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::A Funny Thing Happened...
Rating: PG

It's always funny how fast time can pass. At least that's how it was for Cordelia. Lindsey had
been staying with her for almost 3 weeks now. Having a man, even if he did have a history of
being evil, proved to be useful at times. She actually started warming up the man who was living
down the hall from her bedroom.

Lindsey felt the same way. His method of 'Since I have to live here, I might as well be
pleasant' seemed to be working to the fullest extent. Sometimes, he actually found himself
having fun in Cordelia's company. He always tried to something nice for her. She already had
returned back to work to make things seem normal again, like nothing had ever changed but he
always made sure to have something for her when she returned. But he always had to work with
limited resources. He wasn't allowed to leave. 'They'll be looking for you.' Lindsey always
thought 'Is it smart to go tramping around outside like it was a normal day?' So, during the
day, he always had to suffice for lousy soaps being his company.


Cordelia felt bad for him to that extent. She wouldn't want to be cooped up inside for almost 3
weeks either. So she stayed home most nights, instead of going out to her usual hotspots. Those
nights were spent watching a movie from Blockbuster or just sitting and enjoying the latest
dinner Lindsey had cooked. Just sitting and talking him could end up being an enjoyable
experience. It always fascinated her when Lindsey talked about his family. The pain and
everything he went through with his parents and siblings. It almost brought him to tear to
think of them.

"Whatcha doin'?" Cordy skipped into the kitchen, speaking with almost a childlike innocence in
her voice.

"What's it look like I'm doing?" Lindsey asked, a smile broke across his face, as he continued
to chop up some carrots, getting ready for another meal to be cooked.

"Ya know," Cordelia hoisted herself onto the counter so she could talk to Lindsey face-to-face.
"You should have been a chef instead of a lawyer." She reached for a small piece of carrot and
popped it in her mouth.

Lindsey let out a slight laugh. 'At least being a chef I wouldn't have had to deal with demons.'
"Probably should have." He put down the knife and reached over Cordy's leg for the package of
bread that lain next her. He opened the package and took out a few pieces and laid them next to
the carrots. "I got you something." Lindsey let a grin slip out between his lips.

Cordelia jumped off the counter, clamming like a five year old. "What? C'mon what did you get
me?

"Close your eyes and hold out your hand."

She threw her arms to her side. "Why? That's stupid, just give it to me." Lindsey shook his
head. "Oh alright." She answered defeatedly. She closed her eyes and held her hand out to him
palm side up.

Lindsey looked at her hand and took it from her, turning it, palm side down.

Cordelia could feel him slip something onto her finger, adjusted it until it fell perfectly to
her hand. 'What the hell? What is he doing? Is he crazy?' Her mind started to panic. She popped
her eyes open and stared at her finger on her right hand.

The twisty tie from the bread package was on her ring finger. The little wire covered in green
paper looked strangely out of place on her newly manicured fingers. "Wha?" She looked at
Lindsey, who had already turned away breaking up the bread into crumbs. She could see a small,
somewhat devilish smile creep across his face. She couldn't help but let out a laugh. "Cute."
She stared at the *ring* on her finger. "Really cute."

++++++++++

"Is it ready yet?" Cordy called into the kitchen. "The movie's about to start."

"Just a few more kernels." Lindsey answered. His eyes followed the popcorn twirl inside the
warm, yellow glow from the microwave. 3...2...1...Ding! He popped open the door and pulled out
the steaming bag. Opening it released a small cloud of steam and was followed by the heavy smell
of butter and salt. He carried the bag into the living room, juggling it between his hands in
order to keep it from burning them. Cordelia had her arm outreached with the remote control in
hand, aimed for the VCR.

"I hope you like the movie I got." Cordelia said, her attention still on the VCR/TV.

"What did you rent?" Lindsey popped a few pieces of popcorn in his mouth.

"'Miss Congeniality'. You know, the one about the cop that goes undercover to be in a beauty
pageant. I heard it was cute." Lindsey nodded slightly and took his seat on the couch, close to
Cordelia, who was rewinding through the last preview. He put his arm on the top of couch, around
Cordy's shoulders (his usual position) with the bag resting in his lap.

"Okay. It's going to start." She put down the remote and started to get to hit the lights. The
lights went off before she could make way around the coffee table. "Oh. Thanks Dennis." The
chair in the corner of the room took on human indentations as the ghost took his favorite chair
in the house.

The movie roared on for almost an hour and both remained silent during it. But Lindsey's
attention wasn't focused on Sandra Bullock's strategically planned prat falls or her onscreen
quirkiness. His eyes fell to the *beauty* lying next to him. Cordy had leaned up against his
shoulders in her own non-intentonally flirting manner. She pushed a few pieces of hair from her
eyes as she colors from the screen danced on her them. He studied every one of her features as
she stared intently at the screen, not even noticing his ice blue crystals memorizing every part
of her face.

Lindsey shifted his weight on the couch, sending Cordelia shooting up, allowing him to adjust
himself. "Sorry." Cordy muttered softly, clearing her throat, and sitting with her back against
the couch. Lindsey's eyes never broke their concentration. They continued to stare intently at
hers, never making contact with them himself. What she didn't know was that he spent almost
every evening they spent together doing this, watching her. He tried to deny it and lie to
himself but he couldn't help it. Whatever it was, it was bigger then him. Maybe even bigger
then both of them.

Lindsey took his hand and lifted up Cordy's chin. Her eyes met his before Lindsey pressed his
soft lips against her. She savored it for a moment before he pulled away from her.

The second that Lindsey met lips with Cordelia, he regretted it. He shouldn't be doing this. It
was just weird. Things weren't supposed to be like that. He pulled away and a panic stricken
look came across his face. "Oh my god." He managed to blurt out. He held his head in his hands,
looking away from Cordelia, who herself, held a surprised expression on her face. "I'm sorry."
Lindsey said, his voice softened from his hands. "I shouldn't have done that."

Cordelia took a moment herself to try to analyze what had just happened. He had just kissed her.
But it wasn't just a kiss, it was something else. She could feel it, the electricity. She was
sure that Lindsey could feel it too. Cordy didn't get this feeling from just any old kiss. This
was special. She reached for one of Lindsey's hands that covered his face. "Yes. You should
have." Her tone of voice reaching a somewhat seducing tone. She pulled Lindsey into a deep
and powerful kiss. Her lips exploring his. They fit together perfectly, as if they were puzzle
fragments, destined to be pieced with one another.

Lindsey made no hesitation to kiss back to Cordy. That feeling that he had had only a few
seconds earlier disappeared. This was right. It did feel like it should be. He drew her deeper
in kisses, each one exploring the other's inner labyrinths.

Their perfect and pristine moment was interrupted by the ringing of the phone in the kitchen.
At first, they tried to ignore it. That is, until a familiar voice came over the answering
machine.

"Cordy! Cordelia, are you there?" Angel's desperate sounding tone echoed through the apartment.
"Cordy, pick up the phone."

Cordy gently pushed Lindsey away and stomped into the kitchen to answer the phone. "Hello."
She growled. Her seducing voice replaced one that growled at the bottom of her throat.

"Oh good. You're there." He had to be sure. Angel had been a bit jumpy about the whole
Cordelia-Lindsey living arrangement ever since Holland had dropped by for a little surprise
visit. Wolfram and Hart had been quiet ever since that day, and not hearing anything from
that law firm for that amount of time could mean trouble. "Are you alright?"

"Yeah. I'm fine." She took the cordless into her bedroom and shut the door behind her. "Why
wouldn't I be?"

"No reason." Angel lied. "Just checking to be a sure." A brief of period of silence followed.
"So...how's born again lawyer boy?"

Cordelia smiled at the thought. She eyed her hand, which still housed the twisty tie ring
Lindsey had put there that afternoon. "He's okay." Trying to cover up the giddiness in her
voice. "Once you get through the Gucci and Italian leather briefcase, he's not half bad."

"I still feel weird about him living there with you. I think I made a mistake in saying he
could. Momentary lapse of sanity or something."

"Angel, everything's fine." Cordy reassured. "He's been here for a while now. Don't you
think that if something was going to happen, it would have by now?"

"I just can't be sure that he really has changed. He's got a history."

"It's just different for you because you have a personal hang-up." She was defending. 'Angel's
totally *not* going to get suspicious now or anything.' Cordy knew that a few weeks ago, she
would have been saying the same thing. Anyone who Angel had a personal hang-up with, she most
likely did too. But things have changed now. "He's got a past. We all do, but he's still a good
person. And he's trying. He really is."

"Okay. Okay. I believe you." Angel tried to calm down her rant through the receiver. "I just...
just be careful, okay? We're not out of the clear yet."

Cordelia took her friends advice to heart. He just didn't want anything to happen to her.
'A true friend.' "I will..."