Title: The Nyazian Scrolls Saga: My Father Who Art in Hell
Author: T. C.
Rating: PG-14
Pairing: Connor/Pandora/Ron friendship; Willow/Angel; Cordelia/Lindsey
Summary: Problems between his parents puts Ron in a vulnerable position
just when Rack returns.
Spoilers: Anything before and including Season 3 of 'Angel' and Season
6 of 'BTVS' could be mentioned.
Distribution: Please ask, I usually say yes.
Disclaimer: The characters of 'BTVS' and 'Angel' belong to Joss Whedon,
20th Century Fox, the WB, and UPN. The characters of
'Charmed' belong to Constance M. Burge, Spelling Television
Inc., and the WB.
***********************************************************************
Part One

The Slayer sprang from the roof of an old ivied tomb and dropped down
between a male and a female vampire. She punched the female in the
face and broke her nose and then turned and kicked the male in the
head, breaking his jaw. Both creatures were dust before they could
recover. Rack watched the seemingly helpless blond girl disappear
through the cemetery gates, whistling a jaunty tune as she walked.
Something was different. Rack had returned to Sunnydale on several
occasions throughout the years and the Slayer had always been morose
and mechanical - like the weight of the world was pressing down on her.
She was lighter now and happy. So, what he had been hearing was true -
his Willow witch had returned to her friends. She wasn't in Sunnydale
though, she was much too smart for that, but she wouldn't be too far
away. He would find her and finally reunite with his son. His family.

"Lovely night for a stroll." Rack blinked into existence in front of
Buffy. He chuckled at the fear she couldn't hide. He knew that the
fear wasn't for herself, but for her friend. He smiled. "I was
wondering if you could help me get in touch with an old mutual friend
of ours. I believe she has my son."

"You stay away from Willow." Buffy attacked with more desperation
than finesse. Her punch flew through the air without finding its
target, knocking her off balance and to the ground. Rack was gone.

"Don't worry, I'll find her anyway," his disembodied voice informed
her.

Patrol was over. Buffy shook off her shock and jumped up. She ran as
fast as she could back to her house. She had to warn Willow. It had
been two years since she had turned up in L. A. and stopped running.
They had all started to think that Rack didn't care since Ron was no
longer a baby to be sacrificed. They had been wrong. Buffy ran
faster.

*****

Her world was over - at least the one that was familiar to her. A dark
pit of pain had opened up where her heart had been. Willow sat on
their bed and watched with a numb detachment as Lindsey packed his
suitcase. "Why?" she managed to whisper.

"I already told you why." Lindsey's voice was tight and he didn't turn
to face her. He continued to rip through their closet instead. Jeans,
shirts, blouses, pants - it didn't matter if they were his or hers,
they ended up strewn around the bedroom floor. "I can't stand this
mediocrity anymore. I'm better than this. Wolfram and Hart recognizes
that. They've offered me what I deserve - power, money, and anything
else I would care to want. I can't wear any of these rags!" Lindsey
tore the last piece of clothing off its hangar and threw it across the
room. He turned and stalked to his suitcase which sat beside Willow.
He snapped it shut and picked it up without even glancing at her.

Willow reached out and caught his arm. She couldn't stand it. She
wanted him to look at her. "You promised you would never leave me,
Mac."

"My name is Lindsey." Lindsey jerked his arm away. His eyes bore into
hers with a frightfully intense glare. "Promises are just words,
Willow. They don't mean anything." He didn't say good-bye as he
disappeared though the bedroom door.

"Lindsey!" Willow yelled and ran to the bedroom door. He had paused
at the top of the stairs. "I love you."

"Those are just words too." Lindsey continued on down the stairs.

Willow recoiled as if she had been slapped and bit back a sob. She
followed after him, but stumbled on the top step. She caught the
railing to keep herself form tumbling down the stairs. She leaned over
the side. "They're evil," she screamed. Her only answer was the hard
slam of the front door. Willow slid down the railing and sat with a
thump on the top step. "They're evil," she repeated much more softly.

It was all so confusing. They had been so happy for so many years and
they had even continued to be happy once they had moved to L. A. and
had resumed their real identities. When the record label had
inexplicably dropped Lindsey, Willow hadn't been worried. She still
had her job and Lindsey still sang at the local clubs - he was quite
popular at P3 - and they both helped out at Angel Investigations from
time to time. Willow had been optimistic that another recording
contract would present itself and Lindsey's dream would become reality.
This optimism just seemed to irk Lindsey lately. He started to pick
stupid fights, but still she had just thought it was a temporary rough
patch in their marriage. Nothing to freak out about. She never
once thought he would leave her and Ron. Not until he had walked
through the door this evening and announced that he had accepted his
old position at Wolfram and Hart.

The soft humming buzz of the cordless phone started to ring from
somewhere in the house. Willow didn't care. She stood up on shaky
legs and made her way back to the bedroom where she managed to pick up
one of Lindsey's flannel shirts before collapsing on the bed. Her sobs
drowned out the phone as it continued to ring.

*****

The Hyperion was a welcome sight for Angel. It hadn't been a
particularly difficult case - they had just tracked down magic mirror
that had some society people killing each other to possess it - and
he was bone tired. Infiltrating the clique had been hell - give him
a Goltrok demon over a club luncheon any day. Angel pushed open the
front doors. Cordelia and Fred had decided to use their 'dressing up'
for the case to their advantage and had met a couple of eligible
bachelors they had stayed to have drinks with after the mirror had been
destroyed and the evil-fighting was over. Gunn had gone to P3 to meet
Paige and had dragged Wesley with him - apparently Paige had a friend
they both thought Wesley would like. Angel could hear Connor and Ron
talking in the parlor while they watched television. Lorne had stayed
with the boys since everyone else was occupied with the case and Willow
and Lindsey had needed some 'alone' time.

"Where's Lorne?" Angel frowned. It had been two years since Lilah had
attempted to kidnap his son and she hadn't made any moves or threats
since then, but there was still the last Nyazian Scroll to worry about.
Lindsey had confirmed that his possession of it had been a bluff and
that Lilah could very well have it. She hadn't tried to use it to her
advantage yet, but Angel wasn't going to be comfortable until he had
that scroll.

"He's just upstairs, Dad. A client came in for an emergency reading."
Connor's frown matched his father's. He was too old for babysitters
anyway. He was thirteen. "We're fine."

"I know." Angel backed off. Connor was fine and he would probably be
in danger his whole life. Smothering him would only cause new
problems. "So, what do you guys have planned for your last weekend
before school starts?"

"Nothing much," Ron answered. "Dory gets back tomorrow so we're
meeting her at the mall and going to a movie."

"Mom, Aunt Willow, and Mrs. Halliwell want to take us shopping first,"
Connor added.

"Sounds like fun." Angel's phone rang and he reached into his pocket
to answer it. "Hello, Angel Investigations."

"Angel," Buffy's frantic voice shouted into his ear. "Angel, I can't
reach Willow. I called her place and the phone rang and rang. Is she
with you?"

"No." Angel stepped out of the parlor and made his way to the offices.
He didn't need his son overhearing this conversation. Buffy was upset
and obviously worried about Willow. "She and Lindsey had plans though,
they might have went out. What's the matter, Buffy?"

"Rack. He was in Sunnydale tonight. He asked me about Willow and Ron.
She didn't answer the phone. If she was home, she would have answered
the phone so I could warn her. What if Rack already has her and Ron,
Angel? He did this blinking thing where he just appeared and
disappeared. What if I was too late?"

"Calm down, Buffy. Ron's here with Connor for the weekend." Angel
headed for the front door. "I'll got to Willow's right now. I'm sure
she's fine - like I said, she and Lindsey planned to go out. I'll call
you when I know." Angel returned the phone to his pocket. "Lorne!"
he yelled and waited for the green demon to appear at the top of the
stairs. "Call everyone and tell them to get over here and don't take
your eyes off the boys. I have to go out for a while." The front
door slammed behind him in his haste.

"What's going on?" Ron whispered to Connor. All he had caught was the
distress in the yelling voice talking to Connor's Dad on the phone, but
he knew his friend with the superhearing had got it all.

"That was Buffy, she's worried about your Mom. Some guy named Rack is
looking for her and you." Connor looked back. Ron was so white his
freckles stood out like rust on porcelain. "Who is this Rack guy? Do
you know him?"

"He's my biological father."

*****

The apartment was incredible. Lilah had outdone herself with its
opulence and luxurious appointments, not to mention the high-tech
surveillance equipment. Lindsey didn't even bother looking for them, if
Lilah wanted to watch then let her watch. He fixed himself a drink at
the gleaming chrome and glass bar. The whole living room was in black
and silver. Black leather furniture, black and silver accented tables,
and a soft, slate grey carpet. From the large window, the lights of
Los Angeles winked at him like they knew it had only been a matter of
time until he was back where Wolfram and Hart wanted him. He slugged
back the drink in one gulp and wandered into the bedroom. It was black
and gold. Lilah had a sick decorating sense. His suitcases were
stored away in the walk-in closet along with the few clothes he had
brought and the new ones that had been boughten for him. He hadn't
seen the person who had done his unpacking, but he was sure that they
did a thorough job of going through everything. It didn't matter, he
had left everything that was important.

"Here's to my new life." Lindsey saluted the empty room with the empty
glass. It seemed an appropriate gesture. He set the glass on the
dresser and peeled his clothes off as he walked into the bathroom.
The faceless servant would pick them up. The bathroom wasn't black,
which was a relief. It was pink. Dark pink marble snaked with
purplish veins surrounded the copper basin sink. The gleaming copper
of the fixtures reminded Lindsey of Willow's hair. On the mirror
above Lilah had left a note. 'Thought I should leave a feminine touch
until you get used to being a bachelor again.' Lindsey grabbed the
note and crumbled it in his hand. He tossed it on the floor and turned
on the shower.

A hot spray of water, not the tingling sonic pulse of the new showers,
pelted against his body as Lindsey stepped in. The rich and evil
obviously didn't care about conserving precious natural resources. He
was grateful though, because although he doubted there were any cameras
in here, if there were the water would obscure his tears. Lindsey
bowed his head and let the spray hit his neck and the back of his head.
He thought of Willow and Ron. He heard Willow's begging, pleading
voice in his head and saw her big green eyes filled with tears. "I
love you," he whispered the words he couldn't say back to her before
and watched them swirl down the drain along with the water. He didn't
want this, he didn't want any of this. It made him sick, but he
couldn't afford to be sick. If his reaction was that severe, then
Lilah would get suspicious and all of this would have been for nothing.

*****

"Willow?" Angel called out. The front door was unlocked and the
lights were on. He doubted that Lindsey and Willow would have left the
house this way if they had gone out. Everything seemed in place
downstairs. The living room was large and comfortable with pictures of
family and friends littered everywhere. Willow had made a real effort
to make a home for herself and her family after so many years on the
run. She had succeeded. The house was warm and cozy and empty.
Angel didn't like the way it looked. "Willow?" Angel strained his
vampire senses for any signs of human life. He picked up a heartbeat
and snuffly breaths. She was upstairs.

The bedroom door was slightly open. Angel could see clothes strewn
about the floor. He couldn't smell blood. He nudged the door open.
"Willow." Angel crossed over to the sobbing woman on the bed. She was
clutching an old flannel shirt and didn't seem to notice he was there.
Angel sat on the bed beside her and caressed her hair in a comforting
motion. The room was a mess, but there were no signs of actual
violence. The clothes were all pulled out of the closet and thrown on
the floor, some personal possessions were knocked down, but nothing was
broken. "Willow, where is Lindsey?"

A choked sob was his answer as Willow started to cry harder. She
didn't resist when Angel pulled her up and gathered her in his arms.
"Gone," she finally managed to whisper. "He left us...for...for
Wolfram and Hart."

Angel didn't know what to say. He had never completely trusted Lindsey
when it came to Wolfram and Hart - he had seen him tempted by them one
too many times - and had actually expected him to return to the law
firm long before now. But he had to admit that Lindsey loved Willow
and Ron and had proven himself over the last two years by helping out
all he could with tracking down the last Nyazian Scroll to see if Lilah
did indeed have it. Angel was surprised that Lindsey had left them now
and furious that he had obviously devastated Willow while doing it.
Lindsey McDonald was scum, but Angel could hardly tell Willow that. It
wouldn't make her feel any better. Nothing could make her feel better,
but she couldn't languish in her depression either. He had to make
sure she was safe and ready to face Rack. "Willow, sweetheart, I need
you to pack some things for you and Ron. You two are going to stay at
the Hyperion for a while."

"It's okay, Angel." Willow lifted her head from his shoulder and wiped
at her tears. Lindsey's cologne from his shirt filled her nose and
she almost broke down again. The only thing that stopped her was the
fact that Angel already thought she was a delicate doll that needed to
be sheltered. "I'm fine. I just need some time alone to think. Ron
and I will be fine."

"Normally, I would agree, but there's something you don't know. Buffy
encountered Rack in Sunnydale. He was looking for you and Ron." Angel
squeezed Willow's shoulders. "If Lindsey were here, I would be
insisting that all three of you move in to the hotel until Rack is
dealt with."

Willow nodded. She was emotionally drained and only felt a stinging
coldness chilling her bones instead of a heart-thudding fear. She was
in no shape to deal with Rack alone. She couldn't protect her son or
herself right now, but Angel could. "I'll pack." She moved away from
Angel and started to pick a few things up from the floor. She wondered
if she should leave Lindsey a note telling him where they were or maybe
call him. He might come back if he knew Rack was threatening them. He
had promised to protect them, to love them. He wouldn't break those
promises - not really. They were more than words. More than words.

"Willow." Angel caught her as her knees buckled and she passed out.
"Bastard," he muttered as he carried Willow down the stairs. They
would have to come back later and pack whatever Willow and Ron needed.
Right now he needed Willow to be somewhere where she was safe and
loved.

To be continued....