Disclaimer: All characters belong to Joss Whedon and Angel the series.

Spoilers: Story begins during the first episode of season two and continues through with changes. This is an AU!

Chapter Four

Wesley had indeed grabbed doughnuts on his way and Angel ate in the office as he and Wesley quickly discussed not only what they'd found out about Bethany, but also Cordelia. Meanwhile the two women bonded over baked goods and fashion. Well, more the lack of the men's fashion. Gunn came in to find the two women talking and with one look at him they bust out laughing. Taking this as a bad sign, he headed for the office. Thrusting a thumb behind him as he entered.

"Think it's a good idea puttin' those two together?"

Wesley was seated at the desk and Angel standing behind him, leaned over the same book. Heads came up and they looked past him then up at him. Angel frowned.

"Are they all right?"

Gunn snickered and walked to the desk.

"Oh yeah, they're just doin' fine. A little too fine. Just, trust me, two girls that giggly, it's gonna be bad news."

Angel seemed to worry a bit but Wesley waved it off.

"Did you find out anything?"

Gunn smirked and sat down putting feet up on the desk.

"Found out Barbie's mail doesn't all come from the post office."

Angel shoved his hands in his pockets.

"So you know who is sending them?"

"Not exactly, I know it's a pretty rich dude, he's not going through the system. Gets them slipped to the postman once he's on the route. I know what building he lives in, but that's as far back as I traced it. Here's where it gets fun. Guess how owns the apartment building?"

Eyes narrowed and Wesley answered.

"Wolfram and Hart."

"Bingo."

Angel glanced from Wesley to Gunn.

"It looks like they may have also hired some men to attack Bethany. I think I need to take a trip to talk to our favorite lawyer."

Gunn and Wesley stood as well.

"Not without me dawg. If there's some asses to kick I am there."

"What about the girls, should we perhaps move them?"

"Move us where?"

Cordelia leaned against the door frame with a smile on her face, though her eyes were narrowed on Angel. The men looked around at each other.

"Er, Cordelia, we have reason to believe that Wolfram and Hart may be behind the attacks on Bethany and -"

"And we're going to go check it out."

Angel quickly jumped in. He didn't want to bring up her dreams or the secret admirer letters just yet. Not until they had some real answers. The others simply nodded. Cordelia tried glaring at all of them, but got nothing more so nodded.

"All right, well we can hang out here while you guys do that."

She turned and headed out, proclaiming to Bethany that they were having a girls' day before they could argue. With shrugs the guys decided to head out and get back before too long.

AA

Lindsey sat in his office going over the Angel file. He'd known that Lilah left the next step up to him, and the problem was, the plans he originally had, he couldn't follow through on. It was his worst nightmare come true. He wasn't able to keep his emotions to his dreams alone. They bled over and even if he didn't want to, it was bleeding over. It was only one more nail in the coffin. It was another piece of proof that he had been right. Should Cordelia find out it was him, it was all over. Part of him realized that would be for the best. There was no way this could work. They couldn't keep personal and professional separate. His delay in taking a step against Angel and his team was proof of that. It was in that frustration that his door was kicked open and he looked up to find Angel glaring at him. For a moment, there was fear. He'd found out and he wanted him to leave Cordy alone. He wasn't sure he could do it. He showed nothing of course. It was one of the reasons he did so well here. He was very good at not showing the fear. At all.

Glancing at his secretary, frantic behind the trio, he raised a hand to wave her off before he stood up and fixed his tie.

"Angel, if you had let me know you were coming I'd have had something prepared for you. Gentleman, anything I can get you? Please, come in."

He gave a gracious smile and gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. Angel moved first, of course. The other two flanking just behind him as their boss put hands on the desk and leaned forward.

"Seems we have a problem. So we'll make this short, and sweet. What do you want with her?"

Again he felt ice go down his back, but he wouldn't give anything away. He knew better.

"I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. You might have to be a bit more specific."

Angel growled, but Wesley stepped forward.

"Bethany, the young telekinetic? You hired men to attack her."

He felt his shoulders relax as he sat back down and leaned back.

"I'm afraid you have the wrong lawyer."

"Yeah, who else you got around here messing with us?"

Lindsey stared at the young man and tilted his head.

"I'm sorry, I wasn't aware you had a young telekinetic join your team."

"She's. Not."

Angel bit off. Lindsey smiled.

"Then perhaps it's not meant to be any of your business what the firm wants with her. If, as you say, we are involved."

"Oh you're involved all right. This is your only warning, MacDonald. You send anyone else after her, and I'll be back."

Lindsey shrugged.

"I'll pass the word on."

Angel smiled.

"You do that."

He turned to leave and the other two followed. In the hall Wesley frowned.

"Do you really think he doesn't know?"

"If he doesn't someone does."

"What about Lilah?"

Angel frowned and looked at Wesley, then they took off for the elevators.

Lindsey grabbed the phone and called Gavin. Bethany was indeed Lilah's project but they were sure it was under control as Lilah was on her way to retrieve her now. He hung up and frowned. If Angel was involved, and everyone but Cordelia was there, there was a good possibility that Lilah was about to attack when Cordelia had no help. He picked up his cell phone and made a call.

AA

Cordelia and Bethany were sitting in front of the television with popcorn and diet sodas. Cordelia was actually enjoying having someone there to watch her 'girly' movies with. She had to blackmail the guys into watching them. Everything seemed peaceful, until the power cut out. Cordelia was up in an instant and grabbed Bethany's arm.

"Quick! Follow me!"

They barely made it two feet when the door burst open and men flooded the room with guns. Little red lights trained on them. Both women froze and Cordelia tried to keep Bethany behind her.

"Don't. Move."

Cordelia looked around. She had no idea which of the men had said it, but figured it really didn't matter as much. Bethany grabbed her arm and a couple of the men went flying backwards. Cordelia winced and reached for her hand.

"Bethany, calm down. We're still outnumbered here."

Lilah stepped forward with a smile.

"Wow, something actually semi intelligent from you. That's a shock."

Cordelia smirked.

"And wow, a mega bitch power suit reject from the 80's. Shocker."

"Give us the girl, and no one gets hurt, Ms. Chase."

"I don't think so."

Lilah shrugged.

"I was sort of hoping this was going to go the hard way. You heard her boys. Take them alive."

AA

Angel and Wesley were arguing about Lilah and Lindsey as well as who might be after Bethany possibly not being the same person as who was sending the letters to Cordelia. As they headed back inside they froze. Angel growled and Wesley's eyes widened.

"Gun powder."

Angel could still smell it and immediately all three ran inside and looked around. The lights had been restored and the popcorn spilled, as well as the soda. Sticky on the floor there were boot prints and the television was nothing but static as the movie had ended. Gunn had his weapon out and Angel went towards the kitchen and sewer access to see if they had gotten away while Wesley went for the office. Gunn turned off the television and looked around. He found where a couple of bullets had hit and was hoping those were the only ones fired. He saw no blood and was pretty sure Angel would have noticed if there was any. As he turned back towards the front door he lifted his small sword and glared. A man, suit and tie and looking way too men in black for his comfort level stood unmoving.

Wesley came out of the office as Angel headed back in.

"I don't see anything taken or destroyed."

"They didn't leave by tunnel and. . . who are you?"

Angel nearly growled at the man at the door. Gunn glanced back quickly but looked at the man in the door again.

"Boy just arrived. Kinda wondering the same thing myself."

The man finally stepped inside and as the threesome staring at him went rigid he put his hands up to show he was unarmed.

"I was sent to give you some information."

"By whom?"

Wesley asked looking the man over. He shook his head and lowered his hands slowly.

"I'm reaching for an envelope. I'm told to deliver it to Angel. Would that be you?"

Angel stepped forward then and kept an eye on the man.

"I'm Angel. I suggest you move real slow because that sword isn't the only weapon to worry about."

He put on his game face and smiled.

"Understand?"

For his part, the man didn't even flinch. He simply took out a thicker envelope and held it out for Angel. For a very long moment, no one moved. Finally Angel stepped forward and grabbed the envelope. Wesley let him look at it while he stared at the man.

"Excuse me, but you have yet to tell us who sent you."

The man shrugged.

"And I'm not going to. That information is not available to you."

Gunn was not happy.

"So what information is available?"

"Your friends were taken by one Lilah Morgan. That is the information on where they are being held and the security information you need in order to get them out. There's also a bus ticket and money for the girl. There's a safe place for her there to learn what she needs to and safe from Wolfram and Hart."

Angel frowned as he looked through the envelope.

"And the doctor's card?"

"That I was told is the string."

"String?"

"You want to rescue your friends and for Wolfram and Hart to leave the young girl alone, her safety, the bus ticket, money, safe house. The string, the catch, is that the woman that works for you goes to see that doctor."

Angel and Wesley looked at each other confused.

"Why?"

When they looked back the man was gone. Gunn wasn't lowering his sword just yet.

"Okay, anyone else find that a little creepy?"

Wesley moved over to look over the information that Angel had in his hand.

"Indeed. It also seems to me a rather obvious trap."

"So, we aren't going."

Angel shook his head looking things over.

"Even if it is a trap, it might be the only way to get Bethany and Cordy out of there."

"So we are going."

"We should perhaps see what we can find out ourselves before we assume their information is false."

"So we aren't going."

Angel frowned, Wesley had a point, and so far they were both ignoring Gunn's commentary, but he was still worried.

"I don't know how much time we have Wes. Or they have. Why a doctor for Cordy?"

"So we are going."

"Hmm, you may have a point. As it's so far, the only information we have."

"Right, so that's a yes on the going."

Angel handed the map over to Wes.

"Take a look, find us a way in and out, Gunn, let's weapon up."

"Finally!"

AA

She was late. Again.

Knowing that Lilah had sent men after her and having learned that she had fought back, wasn't helping him with patience. He'd come early himself, in hopes that she'd show, that she wasn't injured, that she was fine. He couldn't just sit on the bed, he couldn't stay still. It had taken more time than he had liked to find out where they were and getting the information safely to Angel and his crew. To make sure nothing tied back to him. To keep an eye on progress without being caught. As soon as he knew she was out, he'd finished work and headed home. Careful, as always, to keep up the front that it was an ordinary day. That he was not rushing. So now he paced, and waited. His back was turned from the bed when she finally appeared.

Cordelia, for her part, hadn't meant to keep him waiting. Well, she sort of had. She had some bruises, and a rather nice cut along her cheek but otherwise had been fine. After the rescue, they had a discussion, and Bethany had agreed to take the stranger's hand out. Heading off by bus they had said their goodbyes and she had promised to check in when she got there. Of course the, attention was on her. The letters came up and she didn't want to discuss it. Until Gunn mentioned he'd traced the letters to a building owned by Wolfram and Hart. Her mouth had dropped ope and suddenly so many things were clear to her. She didn't even notice Angel asking about the doctor. Waving him off she claimed to be too tired and just wanted to go home. It would have gone on until Wesley stepped in for her She had no idea that they'd decided to follow and keep an eye on her from a distance. Or that Angel already had Dennis on his side. Instead she debated with herself what to do. Finally deciding, she needed answers. Real answers. So she'd finally taken something and fallen asleep.

"I can hear you there."

Lindsey whipped around and found her laying there in the center of the bed, arms crossed on her stomach. He saw the bruise, the healing cut, everything translated here. He was there quickly, sitting next to her. His hand brushed at the bruise and she winced. He thought from pain.

"Are you all right?"

She was stiff, almost formal.

"I'm fine."

"Cordelia. . . "

"I need to ask you something."

He froze. Something was wrong. This was the end, he could feel it. He'd lost her already. Such an idiot.

"Of course."

"Why did you do this?"

"Pardon?"

She sighed and he could have sworn, rolled her eyes.

"The letters, the dream thing. I mean, you said you couldn't say it in the real world, so what did you have to say that you could only say here?"

He closed his eyes and leaned back against the headboard.

"I'm numb. No, I was numb. I'd felt it no big deal to be without a soul, considering I felt so little. I was, hardly human. I could just as easily greet you with a smile or watch you killed in front of me. I did my job and that was all. Took pride in it, but, that was it. You, caught my attention. I wasn't sure why, so, I thought if I just saw you, once."

"I'd be out of your system? You'd be just as happy to see me die?"

He shook his head.

"I don't know, but, now. It's too late."

"Too late how, Lindsey?"

He didn't notice she'd opened her eyes, or that she used his name.

"I think of you, there's not a moment I don't really. And not in that overly romantic way, but as you've become my conscience. Work is harder, and it' snot just you that I have noticed. I actually, empathize with people. Do you have any idea how impossible that makes my job?"

She sat up then, she had the answer she wanted, and more. She sat next to him and reached for his hand.

"I'm guessing empathy isn't high on the list for lawyers huh?"

"No it's not it's -"

He stopped. Looking down at their joined hands he turned his head slowly towards her. She was staring at him, one of those softer smiles gracing her lips.

"You can see me."

"Yeah, go figure, once I knew who you were, I got control. Ta da!"

He couldn't say anything. Just stared then closed his eyes slowly and went to pull his hand away. She stopped him and his eyes opened again. Her smile did slip from her face and she looked at him.

"You need to answer one question though."

Lindsey nodded dumbly.

"There were things you wouldn't tell me here, but, did you l lie to me? Even once, about anything?"

He stopped then sighed.

"Yes, once."

"When?"

"I didn't write the song years ago. I wrote it, after I met you."

She blinked.

"Is that it?"

He tried for a smile.

"That's it. You already yelled at me for the really bad romantic letters, I wasn't about to admit I'd written a song about you before I even knew you."

She slapped his arm and grinned.

"Then I proved you wrong again."

"How so?"

"I'm still here."

He waited a beat, almost sure she'd leave now. Leave and tell Angel that he'd been seducing her under false pretenses, or worse. Instead she leaned forward and kissed him quickly. With a long held breath finally let out he raised a hand to her face.

"Yes you are."