nope just me, all alone...no one else." Cordelia followed Angel's movement blocking him again. "What are you doing here? Something come up?"
"No just wanted to talk." Taking a step left and heaving a big sigh when Cordelia shifted too, he reached out and physically moved her. "I called Willow and I think she's still mad at me. I still think I should go see her. Make things right you know."
"NO! I mean she has school and all that. I'm sure that she'll get over this. You know our Willow will get over this, she can never stay mad all that long."
"I know, but I just feel like there was something she wasn't telling me." Angel watched the frantic look in Cordelia's eyes mount, getting an odd satisfaction that he was causing his friend so much stress. She was lying to him, looking him straight in the eye and lying. Okay so she didn't might not have said that Willow wasn't still in LA, but still she was keeping something huge from him.
"Angel get over it. Give it a few days and call her again." Cordelia jumped when Willow's phone started ringing.
"Aren't you going to answer that?" Angel smiled, silently thanking Gunn for timing his call at just the right time.
"Umm...no. Listen Angel I'm really tired and I have a few leads on Lindsey I need to check out tomorrow. Se you tomorrow?" Cordelia grabbed Angel's arm and pulled him to the door. "Night, see you tomorrow."
"Good night Cordelia." Angel was barely out the door before it slammed behind him. 'Night Willow.'
~~~~~~<---------->~~~~~~
Willow showed up at Lindsey's promptly at eight, armed with a huge cup of coffee and an assortment of videos. Lindsey let her in as he shrugged on his Armani jacket. "Are you sure you're ready to be alone with her?"
"Lindsey she's four. I think I can handle this." Willow laughed. Walking
over to the couch Willow slipped the strap of her bag off her shoulder
as she
spied Sophie peeking out from her bedroom door. "Good morning Sophie,
have you eaten?"
The shook her head.
"How about you help me make some pancakes? I can show you how my friend Xander and I make funny shaped ones." Sophie nodded as she ran from her room and to the kitchen.
Lindsey grabbed his briefcase and keys and hurried to the door. "I may be a little late tonight, I hope you don't mind. I have a lot of stuff that I neglected while I was out." Willow smiled, this was a great opportunity to snoop a little while he was gone. She brought her laptop again and could download information from his computer in his home office to look at later.
"Don't worry Lindsey, we'll be fine." Willow shooed him out of the penthouse, breathing a deep sigh of relief when he was finally gone.
Her morning was a blur of activity, learning quickly that Sophie was one smart cookie. She had shown off her ability to recite the ABC's counted to forty, plus sang many songs that Willow had long ago forgotten. While pillaging through the mountain of toys Lindsey had purchased his daughter Willow had found some Play Dough. It was the one activity that had kept Sophie entertained for a good hour.
Willow had been able to get some information about Sophie's mother while
they were making make believe purple snakes. It was abundantly clear that
the little girl missed her mother, and Willow's heart went out to her.
For four she seemed to grasp the concept of just how sick her mother was.
Sophie explained about the hospitals that her mother had been to, which
ones were her favorites and which ones had mean witches working
there.
"Who took care of you while your Mommy was sick." Willow wished she hadn't asked as a dark cloud fell over Sophie.
"Grammy and Gampy Donald." Sophie's dislike for the mentioned persons wasn't hard to miss.
"Your Daddy's parents?" Willow asked nonchalantly as she gathered information.
"Uh-huh. They always told me that I was evil, and that God didn't want me." Willow felt a chill go over her body as the little girl recited the words she seemed to know by heart. "I was a sin."
"That's nonsense. You're a perfect little angel." Willow gripped onto the Play Dough, squeezing extra hard as anger gripped her insides.
"Really I'm an angel?" Sophie's blue little eyes rounded in astonishment.
"Yes, you are and I should know. I have a friend that's an Angel too." Her lips quirked at her play on words, her initial anger lessening at Sophie's amazed expression.
"Really? Does he know my Mommy?"
"Oh no Sophie, he's a different kind of Angel. He lives here on earth and helps people." Willow hugged the little girl to her, vowing that Sophie was going to feel loved and wanted.
"Wow. Can he help my Daddy?" Shifting her eyes away slightly, Willow found it hard to meet inquiring blue eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"Gampy says that Daddy going to live with the Devil. I don't want him to." If Willow could force Lindsey McDonald to change his ways that very second she would.
"I'm sure that you're Daddy's going to heaven too. I think you shouldn't believe everything that your Grampy said." Willow wanted to know what kind of person told a little girl that they were evil and that their Daddy was going to hell. "I have an idea. Why don't we clean up and go to the park?"
Sophie's eyes brightened, chasing away the dark clouds from her eyes. Jumping from the table Willow had to call her back, reminding her that they had to clean up their mess first. After that chore was done, Willow grabbed the key Lindsey had given her, grabbed their jackets just incase and herded Sophie out the door.
~~~~~~<---------->~~~~~~
"What!?" Cordelia huffed towards Wesley and Gunn. All the two had done all morning was give her strange looks. Every time she'd question what their problem was they'd look away muttering nothing.
"Nothing- No damn it there is something Barbie. After all that we've been through-."
"Gunn." Wesley interrupted, giving the shut you mouth look.
"No I'm not going to play this game. Why are you lying about Willow going back to Sunnydale? Angel talked to Buffy two days ago and *knows* that she doubled back." Cordelia chocked on the mouthful of coffee she had just sipped.
"He knows! Why that snake. What else does he know?" Turning to Wesley Cordelia pinned him with a glare.
"You won't get any information out of me. I think this whole thing is ridicules." Wesley picked up the book he was reading and headed for the back office.
"Fine. Gunn?"
"I'm not getting any further into this. I don't like the way things
are heading here, with all this sneaking around and hiding." Gunn stood
and left,
leaving Cordelia feeling rotten.
So Angel knew? And all that I want to see Willow and make this all better was just a line of crap? Well she'd show him.
~Part: 13~
Willow watched Sophie from the park bench as the tiny girl ran around the playground. There were a few other kids running about, occasionally one would venture over to where Sophie was playing, trying to make friends with the girl. But Sophie would shy away. Making Willow wonder if Lindsey's daughter ever had any friends her age.
The ringing of her phone broke her out of her thoughts, keeping an eye on Sophie as she swung alone on a swing Willow answered her phone by the third ring. "Willow?"
"Hello Lindsey." Willow smiled. It was the third time he had called that day. Making sure that everything was running smoothly and that Sophie hadn't set the Penthouse on fire.
"How is everything-."
"Lindsey if you don't stop calling every couple of hours I'm going to get insulted." Sophie had hopped off the swing and was heading toward the jungle gym. Willow's eye's trained on her every move.
"I'm still new to this." Lindsey softly defended himself. "I have no clue what I'm doing."
"If it makes you feel any better I really don't think that any parent really knows what they're doing." Sophie disappeared for a moment, but came back in view. Willow half listened as Lindsey told her for the fourth time that day he'd be getting back late. Willow listened with half an ear, keeping her eyes glued on Sophie.
~~~*~~~
There were too many witnesses to do anything but watch and observe. So far what he had seen hadn't made him all that happy. Thomas watched from a distance as Lindsey McDonald's nanny kept an eagle like eye on the little girl that was his next mark. Shaking his head slightly, Thomas frowned. He was barely thirty feet from the redhead and he could feel power just radiating from her. It was a good thing that Holland was paying him three times what he usually got, because something told him that this wasn't going to be as easy as that old fart thought it would be.
His first thought was that he'd just grab Sophie when the nanny got distracted. But now he'd need to reassess his plans. He was going to have to take them both out. Not that killing the nanny bothered him all that much, but at the same time he didn't relish killing innocents. Unlike several of his colleagues his job was just that, a job. Some played with their kills, torturing their marks unmercifully. The problem with that was there was a chance of escape or rescue. No a quick bullet to the head was more his style. A neat kill, that left no room for failure.
Perhaps he should tell Mr. Manners about the witch, it might change
everything. Thomas watched a few minutes more pondering on his predicament.
It may mean that both lives would be spared and though that meant he'd
be out of a job, there would be others. Having a
connection with a firm like Wolfram and Hart meant job security. There
was always another meal ticket around the corner.
Turning around, Thomas pulled his cell phone from his jacket pocket. After a few minutes of haggling with Holland Manners personal secretary he relayed the new information to a very intrigued Mr. Manners.
~~~*~~~
"So Lindsey has a witch working for him. That's very interesting. Did you get a name on her yet?" Holland sat back listening intently. "No don't bother with that, I think I can mange to get the girl's name from Lindsey myself."
"Do you want me to continue as planned?" Thomas asked.
"No. Hold off on that, I want more information. I'll be in contact." Holland hung up the phone, and sat back in his leather chair, contemplating how he should handle the situation. Had Lindsey been any other employee he would just leave well enough alone. But the firm's Golden Boy wasn't another lawyer working for the firm.
Lindsey had such raw potential, plus his need to please had not only benefited the firm, but Holland as well. But Lindsey had a flaw; one that had to be observed at all times. His protégé had a conscience, limits that go to get a job done. The most hindering blemish was his concern for the welfare of small children. Hadn't he proven that when he risked his life running to Angel when innocent lives were at stake? What Lindsey didn't know was that he was being tested, felt out in a way. To see where his boundaries were, and unfortunately they found them. It wasn't as if the firm was afraid they'd lose Lindsey to Angel and his crusade to help the helpless. All one had to do was offer more money, a bigger office, and praise to get Lindsey to stay by their side. Good thing the firm had all of that.
Pushing the button on his intercom, Holland buzzed Lindsey. "Lindsey."
"Yes sir." Lindsey voice answered back instantly.
"There's a new case I want you to take a look at. There's an important client whose daughter has gotten herself into a bit of trouble. You may want to call you Nanny Miss. ...Drat I know you told me this morning."
"Miss. Rosenberg sir. Willow Rosenberg." Lindsey had hesitated for a brief second before answering.
"Yes that's it." Holland smiled as he wrote the name down. "See you in about twenty minutes?"
"Yes sir."
~~~*~~~
Cordelia was eternally thankful that Angel hadn't come down from his little hibernation yet. She had sat thinking how she was going to get the bastard back for letting her go on like some idiot when he had known the truth the entire time. It couldn't be anything too drastic, but it had to be something good.
"I found something." Wesley called out. "I was going through some old newspaper clippings on our illustrious lawyer. In one article he made mention of some small town in Oklahoma. So then I-."
"I think we get it Wesley." Cordelia interrupted, knowing that Wesley could go on forever about his wonderful researching skills. "What did you find?"
"Well a lot actually. Though it seems that there are quiet a few articles missing, it doesn't seem all stories relating to Lindsey have been erased."
"Wes man sometime today, we aint getting any younger here." Gunn shared a knowing look with Cordelia.
Wesley muttered something about getting no appreciation and continued on. "Fine. He was second in his class in High School; his childhood sweetheart was first... a Molly Logan. Miss Logan went on to the University of Oklahoma and became a teacher."
"What else does it say about this girl?" Gunn leaned across the counter.
"Umm, yes well hold on a second." Wesley shifted through papers. "Ah here it is. Molly Logan came from a middle class family. Her father was a local law enforcement officer that was shot in the line of duty during Molly's senior year in college. Her Mother had died of cancer when Molly was just a baby."
"Willow told me that Sophie's mother died of cancer too, it must run in the family." Cordelia said sadly.
"Well Molly was a cheerleader in High School. Elected class president freshman through senior year. Volunteered at a local hospital after school."
"The girl was a saint. What the heck was she doing with Lindsey?" Gunn looked puzzled.
Cordelia grabbed the papers from Wesley's hands and started to read. There was nothing indicating why someone so...not evil would be with Lindsey McDonald.
"Maybe lawyer-boy hasn't always been evil." Wesley suggested, earning him an icy glare from Cordelia.
"Of course he has. There's no way someone halfway decent can turn out like that." Cordelia tuned Gunn. She didn't want to think of Lindsey of having been good once. That would mean that he could be changed, reformed. And the last time they took a chance on Lindsey McDonald he had burned them bad.
"So her parents are dead. Hey what about his parents." Cordelia's eyes brightened.
"Already thought of that. Henry and Judith McDonald they still live in the small town Lindsey hailed firm. I tried calling this morning but there was no answer." Wesley answered proudly.
"Okay then. At least we know that he existed before working for Wolfram and Hart. For awhile there I was going to bet he was some evil test tube baby experiment. But hey, evil dude has parents. They must be so damn proud." Gunn stood, checking his watch. "I gotta go. The boys wanted help with some training tonight."
"Bye." Wesley waved. Cordelia sat at her desk reflecting on everything she had heard.
"Wes?"
"Hmm?"
"I don't get how she had Lindsey's daughter. They both went to separate colleges, in separate states." Chewing on the end of her pencil Cordelia tired to find holes in the information.
"Vacations I guess. Many long-distance relationships have been known to survive." Wesley answered.
"Yeah but... that would mean commitment. Most decent guys have problems with."
Wesley sighed. "Cordelia as much as you want to think that Lindsey is purely evil, you and I both have seen proof that he isn't." Wesley paused for a moment studying Cordelia's annoyed expression. "So have you told Angel yet that you know about his knowing that Willow never left town?"
"Not yet. I haven't really thought of a great way to get back at him yet."
"Perhaps because you know he wasn't the only guilty party in this deception." Wesley suggested softly. "What you and Willow did put her in a great deal of danger. Even though it's never been put into words we know that Angel has a special...interest in her."
"Yeah I know." She really didn't feel like hearing that she could be wrong. "She's Buffy's best friend, of course he wants to protect her."
"I think you'll find his interest runs a little deeper than that."
"What do you mean deeper?" Cordelia looked over at Wesley waiting impatiently for him to answer.
"Don't tell me you haven't seen the way his attention gets snagged anytime her name is mentioned. Or when she calls or emails he walks around the hotel for days just whistling."
"I really hadn't noticed. But thanks you gave me a thought on how to get back at Mr. Broods-a-lot." Wesley watched with foreboding as Cordelia got a wicked gleam in her eye, knowing that he should've stayed out of it.
~Part: 14~
"Sophie!" Willow cried out from the doorway. "You...I..." Looking around
Sophie's room, Willow felt sick. Lindsey was going to kill her. After they
had
gotten back from the park Willow had sent Sophie to her room to play,
while she made dinner. It wasn't until Willow noticed that it was too quiet,
that she went to investigate.
The room's once pristine cream walls were now covered in every color and shade of crayon. Most places it only reached about three or four feet. Others, depending on whether there was a chair or other piece of furniture went up higher. Sophie stood caught red-handed with a blue crayon in one hand and a purple one in the other.
"You like?" Sophie smiled proudly. Willow blinked a few times, her mouth hung open. "Willow?"
"Do I like?" Willow didn't know if she should laugh or cry. "Well you're a great artist Sophie, but you're not supposed to color on the walls." Willow said softly. "Why don't you go watch a movie while I clean this okay?" Sophie nodded happily, dropping the crayons onto the carpet and ran from the room.
Willow inspected the drawings and had to admit that Sophie had some talent with stick figures. Going from picture to picture Willow smiled at most. It wasn't until the picture near the closet that Willow frowned and took a closer look. The drawing was in black crayon. There was two stick persons near a black square shaped house. Both the figures were holding crosses, and had mean expressions on their faces. Willow knew without a doubt that they represented Lindsey's parents, Henry and Judith McDonald.
She didn't need a degree in childhood physiology to know that the McDonalds weren't the sweet adoring grandparents every child should have. Just from what Sophie had said earlier and now the drawing proved that much. Angrily turning her back on the drawing Willow waved her hand and watched the pictures disappear, all but the one of the grandparents. She wanted to save that one for Lindsey to see.
~Part: 15~
"Angel?" Cordelia stood at the vampire's open door. She had expected to find him sitting in the shadows reading like he usually did when he stayed upstairs. Instead she found the room empty. With a slight frown she turned on her heel and hurried downstairs.
"Have you seen Angel?" Wesley was sitting behind one of the computers scowling at the screen in frustration.
"I thought he was upstairs." With a shake of her head, Cordelia nibbled on her lower lip.
"I just checked."
"Did you try his cell?" Wesley asked distractedly as he slammed down on the enter key. "Damn bloody piece of junk. What use is a computer if all it's going to do is give you error messages?" Slumping back in his chair Wesley let out a growl.
"Not yet. Where could he be?"
"Anxious to get back at him are you?" Wesley's words were biting, making Cordelia wince.
"Well yeah at first it was like that. But now..." With a deep sigh she pushed herself away from the counter. "It's not like him to just disappear without telling us."
"What are you saying? It's completely like him to do exactly that."
"Not since his beige period." She defended.
"See this is exactly why I was against all these lies. You two are sneaking around trying to one up each other. What if you were to have a vision? Then what?" Wesley folded his arms across his chest and gave her a questioning stare.
"All right already." Throwing her hands into the air in surrender, Cordelia
turned her back on the exasperating know-it-all look Wesley was giving
her.
"You're right, I'm wrong, but that doesn't help us find Angel."
"She's in trouble." Angel came stalking through the door that led to the basement, a dark frown on his face. Looking straight at Cordelia his expression only got darker. "There was a reason I told her to go back to Sunnydale."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. You just missed my admission to guilt already, move on. Back to the 'she's in trouble' thing."
"I was having Willow followed." Cordelia opened her mouth, only to snap it shut at Angel's glowering stare. "She took Lindsey's daughter to the park today and my informant said that there was a man watching them from a distance."
Wesley and Cordelia exchanged a look, both rolling their eyes. "So you're saying that Willow went to a public park...where *lots* of people go on a daily basis. And there was a man watching her, so what? Willow is an attractive person, I'm sure lots of guys notice her. You need to get a grip Angel. You're looking for trouble when there isn't any."
"The guy is working for Wolfram and Hart." The room grew silent, as Cordelia took a seat, her face pale.
"Are you sure? Maybe your informant was wrong." Wesley blinked trying to find a reasonable explanation to clear this all up.
"He overheard the guy talking to Holland Manners." Angel shoved his shaking hands into his pockets. It took every ounce of his self-control not to go into a fit of rage.
"Wow that's some informant." Wesley pinched the bridge of his nose. "Do you think that perhaps Lindsey is having her followed? Making sure his daughter is in good hands?"
"I thought about that, but then why call Holland? I really don't see why Lindsey would bother his boss with something like having his Nanny followed."
"They're going to kill her." Cordelia put a hand to her mouth, her voice trembling. Angel whipped his eyes over to Cordelia. "Think about it. If you were Holland Manners, evil man extraordinaire and your Golden Boy with a soft heart for children just found out he was a father what would you do?"
"Get rid of any influence that might make him rethink his way of life." Wesley whispered.
"Cordelia you call Willow-." Angel headed back to the basement door, only to have Cordelia stop him.
"I'm going with you...please? I helped get Willow into this. Plus Sophie is in danger." Angel regarded her pleading eyes and silently nodded.
"Wes, can you call Willow? Tell her we're on our way over and for her *not* to call Lindsey. His phones are probably bugged ." Wesley nodded as he picked up the phone. "And Wes?"
"Yes Angel?"
"You can tell her that I'm this close to throwing her over my knee and giving her a spanking of a lifetime for this." Wesley gulped and nodded.
~~~*~~~
"Wes?" Willow's hand tightened around her cell phone, as her eyes flickered over to where Sophie was playing. "W-What's up."
"I don't know how to put this lightly but it seems that you and Sophie may be in danger." Wesley's tone was deadly serious.
"I take it that the gig is up then?" Willow tried to lighten the mood, but couldn't keep the tremble out of her voice.
"Willow this is serious. Angel had you followed-."
"He what?" Turning her back, she hissed into the phone. "How long has he known?"
"Pretty much the entire time...but that's not the point. Angel's informant said that you and Sophie were followed to the park today. It seems that Holland Manners is somehow behind this."
"Holland Manners?" Willow bit down on her trembling bottom lip.
"Lindsey's boss. Willow the man is truly evil. Where Lindsey has shown that he does have some redeeming qualities Holland Manners doesn't have a compassionate bone in his body." Willow let out a shaky breath.
"Wes I need to call Lindsey."
"NO! Willow listen to me. His phone's are probably bugged. I'd be surprised if Lindsey's home isn't as well. Just sit tight. Angel and Cordelia are on their way."
Angel was coming. It somewhat reassured her that everything would be all right. At the same time she wasn't stupid. Angel was going to be fuming in a big I-told -you-so way. She bet that he was going to get all growly about it too.
"Oh and Willow?...Angel is a little...well lets just say that he did mention something about putting you over his knee."
Willow's cheeks burned. Not just from the humiliation of having Wesley of all people relay that bit of information, but from the way her body reacted at the thought of being in such a position. "Gee thanks Wes, you're just full of good news."
"Willow?" Sophie's voice came from behind. "Are you talking to my Daddy?"
"I gotta go Wes." Willow ended the call and struggled to give Sophie a reassuring grin. "Nope, just one of my friends."
"Oh." Sophie's little voice nearly broke Willow's heart.
"You'll see him soon Sophie, I promise." Stroking the top of the little girl's head, Willow wished she could calm her pounding heart.
~~~*~~~
"You might as well just say it." Cordelia carefully avoided a large puddle while casting a speculative glance in Angel's direction. "I know you're thinking it."
"Say what." Angel asked tight-lipped from a few feet ahead.
"Please Angel. I know you're stewing over how you were right and Willow and I were wrong." Losing her balance, her hand shot out grasping onto the sewer way. "Eww." With out thought she wiped her hand off on her pants, only to grimace.
"I don't think that I was right." Angel was by her side offering her hand. " I think that we were all wrong and we put a little girl in danger."
"But if Willow and I were honest..."
"I would've packed her up and driven her to Sunnydale myself." Angel's jaw tightened.
"I don't get it Angel. No matter if she's here or in Sunnydale she's in danger." Knowing she was pushing her luck, she really needed to know why Angel was so adamant that Willow return to Sunnydale.
"I don't know. Maybe it's because I still see her as that sweet naive girl she used to be..."
"No you're demanding she be that passive meek girl she used to be. She's grown up Angel, we all have."
Angel sighed and started walking again. "I know. It's just that she was...Willow. The girl that could always fix any situation with a gentle smile. I don't want to be responsible if anything bad were to happen to her." Cordelia had been following behind Angel but stopped dead in her tracks.
"You had a thing for her!" Her eyes lighting up when she felt she stumbled onto the heart of the matter.
"I didn't have a thing for her." Speeding up his steps he halted when he realized that Cordelia was no longer behind him. Turning around he saw her twenty paces back, her arms crossed over her chest, her eyes sparkling. "I didn't."
"It makes sense now. I mean at first when you got all freaky I was really thrown for a loop. But now...How long have you been jonesing for her?"
"I never-."
"Angel come on, it's me you're talking to."
"I loved Buffy." Angel answered flatly.
"Yes I know that, we *all* know that. We were all *very* lucky to have witnessed the Greatest Love of all." She wasn't budging until she got her answer.
"You're not going to drop this, are you?" Angel's pleading eyes almost swayed her, but after three years with him she knew he was able to manipulate just about anyone with one of those pathetic puppy dog looks.
"Nope. Not a chance, so spill. This sewer isn't getting any fresher."
"Okay so maybe I felt something for her. But it wasn't love, well not the kind of love I had for Buffy." Cordelia nodded for him to go on. "I guess you could say I was slightly infatuated with her."
"You stalked her didn't you?" She couldn't help it, the situation was too bizarre.
"NO! Well yeah maybe a little bit." A look of guilt passed his face.
"Angel I'm playing with you. I know you have this weird thing about stalking the ones you love."
"Will you stop saying that! I'm *not* nor was I ever in love with Willow." This conversation was going no where. No matter what he said she was only going to hear what she wanted. Or perhaps she was hearing something he wouldn't admit? This was proof as to why he didn't like talking to her about personal stuff. She had this way of turning his words around making him wonder what it was he really felt.
"Angel I know you loved Buffy." She saw his face harden. "No really. No jokes, no rude comments. I'm just going to say this and let the matter drop. You loved her. And I know that Buffy loved you too. No one is doubting this. You've told me that as a human you weren't really good at emotions, so I take it that Buffy was your first love. We all have them. They're special, something that you hold precious for the rest of your life. But there comes a time that you have to move on. Just because you do doesn't mean that your first love meant nothing. Everyone deserves love in their lives, even you."
"But I don't love-."
"Angel, whatever. I'm not saying that you're head over heels for Willow. I'm saying that you need to sooner or later let go of the past. Don't forget it, but don't let it consume you." Walking forward she placed a hand on his cheek. "Okay now that I've got that off my chest lets go." Dropping her hand and taking a step around a bewildered Angel she kept going until Angel caught up.
~Part: 16~
This was bad. No scratch that this had gone way past bad and well into disastrous. This was some huge cosmic joke and it was all on her. Angel and Cordelia were on their way over, Angel armed and ready to go off on her and here stood Lindsey McDonald in the middle of his living room. A huge easy grin across his face as he told her how he'd been able to cut out a little early, leaving her with no other choice than to sit there nodding.
Oh crap.
"So I thought that I'd come home early and take Sophie out for pizza." Lindsey threw her an easy grin as he dropped his briefcase on top of the coffee table. "You can come if you want." His words slowed down as he took a closer look at his nanny who sat on the couch gapping at him like some guppy.
"Is everything okay?" Tilting his head to the side he studied her for a moment. "Willow did something happen today? Is Sophie okay?"
Snapping her mouth shut, Willow wiped her clammy hands on her beige pants. "S-She's fine Lindsey. She's watching a movie in her room."
Her mind raced as she wondered what she should do. Should she tell Lindsey that his daughter was in danger? What if Wes was right and the place was bugged. It was going to be hard enough to get Sophie out of here without Lindsey fighting them every step of the way.
Oh crap.
"Willow are you getting sick, you're looking a little pale?" Lindsey frowned at how Willow's hands were shaking,
"Let's just say that if I don't puke all over your expensive Persian rug in the next ten minutes your a lucky, lucky man." Oh goddess she needed to think and she needed to do it fairly quickly. She could always pop her voice into his head, that was always a fun party trick. But something told her that Lindsey wouldn't find it too amusing.
Looking around she spotted Sophie's coloring book and crayons. Holding a hand up to tell Lindsey to stay put, Willow hurried over and wrote down a few words. Hurrying back to where he was standing, staring at her as though she had a few screws lose.
Waiting as Lindsey read, and then reread the note, she edged back as she saw suspicion creep into his eyes. "No my penthouse isn't bugged." Crumbling the note in one hand, his eyes turned cold. "Willow why don't you tell me what's going on."
"Sophie's in danger." The words truly had a life of their own. Just like a damn jack in the box. Willow had meant to ease into the subject, soften the blow slightly. But the way he was able to go from friendly and receptive to borderline hostile was too much.
"What?" Closing his eyes and reopening them, Lindsey took a dangerous step forward. "How do you know this?"
"Y-yeah good question." Taking a step back for every step he took forward, Willow now saw the other side of Lindsey McDonald that Cordy was talking about. "Seems that I've been followed. *Without* my knowledge of course. And whoever is keeping an eye on me saw someone employed by Wolfram and Hart following Sophie and I at the park today."
Lindsey paused, his blood ran cold. His daughter was in danger, it was all he needed to hear. His stomach hurt and his throat threatened to block off his air supply. "What do you mean that someone's following you? Why didn't you say something before?"
"I swear I had no idea that someone was following me. Lindsey I told you that my best friend's ex-boyfriend was worried about my safety, and wanted me to go home...remember?"
Lindsey stepped back, nothing was making sense. One minute Willow's telling him that his daughter is in danger the next she's telling him about ex's. "Yeah, you said something like that."
"Okay...well you see." Slowly she made her way away from Lindsey. Putting the couch in between them. "That certain best friend was actually Buffy Summers--."
"The slayer?" Lindsey's head snapped back, his smoky blue eyes narrowing into paper-thin slits. "Angel he's the ex that wants you to go home. Damnit!! I trusted you Willow! I let you watch my daughter and all this time you've been working for Angel."
"No!" Shaking her head, and wringing her hands in front of her, Willow bit down on her trembling lip. "He has, well had nothing to do with it. I was serious when I said he wanted me to go home. He even went to the trouble of putting me on the bus himself. Angel said that Cordy and I were being stupid and wouldn't let us put ourselves in danger. That we were to stay out of your way."
"Well then why the hell didn't you?" Running a hand through his hair he didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "So you put my daughter into danger by not listening--."
Willow's eyes popped open, as her emerald green eyes nearly glowed. "Whoa mister!" Closing the space between them, Willow jabbed a finger into Lindsey's chest. "I'm not the one working for that-that law firm." Her sweet features twisted in disgust. "Nor am I the one that pissed off Cordelia Chase. She's the one that asked for my help. Cordy's worried that you're using Sophie for some kind of evil."
His brows lowered over his eyes, as he watched the redhead practically glow with anger. None of this made any sense. "Let me get this straight. Cordelia called you asking for your help...which I'm still a little lost on what kind of help. Angel has nothing to do with this. Infact the bane of my existence told you to go home and leave it alone."
Willow nodded as Lindsey paused.
"But you didn't."
Willow shook her head, her eyes lowered a bit.
"But he somehow knew that you were still here, and had you followed."
Pausing again he waited for her conformation. "And whoever was following you saw that Sophie's in danger from someone who working for Wolfram and Hart."
"Yes." Willow watched as Lindsey put his hands on his hips and cursed under his breath. "Lindsey there's more. Angel and Cordy are on their way over here right now." Bracing herself for Lindsey to totally lose it, she was mildly surprised to see that he just nodded mutely. "And off the record. I don't think that you are evil. Your priorities are just a little screwed up."
Walking over to her backpack, Willow pulled out her cell phone. Lindsey sat down on the couch dropping his head into his hands.
"Wes, it's me. Yeah you may want to call Angel and let him know that Lindsey came home early. I've filled him in...." Willow tried not to look in Lindsey's direction, all of a sudden feeling like a jerk. "Uh Wes when you said that Angel's mad at me, exactly how mad... Oh that mad huh? See ya soon."
~~~*~~~
"What was that all about?" Cordy pushed the stay strands of hair that fell into her eyes back as she gauged Angel's expression. It seemed that no matter what she said Angel took it the wrong way, making him close up more. Which wasn't her goal here. She needed for him to let go some of that anger he was clinging to before he and Willow stood face to face.
Angel was never all that great when it came to words, and knowing him it'd only take seconds before he either hurt Willow's feelings, or made her so made that she went all witchy on him.
"That was Wes." Cordy couldn't help but notice how tense the muscles along Angel's jaw line were. "Seems that our buddy Lindsey came home from work early today."
"Are you kidding?" Stopping in the middle of the hallway that was just a few doors away from where Lindsey's new place was. "Well at least he'll know what's going on. I felt kinda weird just taking Sophie."
"Why." Angel looked over his shoulder as he kept walking down the long hallway.
Cordy scrunched her face as she followed Angel. "Uh...hello kidnapping ring any bells? Plus from the sounds of it Lindsey may really be Sophie's Daddy- err Father, and no matter how evil he is no one deserves to think that their kid's been taken."
Angel grimaced. "Are you telling me that you would've felt bad for Lindsey if he hadn't come home early?"
"Well yeah. You already took his hand--,"
"That was easily replaced." Angel cut int.
"And now we were about to just stroll in there and take Sophie from him."
"We would've left him something to let him know where is daughter was." Angel smirked before lifting his hand to knock on the door.
"Here goes nothing." Cordy mumbled having an eerie sense that something big was about to happen.
~Part: 17~
They stood in the living room, Lindsey on one end, Willow on the other. Both stuck in their own thoughts. Lindsey with how he should proceed from here. One part of him couldn't wrap his brain around the fact that his firm would harm his child. That this was just some huge misunderstanding. The other part wondering just how incredibly stupid he was. Of course Holland would do anything to keep him on track. Keep the Golden Boy's eye on the ball.
Didn't he on some level know this was going to happen? That working for W&H and raising a child was like oil and water. They didn't mix.
Willow on the other hand was busy gnawing on her finger nails. Her eyes flickering over to the door every now and then. Ah crap, why did she have to feel like a little girl waiting for her father to scold them for sneaking out after curfew? Damn it, she was a woman. A grown woman, who made her own decisions. Isn't that why she was here? To prove that she wasn't just some slayer groupie? That she was important, was needed, could do this without needing to run to mommy and daddy anytime things got tough?
A knock on the door had her head snapping up as she looked over at Lindsey. "He's gonna kill me."
"What?" His brows drew together, giving her a hard look before looking over at the door.
"Angels . . . he's gonna kill me." Holding a hand to her chest and feeling the rapid beating of her heart, Willow tried to take deep calming breaths.
Another knock came this time, making the door rattle on its hinges.
With a disgruntled sigh, Lindsey ran a hand through his hair. "So what do you want me to do? You lied to me."
"Yeah well I . . . and you . . . " Another knock followed by Angel calling out her name made Willow start shaking.
Giving the redhead one last heated look, Lindsey stalked across the room and jerked the door open. "What a surprise." He welcomed Angel and Cordelia with smirk. "Come on in, I insist." Barely looking in the enraged vampire's direction, or registering the curious way Cordelia looked around his home, Lindsey shut the door loudly behind the two.
"Willow." Angel's voice was a low growl. His pupils dialed as his nostrils flared.
"Angel, I can explain...it's a really good explanation too." Her mouth kept moving but no sound came out. Where in the hell was that competent, grown-up and mature new Willow? "As soon as it comes to me that is."
"I can't wait." His dark scowl went from Willow to Lindsey. "McDonald."
"Angel. You really should have more control over your little pets." His irritation was clear. "Or at least you should teach them when to keep their noses out of everybody else's business."
Taking a threatening step in Lindsey's direction, Angel clenched his hands at his sides. "If it weren't for these nosey girls your daughter would've been killed by the firm you sold your soul to."
"So what do you want me to do? Fall to the floor on my knees and thank you." With a snort and a shake of his head, Lindsey turned his attention to the brunette that stood just inside the door. "So Ms Chase, you have anything you want to say? Perhaps some brilliant observation on my inability to keep my own daughter safe?"
Cordelia swallowed the sharp reply as a small head peeked out from around the corner across the room. "I have nothing to say. Except that the only thing I was worried about was Sophie's safety."
Lindsey weighed her words, then studied her face. She didn't look like she was lying. In fact she looked a little ill at ease. A little scared. Well good.
The living room fell into silence as the four adults sized one another up. The air around them practically sizzled.
It was Angel that first spoke. "Lets get back to the hotel. We'll figure out what we should do from there."
"I don't need or want your help Angel." Lindsey spat out.
"Oh suck it up Lindsey." Cordelia could barely control the anger that was boiling under her skin. "Are you willing to put Sophie's safety on the line because of your pride?"
"Why is this so important to you?" He needed someone to lash out at. The loss of control over his own life was finally getting to him, and he needed someone to unleash his frustrations on. "Is your own life so damn empty that you have to bud into mine?"
He watched as her face fell and immediately felt like the flaming bastard he was. But the feeling was short lived as the beauty in front of him pulled herself together and started to advance on him. Her eyes sparkled with outrage, her full mouth twisted as she let her eyes travel up and down him. Her eyes telling him loud and clear that what she saw disgusted her to no end.
"Empty? My life? Let me tell you something Mr. McDonald. My life is chalked full of goodness. I'm practically choking on it." Her eyes started to gleam as moisture started to gather at the corners. Damn him and his condescending tone. Making her look needy and pathetic. "Is it a crime to worry about an innocent child? Knowing that the bastard they're stuck with isn't even able to take care of his own life, much less theirs."
"Cordy." Angel's voice was soft. Placing a supportive hand on the center of her back he didn't flinch when she brushed him away. "Not here." Again he tried to calm her. "Sophie, remember." His voice was just low enough for her to hear but it was enough for her to give a short nod.
"Lindsey I know that you don't want our help." Angel looked over at the man who was breathing hard and was having a hard time standing still. "But don't be stupid. You've proven enough times in the past that there is a brain somewhere in your head. Why don't you try using it this time?"
Lindsey cursed under his breath before plunging a hand through his hair. Out of the corner of his eye he spotted his daughter peeking out from around the hallway corner. Crap. He wished he could tell Angel and the two females where they could shove their good intentions and holier than thou attitudes. But he couldn't. Because as much as he hated it, they were the only people that could help him.
"Fine." The word was forced between clenched teeth. "Let me go and pack a few things." Without looking back, Lindsey stalked to Sophie's room.
Angel waited for Lindsey to leave the room before turning his attention back to Willow. "You lied to me."
"Y-You wouldn't listen to me." Willow hated the way he looked at her. With disappointment, irritation. "Besides I'm not some little girl you can push around. Okay well maybe compared to your advanced years I may seem like a little girl, but damn it Angel I'm not. I'm sick and tired of being told it's too dangerous, to go home, sit this one out. Do I have to remind everyone that I was in on this at the beginning? I was fifteen and was included more than I am now."
"That doesn't erase the fact that you lied to me Willow. You went into this blind. No back up-."
"I had Cordy. And hello? Big bad witch now."
"Hey you two." Cordelia stepped in-between the fighting pair. "Nixney on the witchney. I don't think they heard you three floors down."
Grinding his teeth together, Angel titled his head back and tried to lock down the anger that was threatening to explode. "You're going home. First thing tomorrow."
"Funny I was thinking of going apartment shopping tomorrow." Folding her hands under her heaving breasts, Willow cocked a brow at him.
"I'm not kidding around here Willow." Angel took two large steps toward her, his large body violating her personal space. "You are going to have your bags packed and will be on the first bus tomorrow."
Not letting his closeness affect her, Willow stood on her tippy toes and glared up at him. "Over my dead cold body."
Bringing his hands up and clenching them in frustration, Angel let out a loud growl. "Why are you being such a...a... woman?"
The corners of Willow's mouth twitched. Her eyes glittered with mirth. She would've laughed but Wes's words still clung to the back of her mind. Though the thought of being bent over Angel's knee made her body tingle, she didn't want to push the vampire that far...for now at least.
~Part: 18~
She couldn't keep her eyes off Sophie. Even though she tried to hide the little glimpses, peeks and strategic over the shoulder glances she knew she was being painfully obvious. But she couldn't help herself. Perhaps if father and daughter didn't look so right together she would've been able to keep her eyes to herself. But the picture of Lindsey McDonald, carrying his tiny daughter through the LA sewers was too much to ignore.
Could Wes be right? Had once upon a time, Lindsey been another man? Someone who wasn't all about the money, power, corner office on the ninth floor. There wasn't a doubt he was a handsome man. That his all-American, boy next-door looks could make heads turn. Traffic halt. Women swoon. But seeing him trudging through muck in his expensive Prada shoes, bags swung over each shoulder and Sophie safely in his arms. It was definitely an eye opener. Of the very unwanted kind.
If it weren't for the sulking vampire by her side, she might have even delved deeper into her thoughts. But Angel's disgruntled presence made her aware of the tantrum boiling right under his cold clammy skin. Her friend was fit to be tied. And if she played her cards right she could dodge the lecture he was working on inside his head. Of course that might mean having to sacrifice Willow for the greater good. Though after watching Ozzy and Harriet back at Lindsey's place she had a feeling that Willow could hold her own.
"Do you have any idea what Buffy would've done to me if something had happened to you?" Angel's angry voice broke through the silence, startling everyone, including himself.
"I'm not talking to you." Willow's tone was cold, as she slowly made her way through the sewer water. "And if I was I'd tell you to shove it."
"Oh you're not talking to me?" Stopping, Angel reached out and wrapped his hand around the top of Willow's arm. "I'm not the one that lied."
"Hey Angel?" Pausing to catch her breath, Cordelia swiped at the stray curls that were tickling her cheek. "Let's try not to piss the witch off."
"Hey Cordy?" Angel mimicked back. "You're next. So if I were you I suggest backing off on this one. You lied to me too."
"Oh that's right. Angel's perfect." Cordelia used her annoyingly sarcastic voice that was guaranteed to drive Angel over the edge. Turning on her heal she looked back at Lindsey, her eyes wide and reeking of innocence, Cordelia smiled brightly. "Did you know that Lindsey? That Angel has never...ever done anything wrong in his two hundred and whatever years."
"Cordy." Angel growled deep in his chest.
"Nope. Not our Angel. He's a man of his word. A saint even."
"I mean it Cordelia."
Lindsey shifted Sophie in his arms. Who knew something so small could start to weigh a ton after a short while. If someone were to have told him this morning that he'd be crawling around the sewers with Angel, Cordelia and his nanny he would've laughed in their face.
But here he was, with Cordelia batting her eyes at him, pissing off the vampire at her side with every word she uttered. "I can't even fathom how tiring it must be to be Angel. Always right-."
"Cordelia."
With a roll of her eyes and a humph, Cordelia turned back around to face her sharp fanged pal. "Yes?"
Opening his mouth, Angel snapped it shut. Perhaps Cordelia had some validity in her little show of temper. He wasn't perfect. Had done some pretty low down and crappy things in the last few months. Even though he couldn't ignore his feelings of betrayal because of the girls' lie, he shouldn't act as though he was above approach.
Looking down at the redhead he was still gripping onto, Angel let out a defeated sigh. "I never said I was perfect."
Crossing her arms across her chest, Cordelia's chin jutted up. "And?"
"And even though I am still very upset that the two of you went behind my back and put yourselves in danger..." Seeing her eyes darken Angel cleared his throat. "We should get back to the hotel."
Lindsey couldn't help put smirk over at Angel. Where in the hell was the cold hearted bastard who'd made it his unlife's pursuit to make his life miserable? It was rather fitting to witness Angel's discomfort at the whim of some female. No not just some female, Cordelia Chase. His seer, right hand gal, friend.
"What are you smirking at?" Blinking in Cordelia's direction, Lindsey was momentarily stunned to have been drug into the conversation. "If it weren't for your evil, power driven hunger none of this would be happening. Sophie wouldn't be in danger. Willow would be back in Sunnydale. And I'd probably would be at my desk. With dry feet, clothes that didn't smell like a diaper pail, reading the latest copy of Cosmo."
"Not so much fun when you're the one getting yelled at. Now is it?" Angel spoke softly under his breath but loud enough for Lindsey to hear. His words having no effect on Cordelia's tirade.
"Now can we please keep going? As thrilling as the sewers can be, they're no place for a child." Lifting a regal brow, Cordelia walked passed Angel and led the silent group the rest of the way back to the hotel.
~~~~*~~~~
"Thank god you're alright." Wesley met them at the stairway leading up from the basement. "I tried calling Willow's cell and began to worry when there wasn't an answer."
"The sewers don't have the best access." Cordelia flashed the ex-watcher a cheeky grin as she walked passed him and dumped the bag she'd taken from Lindsey onto the ground. "If you all don't mind I need a shower. A long hot shower followed by a delousing." Running her fingers through her short hair, she headed to the stairs.
"Why don't you show Lindsey to one of the rooms on the third floor." Angel spoke, his words aimed at Cordelia, but his eyes were glued on the redhead who was doing her damndest to ignore his existence.
Her lip curling in contempt, Cordelia grabbed the bag she'd just dropped. "Since when did I become the bellboy around here?" Seeing that no one was really listening to her, Cordelia sighed. "This way."
Looking around the lobby, Lindsey fought the urge to tell them all to shove it. He didn't want to be here. It went against his grain to accept help from these people. There had to be something he could do, somewhere he could go to keep Wolfram and Hart from finding him. He'd walked away from one bad situation, smack dab into another.
"Well I don't have all day." Her tone made his blood boil. "Unless you want to stand there getting the tile wet and stinking up the place." Looking down her nose at him, she couldn't help the way her eyes softened when they fell on the sleeping child cradled in his arms.
Lindsey wanted to tell her where to shove it. But he didn't. What choice did he really have? Brushing past the brunette he headed off to the stairs, as though he knew exactly where he was going. He couldn't let these people assume that he was dependant on them. Groveling at their feet like some inept loser.
He was Lindsey Aaron McDonald. He'd survived his childhood with his twisted and disturbed parents. Put himself through college then later Law School. Got himself hired by one of the most powerful and revered law firms. Hell he'd lived his four years of employment there and was still able to talk about it.
No he wasn't going to kiss their feet and thank them for sticking their noses into his life. If it weren't for Sophie and the threat against her he'd walk right out the front door and never look back. There was no illusion of how these people felt about him, saw him. They looked down their pristine nose at him and the path he chose.
None of them had lived through what he had. Starved and abused as a child. Ridiculed and mocked as an adolescent. Perhaps if they had they wouldn't act so damn high and mighty. Wouldn't be able to stand back and judge others with standards that were close to impossible to meet.
Stomping up the steps, his mental tirade kept him from giving an inch. His pride was all he had left now. The only thing that was his. And without it he and his daughter didn't stand a chance.
"This is killing you isn't it?" Her voice came from behind.
"You have no idea how much." His words were gritted out through clenched teeth.
Her snort did nothing for his disposition. "Will you get over yourself? Think of this as your chance to escape from the depths of hell."
"Funny, I don't remember asking for your help." He drawled.
"That's right." Passing him on the steps, Cordelia rounded the landing on the second floor and continued upward. "I forgot you actually like working for Evil Inc. That harming innocent people gives you a rush."
"It truly is scary how well you know me."
"Why are you always like this?" Stopping a few steps above him, Cordelia turned around to look down at him.
"What. Annoyed? Irritated? Pissed off?"
"No more like constipated and bitter." She could see by the way he stared back at her that she had caught him off guard. It was a special talent she possessed. Catching people of guard with her colorful remarks. Over the years she had fine toned her powerful weapon. It was her best line of defense. "Forget it. I don't know why I try."
"Try what?"
"To be nice."
"This is nice?"
"Oh screw you lawboy." Turning her back on him, Cordelia's back was stiff as she headed up the rest of the steps.
Shaking his head, Lindsey's jaw ticked as his eyes rested on the tight curve of her backside."Right back at you princess."
~~~*~~~
"Willow I want to talk to you in my office." His tone left no room for argument.
"Technically it's my office..." The words on Wesley's lips stalled as Angel and Willow walked past him.
"You tell him English." Gunn slapped his friend on the back as he chuckled under his breath.
"Well it is."
"I know man."
~Part: 19~
"Let me guess." Stalking into the office, Willow spun on her heel and confronted Angel before he had a chance to close the door behind him. "This is the part that you tell me I have to go back to Sunnydale. Well you know what you big bully I'm not going anywhere." Her tiny chin gutted up in defiance. Practically daring Angel to say otherwise.
With a calmness he didn't possess, Angel shut the door. His eyes on the small redhead, he swear darkly under his breath. What did he need to do to prove to Willow that she wasn't safe here. That things had gotten messy and the best thing for her was to go back home before something happened. Why was it so damn important to her that she stay? She didn't know Lindsey, barely knew his daughter. Unless...
A dark shadow feel across his face as his eyes narrowed. "It's McDonald isn't it?"
Willow took a small step back, her eyes flared slightly in confusion. "W-What?"
"You have a thing for Lindsey. Don't you?" A low threatening rumble came from his chest as his pupils dilated in anger.
It took her a moment to understand what he was implying. Then a few more to realize that he was being serious. "You're insane. You know that right?" Pulling herself up to full height, she quickly strode across the room. Stopping just inches from him. Standing toe to toe. Her head tilted back so she could look up to him. "I strongly suggest that you seek psychological help."
"This isn't a joke."
"I'm not laughing."
No, she wasn't. Her facial features clearly stated that was livid. Emerald green eyes sparkled, ignited with rage. Her usually pale skin was flushed from her neck up to her cheeks. Making Angel wonder just how low the blush went.
"Then tell me why this is so damn important to you." It didn't take a rocket scientist to know that he'd just put his foot in it. In his need to understand her behavior, he'd only ended up insulting her.
"You know what Angel? You don't own the exclusive rights on fighting evil. Why is it you and Buffy are under the assumption we all work for you?"
Looking around the office, Angel couldn't control the slight tug of his lips. "Well actually-."
"Oh shut up. You know what I mean. I get it that you have your super vampy powers. A-And Buffy has her slayer thing. Well yay for you." Spinning her pointer finger in the air, Willow rolled her eyes. "I'm a witch and darn good at it. Do you see me going around telling people what to do? Demanding them to go home like their some brainless kid that has no clue?"
Angel stood silent. Undecided on whether or not it was safe to answer her. He'd seen her lose her temper on occasion. But those times didn't even come close to what he was witnessing. Willow was more than just pissed, she had gone past anger town and was working on her way to fine-rage-village. The room felt like it has some electrical current running through it, and it's source was on ticked off witch.
"Willow I didn't mean to treat you like a child. I was just worried about you." The words were meant to pacify her. To calm her down some. Instead her mouth twisted in a sarcastic smirk.
"Why?"
"Why what?"
"Why worry? Because we're friends?"
Angel's brows puckered. She was getting at something. Was trying to make some kind of point. And the hell of it was he had no idea what it was. "Yes. Of course we're friends."
"Oh really. And because we're friends you worry."
"Exactly."
"Riiiight." Tapping her finger on her chin, Willow nodded thoughtfully. "You're so full of it."
Yup she'd been trying to get at something and Angel had a feeling his nose was going to get rubbed in it.
"You claim we're friends, But in actuality we really aren't." Her face crumbled slightly before she caught herself and hardened her face.
"You don't mean that." His heart felt like it weighed a ton, as his chest tightened and his mouth went dry.
"I do. Tell me the last time we talked. Or that you sent me a birthday card. O-Or stopped by for a visit that didn't include spying on Buffy...can't do it can you. Don't bother thinking about it because I can tell you that you haven't done any of these things." Silence filled the room as Angel stood like a deer in on coming traffic. His mind went numb.
Finally he licked his lips, his sorrowful eyes searched hers. "I'm sorry you feel this way. I've always though of you as a friend."
Willow's lips trembled a little as she ran a hand through her hair. "No Angel. I've always been Buffy's little friend to you. That redheaded little geek that knows how to run a computer. The one that gave you back your soul. Or could tell you where to find Buffy. You don't know me Angel. You never took the time to when you lived in Sunnydale."
Letting out a shaky breath, Angel nodded as his eyes trained on a spot right above her right shoulder. "I'm sorry you feel that way. Stay. Go. I don't care either way."
With a short nod, Willow circled around him and headed toward the door. Tears spilling down her cheeks before she even reached the door. She was a horrible person for saying these things. For telling Angel that he wasn't her friend. But once her mouth started she couldn't stop the awful words from spilling out.
Hurrying past Wesley and Gunn and going right for the stairs, Willow didn't see the look the two men shared. Or that they went into the office with Angel to yell at him for hurting her feelings. All she knew was that she needed to find a quiet place to lick her wounds.
~~~*~~~
Walking down the hallway of the third floor, Cordelia mentally checked off all the rooms that were inhabitable. There was her room. But there was no way she was handing that over to Lindsey. She'd spent weeks getting it perfect. Bringing pictures and other odds to make the place feel a little more like home than a hotel room. Which she thought with a smile, it was.
There were only three rooms on the third floor that would do. If it were only Lindsey she'd shove him in the broom closet at the end of the hall and call it good. For Sophie's sake she had to be a bigger person than that. Let go some of her bitterness and try to play nice.
Unfortunately the only room good enough was the one right next to hers. To make matter worse, there was a door that connected the two rooms together. Well she could always shove her dresser in front of it...
With a heavy sigh she stopped in front of room 314 and dropped the bag she was carrying with an unceremonious thud. "Here you are. You should take a shower cause you really stink."
"Gee here I thought it was you that was reeking up the place. Silly me." Shifting his daughter in his arms, Lindsey opened the door and surveyed the room.
"Sorry if it isn't up to your standards. But fighting evil doesn't pay as well as working for it."
"It's fine. I've slept in worse places. I didn't grow up with a silver spoon shoved up my ass." Lindsey could tell he'd hit a nerve. Several in fact. He'd thought it'd feel good knocking the bitchy brunette down a peg or two. But it made him feel just the opposite and that didn't sit well with him.
"I may have been a rich little princess growing up, had all the money. A big house, nice clothes, little red sports car. But I still knew right from wrong. Picked the winning team at an early age." Lowering her voice so she wouldn't wake Sophie, Cordelia took a closer step to him. "Don't even try to use the 'I had a hard childhood and that's why I'm the way I am' excuse. I've known many people who've had it hard. But instead of feeling sorry for themselves they put their lives on the line and made a difference. You Lindsey are a weak person. And until you stop thinking the world owes you something cause you had it hard you won't be anything but a whinny little boy. Between you and me, Sophie deserves a lot more than that."
"You think you have it all figured out..." Lindsey looked down the hall to see Willow heading towards them. From where he was standing he noticed the tears that were falling from her eyes. "What the?"
Looking over her shoulder, any trace of anger drained from her. "He's making you go home isn't he?"
"No." Wiping furiously at her face, suddenly feeling like a little girl. Willow tried to take a deep breath. "But he's a big ole butt head."
Lindsey couldn't help but smirk when Cordelia nodded and hugged the redhead to her. "I know, but he's really working on it."
"I told him we weren't friends."
"Ouch."
Lindsey laughed. Earning himself a heated, go to hell look from Cordelia. "What?"
"This isn't funny." She snapped at him.
"Oh, yes it is." Grinning ear to ear, Lindsey nodded his head.
"Then he said that he didn't care if I stayed or went back home." Sniffing, Willow fought another round of tears.
"Willow, you probably hurt his feelings." Patting her friend on the back, Cordelia knew once she was done here she was going to have to do some damage control downstairs.
"I didn't know Angel had feelings." Lindsey muttered under his breath.
"I don't care." Her chin wobbled a bit, before she burst into another round of sobbing.
Lindsey looked back and forth at the two females feeling lost. He had a sudden uneasy feeling that he was witnessing what was termed as a female thing. Them saying one thing but meaning another. Was this what was in store for him when Sophie got older? Tears and hysterics he wasn't prepared for. What was going to happen when she got older and started dating? Had boy problems, questions that every girl needed answers to.
"Oh crap." Turning his back on the two women, he opened the door to his room and slammed it shut.
Willow hiccupped as she gained control of her outburst. "What do you think is wrong with him?"
Shrugging her shoulders, Cordelia shook her head. "Who knows. Must be a guy thing."
next