The Lindsey files part 1 of 2
Nov. 28th, 2005 06:30 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
spankingfemmeAlrighty :D This is the first part to my Angel/Lindsey story I've been writing for like ever... This isn't a slash fic, it's a discipline fic *evil grin* No spanking yet, but it's cumming :D OK lol on with the story!
Disclaimer: Just for fun, blah, blah, I don't own them, but wouldn't that be great if I did? :D
The Lindsey Files
Lindsey stared at the crater patterns in the beige wall of the apartment he called home; it wasn’t home anymore. No, now it was a soon to be faded memory of what his life once had been. That is to say if he lived long enough to start a so called new life.
Lindsey sighed as his thoughts of the past day and a half washed over him like a tidal wave. He wondered if his own moral dilemmas were worth his current predicament; he absently ran his hand through his hair and pushed himself off the couch to continue packing.
He'd nearly finished stuffing the last of what he’d deemed noteworthy enough to take into his duffle bag when he felt a presence behind him. He turned slowly to face his intruder cursing himself silently for not having a weapon on hand.
Lindsey scoffed, "Come to see me off Angel? Or have you come to finish what Wolfram and Hart have already set in motion?"
Angel’s brow creased into a frown, "If I wanted to kill you Lindsey, I’d already have done it; not that it hasn’t crossed my mind from time to time…OK, more times than not. But no, I’m not here to kill you."
Lindsey turned his attention back to his luggage zipping up a handbag on the bed and squeezing it into the duffle bag. As he did this, rage flooded through him remembering that just three days prior the simple job of zipping up the handbag would have taken a more concentrated effort with one less hand, and the man responsible for his suffering was less than five feet away.
Angel could sense Lindsey’s anger and smirked, "What’s the matter Lindsey? I figured I’d come lend you a hand to help you on your merry way, but I guess you won’t need my help now in that department."
Lindsey paused momentarily before throwing his duffle bag over his shoulder and bending down to pick up his guitar case; he turned to face Angel once more with a smirk of his own, "So what then? Did you come here to talk me to death? Or is your life really that boring that you have nothing better to do than watch me pack?"
Angel ignored the comment as he glanced around the disheveled room, "You know for a six figure income I figured you’d have a little more stylish pad."
Lindsey lifted an eyebrow, "Pad? Your use of slang is about as outdated as your wardrobe."
Angel huffed looking at his outfit then down at Lindsey’s flannel shirt, blue jeans, and boots before retorting, "You’re one to talk, cowboy."
Lindsey sighed, "We could stand around slinging mud at each other all night, but unless you’ve got something worth while to say, I’d appreciate it if you’d leave and let me go about leaving myself."
Angel snipped, "Listen Lindsey, I know we’ve had our ups and downs prior to tonight, and even though I’m sure most everything you do is for yourself, I came here to offer a truce."
Lindsey smiled taking a seat on the bed interested in what Angel had to say, "A truce huh? This ought to be interesting."
Angel scowled thinking to himself, ‘Why and how did I let Cordy talk me into this?’ Lindsey sat with his arms crossed and a smug smile painted on his face as he noticed Angel becoming more uncomfortable.
Angel rolled his eyes before continuing, "Cordelia and the gang wanted to know if you were serious about leaving Wolfram and Hart and turning a new leaf… *They* thought maybe you might be interested in joining our little team. I guess *they* think I didn’t exactly put in a full effort attempt the last time you came to us asking for help…and for some crazy notion *they* think you’re redeemable… not that we’d need you…or your help for that matter…" Angel trailed off.
Under normal circumstances Lindsey would have told Angel to go to hell, but the mere fact that #1 he had nothing left to lose #2 it could be a lot of fun helping to stick it to Wolfram and Hart and #3 Angel seemed perfectly miserable at the concept of him being part of their little click. Lindsey smirked, "Wow… I’m flattered… so where do I sign big guy?"
Angel had to take a double take before responding, "What? You mean…what? Were you listening to the same speech I thought I just said?"
This was going to be too fun Lindsey thought to himself, "What’s the matter Angel? Did I surprise you? Or did you think you were the only one that should have a chance at redemption?"
Angel took in an unnecessary deep breath motioning towards the door and growled, "Well then, since you’re already all packed…"
Lindsey chuckled, "Well if I’m only moving over to your rat trap hotel, I don’t suppose I’ll need to leave all of my things now will I? Besides, that vampire strength of yours could be rather helpful moving some of my furniture."
Angel growled, "Don’t push it Lindsey, I invited you to start a new life not help you move."
Lindsey held up his hands in submission, "Alright fine, I’ll just hire a moving company tomorrow morning to bring over the rest of my belongings… You can take it out of my first paycheck."
****************************************************************
Three hours later…
Lindsey took one final look at the ropes securing his furniture into the bed of his truck before climbing into the cab to follow Angel to his new residence. It felt surreal and kind of funny to see Angel’s Plymouth stuffed with his personal effects.
Within fifteen minutes, they were pulling into the hotel parking area, and it was then the realization of what Lindsey had agreed to be part of really sunk in. A wave of trepidation flowed through him as he thought, ‘Can I really do this? I feel like the wolf in sheep’s clothing unmasked.’
Angel interrupted his thoughts with, "I helped you get your crap here, don’t expect me to help you unpack it as well."
Lindsey didn’t respond but merely watched him enter the hotel. He was having second thoughts now; he contemplated just jumping into his truck and taking off when the front door reopened, and Cordelia emerged with a soft smile crossing her features.
Cordelia casually walked over to where he was standing and peered into the bed of his truck, “Need a little help there?”
Lindsey smirked, “Yea, I seem to need a lot of *help* lately…I think I’m lost, and I just stepped into the twilight zone.”
Cordelia grabbed a handful of pictures out of the bed of his truck looking them over before responding, “Well I haven’t seen Rod Sterling yet, so I guess you’re safe.”
Lindsey smirked, “Key word being yet.”
Cordelia raised an eyebrow, “A little on the pessimistic side aren’t we?”
Lindsey responded, “It’s the most common side represented.”
Cordelia huffed, “Well as far as I know, you’re no longer on that side.”
Lindsey was about to respond before realizing he had nothing to say and instead just nodded.
Cordelia smiled motioning for Lindsey to follow her, “Come on; I’ll show you where you’re going to be rooming.” She led him into the hotel and up to an empty room facing the balcony.
Cordelia laid his pictures down on the full size bed, “Well, this is it… I guess I’ll leave you to get acquainted. When you’re ready, Wesley, Gunn, and I will help you unpack and get situated.”
Lindsey looked around the room taking it all in before nodding slowly, “Yea… thanks…”
Cordelia exited closing the door behind her leaving him to reflect. Lindsey sighed slumping onto his new bed as a million thoughts at once ran rampant through his head.
***************************************************************
Cordelia heard a commotion coming from out of Angel’s office as she descended the stairs.
“I just don’t like it; I’m telling you he can’t be trusted,” Angel growled to Gunn and Wesley, “I mean hello; he’s an evil lawyer from Wolfram and Hart!”
Cordelia entered the room commenting dryly, “You’re one to throw rocks in glass houses Angel, need I remind you about being a vampire?”
Angel looked hurt, “With a soul! Don’t forget, I’m a vampire with a soul… What’s his excuse?!?”
Cordelia sighed, “All I’m saying is let’s give him a chance; he’s already made the first step by leaving Wolfram and Hart, and you’ve got to admit, his inside knowledge of the place could be rather useful to our investigations.”
Wesley nodded, “She does have a point Angel… although, I don’t condone the idea of trusting Lindsey without some semblance of hesitation.”
Gunn added, “Why are we doing this again? I mean I’m all about helping the helpless, but Lindsey is far from our regular clientele.”
Cordelia responded, “Well, he did help us tonight when he…”
Angel interrupted, “Because it involved himself!”
Cordelia fired back, “What about the first time when he came to us about helping those kids? He wasn’t involved in that?”
Wesley grimaced looking at Angel, “This is true,” he looked back to Cordelia before continuing, “But one good deed doesn’t erase all the previous evil ones.”
Angel sighed, “I don’t like it, but I said we’d give it a go Cordy. I just hope helping him doesn’t blow up in our faces.”
Cordelia smiled, “I don’t think we’ll regret it guys. Now, who here, besides myself, is going to help him move his stuff upstairs?”
Gunn groaned, “I think my back is already regretting it…”
****************************************************************
Lindsey had lost track of time lifting his head with a start as someone pounded on his door bringing him out of his silent reverie. Lindsey slid off the bed to answer the door, and he was greeted by his dresser being hauled by Wesley and Gunn.
Gunn snapped, “I might not have volunteered to help move your crap if I’d known how heavy it was.”
Lindsey was taken a little aback not really expecting that Angel’s friends would have been so willing to help him. He quickly moved out of the way allowing Gunn and Wesley in with the dresser in tow.
Lindsey stuck his hands in his pockets taking in an uncomfortable breath, “Thanks… You know you guys don’t have to…”
Cordelia brought up the rear holding a box of miscellaneous living room accessories, “Nonsense, that’s what we do around here. But you’re gonna have to get your butt downstairs and help mister.”
Lindsey smirked, “Oh yea, sorry… I’m just having a little trouble adjusting. Angel just had so much fun helping me pack; I’m sure he’s just ecstatic to help me move it in.”
****************************************************************
Two hours later…
The last of Lindsey’s stuff had been toted into his new room, and he was once again left alone to contemplate. The sun would be rising in a couple hours, and though physically and mentally exhausted, Lindsey knew it would still be hours before he could find sleep, so he decided to utilize his insomnia to unpack.
As he unpacked, he silently questioned himself, “Why am I still here? I know this isn’t going to work… I don’t fit. But, I’ll bite. What the heck? Not like I’ve got a plethora of options.”
This room still felt like some sort of weird dream to him. He’d half expected to wake up to the sound of his alarm in his old bed, and everything would once again be recognizable, back where there were no real doubts about what tomorrow held, who he was, and where his place was in the world.
Now, everything was lined in confusion. The feeling reminded him of childhood, no control and no stable footing to steady himself.
Before he’d realized it, he’d unpacked most everything and was feeling slightly delirious from lack of sleep. Lindsey looked at his watch, it glowed 10:23; he sighed thankfully that he had a shower in his room and wouldn’t have to leave the confines of his new sanctuary. By 10:47, Lindsey was showered, sprawled on top of his bed, and gone to the waking world.
****************************************************************
Lindsey’s eyes fluttered open looking over at his alarm clock; it flashed 3:19. His eyes focused on the ceiling still too tired to rise, and he let himself drift in and out of consciousness for the next two hours before forcing himself to get up.
‘What now?’ he thought to himself, ‘I guess I should go downstairs and make nice with the natives.’
Lindsey took his time taking another shower, grooming himself, and getting dressed. When finished, he looked at himself in the standup mirror, and that hesitant pause overwhelmed him once more, that indescribable feeling of unnerving doubt mixed with uncertainty.
Lindsey sighed contemplating what working with Angel was going to be like, and the thought alone was still hard to wrap his head around. The girl, Cordelia, she was sweet though, and the momentary thought of her smiling at him elicited a smile to cross his own features.
‘At least she’ll be here to help make this whole situation I brought myself into more bearable,’ Lindsey thought as he continued to smile exiting his room and heading downstairs to join up with the others.
*************************************************************
The next few months passed quickly, and Lindsey was pleasantly surprised by how much he was starting to enjoy the work. It took awhile for him to earn Gunn and Wesley’s trust, but the longer he proved to be an asset in their investigations the more accepted he became. Angel, on the other hand, wasn’t as easy to impress, not that Lindsey tried or wanted to. Lindsey actually made it a point to compete with Angel dissecting Angel’s ideas whenever the opportunity presented itself to make Angel seem less than competent in his role as the group’s leader.
Lindsey argued, “All I’m saying is that if you want a Kargathan demon to give up information regarding its religious incantations, the quickest route to go about it would be utilizing their traditional gift exchange method. Everything doesn’t always have to be handled with a barbarian’s touch.”
Wesley nodded in agreement, “Lindsey does make a valid point Angel, if there is an option in not having to engage in combat with this beast, I’m all for it.”
Angel growled, “I’m not exchanging gifts with that thing! Besides, what are we going to give it huh? A new born baby for it to sacrifice? That’s about the only thing that monster would be satisfied with exchanging for any type of religious rites. …No, I say we go in and kick the crap out of it until it tells us what we want to know, and if it doesn’t? There will be one less evil demon plaguing the streets.”
Lindsey stated, “A Lartiman statue; they use it in their purification rituals, so you won’t have to worry about any heinous spells being created with it. The statues are pretty rare, but I still have connections I can call to get one.”
Angel turned to face him a look of confusion painted on his face, “What part of we’re not curtailing to this demon’s wants don’t you understand Lindsey?”
Lindsey scowled, “The idea of me having a better plan than you just infuriates you doesn’t it?”
Angel glared at Lindsey, “Does everything have to be a debate with you? Let me tell you something Lindsey, in case you haven’t noticed, the sign above the door reads: ‘Angel Investigations’ not ‘Lindsey Investigations,’ so in the end *I* have the final say. Now then, unless you have anything more to add, and I *really* hope you don’t, this discussion is over.”
Lindsey smirked, “No, unlike you, I don’t find it flattering to say something that means nothing just to hear myself talk.”
Angel sneered, “Funny, I always assumed most everything that passed your lips has meant nothing.”
Cordelia stepped in between them, “Alright children, this bickering is getting us nowhere.”
Lindsey blurted out agitatedly, “I wasn’t bickering until Captain Hero there decided he’d rather make all the team’s decisions solo.”
Angel countered with, “Oh, name calling, that’s really mature.”
Cordelia rubbed her temples having heard all she could stand and yelled, “ENOUGH ALREADY! Why don’t we ask what Wesley and Gunn have to say hmm?”
All eyes scanned across the room to where Gunn and Wesley stood, who in turn looked at one another with a clear look of disdain for being caught in the middle of Lindsey and Angel’s argument.
Gunn responded first, “You know I’m always down with kicking some big nasty’s butt back to hell… I vote less talk, more action.”
Wesley sighed, “Both of you have valid arguments, but I’m going to have to go with Angel on this one. Like Angel stated previously, this *is* his company, and we all work for him, so he does and should have final say.”
Lindsey sucked back the comment he wanted to make instead choosing to sit on the couch with a sneer plastered on his face showing visibly how aggravated the outcome of the argument had made him.
Angel smiled smugly at Lindsey before continuing with his plan, “We’ve got about three hours before the sun comes up, so I suggest we do a little research on this demon and get a battle profile. Then you all should get some sleep, and we’ll move in for the encounter some time after the sun sets tomorrow night.”
The group all nodded and went their separate ways to carry out the said tasks Angel had assigned; Lindsey didn’t move from the couch.
Cordelia sighed and sat beside him patting his knee, “I know Angel can be a bit eccentric at times, but no worries, the powers that be are on our side.”
Lindsey glanced over at her letting out a sigh of his own, “As comforting as that should be, it still irks me that Angel always has to take the hard stance on everything.”
Cordelia grinned, “That’s our Angel, soft hearted and hard headed.”
Lindsey smirked, “And I always thought it was the other way around.”
Cordelia laughed picking up one of the couch pillows and smacking Lindsey with it, “Alright you; I think maybe it’s about time we both got some ZZZ’s before tomorrow’s social event.”
Lindsey grinned giving her a nod before replying, “Right, but first, I’ve got to head to the store to pick up a few odds and ends before settling in for the night… err morning.” He rose off the couch offering his hand to Cordelia to help her up.
Cordelia accepted his hand lifting off the couch as well, “Such the gentleman, a girl could get used to this,” she joked before heading into Angel’s office to get her purse and head home.
Lindsey watched her disappear into Angel’s office before heading out himself, although it wasn’t the store he’d planned on going to. ‘I’ll show you Angel,’ Lindsey thought assuredly to himself as he cranked up his truck and put it into reverse, ‘By the time you’re getting out of bed tomorrow, I’ll have already acquired the information needed to solve this case, and this time I’ll be the one wearing the self-righteous smile.’
Disclaimer: Just for fun, blah, blah, I don't own them, but wouldn't that be great if I did? :D
The Lindsey Files
Lindsey stared at the crater patterns in the beige wall of the apartment he called home; it wasn’t home anymore. No, now it was a soon to be faded memory of what his life once had been. That is to say if he lived long enough to start a so called new life.
Lindsey sighed as his thoughts of the past day and a half washed over him like a tidal wave. He wondered if his own moral dilemmas were worth his current predicament; he absently ran his hand through his hair and pushed himself off the couch to continue packing.
He'd nearly finished stuffing the last of what he’d deemed noteworthy enough to take into his duffle bag when he felt a presence behind him. He turned slowly to face his intruder cursing himself silently for not having a weapon on hand.
Lindsey scoffed, "Come to see me off Angel? Or have you come to finish what Wolfram and Hart have already set in motion?"
Angel’s brow creased into a frown, "If I wanted to kill you Lindsey, I’d already have done it; not that it hasn’t crossed my mind from time to time…OK, more times than not. But no, I’m not here to kill you."
Lindsey turned his attention back to his luggage zipping up a handbag on the bed and squeezing it into the duffle bag. As he did this, rage flooded through him remembering that just three days prior the simple job of zipping up the handbag would have taken a more concentrated effort with one less hand, and the man responsible for his suffering was less than five feet away.
Angel could sense Lindsey’s anger and smirked, "What’s the matter Lindsey? I figured I’d come lend you a hand to help you on your merry way, but I guess you won’t need my help now in that department."
Lindsey paused momentarily before throwing his duffle bag over his shoulder and bending down to pick up his guitar case; he turned to face Angel once more with a smirk of his own, "So what then? Did you come here to talk me to death? Or is your life really that boring that you have nothing better to do than watch me pack?"
Angel ignored the comment as he glanced around the disheveled room, "You know for a six figure income I figured you’d have a little more stylish pad."
Lindsey lifted an eyebrow, "Pad? Your use of slang is about as outdated as your wardrobe."
Angel huffed looking at his outfit then down at Lindsey’s flannel shirt, blue jeans, and boots before retorting, "You’re one to talk, cowboy."
Lindsey sighed, "We could stand around slinging mud at each other all night, but unless you’ve got something worth while to say, I’d appreciate it if you’d leave and let me go about leaving myself."
Angel snipped, "Listen Lindsey, I know we’ve had our ups and downs prior to tonight, and even though I’m sure most everything you do is for yourself, I came here to offer a truce."
Lindsey smiled taking a seat on the bed interested in what Angel had to say, "A truce huh? This ought to be interesting."
Angel scowled thinking to himself, ‘Why and how did I let Cordy talk me into this?’ Lindsey sat with his arms crossed and a smug smile painted on his face as he noticed Angel becoming more uncomfortable.
Angel rolled his eyes before continuing, "Cordelia and the gang wanted to know if you were serious about leaving Wolfram and Hart and turning a new leaf… *They* thought maybe you might be interested in joining our little team. I guess *they* think I didn’t exactly put in a full effort attempt the last time you came to us asking for help…and for some crazy notion *they* think you’re redeemable… not that we’d need you…or your help for that matter…" Angel trailed off.
Under normal circumstances Lindsey would have told Angel to go to hell, but the mere fact that #1 he had nothing left to lose #2 it could be a lot of fun helping to stick it to Wolfram and Hart and #3 Angel seemed perfectly miserable at the concept of him being part of their little click. Lindsey smirked, "Wow… I’m flattered… so where do I sign big guy?"
Angel had to take a double take before responding, "What? You mean…what? Were you listening to the same speech I thought I just said?"
This was going to be too fun Lindsey thought to himself, "What’s the matter Angel? Did I surprise you? Or did you think you were the only one that should have a chance at redemption?"
Angel took in an unnecessary deep breath motioning towards the door and growled, "Well then, since you’re already all packed…"
Lindsey chuckled, "Well if I’m only moving over to your rat trap hotel, I don’t suppose I’ll need to leave all of my things now will I? Besides, that vampire strength of yours could be rather helpful moving some of my furniture."
Angel growled, "Don’t push it Lindsey, I invited you to start a new life not help you move."
Lindsey held up his hands in submission, "Alright fine, I’ll just hire a moving company tomorrow morning to bring over the rest of my belongings… You can take it out of my first paycheck."
****************************************************************
Three hours later…
Lindsey took one final look at the ropes securing his furniture into the bed of his truck before climbing into the cab to follow Angel to his new residence. It felt surreal and kind of funny to see Angel’s Plymouth stuffed with his personal effects.
Within fifteen minutes, they were pulling into the hotel parking area, and it was then the realization of what Lindsey had agreed to be part of really sunk in. A wave of trepidation flowed through him as he thought, ‘Can I really do this? I feel like the wolf in sheep’s clothing unmasked.’
Angel interrupted his thoughts with, "I helped you get your crap here, don’t expect me to help you unpack it as well."
Lindsey didn’t respond but merely watched him enter the hotel. He was having second thoughts now; he contemplated just jumping into his truck and taking off when the front door reopened, and Cordelia emerged with a soft smile crossing her features.
Cordelia casually walked over to where he was standing and peered into the bed of his truck, “Need a little help there?”
Lindsey smirked, “Yea, I seem to need a lot of *help* lately…I think I’m lost, and I just stepped into the twilight zone.”
Cordelia grabbed a handful of pictures out of the bed of his truck looking them over before responding, “Well I haven’t seen Rod Sterling yet, so I guess you’re safe.”
Lindsey smirked, “Key word being yet.”
Cordelia raised an eyebrow, “A little on the pessimistic side aren’t we?”
Lindsey responded, “It’s the most common side represented.”
Cordelia huffed, “Well as far as I know, you’re no longer on that side.”
Lindsey was about to respond before realizing he had nothing to say and instead just nodded.
Cordelia smiled motioning for Lindsey to follow her, “Come on; I’ll show you where you’re going to be rooming.” She led him into the hotel and up to an empty room facing the balcony.
Cordelia laid his pictures down on the full size bed, “Well, this is it… I guess I’ll leave you to get acquainted. When you’re ready, Wesley, Gunn, and I will help you unpack and get situated.”
Lindsey looked around the room taking it all in before nodding slowly, “Yea… thanks…”
Cordelia exited closing the door behind her leaving him to reflect. Lindsey sighed slumping onto his new bed as a million thoughts at once ran rampant through his head.
***************************************************************
Cordelia heard a commotion coming from out of Angel’s office as she descended the stairs.
“I just don’t like it; I’m telling you he can’t be trusted,” Angel growled to Gunn and Wesley, “I mean hello; he’s an evil lawyer from Wolfram and Hart!”
Cordelia entered the room commenting dryly, “You’re one to throw rocks in glass houses Angel, need I remind you about being a vampire?”
Angel looked hurt, “With a soul! Don’t forget, I’m a vampire with a soul… What’s his excuse?!?”
Cordelia sighed, “All I’m saying is let’s give him a chance; he’s already made the first step by leaving Wolfram and Hart, and you’ve got to admit, his inside knowledge of the place could be rather useful to our investigations.”
Wesley nodded, “She does have a point Angel… although, I don’t condone the idea of trusting Lindsey without some semblance of hesitation.”
Gunn added, “Why are we doing this again? I mean I’m all about helping the helpless, but Lindsey is far from our regular clientele.”
Cordelia responded, “Well, he did help us tonight when he…”
Angel interrupted, “Because it involved himself!”
Cordelia fired back, “What about the first time when he came to us about helping those kids? He wasn’t involved in that?”
Wesley grimaced looking at Angel, “This is true,” he looked back to Cordelia before continuing, “But one good deed doesn’t erase all the previous evil ones.”
Angel sighed, “I don’t like it, but I said we’d give it a go Cordy. I just hope helping him doesn’t blow up in our faces.”
Cordelia smiled, “I don’t think we’ll regret it guys. Now, who here, besides myself, is going to help him move his stuff upstairs?”
Gunn groaned, “I think my back is already regretting it…”
****************************************************************
Lindsey had lost track of time lifting his head with a start as someone pounded on his door bringing him out of his silent reverie. Lindsey slid off the bed to answer the door, and he was greeted by his dresser being hauled by Wesley and Gunn.
Gunn snapped, “I might not have volunteered to help move your crap if I’d known how heavy it was.”
Lindsey was taken a little aback not really expecting that Angel’s friends would have been so willing to help him. He quickly moved out of the way allowing Gunn and Wesley in with the dresser in tow.
Lindsey stuck his hands in his pockets taking in an uncomfortable breath, “Thanks… You know you guys don’t have to…”
Cordelia brought up the rear holding a box of miscellaneous living room accessories, “Nonsense, that’s what we do around here. But you’re gonna have to get your butt downstairs and help mister.”
Lindsey smirked, “Oh yea, sorry… I’m just having a little trouble adjusting. Angel just had so much fun helping me pack; I’m sure he’s just ecstatic to help me move it in.”
****************************************************************
Two hours later…
The last of Lindsey’s stuff had been toted into his new room, and he was once again left alone to contemplate. The sun would be rising in a couple hours, and though physically and mentally exhausted, Lindsey knew it would still be hours before he could find sleep, so he decided to utilize his insomnia to unpack.
As he unpacked, he silently questioned himself, “Why am I still here? I know this isn’t going to work… I don’t fit. But, I’ll bite. What the heck? Not like I’ve got a plethora of options.”
This room still felt like some sort of weird dream to him. He’d half expected to wake up to the sound of his alarm in his old bed, and everything would once again be recognizable, back where there were no real doubts about what tomorrow held, who he was, and where his place was in the world.
Now, everything was lined in confusion. The feeling reminded him of childhood, no control and no stable footing to steady himself.
Before he’d realized it, he’d unpacked most everything and was feeling slightly delirious from lack of sleep. Lindsey looked at his watch, it glowed 10:23; he sighed thankfully that he had a shower in his room and wouldn’t have to leave the confines of his new sanctuary. By 10:47, Lindsey was showered, sprawled on top of his bed, and gone to the waking world.
****************************************************************
Lindsey’s eyes fluttered open looking over at his alarm clock; it flashed 3:19. His eyes focused on the ceiling still too tired to rise, and he let himself drift in and out of consciousness for the next two hours before forcing himself to get up.
‘What now?’ he thought to himself, ‘I guess I should go downstairs and make nice with the natives.’
Lindsey took his time taking another shower, grooming himself, and getting dressed. When finished, he looked at himself in the standup mirror, and that hesitant pause overwhelmed him once more, that indescribable feeling of unnerving doubt mixed with uncertainty.
Lindsey sighed contemplating what working with Angel was going to be like, and the thought alone was still hard to wrap his head around. The girl, Cordelia, she was sweet though, and the momentary thought of her smiling at him elicited a smile to cross his own features.
‘At least she’ll be here to help make this whole situation I brought myself into more bearable,’ Lindsey thought as he continued to smile exiting his room and heading downstairs to join up with the others.
*************************************************************
The next few months passed quickly, and Lindsey was pleasantly surprised by how much he was starting to enjoy the work. It took awhile for him to earn Gunn and Wesley’s trust, but the longer he proved to be an asset in their investigations the more accepted he became. Angel, on the other hand, wasn’t as easy to impress, not that Lindsey tried or wanted to. Lindsey actually made it a point to compete with Angel dissecting Angel’s ideas whenever the opportunity presented itself to make Angel seem less than competent in his role as the group’s leader.
Lindsey argued, “All I’m saying is that if you want a Kargathan demon to give up information regarding its religious incantations, the quickest route to go about it would be utilizing their traditional gift exchange method. Everything doesn’t always have to be handled with a barbarian’s touch.”
Wesley nodded in agreement, “Lindsey does make a valid point Angel, if there is an option in not having to engage in combat with this beast, I’m all for it.”
Angel growled, “I’m not exchanging gifts with that thing! Besides, what are we going to give it huh? A new born baby for it to sacrifice? That’s about the only thing that monster would be satisfied with exchanging for any type of religious rites. …No, I say we go in and kick the crap out of it until it tells us what we want to know, and if it doesn’t? There will be one less evil demon plaguing the streets.”
Lindsey stated, “A Lartiman statue; they use it in their purification rituals, so you won’t have to worry about any heinous spells being created with it. The statues are pretty rare, but I still have connections I can call to get one.”
Angel turned to face him a look of confusion painted on his face, “What part of we’re not curtailing to this demon’s wants don’t you understand Lindsey?”
Lindsey scowled, “The idea of me having a better plan than you just infuriates you doesn’t it?”
Angel glared at Lindsey, “Does everything have to be a debate with you? Let me tell you something Lindsey, in case you haven’t noticed, the sign above the door reads: ‘Angel Investigations’ not ‘Lindsey Investigations,’ so in the end *I* have the final say. Now then, unless you have anything more to add, and I *really* hope you don’t, this discussion is over.”
Lindsey smirked, “No, unlike you, I don’t find it flattering to say something that means nothing just to hear myself talk.”
Angel sneered, “Funny, I always assumed most everything that passed your lips has meant nothing.”
Cordelia stepped in between them, “Alright children, this bickering is getting us nowhere.”
Lindsey blurted out agitatedly, “I wasn’t bickering until Captain Hero there decided he’d rather make all the team’s decisions solo.”
Angel countered with, “Oh, name calling, that’s really mature.”
Cordelia rubbed her temples having heard all she could stand and yelled, “ENOUGH ALREADY! Why don’t we ask what Wesley and Gunn have to say hmm?”
All eyes scanned across the room to where Gunn and Wesley stood, who in turn looked at one another with a clear look of disdain for being caught in the middle of Lindsey and Angel’s argument.
Gunn responded first, “You know I’m always down with kicking some big nasty’s butt back to hell… I vote less talk, more action.”
Wesley sighed, “Both of you have valid arguments, but I’m going to have to go with Angel on this one. Like Angel stated previously, this *is* his company, and we all work for him, so he does and should have final say.”
Lindsey sucked back the comment he wanted to make instead choosing to sit on the couch with a sneer plastered on his face showing visibly how aggravated the outcome of the argument had made him.
Angel smiled smugly at Lindsey before continuing with his plan, “We’ve got about three hours before the sun comes up, so I suggest we do a little research on this demon and get a battle profile. Then you all should get some sleep, and we’ll move in for the encounter some time after the sun sets tomorrow night.”
The group all nodded and went their separate ways to carry out the said tasks Angel had assigned; Lindsey didn’t move from the couch.
Cordelia sighed and sat beside him patting his knee, “I know Angel can be a bit eccentric at times, but no worries, the powers that be are on our side.”
Lindsey glanced over at her letting out a sigh of his own, “As comforting as that should be, it still irks me that Angel always has to take the hard stance on everything.”
Cordelia grinned, “That’s our Angel, soft hearted and hard headed.”
Lindsey smirked, “And I always thought it was the other way around.”
Cordelia laughed picking up one of the couch pillows and smacking Lindsey with it, “Alright you; I think maybe it’s about time we both got some ZZZ’s before tomorrow’s social event.”
Lindsey grinned giving her a nod before replying, “Right, but first, I’ve got to head to the store to pick up a few odds and ends before settling in for the night… err morning.” He rose off the couch offering his hand to Cordelia to help her up.
Cordelia accepted his hand lifting off the couch as well, “Such the gentleman, a girl could get used to this,” she joked before heading into Angel’s office to get her purse and head home.
Lindsey watched her disappear into Angel’s office before heading out himself, although it wasn’t the store he’d planned on going to. ‘I’ll show you Angel,’ Lindsey thought assuredly to himself as he cranked up his truck and put it into reverse, ‘By the time you’re getting out of bed tomorrow, I’ll have already acquired the information needed to solve this case, and this time I’ll be the one wearing the self-righteous smile.’
