CHAPTER FIVE

Buffy had called Lindsey after everything calmed down from the Fear demon, her belly so full of chocolate she felt like she was going to barf. Willow had been snoring softly in her bed when Buffy poured her heart out to Lindsey about how the demon had preyed on her fear of being alone, how horrible it made her feel.

He sent a car for her and whisked her to L.A. She wondered all the way there if she had done the right thing. She was going to a man's home for a few days. She had packed all her sexiest things with Willow's help after packing in the dark turned out to be a giant bust. She hadn't wanted Willow to wake up and stop her. To her surprise, Willow was almost more excited about this than she was.

Was she ready to have sex with Lindsey? She had had sex with Parker for a lot less reason. She knew Lindsey at least cared about her, pampered her, spent more money on her than anyone just wanting a night's fun would do. She was ready...she hoped.

Still, L.A. meant home. It stood for Angel now. Could she relax enough to enjoy it? The moment Lindsey opened the door to his home and helped her in with her luggage, she knew she could. His eyes were soft with concern over her recent ordeal. Standing in his giant living room, he kissed her gently. "I'm glad you made it."

"I'm glad you asked me." She looked around, taking in the plasma tv and a sound system that could probably shake the windows right out. "This place is beautiful."

"Let me show you around."

Lindsey gave her the grand tour of his place. His deep red leather couch looked utterly inviting. His hand paused on the final room, his bedroom. She reached down and turned the knob with him, smiling warmly. The room was still expansive and utterly masculine. His scent clung to it subtly. She looked at the big bed, feeling a little gooey inside. She turned and kissed him, not wanting to wait any longer, not wanting time to think about not doing this.

His hands closed around her waist. Buffy's fingers tore at his shirt. He broke the kiss. "Are you sure, Buffy?"

She nipped his Adam's apple. "Never surer."

Lindsey guided her back as he eased her shirt off over her head. Buffy took off her own bra as he fought with his belt. They tumbled onto the soft mattress, fingers, lips, tongues and toes all exploring and probing. He reminded her more of Angel in his skill than she wanted to think about. She shoved those thoughts aside and gave herself over to her far more experienced lover.

Buffy tapped her toes in time to Oz and Lindsey's guitar playing. They had been doing some country with Lindsey leading and now they were onto classic rock with Oz blazing the trail. Willow and Ainsley sat with her, just as thrilled to be listening in and relaxing now that the spate of mid-terms were over.

Buffy scowled when her phone rang. "Hi? Oh, Giles, this isn't the best...what? Right now? No, I'm sure it's important. I'll be right there." Buffy hung up. "Sorry guys, a little unexpected business. I'll be back as soon as I can. Keep jamming." Buffy leaned over Lindsey's guitar and kissed him.

She ran all the way to Giles' apartment, with every intention of making him drive her back so she wouldn't miss much. Lindsey would have to go back to L.A. tomorrow. Giles' sober expression shouldn't have caught her by surprise but it did. He always looked at least a little grim. Something bad had happened, she just knew it. "What's up, Giles?"

"Sit down Buffy." He indicated the couch. "We need to talk."

She flopped down, her lips twisting into a scowl. "I don't like the sound of that."

Giles sat opposite her, looking more parental than Watchery. "I just got off the phone with Angel."

Buffy's nose wrinkled. Had Giles told Angel about Lindsey? He had no right to do that if he had. "Angel? Why did you call him?"

Giles' lips pinched as if annoyed she'd even suggest that he had interfered. "Cordelia made him call me."

"Cordy?" Buffy's brow creased.

"She was haranguing him and some poor bloke named Doyle into asking me about an Amphisbaena that was eating surfers," he said as if that explained everything.

She tapped her toes impatiently. "A what?"

"Amphisbaena, it means it goes both ways. It's a sea serpent with heads at either end, and, if you cut it up, the parts rejoined. They needed to know how to kill it," Giles explained, not warming to the subject like he usually did. "That's not the important thing. What Angel had to tell me about Wolfram and Hart is."

"You didn't tell him I was dating Lindsey, did you?" Buffy asked, hurt.

"No, of course not, but you need to hear this, Buffy so please, just let me say it. It's hard enough," Giles scolded and she settled back. "Wolfram and Hart are Angel's enemy, Buffy. They're an evil law firm who represent demons and killers and dark mages. They were the ones to summon up the Amphisbaena because it has magical powers they wanted, which is how Wolfram and Hart came up during the conversation. They've made a mission out of destroying Angel because he keeps getting in their way. Cordelia piped up with how one of their vampire clients tried to kill her. Lindsey was that vampire's lawyer. He and another lawyer named Lilah are the ones out to destroy Angel." He rested a hand on her shoulder. "It's personal."

Buffy shook her head slowly, feeling her eyes tearing up. This couldn't be real. "No, that's not true."

"Cordelia and Angel have no reason to lie, Buffy. They have no idea you're involved with Lindsey." Giles said softly. "There's a very good chance Lindsey's here because of Angel. He could be trying to get to Angel through you."

"No." Buffy's lips trembled as she jumped to her feet. She wanted to run but couldn't move. How could she have such horrible luck with men? What was something fundamentally wrong with every guy she chose?

Giles got up and put his arms around her. "I'm sorry, Buffy."

"It's not fair." Tears rolled down her cheeks. Ford, Angel, Parker and now Lindsey, it wasn't fair. "I really cared about him, Giles."

"I know. And we don't know his side yet, but Buffy, from what they told me, it can't be good." Giles stroked her hair.

Buffy took a step back, wiping her eyes. "He knows, Giles. I told him about being a Slayer, about Angel. How stupid could I be?" She wanted to punch something but clamped down on her anger.

"There's nothing foolish about letting your heart lead, Buffy. I wish you hadn't said anything, of course, but it cannot be undone now," Giles said.

"He's so going to regret this."

Buffy stormed out and raced back to the college. The music had stopped and her friends were having pizza when she burst into her room. She grabbed Lindsey around the throat and hauled him up, one-handed. His blue eyes widened in shock as he clutched her wrist, trying to break her hold.

"Buffy, what?" Willow cried.

"Let my brother go!" Ainsley jumped up, pulling on Buffy's arm. Buffy sat her down with one shove as she forced Lindsey back against the wall.

"You've been playing me," Buffy snarled, rapping him harder against the wall.

"I don't..." he gurgled around her strangle hold.

"Don't lie. You work for Wolfram and Hart. I knew that. What I didn't know was you represent people like the serial killers stalking this campus, people like Spike and Angel. And speaking of my ex, you've been out to destroy him."

"What?" Willow tensed at Buffy's elbow, looking ready to hit the lawyer herself. Even Oz seemed furious enough to do something physical.

"So was any of this real, Lindsey or was I just a way to get to Angel?" Buffy rapped his head off the wall and let him go.

Lindsey gasped, rubbing at his already bruising throat. "Buffy, it's not..."

"Don't lie to her," Oz said, his voice as close to angry as Buffy had ever heard it.

"This isn't what I wanted," Lindsey said, softly. He wouldn't look at any of them.

"Brother, what did you do?" Ainsley's voice cracked with emotion. Her fingers curled into fists.

Lindsey's eyes turned to flint. "My job. Yes, I was sent here to gather intel on Angel from Buffy." He reached out to the Slayer. "It went too far. I never intended to fall for you."

"But let me guess, you did anyhow and you really care about me," Buffy jeered, batting his hand away.

"Something like that." Lindsey wilted. "I'm sorry."

"No, but you will be." Buffy headed for her door. "When I get back, you'd better be gone."

She stormed out, letting her tears fall as she ran aimlessly around the campus grounds.