Unexpected Suprises
Disclaimer: Same as the previous chapters.
A/N: Thank y'all so much for your support. I really appreciate it. Just a reminder: I have taken extreme liberties with history in this story, and most of the "historical" accounts in this fic never occured...they simply have real historical figures in them. I apologize to any history buffs who may be reading this! Also, I've decided not to use Auburn in my story at all. I've decided to make up a place!
Chapter 4: Lindsey's Past
He had been awake for some time now, just watching her sleep and stroking her hair. He liked the fact that she wanted him to stay with her last night, the fact that he made her feel safer, and the fact that she needed...wanted him to protect her. Sydney had always been the one to protect him, and he often felt inferior to her because of this. He was a man and should be able to at least put up a decent fight, especially when a female was in potential danger, and not have it the other way around. He knew that this sounded incredibly sexist, but he would never try to hinder Sydney or any other woman's right to be dominate. His upbringing just made him to much of a gentleman and too chivalrous to even entertain the idea of raising a hand to a lady, or expecting her to fight back. He was very greatful for Sydney's ability to fight though. If it wasn't for her, he probably would be lying in a casket in a graveyard somewhere with cold earth on top of him, instead of lying here with Lindsey on his chest. Yes, it felt quite nice to be needed. ********************************************************************* Before she opened her eyes, Lindsey could feel an ache in every part of her body, especially her head. She could feel the warmth of the sunlight on her face. Before she opened her eyes, she became acutely aware of something lying beneath her that did not feel like a mattress. She opened her eyes and quickly sat up. She didn't remember at first where she was or why, but the pain in her body and the dizzyness she felt from sitting up in such a hurry quickly reminded her. She put her hand on her head to try to ease the "swimmy" feeling in it.
"Easy now, calm down." Nigel's serene, English voice had a tranquilizing effect to it. He put his arms around her and gently laid her back down. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to try to calm her nerves. Nigel gave her a surveying glance over, trying to see the extent of her bruising. He noticed two rather large black bruises, one on each of her upper arms, probably from when the intruder grabbed her. He saw the huge bruises on her shins where she had obviously ran into a table or chair in her hasty attempt to try to get away from the intruder in the dark. Her face was bruised from the impact of hitting the wall, and, by the way she grimmiced when she laid back down, he was fairly certain her back was injured as well.
"I'm sorry, Nigel. I just didn't know where I was and got frightened." Lindsey said. She was really thankful Nigel was there. She opened her eyes and stared at him. He was incredibly handsome, and the sunlight cast a charming glow on him. His eyes were full of worry and conern. It took her a second before she realized that it was over her.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I fell like I've ran myself into a brick wall...Oh, wait, I DID hit a wall..." Lindsey and Nigel both grinned at her attempt to be humorous. "I'll live, Nigel. Thank you for helping me. If you hadn't came when you did..." her voice trailed off. She could fill tears stinging at her eyes and threatening to flow down her cheeks. She felt so horrible for the trouble she had caused him. She especially hated showing emotion in front of him.
He quickly brushed the tears away from her face, and lifted her chin with his finger so she would look at him. "It was no trouble whatsoever." Nigel knew that being so vulnerable was not something that she was used to, and it was hard for her. "I'm glad that I could be there. I would have never forgiven myself if..." Now it was time for his voice to trail off. He completely blamed himself. "She could have easily been killed, Nigel, and if she had, it would have been all your fault!" he scolded himself. The strange ache in his heart at the thought of her being killed told him that he was starting to care for her.
"Nigel, this wasn't your fault. You didn't know that some stranger was going to try to attack me." Lindsey couldn't believe what she was hearing. She refused to even entertain the idea that Nigel was in any way to blame for this. "You saved me, Nigel. You're my hero." Lindsey smiled and so did Nigel. He kinda liked being called a hero. "Well, now, I need to get showered and clean up the apartment. We've got alot of work to do in translating those manuscripts today." Lindsey said as she began to climb out of the bed. Nigel looked at her with a shocked expression.
"You still want to help us find this relic?" he asked. He couldn't believe it. "Lindsey, I don't know if it is such a good idea for you to help us. Between Sydney, Claudia, and myself, we can do any research that needs to be done. I don't want to see you get hurt anymore." Nigel was suprised at the concern-filled tone he spoke with.
Lindsey sat back down on the bed next to him. "Look, Nigel, I'm not going to quit now. I told you that I would help, and I will. Besides, I could more than likely cut back the amount of research time because I did complete tons of course work in this field of history. I'm practically a walking and talking database ancient greek theatre history." She smiled. "You know you need me." She was grinning from ear to ear, despite the ache it caused in the muscles in her face. Her smile slowly faded. She couldn't look away from him. His eyes held her gaze and immoblized her. "Lindsey, what's going on. You do not need to get involved with him...now anyway," her brain was telling her. But she couldn't help it. She knew that she'd only known him a day, but something was drawing her to him. The yearning in her heart told her that she had really begun to care for him. It was all happening so fast. She was not one to rush into anything, especially relationships, but she couldn't help herself. She had never met anyone like Nigel before.
The same thoughts were going through Nigel's mind. He knew it was entirely too soon to be feeling as strongly for her as he was, but he just couldn't help it. He had never met anyone like her before. His smile faded soon after hers did. Her eyes were enhcanting, and he couldn't turn away from her. "Here's your chance, Nigel. You couldn't do it last night, so do it now," the voice in his head was prompting. Nigel agreed that now was the time. He leaned towards her and stopped just inches away from her face and studied it closely.
"Nigel, I..." Lindsey began quietly, but his lips quickly stopped her. They gently brushed her lips as his hand caressed her face. She could barely breathe. He broke the kiss and looked in her eyes, inches from his face.
"I'm sorry," said Nigel apologetically. Where had that kiss came from?
Lindsey looked at him. The sheepish look on his young face made him look almost boyish. She halfway smiled. "Don't be," she said as she leaned in and gave him a kiss of her own.
Nigel's heart lept as her lips met his. He drew his hands around her waist and drew her closer to him. Her lips were soft and inviting. Lindsey began to lay down, pulling him with her. Her hands went around his neck. After several minutes, Nigel broke the kiss.
"Lindsey, what's happening to us?" He asked breathlessly. His lips were bruised. There was a certain element of hunger in their kiss. He just looked at her, her lips bruised as well, and fought the urge to kiss them again. He had to say this. "Yesterday, I found myself not being able to think of anything but you after you left the office, and I haven't had as much fun as I did eating dinner and talking to you last night in a long time. And, last night, I heard you hit the wall, and, not knowing what it was, I went to check on you. My heart almost stopped when I saw you on the floor, and my only concern was making sure you were okay. I know that this is entirely too fast, but I have grown to care about you..." He stopped. Lindsey looked at him with tear-filled eyes.
"I know...I feel exactly the same way, and what makes that even more odd is that I have a hard time getting close to people...men especially." Her eyes seemed especially pained at this last comment, and Nigel's eyes filled with concern. He wanted to know why, but he figured she'd tell him in her own time. "Nigel, I'm afraid that you wouldn't want a girl like me." Lindsey's words were almost a whisper. "I'm not like alot of girls, or guys for that matter, and I've been hurt in the past because of it. I'm afraid that you don't know me very well, and may have gotten the wrong perception of me. It seems I'm famous for giving wrong signals." She was just going to tell him now. She felt like she owed him an explanation. "Nigel, I met this guy named Declan early in the spring semester of my junior year as an undergrad student. He was a grad student who was going to graduate that May. Declan completely swept me off my feet. He was so charming. We had been dating for about three months when it happened." At this last comment, Lindsey's voice got really quiet.
"It?" Nigel asked. He had a bad feeling in his stomach, and didn't like where this was going.
"Declan had taken me to a really nice local restaurant, and after that, we went back to my place for drinks. It was usual for us to end our dates getting a drink or watching a movie at each other's apartments, so I didn't think anything of it." Well, after he made us drinks, he sat on the couch next to me, and we just talked for a while...just useless little bits of information. Then he leaned in to kiss me. We started making out, and it started to get a little too..."steamy"...for me. Then, I felt his hand trying to unzip the zipper on the back of my skirt. I stoped him and told him no. He asked me why. I told him that I had no intentions on sleeping with someone until I was married. A look of absolute rage that I had never seen before crossed his eyes. He told me that I had led him on...that no girl in her right mind would have invited a guy up to her apartment if she wasn't going to sleep with him. 'What kind of Trick or Tease are you?' he asked. He got up from the couch, and walked towards the kitchen." Lindsey's eyes were tearing up to the rim. "I really should have made him leave..." she said as the tears finally fell.
Nigel was getting worried about her. He put his hand on her shoulder, and she looked at the floor as she continued.
"Instead of telling him to leave, I got up and proceeded to argue with him that I thought that I had made my intentions of chasity very clear by not even mentioning sex in the three months we had been dating. He turned around with the most evil look in his eyes. He hit me hard...across the face...and I fell backwards on the couch. He told me that he was going to get what he wanted out of me, and..." Lindsey's voice trailed off and her sobs took its place.
"He...raped you?" Nigel could't believe what he was hearing. Lindsey just nodded her head. She continued without looking up.
"Before he left, he finished off the drink that was still sitting on the counter, and told me that it was my fault...that I should have just given him what he wanted...but now, not only had I lost my virginity, but that I was nothing more than just a bitch...a used whore that no one else would want. Then he left. He graduated two months later, and I never saw him again. That night I just laid on the couch, crying like I had never cried before, and feeling the most scared and lonely I had ever felt." Nigel lifted Lindsey's face up so he could look in her eyes, but she quickly looked away. She was too embarrassed to look him in the face...now that he knew what she was...now that he wasn't going to want her.
"Did you go to the police?" Nigel asked softly. He was still trying to digest what he had just heard.
"No. I was too embarrassed. It was my fault...instead of making him leave, I tried to argue with him." Lindsey said quietly. "I was being hard-headed...trying to argue my point...but what do I have to show for my stubborness now? I don't even have my virginity anymore...which was something I held very dear to me. So, now do you see why you wouldn't want me? I'm used goods."
"No, you are not used goods." Nigel replied quickly. "Lindsey, this was not your fault. You did nothing wrong. Nigel lifted her face up again, and this time she didn't look away. All of the pain in her eyes made his heart ache. "Lindsey, you are a remarkable woman, and any man would be lucky to have you." He wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled.
"You're the only person I ever told about this. I didn't even tell Jen. I was so worried that you wouldn't want a girl with baggage...that this would drive you away." Lindsey told him. Nigel couldn't believe it. "That's also the reason I wanted you to stay in here with me last night. Being attacked last night reminded me of my past attack. I didn't want to feel the scaryness and the loneliness again."
"Well, I'm glad you did tell me. And nothing could drive me away from you," he told her. He drew her into a hug, and she gladly accepted. She finally broke the hug, looked at him, and smiled.
"I'm not going to let what Declan did to me dictate my life anymore. I built a wall around me to keep people from getting in because of it, but you just waltzed right on in, uninvited, too, I might add." Lindsey added with a large grin spreading across her face. "I guess I might as well just tear the whole damn thing down."
Nigel was so relieved to see her smile. He knew that things would have to move slowly, but he was certain that he wanted to attempt a relationship with her. "Well, looks like I've already started doing that for you." Nigel returned her grin.
"Well, I guess I need to go get that shower now so we can work on those manuscripts. Whoever that was last night obviously wanted them pretty badly, and I have a feeling that we need to get those manuscripts deciphered fairly quickly. I'm going to go back to my apartment, and I'll be back shortly."
"Wait a minute. You're not going back there by yourself. I'm going to go with you. Whoever that was last night seemed mighty desperate to get those manuscripts, and he might be back," Nigel said decidedly. "I'll call Syd and Jen from over there, and we'll get to the bottom of this."
"Okay, Nigel." Lindsey said. She got up to leave, and he followed, locking the door to his apartment behind them.
A/N: Okay guys, Sorry for the "relicless" chapter. And I know i'm probably advancing Nigel and Lindsey's relationship a bit too fast, but I just couldn't help it...and besides, when two people have chemistry, there's not much that can stop it...lol. I'm going to skip forward in time some in this fic, so the relationship won't advance as greatly as one might think! Oh, any ideas on how to have Declan's attack affect the Nigel/Lindsey relationship, please let me know! Please R&R.
Disclaimer: Same as the previous chapters.
A/N: Thank y'all so much for your support. I really appreciate it. Just a reminder: I have taken extreme liberties with history in this story, and most of the "historical" accounts in this fic never occured...they simply have real historical figures in them. I apologize to any history buffs who may be reading this! Also, I've decided not to use Auburn in my story at all. I've decided to make up a place!
Chapter 4: Lindsey's Past
He had been awake for some time now, just watching her sleep and stroking her hair. He liked the fact that she wanted him to stay with her last night, the fact that he made her feel safer, and the fact that she needed...wanted him to protect her. Sydney had always been the one to protect him, and he often felt inferior to her because of this. He was a man and should be able to at least put up a decent fight, especially when a female was in potential danger, and not have it the other way around. He knew that this sounded incredibly sexist, but he would never try to hinder Sydney or any other woman's right to be dominate. His upbringing just made him to much of a gentleman and too chivalrous to even entertain the idea of raising a hand to a lady, or expecting her to fight back. He was very greatful for Sydney's ability to fight though. If it wasn't for her, he probably would be lying in a casket in a graveyard somewhere with cold earth on top of him, instead of lying here with Lindsey on his chest. Yes, it felt quite nice to be needed. ********************************************************************* Before she opened her eyes, Lindsey could feel an ache in every part of her body, especially her head. She could feel the warmth of the sunlight on her face. Before she opened her eyes, she became acutely aware of something lying beneath her that did not feel like a mattress. She opened her eyes and quickly sat up. She didn't remember at first where she was or why, but the pain in her body and the dizzyness she felt from sitting up in such a hurry quickly reminded her. She put her hand on her head to try to ease the "swimmy" feeling in it.
"Easy now, calm down." Nigel's serene, English voice had a tranquilizing effect to it. He put his arms around her and gently laid her back down. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath to try to calm her nerves. Nigel gave her a surveying glance over, trying to see the extent of her bruising. He noticed two rather large black bruises, one on each of her upper arms, probably from when the intruder grabbed her. He saw the huge bruises on her shins where she had obviously ran into a table or chair in her hasty attempt to try to get away from the intruder in the dark. Her face was bruised from the impact of hitting the wall, and, by the way she grimmiced when she laid back down, he was fairly certain her back was injured as well.
"I'm sorry, Nigel. I just didn't know where I was and got frightened." Lindsey said. She was really thankful Nigel was there. She opened her eyes and stared at him. He was incredibly handsome, and the sunlight cast a charming glow on him. His eyes were full of worry and conern. It took her a second before she realized that it was over her.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"I fell like I've ran myself into a brick wall...Oh, wait, I DID hit a wall..." Lindsey and Nigel both grinned at her attempt to be humorous. "I'll live, Nigel. Thank you for helping me. If you hadn't came when you did..." her voice trailed off. She could fill tears stinging at her eyes and threatening to flow down her cheeks. She felt so horrible for the trouble she had caused him. She especially hated showing emotion in front of him.
He quickly brushed the tears away from her face, and lifted her chin with his finger so she would look at him. "It was no trouble whatsoever." Nigel knew that being so vulnerable was not something that she was used to, and it was hard for her. "I'm glad that I could be there. I would have never forgiven myself if..." Now it was time for his voice to trail off. He completely blamed himself. "She could have easily been killed, Nigel, and if she had, it would have been all your fault!" he scolded himself. The strange ache in his heart at the thought of her being killed told him that he was starting to care for her.
"Nigel, this wasn't your fault. You didn't know that some stranger was going to try to attack me." Lindsey couldn't believe what she was hearing. She refused to even entertain the idea that Nigel was in any way to blame for this. "You saved me, Nigel. You're my hero." Lindsey smiled and so did Nigel. He kinda liked being called a hero. "Well, now, I need to get showered and clean up the apartment. We've got alot of work to do in translating those manuscripts today." Lindsey said as she began to climb out of the bed. Nigel looked at her with a shocked expression.
"You still want to help us find this relic?" he asked. He couldn't believe it. "Lindsey, I don't know if it is such a good idea for you to help us. Between Sydney, Claudia, and myself, we can do any research that needs to be done. I don't want to see you get hurt anymore." Nigel was suprised at the concern-filled tone he spoke with.
Lindsey sat back down on the bed next to him. "Look, Nigel, I'm not going to quit now. I told you that I would help, and I will. Besides, I could more than likely cut back the amount of research time because I did complete tons of course work in this field of history. I'm practically a walking and talking database ancient greek theatre history." She smiled. "You know you need me." She was grinning from ear to ear, despite the ache it caused in the muscles in her face. Her smile slowly faded. She couldn't look away from him. His eyes held her gaze and immoblized her. "Lindsey, what's going on. You do not need to get involved with him...now anyway," her brain was telling her. But she couldn't help it. She knew that she'd only known him a day, but something was drawing her to him. The yearning in her heart told her that she had really begun to care for him. It was all happening so fast. She was not one to rush into anything, especially relationships, but she couldn't help herself. She had never met anyone like Nigel before.
The same thoughts were going through Nigel's mind. He knew it was entirely too soon to be feeling as strongly for her as he was, but he just couldn't help it. He had never met anyone like her before. His smile faded soon after hers did. Her eyes were enhcanting, and he couldn't turn away from her. "Here's your chance, Nigel. You couldn't do it last night, so do it now," the voice in his head was prompting. Nigel agreed that now was the time. He leaned towards her and stopped just inches away from her face and studied it closely.
"Nigel, I..." Lindsey began quietly, but his lips quickly stopped her. They gently brushed her lips as his hand caressed her face. She could barely breathe. He broke the kiss and looked in her eyes, inches from his face.
"I'm sorry," said Nigel apologetically. Where had that kiss came from?
Lindsey looked at him. The sheepish look on his young face made him look almost boyish. She halfway smiled. "Don't be," she said as she leaned in and gave him a kiss of her own.
Nigel's heart lept as her lips met his. He drew his hands around her waist and drew her closer to him. Her lips were soft and inviting. Lindsey began to lay down, pulling him with her. Her hands went around his neck. After several minutes, Nigel broke the kiss.
"Lindsey, what's happening to us?" He asked breathlessly. His lips were bruised. There was a certain element of hunger in their kiss. He just looked at her, her lips bruised as well, and fought the urge to kiss them again. He had to say this. "Yesterday, I found myself not being able to think of anything but you after you left the office, and I haven't had as much fun as I did eating dinner and talking to you last night in a long time. And, last night, I heard you hit the wall, and, not knowing what it was, I went to check on you. My heart almost stopped when I saw you on the floor, and my only concern was making sure you were okay. I know that this is entirely too fast, but I have grown to care about you..." He stopped. Lindsey looked at him with tear-filled eyes.
"I know...I feel exactly the same way, and what makes that even more odd is that I have a hard time getting close to people...men especially." Her eyes seemed especially pained at this last comment, and Nigel's eyes filled with concern. He wanted to know why, but he figured she'd tell him in her own time. "Nigel, I'm afraid that you wouldn't want a girl like me." Lindsey's words were almost a whisper. "I'm not like alot of girls, or guys for that matter, and I've been hurt in the past because of it. I'm afraid that you don't know me very well, and may have gotten the wrong perception of me. It seems I'm famous for giving wrong signals." She was just going to tell him now. She felt like she owed him an explanation. "Nigel, I met this guy named Declan early in the spring semester of my junior year as an undergrad student. He was a grad student who was going to graduate that May. Declan completely swept me off my feet. He was so charming. We had been dating for about three months when it happened." At this last comment, Lindsey's voice got really quiet.
"It?" Nigel asked. He had a bad feeling in his stomach, and didn't like where this was going.
"Declan had taken me to a really nice local restaurant, and after that, we went back to my place for drinks. It was usual for us to end our dates getting a drink or watching a movie at each other's apartments, so I didn't think anything of it." Well, after he made us drinks, he sat on the couch next to me, and we just talked for a while...just useless little bits of information. Then he leaned in to kiss me. We started making out, and it started to get a little too..."steamy"...for me. Then, I felt his hand trying to unzip the zipper on the back of my skirt. I stoped him and told him no. He asked me why. I told him that I had no intentions on sleeping with someone until I was married. A look of absolute rage that I had never seen before crossed his eyes. He told me that I had led him on...that no girl in her right mind would have invited a guy up to her apartment if she wasn't going to sleep with him. 'What kind of Trick or Tease are you?' he asked. He got up from the couch, and walked towards the kitchen." Lindsey's eyes were tearing up to the rim. "I really should have made him leave..." she said as the tears finally fell.
Nigel was getting worried about her. He put his hand on her shoulder, and she looked at the floor as she continued.
"Instead of telling him to leave, I got up and proceeded to argue with him that I thought that I had made my intentions of chasity very clear by not even mentioning sex in the three months we had been dating. He turned around with the most evil look in his eyes. He hit me hard...across the face...and I fell backwards on the couch. He told me that he was going to get what he wanted out of me, and..." Lindsey's voice trailed off and her sobs took its place.
"He...raped you?" Nigel could't believe what he was hearing. Lindsey just nodded her head. She continued without looking up.
"Before he left, he finished off the drink that was still sitting on the counter, and told me that it was my fault...that I should have just given him what he wanted...but now, not only had I lost my virginity, but that I was nothing more than just a bitch...a used whore that no one else would want. Then he left. He graduated two months later, and I never saw him again. That night I just laid on the couch, crying like I had never cried before, and feeling the most scared and lonely I had ever felt." Nigel lifted Lindsey's face up so he could look in her eyes, but she quickly looked away. She was too embarrassed to look him in the face...now that he knew what she was...now that he wasn't going to want her.
"Did you go to the police?" Nigel asked softly. He was still trying to digest what he had just heard.
"No. I was too embarrassed. It was my fault...instead of making him leave, I tried to argue with him." Lindsey said quietly. "I was being hard-headed...trying to argue my point...but what do I have to show for my stubborness now? I don't even have my virginity anymore...which was something I held very dear to me. So, now do you see why you wouldn't want me? I'm used goods."
"No, you are not used goods." Nigel replied quickly. "Lindsey, this was not your fault. You did nothing wrong. Nigel lifted her face up again, and this time she didn't look away. All of the pain in her eyes made his heart ache. "Lindsey, you are a remarkable woman, and any man would be lucky to have you." He wiped the tears from her eyes and smiled.
"You're the only person I ever told about this. I didn't even tell Jen. I was so worried that you wouldn't want a girl with baggage...that this would drive you away." Lindsey told him. Nigel couldn't believe it. "That's also the reason I wanted you to stay in here with me last night. Being attacked last night reminded me of my past attack. I didn't want to feel the scaryness and the loneliness again."
"Well, I'm glad you did tell me. And nothing could drive me away from you," he told her. He drew her into a hug, and she gladly accepted. She finally broke the hug, looked at him, and smiled.
"I'm not going to let what Declan did to me dictate my life anymore. I built a wall around me to keep people from getting in because of it, but you just waltzed right on in, uninvited, too, I might add." Lindsey added with a large grin spreading across her face. "I guess I might as well just tear the whole damn thing down."
Nigel was so relieved to see her smile. He knew that things would have to move slowly, but he was certain that he wanted to attempt a relationship with her. "Well, looks like I've already started doing that for you." Nigel returned her grin.
"Well, I guess I need to go get that shower now so we can work on those manuscripts. Whoever that was last night obviously wanted them pretty badly, and I have a feeling that we need to get those manuscripts deciphered fairly quickly. I'm going to go back to my apartment, and I'll be back shortly."
"Wait a minute. You're not going back there by yourself. I'm going to go with you. Whoever that was last night seemed mighty desperate to get those manuscripts, and he might be back," Nigel said decidedly. "I'll call Syd and Jen from over there, and we'll get to the bottom of this."
"Okay, Nigel." Lindsey said. She got up to leave, and he followed, locking the door to his apartment behind them.
A/N: Okay guys, Sorry for the "relicless" chapter. And I know i'm probably advancing Nigel and Lindsey's relationship a bit too fast, but I just couldn't help it...and besides, when two people have chemistry, there's not much that can stop it...lol. I'm going to skip forward in time some in this fic, so the relationship won't advance as greatly as one might think! Oh, any ideas on how to have Declan's attack affect the Nigel/Lindsey relationship, please let me know! Please R&R.
