Side by Side

Title: Side by side
Author: Angel Jade
Rating: NC-17
Content: slash, language, and violence.
Spoilers: Season two Ats
Pairings: A/L
Description: Angel is forced to enlist the help of Lindsey when a copy of the Amara ring only works around him.
Setting: Season two Ats after Dead end.
Distribution: Please ask first.
Disclaimer: I do not own these characters. That privilege belongs to Joss Whedon, Mutant enemy and many other big companies. I make no money so don't sue.
Web Page: http://www.fortunecity.com/lavender/eraserhead/153
Author's notes: Challenge from http://www.redkrowe.com/~la/ Challenge shown after fic.

Lindsey sat at the meeting, staring ahead with little interest in anything. He found himself thinking about Darla, wishing he knew where she was.

"Lindsey, can I speak with you?" Lindsey's superior asked, snapping Lindsey out of his daydream. The meeting was over and the suits piled out of the room, muttering.

Lindsey stood and walked over, prepared to be lectured on the importance of staying alert in meetings. "Yes, Sir?"

"Lindsey, we've had a new development. It seems a client of Wolfram and Hart is unable to pay his legal fees. Of course, usually we'd have him killed, but this particular client has revealed he is able to get hold of rather an important artefact."

Lindsey nodded in fake interest. What did this have to do with him?

"Have you heard of the gem of Amara?"

"No, Sir."

"It was a ring, which, when worn by a vampire made him or her virtually indestructible." He said.

"Was?"

"Guess who destroyed it."

Lindsey groaned. "Mr. Superhero himself."

"Our client knows of a copy of the ring. He was sworn to secrecy about it. Seems his life is more important than his silence. There are some minor details about this ring that differ from the original, but it is essentially the same."

"I see." Lindsey struggled to keep his tone from revealing his boredom.

"I want you to oversee the project. This ring could be of great value to us."

"Yes, Sir." Lindsey nodded. 'Great, more vampire crap.'

"As for your other project..."

"About that Sir." Lindsey interrupted. "I'm not sure I'm the person to handle this kind of...thing."

His boss frowned. "Mr. McDonald, are you requesting to have the case transferred?"

Lindsey looked away. "If possible Sir."

"It goes against your nature to fight for a guilty man all of a sudden?" He asked.

'No, it goes against my nature to fight for a child molester, now matter how fucking rich he is.' Lindsey thought. "It's not that, Sir, it's just..."

"Very well. I'll send you the details of your new assignment immediately."

Lindsey watched his boss walk away and sighed. The job just kept getting worse.

*****

"That's the fifth case in as many days." Wesley said grimly. "All done between the hours of twelve and five in the afternoon."

"The last guy was the guy from my vision." Cordelia cringed as she remembered the horrific scene. "God, could these visions get any more disgusting?"

"Any news?" Angel asked as he walked into the office with Gunn by his side.

"Another body." Cordelia told him.

"Vision guy?" He asked.

"The very same." She replied.

"Same circumstances." Wesley said. "He was ripped open by..."

"Thanks Wesley, lets keep bringing that up, it's not like I didn't already see the directors cut." Cordelia said, sarcastically.

"Nice!" Gunn exclaimed looking at the open books of various demons.

"Any developments on identifying the demon?" Angel asked, hopefully.

"Well, I believe I've narrowed it down to three suspects." Wesley said proudly, "Now it's just a question of..."

"It's that one." Angel pointed at one.

"Pointing at one randomly and going from there." Wesley finished sarcastically.

"I can't believe I didn't see it before." Angel muttered.

"See what? Big ugly demon thing...that turns into a human at night?" Cordelia read from the book.

"I've never come across one, but I've heard the rumours." Angel explained. "Vynar demons, very rare. They look like anybody else at night, but during the day..."

"Big ugly demon?" Cordelia guessed.

"Big ugly demon." Angel repeated. "Virtually impossible to kill. They're strong. It's not going to be easy to find it."

"You think? How are we going to find this thing if you can't go outside?" Cordelia asked.

"We could do it ourselves." Gunn suggested.

"This thing is too strong, we need to hit it with everything we've got." Angel told them. "I need to find a way to travel safely in sunlight."

"I know a way." Lindsey said, walking in cockily.

"What are you doing here?" Angel asked angrily.

"You wouldn't believe me if I told you." Lindsey replied. "So I brought a gift."

"Ah, you shouldn't have." Angel sniped. "Now fuck off."

"I'm serious." Lindsey said. "I quit."

Angel shook his head and then frowned. "Sorry, just a little déja-vu."

"I don't expect you to believe me..."

"With all respect...duh!" Gunn mocked.

"What I think my friends are trying to say is...you're not welcome here anymore. You had your chance and you blew it." Cordelia explained.

"You need some help with that demon of yours?" Lindsey asked.

"Funnily enough, we're not looking to sue it." Angel replied.

"How abof I f I could help?"

"You've got five seconds to..." Angel growled.

"Lets hear him out, Angel." Wesley said. "How could you possibly do that?"

Lindsey opened the box and showed them the ring. "With this."

"The gem of Amara?" Angel said flatly.

"No, some idiot destroyed that one." Lindsey corrected him. "This is a copy."

"A copy..." Angel laughed. "You really expect me to believe you?"

"Try it." Lindsey suggested.

"This is pathetic. This is your big plan..." Angel mocked. "Get me to try the ring...step outside and burst into flames. Nice try Lindsey, but a stake would have been a better bet."

"I have the research notes right here." Lindsey said, throwing them on the desk. Wesley opened the folder and began to scan through the notes.

"It's worth a try Angel." He said.

"We can use my cross." Cordelia said, pulling out a crucifix from her bag.

Angel rolled his eyes. "You guys, it's not going to work."

"Here." Lindsey offered the box to Angel.

"Wait!" Cordelia shouted. "What if this is a trick?"

"We just covered that." Gunn told her.

"No, I mean...if it explodes or sucks Angel into another dimension or something?"

Lindsey raised an eyebrow. "Excuse me?"

"Take it out and pass it to him." Cordelia ordered.

Lindsey rolled his eyes and took the ring out, passing it to Angel.

Angel put it on warily then stuck his hand out. Cordelia pressed the cross onto his hand and nothing happened.

"Whoa." Cordelia exclaimed.

"You weren't joking." Gunn said. "Man, you know what this means?"

"It means I kill the demon then smash this one too." Angel said dryly.

"What about him?" Gunn asked, motioning at Lindsey.

"What about me? I've helped you out. I brought this here to gave you an advantage over Wolfram and Hart, now I'm going home." Lindsey said.

"I still say this is some kinda trick." Gunn commented.

"Whatever. Just use it to kill the bastards okay?" Lindsey asked.

"Test it outside, Angel." Cordelia suggested. They all followed Angel, except Lindsey who leaned against the desk, wishing he hadn't bothered.

Angel walked outside and out of the shadows.

"Ow! Shit!" Angel jumped back, nursing his skin.

"Told ya man, it's a trick." Gunn said.

Lindsey backed off when Angel stormed back into the office. "You're gonna pay for that."

"Hey, I don't know why it didn't work, okay? They said it worked perfectly except there were come glitches."

"Sunlight being one of them?" Cordelia asked sarcastically.

"Check the notes." Lindsey suggested.

Wesley scanned through the remainder of the notes while Angel glared at Lindsey. "Oh dear." Wesley said finally.

"What?" Angel asked.

"I may have found the so-called glitch." Wesley said. "It seems whoever made this, made it to work for one person only. The first person to touch it."

"Lindsey?" Cordelia asked. "But it worked with the crucifix."

"It works only when the person who first touched it is in closege."ge." Wesley explained.

"Great!" Angel snorted. "You're saying that if I want to catch this demon, I have to do it with him by my side?"

"Who says I'm staying here to help you anyway?" Lindsey asked. "I did what I had to do, now I'm off."

Angel grabbed the back of Lindsey's collar and pulled him back. "You can go when I say so." He said firmly.

Lindsey scowled but didn't argue.

"I can't go out with him, first chance he gets, he'll run off and leave me to die." Angel muttered to his friends.

"No arguments here." Lindsey chirped.

"Shut up." Everyone warned him.

"But Angel, we need to find this demon and fast, there'll be another victim today if he continues his pattern. We could stop it. Save another life." Wesley said.

"What's one life? Makes no difference." Lindsey said.

Angel grabbed the lawyer by his neck. "Good point. What's the differebetwbetween you living and dying, it's just one life, right?" He dropped Lindsey, who looked rather indignant, but didn't dare say anything here.

"We'll start with our usual contacts, see if anyone knows anything." Wesley said. "Gunn and I will take Caritas and the other demon bars, Angel and Cordelia, you visit some old contacts."

"Do I get to stay here?" Lindsey asked hopefully.

Angel grabbed Lindsey's collar and dragged him with him as they left for the car.

"Guess not." He muttered angrily.

*****

Standing outside the apartment block of the last demon snitch, Angel still held onto Lindsey.

"Angel, I'm not going anywhere. Just let me go, this is awkward." Lindsey pleaded, trying to pull away.

"No way." Angel growled. Cordelia rang the buzzer.

"Yeah?" A gruff voice asked.

"Hello Garyn, got a minute?" Angel asked.

"Angel, that you?"

"Yep."

"Oh, sure Angel. I got time for you. Why don't you come up?" The door opened and they walked through it.

Arriving at the door, Angel kicked down the door, ready for the angry demon that ran out. He kicked him back into the apartment and followed him in.

"Bastard." Garyn moaned. "I ain't tellin' you nutthin'."

"That's okay, I'm up for a spot of violence anyway." Angel said, stalking over to the demon. "Watch him." Angel warned Cordelia.

"Ah, come on man! This ain't fair." Garyn complained. Angel lifted him up and twisted an arm back. "Ah! Okay, you win. What d'ya wanna know?"

"Vynar demon in town, you heard anything?" Angel asked.

"Only rumours, man. I heard it's female at night and that it's been picking off guys by hitting on 'em."

"That's fascinating, but where is it?" Angel asked.

"They think it's got an apartment somewhere, but they know the bar it hangs round in. Club called Revolution or somethin'."

"That's very helpful, thank you Garyn." Angel said, dropping him. "I'll be seein' you real soon."

Angel walked out, grabbing Lindsey on the way.

"Hey!"

*****

"So you don't need me now, right? 'Cause it picks them up at night, when it's human." Lindsey asked hopefully.

"We're going to Caritas. Maybe the Host can tell us something." Angel said. "Cordy, I'll drop you back at the hotel. You, Wesley and Gunn find this club.

"And me..." Lindsey said, trying to butt in.

"Okay. What next? Are we going clubbing tonight?" Cordelia asked.

"Not we. Me. I'm going." Angel said.

"But..."

"No buts, this thing is dangerous. I don't want anyone in danger." Angel said forcefully.

"I can go now, right..?" Lindsey interrupted.

"Shut up!" Angel and Cordelia yelled.

*****

They had dropped Cordelia off and were on their way to Caritas. Lindsey sat in the back, pouting. "Did it ever occur to you I don't want to be here?"

"You're doing a good thing, Lindsey. Deal with it." Angel said from the front.

"You're forgetting." Lindsey said. "I've done my good deed for the day. I just quit my job and helped you out big time."

"Which has no meaning if I can't use it. As much as I hate to admit it, I need you to find this demon." Angel said.

Lindsey was surprised to hear that from Angel. He smiled and sat back.

Angel saw Lindsey smile through the mirror and frowned. "What?"

"Nothing." Lindsey replied.

"You're smiling. Why am I worried?" Angel said, nervously.

Lindsey grinned. "You worry too much."

"What can I say, you worry me." Angel retorted.

"Keep your eyes on the road. You're forcing me to help you, the least you can do is keep me alive." Lindsey said dryly.

"You just can't admit you're doing the right thing can you?" Angel asked.

"Not if it means I'm helping you voluntarily, no." Lindsey said, smirking.

Angel shook his head. "I should have killed you when I had the chance."

Lindsey only smiled. "Know the feeling."

*****

"Well, there are two people I never thought I'd see together." Lorne said as Lindsey and Angel walked in.

"I need you to read me." Angel said, simply.

"Hello to you too." Lorne teased.

"This is serious. Do I have to sing?" Angel asked.

"If you gotta sing, it's gotta be pretty darn serious." Lorne grinned.

"Lorne..." Angel frowned.

"Angel-cakes, no offence intended really, but you can't carry a note to save your unlife. Why not let Lindsey handle this one?" Lorne suggested.

Angel looked at the Host with annoyance. "What are you going to get from him?"

Lindsey looked smugly at Angel.

"He's on a mission with you, right?" Lorne asked.

"Against my will." Lindsey added.

Lorne rolled his eyes. "You need a guitar or do you wanna karaoke?"

"You got a guitar handy?" Lindsey asked hopefully.

"For you, anything." Lorne smiled. He went out back and came back holding a guitar. "Not exactly your style, but it does the job."

"Thanks." Lindsey took the guitar and took to the stage.

Angel watched Lindsey walk up there and sat down to hear him sing. He would never have said so to Lorne or Lindsey, but the man really could sing. His voice was almost depressing; it inspired a sad mood across the bar. Angel found himself joining the others around him in a round of applause at the end. Lorne gave Angel a look that only he understood. Angel dismissed it and waited for Lindsey to return for Lorne's reading.

"Well?" Lindsey asked, as he came back down.

"Wonderful, as usual. I really like the way you..."

"He meant the reading." Angel said flatly.

Lorne smiled and looked at Lindsey knowingly. "You got big changes in your life coming up."

"Yeah, I'm going home after Batman here is done with me." Lindsey said, dryly. "What else?"

"This demon you're looking for. Won't be easy to kill, but if you work together..."

"Together?" Lindsey asked, doubtfully.

"Yes, together. If you work together, things will turn out...different." Lorne said cryptically.

"Different?" Angel frowned.

"That's all I'm saying for now about that." Lorneled.led.

"But the demon, do you know any more about it?" Angel asked.

"Here's an idea. The demon's female at night, right?" Lorne asked. Angel nodded. "So set the bait. Get Wesley, Gunn or even Lindsey here to pull the girl, then follow them."

"How are we supposed to know which girl it is?" Lindsey asked.

"Lets put it this way. She'll come to you." Lorne replied.

"Fine, lets go." Angel said, grabbing Lindsey again.

"I hope you get what you want, Lindsey." Lorne said, winking. Lindsey shot him a warning glance. Angel was too busy dragging Lindsey with him to notice the exchange.

Lorne watched them go, smiling to himself. Lindsey's singing had given him more than he had let on. More than he usually got from people when they sang. He knew exactly what would happen.

*****

"So what's the plan?" Lindsey asked, in the car.

"You're bothered all of a sudden?" Angel asked, arching one eyebrow.

"What can I say? Maybe I'm a hero in disguise." Lindsey joked.

Angel took his eyes off the road long enough to give Lindsey a strange look. "You're a confusing man, McDonald."

"You have no idea." Lindsey agreed.

"We're going back to the hotel. Suns almost down and I won't need you again. You're staying in the hotel just incase I need you tomorrow morning..."

"You just can't ask nicely can you?" Lindsey asked, angrily.

"What? You wouldn't stay if I gave you a choice." Angel told him.

"And you know this, how?" Lindsey asked him.

"You're evil, or had you forgotten?" Angel reminded him.

"Fuck you. I'm not evil. I've done some bad things, but so have you. I made a big step leaving and you're so far up yourself you can't see that. I do you a favour by bringing you the ring. I let you drag me round LA, I even sing for you and you don't thank me, you don't give me a choice and you don't even see that I did all this for you!" Lindsey yelled.

"What?" Angel asked, looking round.

"What?" Lindsey's face paled. He hadn't meant to say that.

"What did you mean by that?" Angel demanded.

"That you're an asshole." Lindsey said, trying to cover up.

"Did all of it for me?" Angel repeated.

"I didn't mean that." Lindsey said, starting to go red.

"Yes you did, what did you mean by it?" Angel asked.

"Nothing." Lindsey looked away.

"Lindsey, what did you mean?"

"Nothing, okay? I just meant that I did all this for you and you don't thank me, that's all." Lindsey lied.

Angel backed off. He accepted Lindsey's words because he had no desire to go into what Lindsey could have meant by it. But still...it brought up thoughts in his mind he hadn't realised were there before now. Could Lindsey really...? No. The thought was completely unrealistic. Did he...? No. Lindsey. Evil lawyer. Killed Darla. No way, no chance, never. Angel would never fall for...

Shit. Angel risked a glance at Lindsey in the hope that the sight of him would bring up the old feelings of annoyance and hate.

He saw Lindsey and the sound of his voice; singing sadly in Caritas came into his head.

"Watch the fucking road!" Lindsey yelled, as Angel swerved and missed an on-coming car.

"Sorry." Angel said, looking ahead, full-on brooding mode.

"Why are you apologising?" Lindsey asked. Since when was Angel ever nice to him?

"Lindsey...you can go if you want." Angel said.

"Huh?" Lindsey looked at him cautiously.

"Go, if you want. I'll just carry on without you. It's not like I need the ring anymore anyway." Angel said.

Lindsey looked down at his lap. "Yeah...right. I guess I can go home then."

Neither of them spoke for the rest of the journey.

*****

Arriving back at the hotel, Lindsey followed Angel in, rather than taking off straight away. He didn't really want to leave, but Angel, of course, would never hear those words come out his mouth.

"Hello?" Angel called. "Wes? Gunn? Cordy?" No one answered, so Angel walked into the office, Lindsey close behind.

The small note on the desk was scrawled in Cordelia's writing.

Angel,

Had another vision. Wes, Gunn and I have gone to save the day. Tried to call but despite having had a phone for years, you still can't manage to keep it on. Be back ASAP.

Cordy.

Below the message was the address of the club, Revolution.

Angel put the note down and groaned.

"What is it?" Lindsey asked out of intere

"

"They've gone. Which means there's not fot for tonight." Angel said in frustration. "The demon will know I'm a vampire, so it's not going to approach me."

Lindsey thought for a second. "Well, I could..."

Angel looked up at him. "I said you could go. You're free to walk." He reminded him.

Lindsey smiled. "But I'm a good guy now. I have to do the right thing." He mocked.

Angel looked at Lindsey and nodded. "Maybe you are."

"So I'm the bait?" Lindsey asked, almost excited.

"Looks like it." Angel said. "We'll set off soon. We better get some weapons ready."

"Angel..." Lindsey said. "Just out of curiosity. Am I in any danger?"

"Loads." Angel replied. "You game?"

Lindsey smirked. "Always."

*****

Lindsey walked around the bar, trying to look as available as he could. He had girls looking at him, but no one had approached him and he had been there for hours. Angel was somewhere in the shadows, lurking, watching.

Lindsey had to smile. He had his very own pimp watching over him.

"Hi." An attractive brunette said to Lindsey.

He flashed his most charming smile. "Hi."

"Can I buy you a drink?" She asked.

Lindsey laughed. "Aren't I supposed to do that?"

The woman grinned. "Only if that's what you want."

Lindsey sighed. "I don't mind accepting a drink from a lady."

"Nina." The woman introduced.

"Lindsey." He replied, smiling at her. He hoped this was the right one.

"Nice to meet you, Lindsey." She smiled. "Haven't seen you in here before."

"Not a regular. Something compelled me to come in here." Lindsey told her.

"Maybe it's fate." She smiled seductively.

"Maybe." He said, moving closer. If this was the right woman, she'd want to get him out of the bar as soon as possible.

"Do you want to go somewhere more private?" She asked.

Bingo.

"Sure." Lindsey said. "Anywhere in mind?"

"I think I know a place." She smiled, leading him out the door. Lindsey walked with her, hoping Angel was paying attention.

*****

Angel followed them as far away as possible. The demon would probably have a heightened sense of hearing.

He watched Lindsey flirt and found himself thinking about Lindsey flirting with him. It was a bizarre thought, especially at a time like this, but something was eating at him.

The woman led them to a small hotel. It was a nice place; similar to the places the previous murders had taken place.

"We're not going back to yours?" Lindsey asked.

"This is more fun, don't you think? Room service." She grinned.

"Sure. Do you want me to pay?" He offered. A gentleman to the end.

"I got it." She said, handing over the cash.

Lindsey wondered how a demon made money. Probably stolen off the bodies of her victims.

"Come on, handsome. Haven't got all night." She grinned.

Lindsey glanced at the door, before he walked after her. Angel had better be close by.

*****

Lindsey walked in and looked around. He had a sudden feeling this would be the room he'd die in.

What if Angel let him die? The vampire never hid his distaste for the lawyer. What if this was his way of getting back at him?

Lindsey breathed. Angel would never let a human die unnecessarily. Sure he may have locked Lindsey's co-workers in a cellar to be butchered at the hands of his vampire family. But he was different now. Wasn't he?

"Relax." Nina told him.

"Sorry, just saw the time. It's pretty early in the morning isn't it? Be daylight soon." Lindsey said, nervously.

"You got somewhere you need to be?" Nina asked, pouting.

"No. No, of course not." Lindsey replied.

"Well then, lets just relax then." She smiled, undressing slowly.

Lindsey followed her lead, willing Angel to burst through the door. It didn't happen.

As he removed his shirt and Nina rubbed her hands over his chest. "Mmm, I love a man with muscles."

Lindsey blushed as she reached for his pants and unzipped them. Was he actually gonna get lucky or was she just making it easier to kill him?

"Ooh, time for dinner." She said happily. Lindsey looked up, an anxious look on his face. He watched in horror as she opened the curtains, allowing the first rays of sun to flood through the window. Her face began to morph into a disfigured brown demon.

"Angel!" Lindsey yelled, backing away.

The demon only laughed. It raised a claw and swiped at Lindsey. It tore open his stomach, leaving small gashes. Lindsey fell back, clutching his stomach in pain.

The door swung open with a loud bang and Angel stormed in, weapons in hand. The demon left Lindsey in exchange for Angel.

He swung an axe at it, but it skilfully dodged it and knocked Angel across the room.

"Lindsey, you okay?" Angel asked, as he got up and attacked the demon again.

"I'm fine." Lindsey replied, grabbing his shirt and trying to wrap it round his stomach to stop the bleeding.

Angel attacked the demon again, dodging claws and managing to hit the demon in its gut. Phased, but by no means hurt, the demon pushed Angel away and ran out the door.

Angel watched it leave then looked back at Lindsey.

"Go after it!" Lindsey yelled. "I'm fine."

"I can't, it's gone into the sun. I'll have to try again tomorrow." He said, disheartened.

"Someone will be dead tomorrow. We're going after it now." Lindsey stood up. He grabbed Angel's wrist and led him outside. They ran together, following the screams.

"It's over there!" Lindsey cried, pointing at it. They ran towards it side by side. Angel passed Lindsey a crossbow and they prepared to attack.

The demon saw them coming and stood its ground.

"If it comes after you, run." Angel told Lindsey.

"But I need to be near you." Lindsey said. "Because of the ring...I mean." He added, embarrassed.

Angel swallowed and looked at Lindsey carefully. "If it comes after you. Run."

Lindsey nodded, having no intention whatsoever of deserting Angel now.

Angel raised the axe and attacked. Lindsey raised the bow and aimed, hitting the demon in the shoulder. The demon knocked the axe from Angel's hand and grabbed his throat. Angel was hoisted into the air, and held there, struggling to get free.

Lindsey used one of the other arrows and shot it. It hit Angel's leg.

"Fuck! Lindsey, you're supposed to shoot it, not me." Angel yelled in pain.

"Sorry." Lindsey cried, grabbing the last arrow. He aimed at the demon's head. It hit the demon in the temple, driving straight through its brain.

Angel fell to the floor next to the dead demon. He looked up at Lindsey and smiled. "Nice shot."

Lindsey struggled to breathe. "Next time, I'm staying at home."

Angel got up and carefully pulled the arrow out. "Next time?" He asked.

"Next time." Lindsey repeated.

They began to walk back to the club to get the car.

"I can't believe you shot me." Angel muttered.

"Well you let me get clawed." Lindsey moaned.

"Whiner." Angel said, playfully.

"Baby." Lindsey retorted.

*****

When they returned to the hotel, no one was back, so they sat down together in Angel's room. Angel fetched Lindsey a beer and drank cold pigs blood while he was in the kitchen.

"Thanks." Lindsey said, as Angel returned, limping. "Ah, stop exaggerating."

"I have a hole in my leg." Angel reminded him.

"I have claw marks in my stomach." Lindsey said.

"I'm gonna get some bandages. Don't move." Angel instructed.

"You're so bossy." Lindsey muttered after him.

Angel returned with medical supplies, which he dumped on the bed.

"Nice place you got here." Lindsey commented.

"Thanks." Angel said, concentrating on the bandages. He grabbed what he needed and walked over to Lindsey.

"You can do yourself first if you like, I'm okay." Lindsey offered.

"If I don't get rid of the smell, I'm gonna eat you." Angel told him.

Lindsey laughed. "Well, if you put it that way."

Angel bandaged Lindsey up, trying not to hurt him, or touch him too much. He was afraid Lindsey would somehow know what was going on in his messed up head.

Lindsey tried not to flinch at Angel's touch. He wondered if the vampire could smell his arousal. Having Angel so close to his half-naked body was almost a dream come true for Lindsey. After all, this was why he was here. Why he'd quit. Why he'd brought Angel the ring. Why he'd stayed.

Sure, he'd acted like a jerk. He was proud. But now he was wondering where pride was going to get him. Angel would never know how he really felt and Lindsey would have to go home.

"Lindsey." Angel began. "I need to ask you something."

Lindsey cocked his head. This didn't sound good. "Sure, ask away."

"What did Lorne mean when he said, 'I hope you get what you want'?" Angel asked.

"You heard that?" Lindsey asked, shocked by Angel's question.

"Yeah, what did he mean?" Angel asked, not looking at Lindsey. He had a feeling he knew, but he needed to hear him say it.

"I dunno." Lindsey lied.

"Would it help if I said it first?" Angel asked.

Lindsey hesitated before nodding.

"I don't know why you came here, but I'm glad you did. Not only because you saved the day, but because you made me realise something that I really didn't know until now." Angel said.

Lindsey waited for more, but it didn't come. "Okay..."

"Your turn." Angel told him.

"Oh...well, uh...I guess I came here because..."

"Don't lie to me." Angel interrupted, looking Lindsey in the eye.

Lindsey sighed and changed the direction of his sentence. "I think I'm attracted to you." He whispered.

Angel just smiled.

"Don't laugh at me, you fucking bastard." Lindsey yelled.

"I wasn't, I was just thinking about the situation. I mean, we hate each other." Angel pointed out.

"True."

"We're enemies." Angel added.

"Yeah."

"You might be good looking but..."

"You think I'm good looking?" Lindsey asked.

Angel rolled his eyes. "That's not the point. The point is, that you're gonna leave tomorrow and this could never work. We're..."

"Tomorrow?" Lindsey asked, raising his eyebrows in suggestion.

Angel caught his meaning and gave him a questioning look.

"If I'm leaving tomorrow, what am I going to do with myself today?" Lindsey asked.

"I'm not sure. We could always talk?" Angel joked.

"Mmm, what if we ran out of things to say?" Lindsey asked.

"Then maybe we could..." Angel reached over and kissed Lindsey. A move neither of them had expected, but both enjoyed.

Lindsey pulled back. "And what about when we get bored of that?"

"Well, then there's always activities best suited to the bed." Angel replied. "But I guess even that could get boring after a while..."

"I can do interesting things with maple syrup!" Lindsey grinned.

"I bet you can." Angel laughed.

"What if I were to stay tomorrow?" Lindsey asked.

Angel thought for a second. "Lindsey..."

"Uh-oh. There you go with the thinking again." Lindsey said. "How about this. We'll think about things tomorrow. Today...today we'll just act."

"Act..." Angel repeated the word, mulling over the idea. "I think that can be arranged."

Lindsey reached over and kissed him, pulling them closer. This was it. He was finally doing what he had thought about for the past month. Non-stop.

Angel stood up and walked over to the bedside cabinet to retrieve the small tube of lubrication. Lindsey stood and walked over.

"Boy scout." Lindsey murmured, kissing Angel again.

"Always prepared." Angel added, leading Lindsey down onto the bed. They undressed quickly, helping each other, touching and feeling...

Angel helped Lindsey turn over, before applying the lubrication to his erect cock and Lindsey's ass.

Lindsey's moaned as Angel slipped his finger inside, before pulling out. He waited patiently, as Angel eased into him, clasping his thighs. Lindsey grabbed at the bed sheets, hoping to ease the pain, but he refrained from calling out. After a few thrusts, the pain subsided and he began to feel pleasure.

He groaned in satisfaction as Angel continued to fuck him into the night.

*****

Lindsey lay in bed, smiling to himself. Who would have thought? Lindsey McDonald in Angel's bed.

He heard Angel turn off the shower and wondered if they were up for another round. The vampire was insatiable.

"Angel?" Wesley called, walking in. The sight of Lindsey startled him and he stood there gawping. "Oh...um, dreadfully sorry. Bad time." He stuttered.

Angel walked out of the bathroom and froze as he saw Wesley staring back. He was grateful he was wearing a towel round his waist, but other than that...

"Wes, you find him?" Gunn asked as he walked in, followed by Cordelia. No one spoke. No one moved. The three friends just stood there, their mouths wide open.

Lindsey began to laugh.

Wesley cleared his throat. Gunn raised his eyebrows in amusement. Cordelia closed her eyes wishing she had just stayed downstairs.

"Um, we uh, solved the case." Wesley said to Angel.

"Good." Angel replied, awkwardly.

"Yes, well...better, um, go home and rest I suppose." He added before leaving.

"I want words with you later." Cordelia said, pointing at Angel before following Wes.

"Now that was entertainment!" Gunn exclaimed as he followed Cordelia out.

Angel buried his face in his hands before making his way over to the bed.

Lindsey tried to keep a straight face but the situation was just too damn funny.

"Stop smiling." Angel said.

Lindsey started laughing again. "Your face..."

"I can't believe that just happened." Angel said. "I'll never hear the end of it."

"Just think of it this way, at least they won't be surprised when I stick around for a while." Lindsey grinned.

"Stick around?" Angel asked.

"You think I'm gonna go back to Oklahoma now?" Lindsey asked.

"I don't know. Maybe." Angel replied.

"Maybe I should convince you I like it right here." Lindsey said.

"I think you should." Angel smiled.

Angel leaned down and they kissed again. Lindsey inwardly smiled. Yep, the guy was defiantly insatiable.

The End.


Challenge:

The Amara challenge

Timeline: Before Dead End, or after, but make it so Lindsey never leaves L.A. You can decide why or how he decided to stay, but he HAS to be working for Wolfram and Hart.

Plot: Wolfram and Hart somehow found a copy of the ring of Amara, but in order for the ring to work, it has to stay close to the person who first touched it. (i.e. If Lindsey was the one who touch the ring first, then in order for it to work for Angel, Angel will have to stay close to Lindsey)
Cordelia got a vision of a monster that only attacks during the day, and morphs into a human at night, so in order for Angel to hunt it down, he'll need the ring. Lindsey stole it for Angel (the reason is up to you) but since Wesley/Gunn/Cordy didn't trust Lindsey, they made Lindsey take it out of the box and hand it to Angel...

Must Have:
- Lindsey singing or playing his guitar
- Angel getting burned because he walked out the office without Lindsey by his side (when he discovered how the ring works)
- Lindsey and any other character getting into a fight, verbally or physically

At least 2 of the following...
- A Buffy character appearance (main cast)
- The Host telling Angel how bad he is at singing
- Angel tripping and almost falling on a stake
- Maple syrup
- Smut
- A character attempt to commit a crime, and succeed
- Cordy/Gunn/Wesley finding Lindsey in Angel's bed either alone or with Angel