Chapter 10: Adam and Eve

Sitting in Monica's diner, Lindsey stared at his coffee and focused on the sun's heat through the window.

"I finally found the perfect dress for Saturday." Monica finished her eggs."It's red with this sashy thing that well - you're going to love it. It's nice to know what real money can buy."

Finally, Lindsey he met her eyes. "This isn't the right place for me."

She glanced around. "Well duh, it's a crappy diner. I've told you a million times you don't belong here." She smiled. "Does this mean I get to pick where we brunch next?"

"Monica," he frowned, "I don't think we should date anymore."

Not sure what he meant, she laughed awkwardly, "Because what, now that things are going well at work, you're too good for me?"

"What you said about destiny, you were right; it can't be forced. I just didn't give it enough time."

"You're not making sense."

He focused on her completely as he explained, "The night I met you, I was looking for something." His tone gentled, "This was close, but I was looking for somewhere else."

"You mean someone else."

When he didn't reply, her face reddened. "I can't believe this. You're crazy, you know that? All that talk about fate and soul mates and you're as shallow as the rest of them - chasing down the newest pair of legs." She glared. "No girl is gonna meet your expectations - not if she's human anyway." gave you a chance Lindsey. Get out of my diner."

Having already left money on the table, he grabbed his coat and walked away.

"Lindsey."

He stopped at the door.

"If there was a God, he wouldn't destine you for happiness."

He looked at her somberly. "I know." Head down, he walked out.

Lilah walked up to him adjusting his bow tie. "You shouldn't be going."

He glanced at her formal attire. "No, you shouldn't be going. It's my case now remember?"

"And what does attending a charity benefit have to do with that?" Looping her arm through his, she walked them to the entrance. "Or is the key to turning Angel evil, you stalking his girl until he kills you?" Smiling, she squeezed his arm. "Because that is something I'd pay to see.

He squeezed back. "Whatever it takes to get the job done."

Smiling at the greeters, they made their way inside the beautiful ballroom.

He made note of the other guests. "A lot of heavy hitters are at this event. That in itself was a reason to check it out."

She watched him scan the room. "Looking for someone?"

He dropped her hand to head into the crowd.

With a frown, she took a glass of champagne from a passing tray. She drank deeply.

Sitting in the hospital chair, Buffy stared at her hands.

"Thinking about the benefit?" Angel sat beside her.

"I should be there." Her tone sounded far away. "It's a big night."

He nudged her leg with a cup.

"I've had too much coffee already."

"It's not coffee." He nudged again until she took the styrofoam cup.

Bringing it to her lips, she picked up the scent. "This is the kind Giles used to drink."

He looked into his own cup. "Still does."

She savored the scent nodding, "He was a good grown up: always knowing the right thing to say or do."

"I'm sure he doesn't feel that way."

Sunny walked in with Vinny and Spike. "Your boy's all changed."

Spike grumbled, "Vamp nose never lies."

They took their seats on the other side of Joyce's bed.

Buffy reached for Vince. "You check in with Lilly?"

Sunny handed him over, "And why would I do that?" Before she could answer, he continued, "If she needed something, she'd call me. She hasn't, so she doesn't."

"Thanks for waiting with me." She glanced at her mom again. "She won't wake for a while they said, but I couldn't be anywhere else." The longer she stared at her mom's bandaged head, the deeper she frowned.

"Love," Spike leaned in. "If you're likin' to worry about fixable things, how 'bout sparing thought for a cooped up vampire. Spot of violence could do you good too." Seeing her start to shake her head, he continued. "I'd even go for a patrol with the poof at this point."

She wavered.

Angel knew Spike wouldn't relent, so he rested his hand on her knee. "We won't go far." He removed his hand and stood.

Looking up at him, she whispered, "thank you."

He bent down and kissed her forehead. "We won't be gone long." He caressed Vinny's head before straightening. He glanced at Spike. "Let's see if we can't get you dead by sunrise."

Nearly bouncing off his seat, Spike followed him out, "Bring it nancy boy."

Buffy held Vinny closer.

Sunny tilted his head. "I can get an update from Lilly, if it helps."

She shook her head. "You were right. I trust she's got it handled."

"This is a disaster!" Lilly scream whispered to Wesley.

"Give me a moment. I'm sure there's a way it could be worse." He watched Lindsey walk through the crowd. "At least none of the kids who knew him are here tonight."

She turned her back on room. "Only because Anne thinks using kids as servers is exploitation." She folded her arms. "Seriously, this is bad. Him showing up tonight of all nights!"

"It's perfect timing from his perspective." Seeing her gape, Wesley turned her around. "Try not to think of him as Anne's stalker ex. Think of him as one of the many wealthy individuals who showed up to give money to your cause."

"I'm going to check on the food." Huffing she walked off.

Wesley looked at the slideshow shining on one of the walls. Pictures of Sanctuary's residents were interspersed with pictures of the facility and staff. The current slide showed Anne surrounded by muddy teens holding a football. The photo was older, taken before he met her. He idly wonder if Lindsey had been there that day-if he'd taken the photo or maybe was cropped out. As the slide changed, Wesley marveled at Anne's strength to have rummaged through her memories to put this together.

Marching forward, Wesley returned to mingling with the guests. He shook hands and smiled widely determined to represent Anne and the shelter well. To his relief, in the large-guest-filled room, he soon lost sight of Mr. McDonald. He was genuinely surprised when the lawyer appeared before him.

With a smile, Lindsey shook his hand. "It's good to see you again."

"I'm sorry, have we met?" Wesley's frown relented. "Ah, the karaoke bar."

Lilah approached them. "Wesley Wyndam-Pryce." Seeing both men's frowns, she smiled. "The firm knows Angel, the firm knows who works for Angel." She turned to Lindsey. "What we don't know is why we're wasting our time."

Lindsey put his hand on the small of her back. She could feel a blade pressing there. He leaned in affectionately dragging the metal edge against her flesh. "Why don't you get us some drinks, hmm?"

She nodded and stepped away.

Lindsey put returned his hand to his pocket. "She's a firecracker."

"Why are you here Lindsey?"

"So you do know who I am."

"You're a part of an organization which stands against everything my boss tries to protect."

"I don't know how she did it." Lindsey scanned the room. "A young woman without influence and here she filled the room with LA's upper crust - all human too which is no small feat." He looked at Wesley. "Oh, I know she's not here. With her mom's surgery today, I wouldn't expect her to be." He smiled at the room. "It's good to see what she's capable of."

"Anne has nothing to do with your firm."

"Can't help but wonder: Angel has saved at least a hundred damsels - some of them even pregnant; what's so special about this one?"

Wesley stared blankly.

"She's not a nobody that's for sure." He looked up at the slideshow. "She has the power to weaken a major player for the end times. That makes Anne and her son extraordinary."

Lilah returned with his scotch.

He raised his glass. "Look after our girl, Mr. Pryce." He walked through the room with Lilah at his side.

"You ripped my dress."

"Could have been your tongue."

"From being in charge of this project, I've gone to being in charge of you." Having picked his pocket, she dropped the razor in his drink. "If you're not on task, then I'm not on task."

Lindsey swirled the fatal concoction. "I've read your notes." He placed the glass on a passing tray. "You've considered everything from resurrecting Darla to old demon hunters."

"One demon hunter."

"Any one of those spells requires considerable resources, and none of them are guarantees." He raised a hand. "Don't get me wrong, they're diabolically brilliant, but Holland favors conservative investments. I pitched him a plan that needs only time, and he decided to save the money."

"Immortal beings can out-wait you."

"I'm lucky, then, that he's in love with a human."

She raised an incredulous brow. "You'd kill Anne Steele?"

"Even worse, I'm going to give her and Angel their happily ever after." He held out his arm and led Lilah outside. "He won't betray the Powers the Be because he hates us. He'll do it because he wants her." Stopping at the bottom of the stairs, he looked at the dark sky. "We let them build a life together and then offer him the chance to make it permanent."

"How does that get us what we want?"

"The story of Job is about one man withstanding Satan's harassment. The story of Adam and Eve, though, is about falling to temptation." He casually placed his hands in his pockets. "Satan separated two pure souls from grace with a simple suggestion." He looked into her eyes. "I may not be the original snake, but his soul doesn't have far to fall."

She stared at him. "And hers?"

"Whether he shares the apple is up to him." He frowned at the sky. "Whether she takes it, that's up to her."