bTitle/b: Speechless
bAuthor:/b Lauren (athena56@bolt.com)
bFeedback:/b If the PTB are willing...and I know they are.
bDistribution:/b Too Precious for Hell... Forbidden Fruit, You want it? It's yours.
bSpoilers:/b "Blind Date" (kinda my alternate universe)
bContent:/b Lindsey/Cordelia
bRating:/b PG-13 to R
bDisclaimer:/b Joss Wheadon and many others own the characters of BtVS (lucky bastards).
But there are a few original minor characters that belong to me.
bSummary:/b While hiding out from Wolfram and Hart, a romance blossoms between Lindsey and
Cordelia. But W and H aren't about to let Lindsey get away so easily. They'll get him,
even if it means involving Cordy. To what extent will Lindsey go
to save the woman he loves?
bNote:/b This is my version of what should have happened if Lindsey didn't go back to W&H.
I've kinda changed a few small things from the actual episode so it would be a better match
for my story.
bStatus:/b INCOMPLETE
bLength:/b As of now, there are 13 parts, plus the Preface and Epilouge but you never
know...my muse might pay me a last minute visit.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Preface::*Our* Home
Rating: PG
Lindsey dragged in the last of the boxes inside the apartment. All of his energy had been
exerted in moving and cleaning out his apartment. He wanted to leave no trace for of his
existence for Wolfram & Hart to be able to follow. He used his feet to push the last box
inside the doorway.
The door started to creak and closed only inches from Lindsey's face.
"Dennis! Let me inside." No response. "I told you. I'm staying here now. I'm not doing - "
The door opened again. "Bad Dennis." Cordy mocked. She turned away in route to the kitchen,
as Lindsey let himself inside and shut the door behind him. He leaned his head against it and
let out a sigh of relief. "It's over." He muttered.
A loud thud came from the kitchen and the sound of a body falling. "Ow."
Lindsey ran to the kitchen to see Cordy sprawled on the kitchen floor, rubbing her ankle. He
leaned down to offer a hand to help her up.
"I'm fine." She said coldly, as batted away his fingers. Lindsey backed up with his hands,
almost to show that he didn't mean anything to want to help her. She stood up and brushed
herself and adjusted her clothes off. "You know, if you didn't leave your shit everywhere,
I wouldn't 've fallen."
"Sorry. I'll move it."
"No matter now. I already fell." She turned towards the fridge, her hair slapping his face.
"Um, ok." Lindsey rubbed his neck as he looked around the apartment. 'My new home.' He thought. 'I guess I did leave my stuff everywhere.' He looked at Cordelia, who pretended to busy herself in the refrigerator.
"So, uh" Lindsey cleared his throat. "Where am I going to be staying?"
"Spare room. Down the hall to the left." Cordy answered, never even looking up. She finally
emerged holding a diet coke in her hand and some carrot sticks.
"Could I get a drink?" He sounded almost helpless.
"Yeah, sure. Why not?" She popped the lid of the can and took a long gulp. "After all, you live
here now." She breezed past him and headed for the couch, that had some more of Lindsey's things
on it. "Jesus Christ! How much stuff do lawyers own?" Lindsey ran over the couch and took the
stuff off, making room for Cordelia to sit down. "Thank you."
Cordy threw herself down on the couch and opened up the latest addition of Cosmo. Not really
paying attention to Lindsey, she opened to the fashion section and munched on some of the carrot
sticks.
Lindsey walked back to the kitchen and fished out his own can of soda. He looked at Cordelia
threw the doorway as he popped the top and took a long swig from the can. He wondered why she
was being so cold to him. Granted, he wouldn't be thrilled to have some evil stranger living in
his apartment. But he tried. He tried to be pleasant and be nice to her but it never came back.
He figured he'd just have to try harder.
He grabbed his soda and swaggered over to the couch and sat down next to Cordelia, who barely
budged when he sat. "So" Lindsey started. "I was wondering "
"Save it. I'm not interested." She shot out. She didn't want to be treated nicely. She wanted
him to leave. She wasn't exactly reeling when she heard that Lindsey was in trouble with Wolfram
& Hart, so what did she care if he got caught. She didn't. All she knew was that Angel used that
"pity power" of his to get her to agree to let Lindsey stay with her. "Bastard." She muttered
under her breath.
"What?" Lindsey asked.
"Oh." Cordy shook her head slightly. "Nothing."
Lindsey's eye wondered around his new home. Nice, somewhat spacious. Pretty cozy. But he told
himself not to get too attached; he'd have to leave soon. At least in a few weeks. It's only
temporary, he kept reminding himself. In a few weeks, he'd be back out on the street, looking
for something new, and exciting.
"Ya know, Cordy," he started. "Since we're living together now, we might as well at least talk
to each other."
Cordy looked up from her magazine and looked at Lindsey. She plastered on a fake smile and with
silicone sincerity, "I'd rather not."
Lindsey threw his hands up in defeat. He wasn't going to argue with her. A few moments of
silence passed, and the awkwardness mounted. The clock in the corner of the room was the only
thing that seemed like it was making any noise in the whole apartment. The breathing from both
people wasn't even heard. Lindsey started drumming his fingers on the couch. Cordy turned her
eyes towards Lindsey's hand. His fingers, continually making annoying pattering noises on the
couch. Over and over again.
"Do you mind?" Cordy asked, with an extremely perturbed tone within her voice.
Lindsey looked down at his hand when he realized what he was doing. "Oh, sorry." He shoved his
hand into the couch. Out of sight, out of mind.
"What's your favorite food?" Lindsey asked, breaking the silence.
"Huh?"
"Just trying to make conversation."
"Stop trying so hard." Cordy never moved her head. She just stared at the pages of anorexic
models wearing the latest DKNY clothes. Lindsey finally got fed up. He knew she wasn't exactly
thrilled to have him there, but she didn't have to be so cold. He was trying to be pleasant and
she wasn't even giving him anything to play off of.
"What's the matter with you?" Lindsey asked, with a hint of disappointment lingering in his
voice.
"What ever do you mean, Lindsey?" She answered sarcastically.
"Why are you acting like this?!"
"Because I don't want you here!" She threw her magazine onto the table and stood right up to
Lindsey and stared into his eyes, fire burning in the back of both pairs. "Don't you get it,
Lindsey? You're one of them and the last thing I want it one of you living in my apartment!"
She waved her finger in front of his face, like a mother reprimanding a child for bad behavior.
Lindsey was taken aback by the answers he had received. Cordy had that way with people. She had
the power to make them speechless with the words that flew form her mouth. Every one of them,
like sharp little daggers of the truth, stabbing you where it really hurt. Lindsey and Cordelia
sat back onto the couch. Lindsey with slow movements but Cordy landed with a thud. She picked up
the Cosmo again and folded her arms over her chest defensively, pretending to read the pages.
Cordy looked at Lindsey from the corner of her eye. He looked upset. She knew he probably didn't
mean to land there. It probably wasn't his idea of an ideal vacation spot either. But just
having him there made Cordy upset. His presence alone was enough to make her nerves reach their
limit. He didn't belong there, no matter how much he meant to be pleasant or not.
"Spaghetti."
"What?" Lindsey had been thinking. The random statement took him by surprise.
"You asked what my favorite food was. It's spaghetti."
A smile appeared across Lindsey's face. "See," he moved over on the couch slowly and placed
his arm around the back of the couch behind Cordelia. "Now we're getting to know each other."
"Oh god." Cordy once again threw down the magazine and stood up from the couch.
"Where you going?" Lindsey asked innocently.
"You not pulling moves on me, Casanova. I'm going to work." She grabbed her purse and her coat
and headed towards the door.
"What time will you be back?" He called after her, hoping for some sort of a response.
"Try like, half past never!" She yelled at him, while opening the door. With a loud slam, Cordy
made her usual dramatic exit, and Lindsey was left still sitting on the couch.
"Well, at least she answered me."
++++++++
Cordy returned to her apartment a few hours later. Angel refused to let her work that day. She
remembered his words exactly.i I gave you those days off, Cordelia. Go and help Lindsey. He
needs us right now. /i Needless to say, she wasn't happy to return to the apartment that
earlier then she had expected to.
The apartment was dimly lit, with some random candles around the room and only soft music
played in the corner from the stereo. "What the hell is this?" Cordy squealed. "Lindsey?
Lindsey!"
Lindsey came out of the kitchen mixing something together in a bowl. "Hey, you're back early."
A smile was beaming across his face.
"What the hell is going on?"
"It's a surprise. I didn't expect you back so soon. I expected you back around never."
"What the hell is going on?" She repeated.
"I'll show you." He grabbed her arm and pulled into the kitchen. He was as giddy as a schoolboy
from the way he was acting. "Surprise!"
Cordy looked to the center of the apartment and saw her table was laid with a white tablecloth.
In the center, two candles were lit and the table was set as nicely as it would be in one of
upscale restaurants that Cordy always wanted to go to. Her jaw dropped to the floor as she saw
the beautiful display before her. On the stove and around it, several pots were cooking or had
just finished. A salad was prepared and set to the side of everything and ready for serving.
"It's a thank you." Lindsey interrupted Cordy's awe. She turned to look at him while he spoke.
The first time she had done that since he came there. "I know it isn't the best to have be come
here and act like I live here. And I know this is no way going to ever make up for what you're
doing. But thank you, for letting me stay here."
Cordy smiled. He was genuinely trying to be nice to her. "Your welcome." She turned around again
for the setting around her to set in again. "So, chef Boyardee, what'cha cook?"
"Well, let's find out." Lindsey held out Cordy's chair for her to sit at the table. After she
was pushed in, he wandered over to the counter and picked up two plates, laying one in front of
his spot and another in front of Cordy. "Spaghetti."
"Mmmmm." Cordy sucked in all the air around her, wanted to savor the aroma of the food. "Smells
good."
"Well, you don't live as a bachelor for awhile without learning a thing or two about cooking."
Lindsey took his place across from Cordelia and sprinkled a little cheese on his noodles. He
was about ready to start eating, but he looked at Cordy who was just staring at her food.
"What's the matter?" He asked. "Something wrong? You're not eating."
"No, I'm alright. I just can't eat like this."
Lindsey looked at her, kind of puzzled by her response. "Like what?"
Cordy smiled. "I'll make a deal with you." She leaned a little closer to the center and Lindsey
and followed her lead. "If you turn on some lights and loose the corny music, I'll eat." She
leaned back and folded her arms in front of her chest as a triumphant smile appeared across her
face.
Lindsey smiled back, agreeing with her triumphant nature. "Deal."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The morning sun crept into the offices of Angel Investigations. Angel had woken hours ago,
getting ready for another day to try to make amends for his sins against humanity.
A nauseating feeling entered Angel's stomach. It had been coming and going for a while now. Ever
since he agreed to let Lindsey stay with Cordelia. The feeling was one of caution. That
something wasn't right with world. Maybe he shouldn't have taken Lindsey's seek for redemption
at face value. He couldn't be trusted. He *shouldn't* be trusted. The jingling of the front
door, signaling that someone had entered the office, interrupted his train of thought.
"Cordelia," Angel started. He started to turn towards the entrance. "I told you -" Angel's words
were lost, and trailed off into the place where words go when they are forgotten.
"Hello, Angel." Holland smiled his usual devilish smirk. His voice was calm and cool. Holland
knew what he wanted, and he knew that being there he was in danger. But he never showed fear.
Never let the enemy see your weakness.
Angel's eyes flickered with the deep inner fire in his soul. The person before him was
responsible for more lives then anyone at Wolfram and Hart. Responsible for people like
Lindsey McDonald that roamed along the earth. "What are you doing here?" Angel said in a lower
tone, more menacing tone then usual.
"You haven't seen one of lawyers have you? Brown hair, blue eyes, about yey high. Answers to
the name of...Lindsey McDonald." The smirk pursed between his tight lips.
"Get out." Angel growled.
"It was just an honest question." Honest was rarely a word that Holland spoke and meant it.
"You haven't?"
"Get out!" Angel walked towards Holland. His arm was extended out and his hand aiming for
Holland's neck.
Holland took a short step backward towards the clear glass doors, allowing himself to bathed in
sunlight from the warm Los Angeles morning. Angel's hand was too late. His hand went a few
inches into the light before starting to smoke and a small fire spread across his hand. He
drew back in pain, shaking his hand wildly in a desperate attempt to put out the fire and
blowing on it, as if it would have some effect in helping to heal it.
"Tsk-tsk, Angel. That could all have been avoided if you just had answered me." Holland turned
toward the exit, pushing the door open just enough to put his leg outside. "We wouldn't want
anything bad to happen, now would we? Because something will if Wolfram and Hart isn't able to
get back it's little sheep that's disappeared from the flock."
"Don't you know that threats aren't the best way to get what you want?" Angel clutched his hand,
which was already red and missing the first few layers of skin.
Holland's grin grew wider across his face. "We'll see." He pushed his body outside onto the
noisy street. He inhaled a long full of air and sighed, letting it all out again. "Isn't it a
lovely day?" With his last comment, Holland disappeared out of view of the door.
bAuthor:/b Lauren (athena56@bolt.com)
bFeedback:/b If the PTB are willing...and I know they are.
bDistribution:/b Too Precious for Hell... Forbidden Fruit, You want it? It's yours.
bSpoilers:/b "Blind Date" (kinda my alternate universe)
bContent:/b Lindsey/Cordelia
bRating:/b PG-13 to R
bDisclaimer:/b Joss Wheadon and many others own the characters of BtVS (lucky bastards).
But there are a few original minor characters that belong to me.
bSummary:/b While hiding out from Wolfram and Hart, a romance blossoms between Lindsey and
Cordelia. But W and H aren't about to let Lindsey get away so easily. They'll get him,
even if it means involving Cordy. To what extent will Lindsey go
to save the woman he loves?
bNote:/b This is my version of what should have happened if Lindsey didn't go back to W&H.
I've kinda changed a few small things from the actual episode so it would be a better match
for my story.
bStatus:/b INCOMPLETE
bLength:/b As of now, there are 13 parts, plus the Preface and Epilouge but you never
know...my muse might pay me a last minute visit.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Preface::*Our* Home
Rating: PG
Lindsey dragged in the last of the boxes inside the apartment. All of his energy had been
exerted in moving and cleaning out his apartment. He wanted to leave no trace for of his
existence for Wolfram & Hart to be able to follow. He used his feet to push the last box
inside the doorway.
The door started to creak and closed only inches from Lindsey's face.
"Dennis! Let me inside." No response. "I told you. I'm staying here now. I'm not doing - "
The door opened again. "Bad Dennis." Cordy mocked. She turned away in route to the kitchen,
as Lindsey let himself inside and shut the door behind him. He leaned his head against it and
let out a sigh of relief. "It's over." He muttered.
A loud thud came from the kitchen and the sound of a body falling. "Ow."
Lindsey ran to the kitchen to see Cordy sprawled on the kitchen floor, rubbing her ankle. He
leaned down to offer a hand to help her up.
"I'm fine." She said coldly, as batted away his fingers. Lindsey backed up with his hands,
almost to show that he didn't mean anything to want to help her. She stood up and brushed
herself and adjusted her clothes off. "You know, if you didn't leave your shit everywhere,
I wouldn't 've fallen."
"Sorry. I'll move it."
"No matter now. I already fell." She turned towards the fridge, her hair slapping his face.
"Um, ok." Lindsey rubbed his neck as he looked around the apartment. 'My new home.' He thought. 'I guess I did leave my stuff everywhere.' He looked at Cordelia, who pretended to busy herself in the refrigerator.
"So, uh" Lindsey cleared his throat. "Where am I going to be staying?"
"Spare room. Down the hall to the left." Cordy answered, never even looking up. She finally
emerged holding a diet coke in her hand and some carrot sticks.
"Could I get a drink?" He sounded almost helpless.
"Yeah, sure. Why not?" She popped the lid of the can and took a long gulp. "After all, you live
here now." She breezed past him and headed for the couch, that had some more of Lindsey's things
on it. "Jesus Christ! How much stuff do lawyers own?" Lindsey ran over the couch and took the
stuff off, making room for Cordelia to sit down. "Thank you."
Cordy threw herself down on the couch and opened up the latest addition of Cosmo. Not really
paying attention to Lindsey, she opened to the fashion section and munched on some of the carrot
sticks.
Lindsey walked back to the kitchen and fished out his own can of soda. He looked at Cordelia
threw the doorway as he popped the top and took a long swig from the can. He wondered why she
was being so cold to him. Granted, he wouldn't be thrilled to have some evil stranger living in
his apartment. But he tried. He tried to be pleasant and be nice to her but it never came back.
He figured he'd just have to try harder.
He grabbed his soda and swaggered over to the couch and sat down next to Cordelia, who barely
budged when he sat. "So" Lindsey started. "I was wondering "
"Save it. I'm not interested." She shot out. She didn't want to be treated nicely. She wanted
him to leave. She wasn't exactly reeling when she heard that Lindsey was in trouble with Wolfram
& Hart, so what did she care if he got caught. She didn't. All she knew was that Angel used that
"pity power" of his to get her to agree to let Lindsey stay with her. "Bastard." She muttered
under her breath.
"What?" Lindsey asked.
"Oh." Cordy shook her head slightly. "Nothing."
Lindsey's eye wondered around his new home. Nice, somewhat spacious. Pretty cozy. But he told
himself not to get too attached; he'd have to leave soon. At least in a few weeks. It's only
temporary, he kept reminding himself. In a few weeks, he'd be back out on the street, looking
for something new, and exciting.
"Ya know, Cordy," he started. "Since we're living together now, we might as well at least talk
to each other."
Cordy looked up from her magazine and looked at Lindsey. She plastered on a fake smile and with
silicone sincerity, "I'd rather not."
Lindsey threw his hands up in defeat. He wasn't going to argue with her. A few moments of
silence passed, and the awkwardness mounted. The clock in the corner of the room was the only
thing that seemed like it was making any noise in the whole apartment. The breathing from both
people wasn't even heard. Lindsey started drumming his fingers on the couch. Cordy turned her
eyes towards Lindsey's hand. His fingers, continually making annoying pattering noises on the
couch. Over and over again.
"Do you mind?" Cordy asked, with an extremely perturbed tone within her voice.
Lindsey looked down at his hand when he realized what he was doing. "Oh, sorry." He shoved his
hand into the couch. Out of sight, out of mind.
"What's your favorite food?" Lindsey asked, breaking the silence.
"Huh?"
"Just trying to make conversation."
"Stop trying so hard." Cordy never moved her head. She just stared at the pages of anorexic
models wearing the latest DKNY clothes. Lindsey finally got fed up. He knew she wasn't exactly
thrilled to have him there, but she didn't have to be so cold. He was trying to be pleasant and
she wasn't even giving him anything to play off of.
"What's the matter with you?" Lindsey asked, with a hint of disappointment lingering in his
voice.
"What ever do you mean, Lindsey?" She answered sarcastically.
"Why are you acting like this?!"
"Because I don't want you here!" She threw her magazine onto the table and stood right up to
Lindsey and stared into his eyes, fire burning in the back of both pairs. "Don't you get it,
Lindsey? You're one of them and the last thing I want it one of you living in my apartment!"
She waved her finger in front of his face, like a mother reprimanding a child for bad behavior.
Lindsey was taken aback by the answers he had received. Cordy had that way with people. She had
the power to make them speechless with the words that flew form her mouth. Every one of them,
like sharp little daggers of the truth, stabbing you where it really hurt. Lindsey and Cordelia
sat back onto the couch. Lindsey with slow movements but Cordy landed with a thud. She picked up
the Cosmo again and folded her arms over her chest defensively, pretending to read the pages.
Cordy looked at Lindsey from the corner of her eye. He looked upset. She knew he probably didn't
mean to land there. It probably wasn't his idea of an ideal vacation spot either. But just
having him there made Cordy upset. His presence alone was enough to make her nerves reach their
limit. He didn't belong there, no matter how much he meant to be pleasant or not.
"Spaghetti."
"What?" Lindsey had been thinking. The random statement took him by surprise.
"You asked what my favorite food was. It's spaghetti."
A smile appeared across Lindsey's face. "See," he moved over on the couch slowly and placed
his arm around the back of the couch behind Cordelia. "Now we're getting to know each other."
"Oh god." Cordy once again threw down the magazine and stood up from the couch.
"Where you going?" Lindsey asked innocently.
"You not pulling moves on me, Casanova. I'm going to work." She grabbed her purse and her coat
and headed towards the door.
"What time will you be back?" He called after her, hoping for some sort of a response.
"Try like, half past never!" She yelled at him, while opening the door. With a loud slam, Cordy
made her usual dramatic exit, and Lindsey was left still sitting on the couch.
"Well, at least she answered me."
++++++++
Cordy returned to her apartment a few hours later. Angel refused to let her work that day. She
remembered his words exactly.i I gave you those days off, Cordelia. Go and help Lindsey. He
needs us right now. /i Needless to say, she wasn't happy to return to the apartment that
earlier then she had expected to.
The apartment was dimly lit, with some random candles around the room and only soft music
played in the corner from the stereo. "What the hell is this?" Cordy squealed. "Lindsey?
Lindsey!"
Lindsey came out of the kitchen mixing something together in a bowl. "Hey, you're back early."
A smile was beaming across his face.
"What the hell is going on?"
"It's a surprise. I didn't expect you back so soon. I expected you back around never."
"What the hell is going on?" She repeated.
"I'll show you." He grabbed her arm and pulled into the kitchen. He was as giddy as a schoolboy
from the way he was acting. "Surprise!"
Cordy looked to the center of the apartment and saw her table was laid with a white tablecloth.
In the center, two candles were lit and the table was set as nicely as it would be in one of
upscale restaurants that Cordy always wanted to go to. Her jaw dropped to the floor as she saw
the beautiful display before her. On the stove and around it, several pots were cooking or had
just finished. A salad was prepared and set to the side of everything and ready for serving.
"It's a thank you." Lindsey interrupted Cordy's awe. She turned to look at him while he spoke.
The first time she had done that since he came there. "I know it isn't the best to have be come
here and act like I live here. And I know this is no way going to ever make up for what you're
doing. But thank you, for letting me stay here."
Cordy smiled. He was genuinely trying to be nice to her. "Your welcome." She turned around again
for the setting around her to set in again. "So, chef Boyardee, what'cha cook?"
"Well, let's find out." Lindsey held out Cordy's chair for her to sit at the table. After she
was pushed in, he wandered over to the counter and picked up two plates, laying one in front of
his spot and another in front of Cordy. "Spaghetti."
"Mmmmm." Cordy sucked in all the air around her, wanted to savor the aroma of the food. "Smells
good."
"Well, you don't live as a bachelor for awhile without learning a thing or two about cooking."
Lindsey took his place across from Cordelia and sprinkled a little cheese on his noodles. He
was about ready to start eating, but he looked at Cordy who was just staring at her food.
"What's the matter?" He asked. "Something wrong? You're not eating."
"No, I'm alright. I just can't eat like this."
Lindsey looked at her, kind of puzzled by her response. "Like what?"
Cordy smiled. "I'll make a deal with you." She leaned a little closer to the center and Lindsey
and followed her lead. "If you turn on some lights and loose the corny music, I'll eat." She
leaned back and folded her arms in front of her chest as a triumphant smile appeared across her
face.
Lindsey smiled back, agreeing with her triumphant nature. "Deal."
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The morning sun crept into the offices of Angel Investigations. Angel had woken hours ago,
getting ready for another day to try to make amends for his sins against humanity.
A nauseating feeling entered Angel's stomach. It had been coming and going for a while now. Ever
since he agreed to let Lindsey stay with Cordelia. The feeling was one of caution. That
something wasn't right with world. Maybe he shouldn't have taken Lindsey's seek for redemption
at face value. He couldn't be trusted. He *shouldn't* be trusted. The jingling of the front
door, signaling that someone had entered the office, interrupted his train of thought.
"Cordelia," Angel started. He started to turn towards the entrance. "I told you -" Angel's words
were lost, and trailed off into the place where words go when they are forgotten.
"Hello, Angel." Holland smiled his usual devilish smirk. His voice was calm and cool. Holland
knew what he wanted, and he knew that being there he was in danger. But he never showed fear.
Never let the enemy see your weakness.
Angel's eyes flickered with the deep inner fire in his soul. The person before him was
responsible for more lives then anyone at Wolfram and Hart. Responsible for people like
Lindsey McDonald that roamed along the earth. "What are you doing here?" Angel said in a lower
tone, more menacing tone then usual.
"You haven't seen one of lawyers have you? Brown hair, blue eyes, about yey high. Answers to
the name of...Lindsey McDonald." The smirk pursed between his tight lips.
"Get out." Angel growled.
"It was just an honest question." Honest was rarely a word that Holland spoke and meant it.
"You haven't?"
"Get out!" Angel walked towards Holland. His arm was extended out and his hand aiming for
Holland's neck.
Holland took a short step backward towards the clear glass doors, allowing himself to bathed in
sunlight from the warm Los Angeles morning. Angel's hand was too late. His hand went a few
inches into the light before starting to smoke and a small fire spread across his hand. He
drew back in pain, shaking his hand wildly in a desperate attempt to put out the fire and
blowing on it, as if it would have some effect in helping to heal it.
"Tsk-tsk, Angel. That could all have been avoided if you just had answered me." Holland turned
toward the exit, pushing the door open just enough to put his leg outside. "We wouldn't want
anything bad to happen, now would we? Because something will if Wolfram and Hart isn't able to
get back it's little sheep that's disappeared from the flock."
"Don't you know that threats aren't the best way to get what you want?" Angel clutched his hand,
which was already red and missing the first few layers of skin.
Holland's grin grew wider across his face. "We'll see." He pushed his body outside onto the
noisy street. He inhaled a long full of air and sighed, letting it all out again. "Isn't it a
lovely day?" With his last comment, Holland disappeared out of view of the door.
