AN: As always, THANKS for all the Feedback! Keep it coming!
Warning: Torture; this story is not for Lindsey fans.
Chapter 12 – The Rescue
Angel stood from the floor and lifted a sobbing Cordelia into his arms. He placed her gently on the large, plush sofa. He turned to Gunn as the demon hunter handed him two aspirin and a glass of water.
"Here, Cordy." Angel said gently as he helped her take the medication. "The pain should go away soon." The dark vampire had a million questions to ask her, but he realized he needed to allow some recovery time. His undead heart fluttered with joy knowing that they could soon rescue Spike.
The Seer's cries subsided after a few minutes. She looked at her friend as she recalled the images tumbling around in her brain. "He's in the mountains...some sort of cabin...1-3-5-4-3 Orchard Drive..." Cordelia said slowly as she closed her eyes. Fresh tears poured from them. She looked up at Angel with wide eyes. "Angel, I could feel his pain." She said sobbing as she buried her head in Angel's shoulder. "He's lost all hope. I'm not sure how much longer he can last."
Angel looked at the team as he stood. "We need to find out where this house is."
Willow spoke. "Do you have a computer? I can do a quick search that will give us directions."
"This way, Willow." Wesley directed her towards their PC.
Angel turned to Gunn. "Let's get weapons. I'm not sure if we're only dealing with humans, demons, or both."
"We'll be prepared." Gunn answered as he went to the weapons cabinet.
"I will go this time, Angel." Giles spoke firmly as he placed his jacket on. Angel acquiesced. He could sense the fatherly feelings Giles held towards his Childe. As much as Angel did not want to admit it to himself, Giles had been more of a support to Spike than he had.
Willow had her resolve face on. "Angel. I want to come. You may need magic to help him." The dark vampire nodded. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Cordelia placing her jacket on. He smiled at her strength. The six left the hotel in two cars. They sped off into the night towards the mountains.
Lindsey sat up quickly with a gasp. It was then he realized that he was on the floor. He trembled as he attempted to stand. He used the wall to climb upright. He groaned as he felt his head spin. His pupils slowly adjusted to the light as he gazed down. His eyes were wide in shock as looked down at the bloodied, naked, unconscious vampire. He searched his brain as his memory returned. He ran over to the corner of the room and fell to his knees as he violently regurgitated the contents he had ingested. Tears fell from his eyes as he looked back at the figure chained to wall. There was blood everywhere: on the floor, the bed, and on his shirt that lay crumpled on the side of the bed. Lindsey quickly left the room and went to the bathroom. He tumbled toward the basin gasping. He looked down at his shaking hands; they were covered with blood and his knuckles were cut. He scrubbed his hands with soap and then desperately threw ice cold water over his face. As he vigorously wiped his visage, he looked into the mirror. He slowly lowered the towel as he stared as his drawn face. He barely recognized the man that had come to Los Angeles three years ago.
'What have I done?' He thought.
As the crew neared the cabin, Angel began gripping the steering wheel tighter. Every so often, Cordelia glanced over to him. She was fearful of Angel's ability to control himself. As they arrived, Wesley and Angel turned off their headlights and pulled off the road prior to the driveway. They mobilized behind Angel's car to secure their weapons. Angel began feeling the pull of his Childe as they neared the cabin. There was so much pain. His demon wanted to come to the forefront.
Suddenly, Angel stopped. He turned to the group. Despite the darkness, they could see Angel's yellow eyes. "If Lindsey has hurt Spike, I will not hesitate to kill him." He said menacingly. His words sent shivers down the spines of the humans. He turned to walk again.
Lindsey practically ran from the bathroom. He felt claustrophobic and needed some air. He turned the porch light on and went outside. The nighttime cool air rushed over him and provided some relief. He was still getting his bearings when he heard a noise. His heart started beating quickly as he tried to make out what the noise was. Suddenly, a figure swooped onto the porch and lifted him from the stoop.
"Lindsey!" Angel hissed in gameface as he held the lawyer three feet off the ground by the neck. "Find Spike!" He commanded to his friends as Willow, Wesley, Cordelia and Gunn sprinted into the house to search for the blond vampire.
Lindsey struggled and gasped for breath as his legs swung frantically. His face began changing hue as he struggled less.
"Angel!" Giles yelled from behind him. "We need to find Spike!"
Angel was panting as his teeth were clenched as he attempted to choke the life out of lawyer. Suddenly, he dropped Lindsey to the ground. Giles gingerly walked up to the seething vampire and placed his hand on his back. "Go on. I'll watch him." Giles said quietly as he pointed a gun at the lawyer.
Angel stopped at the door. He looked to Giles with pleading eyes. The Ex-Watcher bent down towards Lindsey who lay on the ground clutching his neck and wheezing for breath. Giles placed the gun at Lindsey's temple. "Invite him in, now." Giles commanded, channeling a bit of the Ripper.
Lindsey gasped and conceded defeat. "Come...((cough))...((cough))...in."
Angel frantically ran into the house and was immediately bombarded with scent of his Childe, his blood, and death. He saw his friends congregating outside of the back room. Wesley was shaking his head while Willow cried. Cordelia looked at her friend and with sad eyes said, "Angel..." The dark vampire pushed passed them all and stopped as he saw the tiny, naked, bloodied body of his Childe bound by his wrists. He screamed as he fell to his knees in front of the seemingly lifeless body. He ripped the chains from the wall and gathered Spike into arms. He was still in gameface as blood tears poured from his eyes as he rocked his Childe back and forth while stroking his bloodied hair.
Gunn, Wesley, Willow and Cordelia slowly backed away from the room to give Angel some time alone. They joined Giles on the porch. Lindsey lay on the ground still gasping. Gunn gently placed his hand on Giles' shoulder and motioned with his head towards the back room. Giles nodded his head and handed the gun over to him. As Giles saw Willow crying , his heart feared what he was about to witness. He followed the cries of Angel and his eyes widened when he saw the limp body of Spike in Angel's arms. He removed his glasses as his eyes watered. He bowed his head as a lone tear traveled down his cheek.
Angel roughly bit into his wrist and placed it at Spike's mouth. Come on, Will. Drink for Sire, now." There was no response from the blond vampire. "Come on, boy! Drink!" Angel commanded hoping his 'Sire voice' would make Spike obey.
Desperation filled the dark vampire's voice. "Please, Will." He whispered as he sobbed into Spike's neck. "Please!"
From behind him, Giles spoke. "Angel, let us leave." After a few minutes, Angel carefully carried Spike out the back entrance towards his friends. Gunn still had the pistol pointed at the lawyer. The vampire hunter looked directly at Angel awaiting instructions on how to deal with Lindsey.
Angel walked over to Wesley. "Please take Spike to the car for me." He transferred his unconscious Childe over to the Ex-Watcher. Angel looked intently at his friends and they knew to walk directly to the car. Giles hung back and waited on the grass about ten feet away.
Angel sighed as he looked down. His eyes closed; he slowly opened them. Lindsey attempted to move back when he saw yellow eyes staring menacingly at him. His fear set in as he saw Angel smirk.
"Now that the humans have left, we can have some fun. What should we do with you, boyo?" The dark vampire walked back and forth like a predator sizing up their prey. "You tortured my Most Favored Childe, my William; you touched what is mine and mine alone. For that, you deserve death. It wouldn't be quick, though. I could keep you alive for a very long time." He crouched next to the terrified lawyer. "What would Angel do, huh?" The dark vampire laughed. "The Souled loser would probably give you a slap on the wrist and tell you not to do it again, or else! Am I right?" He laughed again. The smile faded from his face. "Maybe that's why he let me out to play for a bit. I believe you wanted to meet me?" Angelus lifted Lindsey and punched him with such force that he flew about twenty feet and landed against the side of the cabin. The brunette lawyer struggled to get up as the wind was knocked out of him. He lay bleeding and gasping for air. Angelus walked slowly towards Lindsey.
"Just k-kill m-me..." Lindsey gasped.
"Well, it's no fun if you ask for it!" Angelus replied as he stood over the lawyer.
"I'm sorry!" Tears poured out of Lindsey's eyes.
"You're sorry?" He laughed. "Well, then that makes it all better!" Angelus said sarcastically. He lost his sense of humor quickly as he sank down to Lindsey's level. "I'm not the Souled One; sorry won't work with me." His voice was low but forceful. Angelus closed his eyes for a moment. He shook slightly. "I have to go tend to my Childe. I won't kill you yet, Lindsey. That's too easy. If I were you, I'd run. Because one of these days, I will find you. For your sake, you better be six feet under by the time we see each other again. And don't think you'll be safe if Angel is in the driving seat." He smirked again. "See, even he has a breaking point. You lawyer idiots have no idea who you are dealing with." He glared at the frightened lawyer.
"Well," Angelus said cheerfully. "I hate to eat and run; but..." He grabbed Lindsey quickly and sunk his fangs into the lawyer's neck. Lindsey screamed as he felt his blood leaving his body. Angelus did not fully drain him. He took enough to incapacitate him for some time. He threw him again as he licked his lips. He smirked at Giles before closing his eyes. After a minute, they opened. Angel turned to his right to see the unconscious but breathing body of Lindsey and walked down the porch steps towards Giles. The two walked silently to the car.
TBC...