Diana Troy… Glad you returned! :) I hear you 100 percenton the whole Buffy Bias. I was always 'I hate, despise, loathe Buffy' but then I realized that I disliked her mostly because of the other fics I've read as well… and for how she just breezed in and out on 'Angel' leaving misery in her wake. But I thought back to the original 'Buffy' and why I liked it (other than Angel and Cordy). So, I'd rather see the two girls complement each other more and grow rather than carry on a juvenile grudge. I'm glad you approve. It's always ticked me off about Cordy's coma as well. The show did a complete 180 without properly explaining anything. It was SOOO frustrating. I pretty much stopped watching for that reason alone. And the final episode did nothing for me – except make me sad that Wes died. Anyways, we'll all have to see where I go with this. Cross your fingers that it all turns out well. Thanks for the lovely review. See ya in the new year!

Yashoda… Oh my… I'll second your 'Gah!'. That was one of the nicest reviews I've received in a while. I'm sorry that it's been so agonizing with the updates. I'll try to be better about that. But, your review has inspired me to write. So, more Lindsey, more C/A, possibly a F/S thingy as you requested… who knows where this will go! Thank you for the splendid review. You've made my crappy day a lot brighter. Now, I've got to go write… :)

Imzadi… I'm glad you're still reading. I worry when it takes me a while to update that everyone's going to be sooooo pissed at me that they'll flame me or not read anymore just to get even! I forgot about the long-lost siblings theory! I remember you saying that before. Sorry about that. I don't think I'll introduce Gwen/Kate/Anne in this story because it may mess with the plot and make this more epic than it's turned out to be. Sorry! Plus I really don't think I'd do them justice (the pairing), but who knows… maybe later… Thanks for sticking with me! Later!

AngelCordyFan32… Thanks for your review on BOTH of my Angel pieces. I'm glad you like 'em. Ooooooooh, I love guesses! They make me happy. We'll see if you're right! Thank you, again, for the great review. I won't make you beg… much! :)

Genevieve719… I recognize that name! I'm glad you liked it. I know it's been a while… a LONG while, to be precise. Angel just hasn't been as insisting as it has been in the past. I'm hoping that'll change, though. Thanks for the loyal review. I appreciate it!

Goldenshadows… I love A/C stories too! I'm not sure I'm going to introduce more characters at this pint. It may screw up the plot and make this insufferably long. Hopefully, I can tie this together soon! Thanks for the review, I love 'em.

Angel-cordy… You came back! Oh yay! I really am sorry about the waiting. I'm not a patient reader either. I'll try to be better, but I really can't promise… sorry…

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Lindsey felt a cool hand on his forehead as the world began to come back to him.

"He feels cool to the touch. At least he doesn't look like he's in pain anymore," a woman's voice said as his vision started to clear. After a moment, Cordelia Chase's concerned gaze was distinguishable to him. The fact that she hadn't jumped when his gaze connected with hers told him that he must have been conscious during this latest attack. With a groan, he raised a hand to his aching forehead. That caused everyone to jump.

"Well… that was fun," he said wryly. Cordelia stood up, the concerned look becoming stony.

"What the hell happened?" she asked. Lindsey looked up at her and tried to smirk.

"Awww, you worried? I thought I was a threat," he commented. Cordelia's eyes narrowed slightly.

"I don't need to take out an ad to say that I don't trust you, Lindsey. But no one deserves what I just saw," she said, a mixture of wariness and understanding in her voice.

"What was that?" the girl named Fred asked. Lindsey turned to her, careful not to overtax his aching muscles.

"Remember those loopholes I mentioned earlier?" he asked. Wes, Gunn and Fred all nodded. "That was the lack thereof…" Wes stooped down next to the ex-lawyer.

"You mean that was the Senior Partners?" he asked, pulling together some idea of what was going on, and forming his own suspicions. Lindsey nodded once.

"That was their version of 'Honey, I'm home'…" he said bitterly. "Especially now that they know I'm here… and why…" Angel, who had been completely silent up to this point, stepped forward, arms crossed over his chest.

"Why, exactly, are you here? You never answered my question before besides give us cryptic remarks," he said. Lindsey sat up onto his elbows and looked at the vampire.

"I'm here because… I need help…" he said with a resigned sigh. Gunn frowned.

"Why should we help you? The last time we did that, you threw it back in our faces," he said.

"I meant what I said before. I don't want the world. I'm done with the power trip. All it's ever done is take from me. If the Senior Partners go down, my life is my own again. That's all I want…" he said.

"Really?" Angel asked doubtfully. Lindsey rolled his eyes.

"Don't you get it? The Senior Partners have been behind everything. It wasn't a coincidence that Miss Chase's guide to becoming a 'higher power' was that demon Skip. The Powers were never part of that equation. The only time the Powers came into play at all in the past year was to ensure Miss Chase's body became her own again… in whatever form she so chose," Lindsey said as he sat up completely. Wes held out a hand to him to help him stand. The ex-lawyer looked at it for a second before he reached up and took it.

"How did you come to know all of this Lindsey?" the ex-Watcher asked. Lindsey brushed himself off before speaking.

"The Powers came to me," he said. Fred nodded.

"You said that you had another allegiance… but why you?" she asked. Lindsey let out snort.

"It was safe to say that none of you were in any condition to become a messenger – or even receptive enough to understand. You were all here playing with your own little version of the Dark Arts. Miss Chase was understandably occupied at the time. And the Powers knew that I wanted out," he said simply. Everyone in the room shuffled uncomfortably at the mention of their own part in whatever mess has been unleashed.

"Out of what?" Wes asked.

"Out of the contract. Wolfram & Hart offer power, prestige and a chance to take over the world in exchange for your life. I want no part in the first and to regain the last… but seeing as it's the Senior Partners, it's understandable that they won't see it so simply. They want me dead," Lindsey said. Spike chuckled.

"I'll send flowers for your casket, mate," the ghost said with a smirk. "You look like a tiptoe through the tulips sorta bloke…"

"Shut up, Spike," Buffy hissed from where she stood. "You're not helping."

"You forget, Slayer, I'm not here to help. I'm here to antagonize… and, of course, look pretty. Powers know you lot don't even come close," he said as he sat himself down on the arm of the couch that Lindsey had moved to. Cordelia let out a 'pffft' as she crossed her arms.

"You're Vision Boy. I'm the one who's here to antagonize and look pretty," she said. Spike grinned at her.

"Throw down for the title, luv?" he asked. Again, Cordelia let out a 'pffft'.

"Right… anyways, what are we going to do about Lindsey?" she asked, turning to look at Angel, who was still half-glaring at, half-observing the ex-lawyer. Lindsey stood up and held up a hand to stop whatever conversation was going to start.

"I don't want your help… I just want you to do what you're supposed to do. When you do that, then I'll get what I want," he said.

"And what, precisely, are we supposed to do? You've been less than forthcoming with us. You've told us why you are here and what you're supposed to be doing, but you haven't really told us anything," Wes said.

Lindsey let out a sigh as he sat down again.

"You guys have been on the right track. It centers around the boy," he said, looking over at Conner. All eyes went to the teenager as well before going back to Lindsey.

"You're saying that his blood has started the apocalypse," Wes said more than asked. Lindsey nodded.

"We took care of that demon," Fred noted. "Do you know what else is happening?"

"The demon was a part of the calling ritual, not even a speck on the apocalyptic hierarchy. There will be attacks, there will be more rituals, there will be more demon uprisings than ever before," he said. Buffy shuffled uncomfortably.

"Maybe I should be back at the Hellmouth. The gang won't be able to handle all of that by themselves without me or Spike," she said. Spike's eyes shot to the Slayer, surprised that she'd even acknowledge his help in front of others. Lindsey shook his head.

"No. You will be needed here. The attacks, rituals and uprisings are only the side-show. The warm-up, if you will. The main act will be something you should have been expecting for the past year…" he said.

"What is it?" Gunn asked. The ex-lawyer rolled his eyes.

"If you think I'm going to tell you outright so I can have another fit, you've got another thing coming. But if you just sat still for two seconds and actually thought about it, you could probably figure it out all by your lonesome…" he said. Silence fell over the group. Cordelia stood up straight.

"We've got to go to the hotel…" she said suddenly. Everyone looked at her.

"What are you saying, Cordelia?" Wes asked, a frown on his face.

"Think about it Wes. Let's start putting some things together… who or what has been a major life altering factor in everyone's life for the past year or so?" she asked. Everyone looked around the room for a second, each thinking over everything that they knew.

"The Senior Partners," Angel said finally, his eyes meeting Cordelia's. She nodded.

"Exactly. They arranged for my vacation, they arranged for Conner's kidnapping, they altered memories, they gave each and every one of you a 'new life'. That new life included you being their pawns, working in the belly of the beast. You thought it would be to your advantage to work out of here. But really, all it was doing was providing each of you distractions away from what was really going on," she said. "So…"

"The hotel would provide us with neutral ground, away from whatever could have been influencing us here," Wes said. Cordelia nodded.

"Is it still empty?" she asked, looking to the vampire. Angel nodded once. Lindsey stood.

"By jove, I do believe you've won the Christmas ham…" he said. "Now that you seem to be on track…"

"Aren't you coming with us?" Fred asked with a frown. Gunn stepped forward.

"Yeah, this could be a trap, you know. And we wouldn't want little old you just up and disappearing all of a sudden now, would we?" he asked, clenching his fists. Lindsey held up his hands.

"The Powers can protect me only so much. It's why I have those little fits now rather than being straight out dead. The Senior Partners are powerful enough to keep me from outright helping you, but the Powers know enough to help me dodge them for a little bit. I can't be any more help to you right now. I need to go lie low," he said before turning to leave. Buffy stepped forward to stop the retreating man.

"You can't just leave us now! You're the only information we've got against whatever is going to happen!" she said.

"Yeah," Fred said, stepping forward as well. "You should probably be here with us. We have no idea what they're going to spring on us next."

"I do believe I know," Wes said quietly. He turned to look at everyone. "It's not just a matter of the Senior Partners calling up something dastardly to end the world…"

"Then what is it, Wes?" Buffy asked, impatient at all the drama. Wes grimaced.

"It is the Senior Partners," he said. Gunn stood up straight, his arms crossed over his broad chest.

"So you're saying that this could very well be the actual end of the world battle? The big guns are being brought out? No evil lackeys that we can take down with our lethal banter, deadly skills, and ruthless good looks?" he asked. Wes nodded solemnly.

"I do believe that Cordelia's suggestion of moving to the hotel may be best at this point. We are certainly not prepared for whatever the Senior Partners could throw at us unawares while we are here," he said looking around the lobby of Wolfram & Hart, the consequences of their actions of the past year sinking in fully. Everyone nodded as Gunn's shoulders dropped slightly.

"Well, shit…"

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A/N – Well, I know that was really short, but I thought I'd reward all the reviewers I mentioned above with a small present before the holidays. This little section helped me to tie it all together in my head and I think the plot may finally be rolling towards the end. All we need now is some action, baby! Along with some A/C loving, and quite possibly some B/S acknowledgment… and others? We'll see… if something jumps into my head, I'll write it. Anyways, let me know what you think… Please!