I choose to start this story now...
Part 2
Night fell and dawn found the 4 still researching until they were interrupted.
"Well, isn't this a nifty looking place!" the voice exclaimed as the body entered the hotel.
Angel and Cordelia groaned.
"Can we help you?" Gunn asked.
"Buffy sent me. Told me she couldn't use me but that you could. Glad to be away from the chit. She could whine for her country you know. 'Ullo Gran'dad," Spike said to Angel as he moved past the young man.
"You're here to help?" Angel asked, incredulous.
"Well, Red's a cutie isn't she? If I still had m' bite she'd be a vampire by now but," Spike shrugged and squashed out his cigarette.
"Spike?" a sleepy voice asked.
"Here pet. Are you alright? Why didn't you tell me what was wrong?"
"You couldn't have done anything," Willow yawned as she descended the stairs rubbing her eyes. "The guy was human. Gave him a scare this afternoon though."
"Good for you love."
She smiled weakly at him.
"This guy's a vampire?" Gunn asked.
"He's neutered," Willow dismissed and giggled when Spike looked offended.
"Only as far as humans are concerned. I can still hurt demons."
"And he's very scary," Willow said solemnly.
Spike gave her a look, which made her giggle.
"I'm sorry Spike... knowing you can't hurt me just makes you cute!"
"Bloody women," Spike grumbled as he sat heavily in a chair.
Willow chuckled and reached for some books, while the others pretended they hadn't been napping at their desks. Willow worked quietly, sitting beside Spike.
"Willow?"
Willow looked toward the voice. "What do you want Lindsey?"
"Is this guy a demon pet?"
"No Spike. Angel sit down," Willow said, laying a firm hand on the dark vampires chest and pushing him toward a chair.
"They're planning their attack. Demons, humans, whatever they can get. They'll come here."
"When?"
"I don't know. It's Lilah and Holland's operation."
"Why do you keep giving me this information? There's nowhere for me to go unless it's back to Sunnydale. What's in this for you?"
"You're innocent and they shouldn't have come after you. Wolfram and Hart probably aren't any worse than what you've faced in the past..."
"Darn tootin'," Willow interrupted.
"But their connections are far reaching," Lindsey smiled. "It's too late for some of us but once they get their claws into you there's no way out."
Willow though about Lindsey's final comments as she moved through the remainder of the day, through the night and into the next day, while she shopped and lunched with Cordelia, researched and taunted Spike and filled Angel in on all the Sunnydale news. She was on her way up to her room for her laptop when the phone started to ring. She ran across the office so Cordelia and the others meeting wouldn't be interrupted.
"Angel Investigations. We help the helpless."
"Willow?"
"Yes?"
"They're on their way. You need to get out of there."
"Lindsey?" Willow looked at the dead phone in her hand. "ANGEL! They're on their way."
"How do you know?"
"Lindsey just phoned."
They crowded round her as the doors burst open and 20 demons rushed in.
Angel grabbed Willow and Spike and pulled them into his office. "Take her to this address," he said to Spike, shoving a piece of paper into his childe's hand.
"But Angel," Willow protested.
"Go Willow!" Angel pushed her into the sewer entrance in his office, toward Spike who pulled her after him as quickly as she could move. "Up this ladder pet. Door 15 on the third floor. It's Lindsey's house."
"How can we be sure he won't just hand me over?"
"We don't but I think he's more afraid of Angel than he is of the senior partners." He kissed Willows cheek. "I'll be back for you when it's safe-r."
He watched her quickly climb the ladder into the basement before he returned to the hotel to join the fight.
Willow moved slowly, cautiously. She got into the lift and waited impatiently for it to reach the third floor. Moving more quickly she hurried down this corridor looking for door 15. She found it and knocked more loudly than she intended to.
He opened the door then his mouth, which Willow covered with her hand. In barely a whisper Willow asked, "Are you alone?" He nodded, he indicated with his hand that she should come in.
"I... I anticipated that Angel would bring you here so I got some things that might help you... There's some hair dye and coloured contact lenses... I don't want you to feel like a captive and you can at least move in front of the windows..."
"Thank you," she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes.
"Hey..." he pulled her into a hug not knowing what else to do. "Have you eaten? I was thinking of getting some pizza?" She nodded against his chest. "Choose from the menu," he said, handing her the paper menu," and have seat. I'll go and get you a blanket." He knew enough about shock to know she was suffering it. When he came back she pointed at something on the menu and he placed the order.
Lindsey sat on the sofa beside a curled up Willow. She moved closer as he put the blanket over her. "I had no where else to go Lindsey. They won't look for me here, at least not before I can get back to Angels," she whispered.
They were silent throughout the pizza, and the late night movies.
As one movie finished Lindsey realised his fingers were gently combing through Willow's hair. "You're probably pretending I'm Angel," he whispered, thinking she was asleep.
Willow blinked and looked up at Lindsey. "No. I don't snuggle Angel."
"You two seem pretty chummy."
"We've known each other for... 5 years now. I think we're allowed chummy," Willow smiled. "He's my best friends ex-boyfriend and a vampire. Dating a werewolf was enough thank you. Are you jealous Lindsey?" she asked sleepily.
"Me? Jealous of Angel?" he scoffed. "Yeah a little," he confessed under Willow's steady gaze. "He makes it look easy. I can't claim the restoration of a soul as the reason for my change of heart. I can't even explain it myself."
"Why do you need an explanation for wanting to do good?"
He shrugged. "It doesn't matter anyway. The senior partners won't let me leave now anyway."
Willow kissed his cheek. "Is your soul and your own peace of mind worth the risk of leaving Wolfram and Hart?"
"Sleep. You've had a busy day," he mumbled.
**
"Vanished!" Lilah announced to the office as she slapped a file down on Holland's desk. "We know she was at the hotel when they got there but they got her out and we don't know where."
Lindsey couldn't believe they had no idea where she was. "I warned you not to underestimate them and now what are you going to tell the senior partners?"
Lilah and Holland looked at each other then at Lindsey.
"No. I lost a hand to him. It's time for the two of you to succeed instead of basking in my glory," he grinned. "Anyway, my caseload is large enough as it is." He stood up and walked out of the office.
Lindsey came home to find Willow asleep on the sofa, bathed in the last of the daylight. He sat in the armchair and just watched her for a while. She looked so much younger while she slept.
Willow stretched. Lindsey smiled as she opened her eyes. "Have you been sitting there long?"
"About 5 minutes. You looked so peaceful, I didn't want to wake you."
"Oh."
"I was just about to order some dinner."
"You don't ever cook?"
Lindsey shrugged. "I work late a lot. I find it's easier to order in than try to find the energy to cook."
"Oh," Willow said again.
"Is Chinese ok?"
"Sure is," Willow smiled.
"I bought you something on the way home today by the way."
"Oh?"
"I thought you might like something clean to wear... I uh, guessed your size. I hope I guessed right."
He handed the bag to her. She looked in then looked at him. "There's no underwear in here is there cause the thought's nice but a bit weird?"
Lindsey chuckled. "No. I didn't think you'd want me pawing through the women's underwear..."
"Not that I think you'd choose badly or anything but this is gorgeous Lindsey," she exclaimed holding up the pale green sundress. "And it's the right size. Thank you," Willow grinned and hugged him.
Lindsey blushed. "I wasn't really sure..."
"Ooo... this is so cute!" she giggled pulling out the t-shirt yellow t-shirt with an anime image on it, then she pulled out the jeans. "You are a lifesaver Lindsey! Thank you. Waitaminute! Is this a Calvin Klein label I see on these jeans?"
"Yes," Lindsey squeaked.
"You know what? I'm not going to ask. I'm just going to be extremely grateful for a thoughtful man who is letting me hideout in his house, which is you by the way Lindsey."
He smiled. "I hoped so. What do you want for dinner?" Willow rattled off a short list of food, most of which Lindsey told her with a smile, he was ordering for himself anyway.
Willow fell asleep with her head on his shoulder during the late movie. As he stood to pick her up and carry her to bed she woke up and told him she'd be ok to get herself into bed but that she really didn't mind sleeping on the sofa. It was his house after all.
"Willow, I leave for work early and I'll wake you. Besides, what sort of host would I be if I made a beautiful woman sleep on my sofa?"
"I don't know. Who's the beautiful woman?" Willow asked, genuinely confused.
"Nevermind. You go and sleep." Lindsey wondered at her innocence as he made his bed on the sofa and stripped down to his boxers.
