Title: Lockdown
Author: Karen
Rating: Erm. . . not sure of the net version but definitely at least a
twelve/fifteen in the cinema.
Feedback: God yes! A little help here people.
Disclaimer: Not mine and sadly never will be.
Pairing: Cordelia/Lindsey
Timeline: Season two, directly after Angel fires the gang.
A/N: Well, it's been a while so I think first of all apologies are in
order. I have to 'fess up to getting horrendously distracted by other fics
and stuff and this one has been left to linger horribly in the dusty depths
of my PC. I actually had 'Lock 8' already written a few weeks ago and then
I got a virus and my PC ate it. Obviously v. dispirited after that and
just couldn't re-write it until now. So sorry about the huge gap between
posts.
Second, a little reminder is probably needed. So, the story so
far...Cordelia has gone to the offices of Wolfram and Hart to look for
something to aid her in getting rid of Darla and bringing Angel back into
the fold. She's run into Lindsey and bested him in a fight, then suffered
a horrible vision telling her that Linds is in trouble and the offices are
swarming with demons looking to kill him. Much fun and games later they
find themselves trapped in a hidden cave network within the offices and
stumble across a secret execution chamber where untold numbers of people
have met a gory end. Cordelia successfully baits and defeats the creature,
a werewolf, who then turns back into his human form and begs her to kill
him before he can heal and slaughter more innocents. She does as the man
asks and then is forced to turn to Lindsey for comfort. The demons chasing
them finally find a way into them and the pair run, only to stumble through
a door and into a forgotten warrior of the PTB. The woman deals with the
immediate threat of the demons and then invites the two to rest a while.
Whilst they re-charge and grab some food the woman tells them of her life
and the sad fate of her eldest son who was snatched from her and forced to
remain in his beast form by a powerful curse. He has been separated from
her for many years but she still catches glimpses of him from time to time
as he hunts down and kills his victims in the tunnels and caverns around
her home. Cordelia and Lindsey realise they have killed her son.
Meanwhile Gunn and Wes are in hot pursuit of the other two and are fighting
their way through the offices determined to find Cordelia and bring her to
safety. Oh, and the bad guys think Cordelia's a Slayer. Don't ask, it's
like this whole big thing.
Ok ::rubs hands together:: that about covers it I think. Enjoy!
Dedication: First and foremost to Jen. She's my beta and she's been terrific over all the stopping and starting on this fic and I can't thank her enough. Jen, you ROCK. The rest of my girls Mel, Ina, Ianthe and Wicca. All are fabulous and I'm very grateful for all the support and laughs they've given me this summer. Naked Chocolate Spike for all! Except Jen, she gets Naked Chocolate Lindsey 'cos she beta'd the damn thing.
Part 8.
Gunn stared at the tortured shades on the wall and then the crisp piles of meat smoking on the floor
"Cordelia's got GAME."
Wesley nudged the nearest pile of remains with his shoe
"What do you think they are?"
The younger man sniggered
"Damn sorry they ever followed Cordy down this tunnel."
He caught Wesley's exasperated glare and shrugged carelessly
"Who the hell cares what they were? I'm just glad it's them and not Cordy."
Wesley sighed and watched as a deep fried horn rolled down the side of a charcoaled mess and crumbled into ash on the floor
"Agreed. We should move on, they can't be that far ahead of us."
Gunn gave a last admiring look at the sad, smoking remains on the floor and followed his partner from the small chamber
"You think she pulled the old booze-soaked-cloth trick on them?" "Only if she used napalm, Charles."
The sound of their footsteps faded away and slowly a door melted back into existence on the wall they had been paying such close attention to scant moments before.
Cordy jumped as the door to the small bathroom opened and Lindsey stuck his head in
"You ok?" "Hello? Having a naked moment here, knocking would be good."
Lindsey ignored the caustic tone of voice and slipped inside the room, shutting the door behind him. He caught her arm as she turned from him, pulling the soft towel she wore more tightly around her
"Cordelia, quit being such a hard-ass and look at me."
She met his eyes furiously and tried to pull her arm from his grasp, his grip tightened and she spat angrily
"Let go of me."
Lindsey stared searchingly at her red-rimmed eyes and drawn face and for the first time in a long time felt the stirring of concern for another living being. He loosened his hold and raised his other hand to her face, ignoring her instinctive flinch and hiss of warning
"You look tired."
Cordy rolled her eyes and hitched the towel up another inch as it began to slip
"Ya think? Gee, I wonder why that could be? Will you let me go?"
Lindsey tilted his head to one side and looked at her appraisingly, smiling curiously
"Is this how you used to be with Angel? All brave and true and then hiding in the bathroom to cry yourself sick where no-one can see?"
Cordelia snorted contemptuously and side-stepped the question
"I have not thrown up."
This time
She tossed her head and her damp hair slapped against her naked back
"I happen to have a little something called a spine. You should look into getting one, they're a great investment."
Lindsey smiled at the kiss-my-ass tone and said neutrally
"I'm sure they come in very handy when you have to tell someone you've just slaughtered their firstborn."
She sucked in a breath as though she'd taken a direct hit to the stomach and the colour left her face. Lindsey nodded to himself and pushed her unceremoniously to a small stool behind her
"Thought so. Sit."
Cordelia stared at the young man as he filled a wooden cup from a pail, blinking back yet more tears, whispering huskily
"You bastard."
Lindsey nodded agreeably
"Yup. Drink this."
He cupped the back of her neck and held the cup to her lips nodding in approval as she took a reluctant sip
"Have some more."
Cordelia glared at him and tried to work up the energy to shove him away. Lindsey narrowed his eyes at her and flexed his fingers in warning
"Have. Some. More."
She weighed up her options and, deciding it wasn't worth the effort involved, took another few shallow sips of the cool water. Lindsey gave her a small smile and placed the cup on the floor, moving to slide down the wall and rest his exhausted body. A silence grew between them as they both became lost in thought. Finally, after some minutes, Cordelia spoke
"She thanked me."
Lindsey flicked a quick glance at her but her eyes remained glued to the floor
"She did."
Cordelia's face crumpled slightly as she whispered in disbelief
"She actually thanked me for killing her son."
Lindsey weighed up his options quickly and quickly discarded sympathy. The last thing he needed for Cordelia to dissolve in a pool of self- condemnation and pity when they still had to fight their way to freedom. He purposely made his tone careless
"What did you expect her to do? Cleave your head from your shoulders and feed your body to her family?"
Cordelia's head snapped up and her mouth fell open in shock at the callous words. Lindsey looked back at her coolly and continued
"You call yourself a warrior but you haven't got what it takes, not when it counts." "How can you say that?"
Lindsey waved a hand through the air
"Look at you. Preaching to me all night about how tough your life is and how hard the never-ending fight is on you and the first time you make a tough call you cave. You have no idea how to live with the decisions you make and move on."
Cordelia's eyes flashed and her shoulder's straightened
"You sonofabitch!"
Lindsey hid a grin of triumph as she began to vibrate with outrage and re- newed energy
"Get over yourself, Chase. Life doesn't always revolve around you, you know. You killed tonight to save a soul and end suffering, it's not about your pain."
His voice softened and he cocked his head to the side watching as her mouth open and shut in bewildered anger
"You did what you had to and that woman out there knows it. She's grateful there was enough of her son left to make the choice at the end and she's grateful you were there to help him. Let it go."
Cordelia shook her head and tried to force her vocal chords to unfreeze. She shook from reaction and anger at his words and was even more astounded to realise he was right
My night is now complete. Evil-devil spawn's now telling me how be a warrior for the good guys. Can my life get any weirder?
Lindsey gave her another cocky grin and climbed to his feet
"Now shift your ass and get some clothes on. Other people need to use the facilities you know."
Cordelia blinked as he opened the door and said abruptly
"Lindsey!"
He turned and raised an enquiring eyebrow
"Thanks."
His face flushed with suprised pleasure and he gave a quick nod before exiting the room. Cordy shook her head and took a deep breath
Do like the man says, Chase. Get some clothes on!
She stood up and then froze in horror as she looked down at herself and the towel barely stretching from the tops of her nipples to the tops of her thighs
Oh god! I had that conversation wearing a hanky. It's official, god hates me
Gunn and Wes edged warily down the damp tunnel towards the glow of light at the end
"Hey English?"
Wesley jumped slightly at the soft whisper and then hissed back
"Yes?" "You think we'll find her in time?"
Wesley swallowed at the suppressed fear and worry in the deliberately casual tone and took a moment to make sure his reply came in a steady and confident tone
"Yes, we will find her in time. She will be whole and she will be healthy and she will be alive. We won't allow anything else to be the case."
Gunn closed his eyes briefly and then gave a sheepish grin at the back of Wes' head
"Just checkin'"
Cordelia perched on the edge of a chair as she watched Wanda move around the room, gathering together things for the meal they'd agreed to have before they left
"Do you hate me?"
The older woman took a deep breath and turned to face the now clothed Cordelia. She let her eyes drift over the loose white shirt and tight leather pants she had found for the girl and then rested them on the white face
"Yes, a part of me does, but not for the reason you think."
She walked slowly over to Cordelia and sat on a stool next to her, taking her hands in her own
"I hate that you had the strength to do what I could never do. The barrier only stopped us from crossing over to each other; it never stopped other objects going through. I could have waited until he appeared and ended it with an arrow at anytime but I never had the courage. You saved my son from himself and I failed him, for that I can't forgive you or myself. It took a lot of character to do what you did and I hate you for having something in you that I didn't."
She squeezed Cordy's hand gently and gave her a smile as the girl met her eyes
"But now I know it's over and his human soul has gone to its just reward and for that I'm in your debt."
Cordy gave a tremulous smile and Wanda gave her arm a brisk pat
"Now, go call your young man and let's eat, you need to get moving."
Cordelia's brows snapped together
"He is not my young anything!"
Wanda threw a mischievous grin over her shoulder as she began to ladle stew into smooth, wooden bowls
"Uh-huh. Whatever you say."
Cordelia leapt to her feet and looked horrified
"Whoa, there Cupid. SO not happening with Evil Incorporated and me. He's tried to kill me one too many times for anything groiny to happen. Ever."
Wanda shrugged and poured deep, red wine into crystal goblets
"Everyone makes mistakes." "He tried to KILL me." "And I'm sure he's very sorry."
Cordelia blinked at the soothing tone and then span around with a shriek as Lindsey's voice came from directly behind her
"Who's sorry for what?"
Wes pushed open the door before him and peered, blinking into the bright light of an office. He edged out and looked around and then motioned for Gunn to join him
"I think it's clear."
Gunn followed him out and they both froze as a voice said behind them
"Think again."
They turned and watched in amazement as three demons melted out of the solid wall behind them. Wesley nodded wearily as Gunn muttered under his breath "Uh-oh."
"My sentiments exactly."
End Part 8.
Ok ::rubs hands together:: that about covers it I think. Enjoy!
Dedication: First and foremost to Jen. She's my beta and she's been terrific over all the stopping and starting on this fic and I can't thank her enough. Jen, you ROCK. The rest of my girls Mel, Ina, Ianthe and Wicca. All are fabulous and I'm very grateful for all the support and laughs they've given me this summer. Naked Chocolate Spike for all! Except Jen, she gets Naked Chocolate Lindsey 'cos she beta'd the damn thing.
Part 8.
Gunn stared at the tortured shades on the wall and then the crisp piles of meat smoking on the floor
"Cordelia's got GAME."
Wesley nudged the nearest pile of remains with his shoe
"What do you think they are?"
The younger man sniggered
"Damn sorry they ever followed Cordy down this tunnel."
He caught Wesley's exasperated glare and shrugged carelessly
"Who the hell cares what they were? I'm just glad it's them and not Cordy."
Wesley sighed and watched as a deep fried horn rolled down the side of a charcoaled mess and crumbled into ash on the floor
"Agreed. We should move on, they can't be that far ahead of us."
Gunn gave a last admiring look at the sad, smoking remains on the floor and followed his partner from the small chamber
"You think she pulled the old booze-soaked-cloth trick on them?" "Only if she used napalm, Charles."
The sound of their footsteps faded away and slowly a door melted back into existence on the wall they had been paying such close attention to scant moments before.
Cordy jumped as the door to the small bathroom opened and Lindsey stuck his head in
"You ok?" "Hello? Having a naked moment here, knocking would be good."
Lindsey ignored the caustic tone of voice and slipped inside the room, shutting the door behind him. He caught her arm as she turned from him, pulling the soft towel she wore more tightly around her
"Cordelia, quit being such a hard-ass and look at me."
She met his eyes furiously and tried to pull her arm from his grasp, his grip tightened and she spat angrily
"Let go of me."
Lindsey stared searchingly at her red-rimmed eyes and drawn face and for the first time in a long time felt the stirring of concern for another living being. He loosened his hold and raised his other hand to her face, ignoring her instinctive flinch and hiss of warning
"You look tired."
Cordy rolled her eyes and hitched the towel up another inch as it began to slip
"Ya think? Gee, I wonder why that could be? Will you let me go?"
Lindsey tilted his head to one side and looked at her appraisingly, smiling curiously
"Is this how you used to be with Angel? All brave and true and then hiding in the bathroom to cry yourself sick where no-one can see?"
Cordelia snorted contemptuously and side-stepped the question
"I have not thrown up."
This time
She tossed her head and her damp hair slapped against her naked back
"I happen to have a little something called a spine. You should look into getting one, they're a great investment."
Lindsey smiled at the kiss-my-ass tone and said neutrally
"I'm sure they come in very handy when you have to tell someone you've just slaughtered their firstborn."
She sucked in a breath as though she'd taken a direct hit to the stomach and the colour left her face. Lindsey nodded to himself and pushed her unceremoniously to a small stool behind her
"Thought so. Sit."
Cordelia stared at the young man as he filled a wooden cup from a pail, blinking back yet more tears, whispering huskily
"You bastard."
Lindsey nodded agreeably
"Yup. Drink this."
He cupped the back of her neck and held the cup to her lips nodding in approval as she took a reluctant sip
"Have some more."
Cordelia glared at him and tried to work up the energy to shove him away. Lindsey narrowed his eyes at her and flexed his fingers in warning
"Have. Some. More."
She weighed up her options and, deciding it wasn't worth the effort involved, took another few shallow sips of the cool water. Lindsey gave her a small smile and placed the cup on the floor, moving to slide down the wall and rest his exhausted body. A silence grew between them as they both became lost in thought. Finally, after some minutes, Cordelia spoke
"She thanked me."
Lindsey flicked a quick glance at her but her eyes remained glued to the floor
"She did."
Cordelia's face crumpled slightly as she whispered in disbelief
"She actually thanked me for killing her son."
Lindsey weighed up his options quickly and quickly discarded sympathy. The last thing he needed for Cordelia to dissolve in a pool of self- condemnation and pity when they still had to fight their way to freedom. He purposely made his tone careless
"What did you expect her to do? Cleave your head from your shoulders and feed your body to her family?"
Cordelia's head snapped up and her mouth fell open in shock at the callous words. Lindsey looked back at her coolly and continued
"You call yourself a warrior but you haven't got what it takes, not when it counts." "How can you say that?"
Lindsey waved a hand through the air
"Look at you. Preaching to me all night about how tough your life is and how hard the never-ending fight is on you and the first time you make a tough call you cave. You have no idea how to live with the decisions you make and move on."
Cordelia's eyes flashed and her shoulder's straightened
"You sonofabitch!"
Lindsey hid a grin of triumph as she began to vibrate with outrage and re- newed energy
"Get over yourself, Chase. Life doesn't always revolve around you, you know. You killed tonight to save a soul and end suffering, it's not about your pain."
His voice softened and he cocked his head to the side watching as her mouth open and shut in bewildered anger
"You did what you had to and that woman out there knows it. She's grateful there was enough of her son left to make the choice at the end and she's grateful you were there to help him. Let it go."
Cordelia shook her head and tried to force her vocal chords to unfreeze. She shook from reaction and anger at his words and was even more astounded to realise he was right
My night is now complete. Evil-devil spawn's now telling me how be a warrior for the good guys. Can my life get any weirder?
Lindsey gave her another cocky grin and climbed to his feet
"Now shift your ass and get some clothes on. Other people need to use the facilities you know."
Cordelia blinked as he opened the door and said abruptly
"Lindsey!"
He turned and raised an enquiring eyebrow
"Thanks."
His face flushed with suprised pleasure and he gave a quick nod before exiting the room. Cordy shook her head and took a deep breath
Do like the man says, Chase. Get some clothes on!
She stood up and then froze in horror as she looked down at herself and the towel barely stretching from the tops of her nipples to the tops of her thighs
Oh god! I had that conversation wearing a hanky. It's official, god hates me
Gunn and Wes edged warily down the damp tunnel towards the glow of light at the end
"Hey English?"
Wesley jumped slightly at the soft whisper and then hissed back
"Yes?" "You think we'll find her in time?"
Wesley swallowed at the suppressed fear and worry in the deliberately casual tone and took a moment to make sure his reply came in a steady and confident tone
"Yes, we will find her in time. She will be whole and she will be healthy and she will be alive. We won't allow anything else to be the case."
Gunn closed his eyes briefly and then gave a sheepish grin at the back of Wes' head
"Just checkin'"
Cordelia perched on the edge of a chair as she watched Wanda move around the room, gathering together things for the meal they'd agreed to have before they left
"Do you hate me?"
The older woman took a deep breath and turned to face the now clothed Cordelia. She let her eyes drift over the loose white shirt and tight leather pants she had found for the girl and then rested them on the white face
"Yes, a part of me does, but not for the reason you think."
She walked slowly over to Cordelia and sat on a stool next to her, taking her hands in her own
"I hate that you had the strength to do what I could never do. The barrier only stopped us from crossing over to each other; it never stopped other objects going through. I could have waited until he appeared and ended it with an arrow at anytime but I never had the courage. You saved my son from himself and I failed him, for that I can't forgive you or myself. It took a lot of character to do what you did and I hate you for having something in you that I didn't."
She squeezed Cordy's hand gently and gave her a smile as the girl met her eyes
"But now I know it's over and his human soul has gone to its just reward and for that I'm in your debt."
Cordy gave a tremulous smile and Wanda gave her arm a brisk pat
"Now, go call your young man and let's eat, you need to get moving."
Cordelia's brows snapped together
"He is not my young anything!"
Wanda threw a mischievous grin over her shoulder as she began to ladle stew into smooth, wooden bowls
"Uh-huh. Whatever you say."
Cordelia leapt to her feet and looked horrified
"Whoa, there Cupid. SO not happening with Evil Incorporated and me. He's tried to kill me one too many times for anything groiny to happen. Ever."
Wanda shrugged and poured deep, red wine into crystal goblets
"Everyone makes mistakes." "He tried to KILL me." "And I'm sure he's very sorry."
Cordelia blinked at the soothing tone and then span around with a shriek as Lindsey's voice came from directly behind her
"Who's sorry for what?"
Wes pushed open the door before him and peered, blinking into the bright light of an office. He edged out and looked around and then motioned for Gunn to join him
"I think it's clear."
Gunn followed him out and they both froze as a voice said behind them
"Think again."
They turned and watched in amazement as three demons melted out of the solid wall behind them. Wesley nodded wearily as Gunn muttered under his breath "Uh-oh."
"My sentiments exactly."
End Part 8.