Author: Nora
Fandom: Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel the Series
Characters/Pairing: VampTara/VampLindsey, Spike
Disclaimer: I don't own them – I wish I did – Joss is apparently god. I'm just borrowing them for my own amusement and your entertainment.

What's Mine is No Longer Yours

How dare he show up here, how did he have the nerve to track them down and try to worm his way back into their life? Into her life? Lindsey's fist slammed hard into the wall, the plaster cracking and falling away like paper around his hand and the scent of his blood making its way through the room.

"Bastard," he snarled, feeling his anger rise even more at the thought of Spike getting – or even trying to get – his hands on Tara. It had been nearly ten years since she left Sunnydale and found Lindsey in L.A. The two of them had a whole new life without that bleached blonde bastard and who gave him the right to come back now?

What he was even more pissed about was that she went out with him when he showed up at their door, pleading with Tara to come out so they could talk. Talk? Sure he wanted to 'talk'. He probably wanted to take Tara somewhere to try and break her, make her bend like he did when he first turned her. Spike wanted Tara back for himself, which was apparent as their need for blood.

He hated how careless they'd been about that schoolgirl they toyed with a while ago. Apparently Spike tracked them down from the little headline in the paper.'Missing Schoolgirl's Body Found Behind St. Vincent's.' He figures it was his fault, he told Tara he'd take care of it but just dumped the girl carelessly, not like they'd done before.

But Lindsey hated most of all that he felt unsure of what would happen next, he felt uncertain that Tara would return to him. It wasn't that he was insecure – no, it was never that – but the fact that he knew what the allure of a sire did. It was that want and need to be near them, to please them.

He had felt that for Tara since the day he saw her when he was human that night in that bar in LA, the way Lindsey found himself graviting towards her was like nothing he'd felt before. The way she made a game out of seducing him, her innocent act that turned out to be nothing more than that; an act. And it worked so beautifully well, he followed her back to her hotel room like a lost puppy begging for a snack she had in her pocket.

If he closed his eyes, Lindsey could remember every touch and every movement they made that night, the way she cried out when he pressed her face-first into the wall, his hands moving all over her body and stripped her of her clothes. The way she panted and begged him for more, only to in turn make him plead for her.

Tara had marked him that night, marked him and left him there dazed and wondering exactly why he was still alive. But the more she made a game of it – a game out of him – the more he wanted her, desired and craved her.

It wasn't long till he found himself tangled and twisted in this game that she made of him; even more so than he ever was with Darla. The sun rose and set against Tara's ever whim and want. He would and did anything she asked, including giving himself to her when she told him she wanted to spend forever with him by her side.

She made him plead and beg her nicely to turn him, a cruel smile across her face as she let her true face tear through. He had traced his fingers over the ridges of her demon, his finger moving along her fang and not even flinching when the jagged edge broke the skin of his finger.

A sound outside broke his thoughts and he was jolted back into the present, the rage and anger boiling up inside him again along with that hint of worry that gnawed at him. The feeling that Tara would leave him for her own sire, leaving him on his own and alone.; just as he had been when he was alive.

He knew that there was a chance – even as much as he tried to fight it – but he also knew he wasn't going to give her up without a fight. And if blood was shed then so be it. He was far from the slightly jaded lawyer he had been at Wolfram and Hart, and even further from the man that went to Angel with his tail between his legs asking for help.

Lindsey was a new man, a better one. He was better than he could have ever thought possible and he was going to prove that to her if he had to.

The door opened and shut quietly downstairs, he heard only one set of footsteps coming up. He felt himself become anxious at that fact. He wasn't sure who it was and it was obvious that he hoped it wasn't Spike coming to tell him that Tara was leaving with him. If that was the case, Lindsey would be bringing Spike to Tara in an ashtray.

Lindsey leaned against the wall and did his best to keep his emotions in check and not rush to her, one of the only things he used from his days of being a lawyer. He didn't want to show his cards too quickly, you were weak if you did.

Before the door to the apartment opened Lindsey could smell blood. It was fresh and he knew it wasn't from his hand; his eyes darted wildly at the sight before him, not giving him time to rejoice quietly that it was Tara standing before him.

Tara stood there, the side of her face red and swollen, her clothes pulled and rumpled, her hair messed up and the smell of blood pouring off of her and filling the room.

"Tara." He moved to her and brushed her hair from her face. "What the fuck?" Lindsey turned her face up to his and she stood there looking at him, the look in her eyes making him hurt with the pain he saw in them.

"Nothing," she whispered her throat obviously sore. He could see the dark purple marks from where Spike's fingers dug into her skin around her neck.

"Like hell it's nothing." He leaned in and ran his hands lightly over her skin, trying to make sure she was okay even though he knew she wasn't. "What did that bastard do to you?"

Tara closed her eyes and collapsed into his arms, her mind spinning as weakness and hunger started to consume her. "He…he wanted me to stay," she said finally, feeling Lindsey's arms wrap around her. Without any effort he picked her up and brought her over to the couch, panic coursing inside him at how light and fragile she looked. He knew they were stronger than humans but he never saw her look so weak.

"Tara," he whispered, reaching out and touching her face, trying to get her to open her eyes and look up at him. Every touch he made was with more care then he'd used in years, he was afraid that she'd turn to ash in his arms. He knew he wasn't ready or wanted to ever lose her to Spike, but he didn't want to lose her at all. They've come too far to be defeated now.

When she barely responded to his touch he decided his best bet was the shower; he could get the blood washed off of her and see all of the real damage that was done to her.

Lindsey gathered her limp body in his arms and brought her into the bathroom, his mind frantic and wanting to move faster than his body was but he didn't want to startle her or make her anxious. He had to stay in control for the moment.

He'd deal with Spike later.

Reaching over, he turned the water on hot, knowing it would make her warm and possibly wake her. Not caring about his clothes he stepped into the shower himself, holding her around her waist as he peeled her clothes off, leaving her bare to his eyes, focusing on where she was hurt.

"S-stop…" she whimpered, the tone in her voice making Lindsey feel helpless. "Hurts."

"Shhh, darlin'. Just hold on." He reached over and picked up a washcloth and started to wipe over her face and neck, taking her injuries in fully. "Fuckin' hell," he swore, moving her under the hot spray and brushing her wet hair away from her face.

Tara winced when his hand moved over her neck; he pushed aside her hair to reveal a fresh bite. The way Spike pulled his fangs from her caused her flesh to rip and leave a gaping wound.She whimpered and choked back her sobs as he cleaned her slowly, the blood pooling at their feet before going down the drain, leaving Lindsey with the wonder that he never thought he'd ever be sick of the scent of blood till now.

She hated that Spike did this to her, broke into her so easily. He always knew just the ways to cut into her, make her hurt. Spike did a bang-up job of that tonight. He made her feel weak when he had first said she was strong because of the gift he gave her. Tara always hated feeling and being weak – like she did now – but it was Lindsey, Lindsey always put together the pieces of her that would end up shattered and broken.

It took Lindsey nearly an hour and almost all the hot water to clean Tara of her wounds before finally turning the water off and bringing her to their bed. He wrapped a towel around her and grabbed a shirt from the dresser. Carefully he helped her put it on, buttoning a few of the buttons before helping her lean back on the bed.

"Tara? Darlin'?" Lindsey stood and walked to the dresser, picking up her hairbrush and bringing it over to the bed. "Feeling any better?" She nodded mutely and sat up as he slipped behind her and with slow gentle strokes brushed out her long hair starting at the ends that went past her hips. "You need to feed. I'm gonna make sure you're settled in and then go and bring you back someone, alright." It was a statement, not a question. She needed her energy and he had something that needed to be done.

"Okay." She closed her eyes and lay back against him, trying to block everything out that happened with Spike. It wasn't like him to act like that let alone treat her how he did. Then again Tara always thought too well of him and that all of her friends were right... He just wouldn't take no for an answer and was convinced that Lindsey had brainwashed Tara into thinking that he was the better choice over him.

Lindsey slipped from the bed, placing her brush on the night table and making great effort to keep his emotions in check. He wanted to fly into a fit of rage, trash everything and put his fist through the wall again. But he knew that wouldn't help Tara or do anything to make her feel better, so he kept his tongue and temper quiet.

He walked back to the bed and covered Tara with the satin sheet before kissing her forehead and brushing her hair off her face. "Stay here, I'll make it quick." He kissed her lips, his eyes meeting hers when he pulled back. "It'll be alright." He spoke softly, not sure if he said that for her benefit or his.

Tara watched as Lindsey made slow movements to shed himself of his wet clothes, walking around the room stark naked and unashamed as he pulled out a black wife beater and then over to the closet to pull out a tight pair of jeans. Her eyes widened slightly when she saw the boots in Lindsey's hand, those boots that always meant he was serious and on a mission.

It was no secret where he was going or what he was going to do. Tara wanted to stop him but she was too weak to protest. "Lindsey," she warned, looking up at him when he paused and turned to her. The look in her eyes said everything she wanted to tell him and he just nodded shortly, not knowing if he could stop himself before staking Spike.

Spike hurt Tara, that's all Lindsey cared about. He was going to make sure that Spike didn't just walk away from this without a visit from Lindsey showing him the error of his ways.

It took nearly two hours for Lindsey to track him down, having a few friends in this town paid off and he found himself at Spike's hotel just after two-am. He fed off of the lobby clerk, looked over the register and found Spike's room. The thought of just torching the hotel seemed like an easier plan but that's not what he wanted to do. He wanted his grandsire to suffer.

Lindsey wrapped the whip around his hand and stormed into the hotel room, a glare in his eyes as he searched the room for Spike. "Where are you, you bleached blonde piece of British trash?" His voice thundered in the room and Lindsey heard noises in the next room and made his way towards the sounds.

Lifting his boot he kicked the door open, the wood splintering under the pressure of his heel like kindling and with quick movements he made his way inside, smirking cruelly when he saw Spike on the bed, some cheap little one-night between his thighs. "Sorry to interrupt," he muttered flatly, making his way over to the bed and in one smooth motion he snapped the girl's neck, tossing her off the bed and smirking down at Spike when he finally pulled out of his haze.

"What the bloody hell…?" Spike's words were cut short as Lindsey punched him square in the jaw, sending him back into the mattress. Blinking the pain away, Spike found himself pinned to the bed with Lindsey looming over him. "If you've come for a shag, mate, you're barking up the wrong tree."

"I ain't the one that's gonna bark." Lindsey used the handle of the whip to hold Spike down by the neck. "You fucked with us one too many times." His voice was low and dangerous, the hatred and venom rolling off of him in waves.

Spike used his knee and pushed Lindsey off the bed, sending him sprawling on his back, only giving either of them enough time to stand and glare at each other, both very different men with the same common interest. Tara.

"Might be best if you left," Spike warned lowly, taking a step towards Lindsey in an attempt to push him back towards the wall. "As much as I'd love to see you dust, boy, I don't think Tara'd be too thrilled."

Shoving Spike hard, Lindsey narrowed his eyes and growled low in his throat. "The chances of me leavin' now died when you decided to beat up my girl."

"Your girl? i Your /i girl!" Spike's voice rose, fury in his eyes, both men knowing that Spike's buttons were transparent and Lindsey was hitting every one of them at the moment. Neither willing nor ready to admit it.

"Yes, my girl. She's been mine for years now, buddy. I think all that bleach seeped in and killed the few brain cells you had left because if I remember right she was the one that left you. Left you, for me," he spat, unfurling the whip in his hand and in one smooth motion he broke it across Spike's side and back, causing the elder vampire to growl and hiss, the leather digging into his skin as he stood there naked.

"Mmm, thought you'd come to fight, but if it's a spot of rough-and-ready you're after, I'd be happy to oblige," Spike tormented Lindsey, his eyes moving around the room and taking stock in what he could get his hands on. "Funny, really, it's the same thing Tara came for. I'd wager she left a might more satisfied than you will though."

Lindsey's blood boiled, making great pains to wrap the whip slowly around his fist before using all his force to punch Spike right in the jaw, a muted crack echoing in the room.

Spike swore and yelled, lunging at Lindsey until the two were struggling on the ground, each trying to get the upper hand over the other till they ended up bumping up against the body of the blonde Spike was with before.

Letting his face change, Lindsey shoved Spike off of him and got up to his feet, kicking Spike in the stomach before shedding his over-shirt and tossing it onto the floor, leaving him in just the black wife-beater. "So tired of you; you come here and think that she's just gonna welcome you with open thighs?" Lindsey used his foot and cracked the footboard, grabbing the wooden rod and using it to slam into Spike's back as he tried to get up. "There's no room in our lives for you, Spike. She doesn't want you, live with that."

With every dig he made, he would kick Spike, making sure he stayed down as he got his point across. Nobody fucked with Lindsey anymore, nobody fucked with what was his and that included Tara.

"I have a feelin' I'm gonna have to beat the shit out of you till you get it through your skull that she doesn't want you anymore. She's moved on." Lindsey bent down and brought his face close to Spike's, locking eyes with his. "She's mine now; it's my scent on her and my come inside her when she sleeps." Spike growled and Lindsey smirked cruelly, standing and walking over to pick up his discarded button down shirt.

He turned back to Spike as he shrugged it on before running his fingers through his hair. "Get outta my town you piece of shit. Don't come back or I i will /i dust you," Lindsey warned, kicking Spike hard in the ribs, hearing them crack as he smiled darkly and walked out of the room, not turning around and going back home to his life, his Tara.