Pt. 10
~ooAIoo~
Giles looked up from the book he was reading as the room began to shake. They had been having small tremors the last three days and Giles had the uneasy feeling it was just a prelude to the next drop...Level 5. Once the shaking had stopped, Giles grabbed the book containing the ritual and hurried from the room. He had only gone a few steps outside the library door when he ran into Angel. Giles motioned the vampire back to the library, shutting the door once Angel had entered the room. Giles hurried to the table and set the book down, opening it up to a specific page. Angel stood across the table from Giles and waited for the watcher to begin. He had something urgent to discuss if his actions were any indication. Angel was pretty sure he could guess what it was.
"The tremors are occuring more often and they're getting stronger."
Angel nodded.
"I think the time for waiting is over. We must open the portal soon or..." Giles left the sentence hanging.
Angel sat down in the chair opposite Giles, taking a moment to rub his neck to try to release some of the knots that had been there for... Angel didn't even want to think about how long. The stress was weighing them all down. "Have you talked with the doc?" asked Angel.
Giles huffed. "Yes, but a lot of good that did me. He hasn't even seen Lindsey since he left the infirmary. He's getting all his information from Spike and Lorne. They're the only ones that have even talked with Lindsey. He hasn't come out of his room once."
"Can't blame him," replied Angel. "He's dealing with a lot."
"While I sympathize," Giles said, "I think we'll all have a lot more to deal with if we don't open the portal soon."
Angel sighed. "I'll talk to him."
~ooAIoo~
"So what do you think it's going to be like?" Harmony asked, nestled in the bed next to Gunn. She was scared. Sure she was evil but hell was - hell. It punished everyone who landed there. It didn't matter what side you had been on up top. If you landed in hell, for the right or wrong reason - didn't matter, you were fair game.
Gunn gave Harmony a comforting squeeze. "We'll be alright, babe. I won't let anything happen to you."
They had been watching the building every day but Gunn knew Angel well enough to know the occupants wouldn't be making any more outside expeditions and as vampires, he and Harmony, couldn't enter the building without being invited. Angel had won this round. Gunn could only hope they would meet again and he would have the chance to even the score. The room began to shake and Harmony let out a small gasp so Gunn pulled her closer and offered what comfort he could. Truth be told, he was also concerned what would happen when they fell. Glancing out the window, he watched the red glow casting an eerie presence all around.
~ooAIoo~
Angel knocked lightly on the door. He could sense movement on the other side. He heard the lock click and the door opened a few inches. "Come on in."
The vampire was surprised. Lindsey had been the one to open the door and invite him in. Angel ducked quickly inside before the man changed his mind. Looking around the room, Angel didn't see anyone else. Lindsey had dropped down onto the couch and had indicated Angel could take a seat in one of the chairs across the coffee table from him. Angel shut the door and made his way over, continuing to survey the room.
Lindsey gave a small snort of laughter. "Don't worry. Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle-Dum aren't here. You have me all to yourself. Let's talk."
Angel frowned slightly. Taking his seat, Angel observed Lindsey silently for a few moments. "Are you drunk?"
Lindsey smiled. "Don't rat me out to the Med."
"I don't think-"
"I don't care," shouted Lindsey, on his feet in an instant. "Okay? I. Don't. Care." Unsteady on his feet, Lindsey dropped back down on the couch. Leaning his head back, he sighed. "Sorry. Been a bad week."
Angel nodded, adding, "I would've said a bad two years..."
"More like ten years, but whatever." Lindsey crooked an arm across his eyes and released a calming breath. "You going to tell me what you want or make me guess?"
"Giles needs your help."
"Then why isn't Giles here?"
"He's busy trying to get us out of here while you're in here moping, feeling sorry for yourself." Angel knew it was a harsh statement but Lindsey needed someone to rail against and Angel figured he was up for the job. Repressed anger wouldn't do the man any good and probably wouldn't do the rest of them any good either.
"You're trying psychology, really? That's your play?" Lindsey shook his head. "Losing your touch, Angel."
"How about I kick your ass from here to the library?" threatened Angel, growing frustrated with Lindsey's behavoir.
"Now, see that sounds more like Angel. Can't get someone to do what you want - threaten them." Lindsey, getting unsteadily to his feet, smiled at Angel, . He took a clumsy step forward and almost sent himself sprawling across the coffee table. Angel caught him and prevented him from falling. Lindsey pulled from Angel's grasp and fell back onto the couch. "I don't think this is working."
"No kidding," muttered Angel. "How about we take this up first thing tomorrow morning? Meet us in the library." Lindsey saluted Angel and the vampire let out a frustrated sigh. "Come on. Let's go." Angel grabbed Lindsey arm and pulled him back up to a standing position.
"Where?" Lindsey asked, confused. The alcohol running thru his system had clearly muddled all coherent thought.
"To bed."
Lindsey pulled from Angel's grasp. "What? Whoa, sorry, Angel, but you're not my type. First, I like them alive and second, I like them female. You miss out on all counts."
Angel shook his head. "Very funny. You're a real comedian when you're drunk, you know that?" Lindsey snickered and Angel took the opportunity to once again grab his arm. "Come on, before you fall down."
~ooAIoo~
Angel waited ten minutes to make sure Lindsey was truly passed out before he left the apartment. As he turned from closing the door, he faced Spike. The younger vampire smiled cheekily. Angel rolled his eyes, growling, "Do not say a word. Got it?"
"I wasn't going to...but if I was going to say something it'd probably be-"
Angel walked away as Spike continued talking.
~ooAIoo~
The next day, Angel awoke slowly. He normally got up when there was still a red glow in the sky but as he looked towards the window, he could see that the sun had already burned off the red. It was much later than he had intended to sleep. Hurriedly, he dressed and made a quick comb thru his hair. Satisfied he wouldn't scare anyone with his appearance, Angel left to find the others. He had told Lindsey he would meet him in the library at first light. It was obviously well past that. He could only hope that Lindsey, as a result of the alcohol binge, had also slept in or didn't recall their conversation. Almost rushing thru the door of the library, Angel found Giles and Lindsey already at the table. They looked up at his awkward entrance - Giles, surprised; Lindsey, amused.
"Sorry," apologized Angel. "Slept in."
"Quite alright, Angel. I'm sure you needed the rest." Giles motioned to a chair. "Lindsey's been a great help with the translation. I think we've almost got it."
"Already?"
Giles cleared his throat. "We've been at it for hours, Angel. It's the middle of the afternoon."
Surprise lit Angel's face. How the hell did I sleep so long? Shaking that thought away, he asked, "How much longer?"
"Well, if we can just decipher this last paragraph, we should have it."
"Can I help?"
"How's your translating skills?" asked Giles, seriously.
"I should probably check on the others." Angel excused himself and exited the library.
Giles and Lindsey shared a smile as they watched him leave, but quickly turned their attention back to the book.
~ooAIoo~
"You know, this is really getting old," complained Spike, as he ducked away from the ceiling tile that had been shaken loose. Another round of tremors had hit and they were all doing their best to find a safe haven until it had passed. This one seemed to linger a little longer and Spike was wondering if maybe their time was up. He pretended to be unaffected by the idea of dropping into hell but it was the last place he wanted to be. He knew that just because he now had a soul, it didn't erase the evil he had done. There wasn't a do-over that allowed him a clean slate. None of them, except maybe the doc, qualified as an innocent. They had all, at some point, participated or instigated some form of evil
"Damnit," cursed Faith as a piece of furniture collided with her shin. She shoved the offending item away and it scooted clear across the room. She caught Spike's smirk and growled, "It hurt. Stupid-"
The shaking quit as quickly as it had started. They each tentatively poked their head out from under the doorways they had taken refuge in. Spike and Faith spotted Connor and Lorne stumbling out of the kitchen. The two carefully made their way thru the new pile of debris that littered the floor until they were in the same area as Spike and Faith.
"Well, that was fun. Anyone for an encore?"
"Careful what you say, green jeans. You just may get it."
Lorne raised his hands in surrender. "No, I've had my fill of rock and roll for the day. Is everyone alright?"
Faith shrugged. "Guess we should check. I'll take the library. I think Giles, Angel and Lindsey were there."
"I'll go with."
"Chicken," muttered Spike.
Connor watched perplexed. "What was that about?"
Spike threw his arm over Connor's shoulder, surprised when the young man didn't shrug it off. "Well, it's like this, Faith and Lorne get a little uncomfortable around the doc's girl."
"Eve? Why?"
"For Lorne, it's about the whole Black Thorn business - shooting Lindsey, etcetera, etcetera."
"And Faith? What's her problem with Eve?"
"That's a little less clear but I think it's more Eve has a problem with Faith."
Connor stopped, turning to look directly at Spike. "Eve doesn't really even know Faith. Why would she have a problem-"
"Ahh, to be so young again," laughed Spike. When Connor refused to budge and continued to glare at him, Spike relented. "That also comes down to Lindsey."
Connor was puzzled and his confusion showed.
"Eve still has feelings for Lindsey."
"Figured that but what's Faith got to do-"
Spike interupted, enjoying the conversation a little too much, "Faith's got-"
"No way," interupted Connor. "Faith and Lindsey?"
"Shhh. Keep your voice down," warned Spike.
Connor looked around to make sure they were still alone. "Why?" he almost whispered.
Spike motioned him closer. "They don't know it yet."
Connor pulled back, still confused. "Who doesn't know what?"
"What are you two doing?"
Spike and Connor both jumped at the sound of Angel's voice.
Spike recovered first. "We were just going to check on the doc and Eve."
"I just came from there. They're both fine."
"Great," Connor replied a little too enthusiastically.
Angel frowned, glancing between the two. Shaking his head, he walked off.
"Where you headed?" asked Connor, hurrying to catch up.
"Library. Want to check on Giles and Lindsey."
"Lorne and Faith already went to check," offered Spike, following behind Angel and Connor as they headed towards the library.
~ooAIoo~
Angel found Lorne and Faith standing just outside the library door trying to listen to the conversation taking place inside the room. There was an apparent disagreement going on as raised voices could be heard intermittently. Angel stopped beside Lorne. "What's wrong?" he quietly asked.
Lorne startled and let out a small yell. Giles and Lindsey, in unison, looked towards the door. Both men appeared angry but Angel wasn't sure if it was at each other or the eavesdroppers or perhaps both. Lindsey turned back to Giles and said something too soft for Angel to hear. Giles reluctantly nodded his agreement.
"Something wrong, Giles?" Angel was concerned. Giles might have given into Lindsey but it was obvious he wasn't happy about it.
Giles stole a quick glance at Lindsey, then shook his head. "No, everything is fine. In fact," continued Giles, "we've finished the translation. It's time to open the portal."
Everyone perked up at that proclamation. "That's good news, right?" hedged Angel as he could see Giles' reservations.
"Great actually," answered Lindsey. "Now we can get the hell out of here."
"In the morning," Giles added.
"Why wait?" Spike was anxious to get back to the land of the living.
"There's not-" Lindsey began.
"Tomorrow morning," interupted Giles.
"And if another tremor hits?" questioned Faith. "Why wait, Giles?"
Giles rounded on Faith, causing the slayer to take a step back. In all the time she had known Giles, he had never seemed so angry. Seeing Faith's reaction, Giles instantly collected himself. "I'm sorry. It's been a long day and I for one could use some rest. I want to be clear-headed when we open the portal."
Angel noticed the meaningful look Giles threw Lindsey's direction but refrained from saying anything. He'd get one of them alone and find out what the problem was. Angel was anxious to leave this place too and had been slightly disappointed with Giles' insistence that they wait until tomorrow. The tremors were coming more often and with more force each time. Waiting didn't seem like a good idea but Giles had to have a reason.
~ooAIoo~
The interaction between Lindsey and Giles bothered Lorne but he couldn't put his finger on why. He wished he could just ask one of them to sing for him but he knew that wasn't likely to happen - especially Lindsey. Still, he needed to settle the uneasiness that was trying to drown him since witnessing the argument between the two. Lorne was about to knock on Lindsey's apartment door when he heard the first strains of a guitar. Shock was his first emotion - he hadn't realized Lindsey had a guitar.
Lorne closed his eyes so he could absorb every note. It had been years since he had heard any music. His last day on earth had been the last time he had heard music. As the notes continued to wrap around him, melancholy rose to the surface. He missed his club and the times he had there. Caritas. That had been his dream. He longed for those times to come again.
The music stopped but only for a moment. It started again and with it came a voice Lorne hadn't realized he'd missed so much. The familiar husky voice of one Lindsey McDonald.
"So this is it
I say goodbye
To this chapter of my ever changing life
And there's mistakes
The path is long
And I'm sure I'll answer for them when I'm gone
So when the day comes and
The sun won't touch my face
Tell the ones who cared enough
That I finally left this place
That's been so cold
Look at my face
All the stories it will tell I can't erase
The road is long
Just one more song
A little something to remind you when I'm gone
When I'm gone
The road to hell
Along the way
Is paved with good intentions so they say
And some believe
That no good deed
Goes unpunished in the end or so it seems
So when the day comes and
The sun won't touch my face
Tell the ones who care enough
That I finally left this place
That's been so cold
Look at my face
All the stories it will tell I can't erase
The road is long
Just one more song
A little something to remind you when I'm gone
When I'm gone
So this is it
I say goodbye
To this chapter of my ever-changing life
And there's mistakes
The path was long
And I'm sure I'll answer for them when I'm gone
When I'm gone."
The music died away. Lorne turned quickly from the door and hurried down the hallway to his own room. After closing the door, Lorne leaned his back against it, looking at his shaking hands. The haunting melody had sent chills thru him. He had never cursed his gift before, but the future he had glimpsed for Lindsey... He needed to talk to Angel - after he had a drink to calm his nerves.
~ooAIoo~
*NOTE: the song above is "Something to Remind You" by STAIND. I love the song and thought it worked perfectly for my story.