Sometimes I dream

Rating: PG13
Warnings: We've all seen the show, and since this story follows the actual storyline, you already know it's not gonna have a happy ending, so be aware of that :).
Pairing: Pure, unadulterated Lindsey/Darla
Summary: The story runs from 'To Shanshu in L.A.' (season 1 finale) to a little after 'Epiphany' (2.16). It basically follows the events on the show but with a little extra sparkage, hehe.
Spoilers: Angel seasons 1, 2 and 3 up to Heartthrob.
Thanks: to my beta Purplecat and to CCke and leentje for putting up with my ramblings and obsessions.
A/N: Every chapter will have the title of the episode it's closest to, so the chapter titles usually have very little to do with the storyline, just with the time frame. Also, it's been a while since I watched season 2, so please point out continuity slip-ups and things like that, alright?
Feedback: will be adored and nuzzled to death.
Archived: at PC's Palace and Anywhere else, let me know so I can rejoice!

Chapter 1: Prologue

The soft rap of his knuckles on the bedroom door woke Darla from her troubled sleep. She kept her eyes closed and listened to the click of the door handle, followed by his footsteps on the wooden floor panels.

"Darla?" Lindsey said. The southern accent echoed in her ears. "Are you awake?" For a second she didn't react. Then, she rolled onto her back.

"Yes." Even now, nearly two weeks after she'd been brought back from the dead by Wolfram Hart, her own voice sounded strange and unnatural to her. She resisted the overwhelming urge to crawl under the warm covers and close her eyes, and looked at him. He looked worried.

"Holland Manners wants you to come in today. I guess the Senior Partners are going to want to meet you soon," Lindsey continued. He wanted to sit down and tell her that she didn't have to go if she didn't want to, but he realized that it wouldn't come over. He knew that they didn't have a choice in the matter; and he was sure that even though she'd only been alive again for two weeks, Darla knew, too.

"Okay." Her voice was soft, resigned, and once again he was amazed at how different she was from how everyone had described her. She wasn't a monster, just a scared young woman. But then, she'd been dead for several years and she was human now. The shock of coming back would've been enough to kill most people, Holland had told him when she sat there, huddled in a corner of the steel cage in the middle of the ritual space. "Then why do it, Holland?" he'd asked when he saw how scared she was. Holland had simply given him a small smile that seemed to say 'if you were a decent lawyer, you wouldn't be asking me that'.

Lindsey shook off the feelings of incompetence Holland Manners always brought up in him, and focused on the small blonde figure in the king-sized bed.

"There's breakfast in the kitchen when you're ready," he said simply before walking back out and into the kitchen of his large apartment.

When Darla walked into the room fifteen minutes later, dressed in the black skirt and red top he'd laid out for her, Lindsey was sitting at the kitchen table, a steaming cup of coffee and the morning paper in front of him. He looked up and smiled at her. She hadn't seen him smile before, she thought.

He has a nice smile.

"You hungry?" he said, getting up and walking over to the counter to pick up a pan with bacon and eggs sizzling in them.

"No I'm fine, I'll just take some coffee," she said. Lindsey put the pan back down, and Darla tried to study his expression as he walked back to his seat. For two weeks now, he'd been making breakfast every day, and every day she'd turned it down, but if he was feeling even the slightest bit annoyed or disappointed, he didn't let it show.

Darla poured the steaming black liquid in an expensive-looking mug and sat down across the table from him. Neither of them talked as he read the paper while she took small sips of her coffee and studied his face. She was sure he could feel her looking at him, but he didn't flinch. Finally, she put down her mug.

"Lindsey." He nearly shivered when he heard the sadness with which she said his name. "This meeting with the Senior Partners…" she said, and watched him fold up his paper and look at her.

"Yeah?"

"Are they going to tell me… why they brought me back?" Lindsey leaned back in his chair and rushed his good hand through his hair.

"I don't know what they're gonna say. It's possible."

"Do you know why they brought me back, Lindsey?"

Stop saying my name like that, he thought, avoiding those questioning eyes by staring at the headlines of his folded-up paper. Finally, he felt he had the courage to look at her again.

"No," he said simply. "I don't know what they're planning and I'd prefer not to say anything unless I'm sure. I am a lawyer after all." A small smile tugged at her lips. "But I have an idea," he continued. She nodded.

"Angel." The name floated through the room. This time it was his turn to nod. He wished desparately that she wouldn't start talking about the vampire.

"Yeah. Angel… But like I said, I'm not in on the plan. Not yet at least," he added, eager to change the subject.

"Would you lie to me?" she replied. Her voice was still soft, but already she sounded less insecure than just fifteen seconds ago.

"No, I wouldn't." His answer came out much quicker and more truthful than he would have liked. She looked at the table top, her little smile softening her features even more.

"Would you tell me if you did know?"

Before he could stop himself, his hand reached across the table and cupped her cheek, lifting up her chin so their eyes met.

"Yeah. I would…" For a couple of seconds she stared at him, surprised at the emotion showing in his eyes. Then his hand fell back onto the table and he pushed his chair back with a jolt and got up.

"We should get to the office. We're already late," he said, and she looked at him as he started packing his briefcase with his good hand.

-

TBC