Cause and Effect (5/10)

Author- Midnight Faith

Spoilers- various for season 2, up to and including 'Dead End.'

Distribution- FF.net, AOH and Neurotica. Anyone else ask :)

Pairing- Lilah/Lindsey

Rating- R

Summary- Lindsey and Lilah find apart time tough

Disclaimer- I am the kid, but it's Joss' candy store

Notes- Sequel to 'Owing.'

"How long's it been now?" Lindsey asked into the receiver with a broad grin.

Across town, Lilah glanced at her watch and said into her office phone, "Two hours."

"And how long since we last-"

"Three and a half hours."

"Well, I can't wait 'til tonight."

"You overheating there?" she teased, swivelling in her chair, fingering the wedding band on the chain hidden underneath her turtleneck. They'd been married for ten days now and this was the first time they'd been apart. Both of them were finding it unbearable. This was their third phone call to each other today, despite the fact they were meeting in less than an hour for lunch.

"Just the sound of your voice does that."

"So what's it gonna be like when you see me?"

"There may be a felony committed. Take the afternoon off?"

"I'm sorry, Lindsey, I can't. This paperwork is unbelievable and I have five hundred e-mails to get through."

He sighed, disappointed. "I guess some time apart might do us good."

"It'll get easier." Lilah smiled sadly, playing with the phone cord, spirals winding around her fingers. "Plus, we have all night to be together. Except we don't. I have to take Tigger to the vet for her eight-week check up and vaccinations."

"What time's the appointment?"

"Seven. I can pick up Thai takeout on the way back."

"I'll come with you if you want- I've never been to a vets."

"You have three dogs in Oklahoma and you never took them to the vets?"

"We didn't have the money."

"And we don't- really."

"I know."

"Do you think she's OK by herself all day?"

"I'm sure she's fine."

"Do you think she's lonely?"

"Lilah- she's a cat."

"I know- but I feel guilty about leaving her."

"She's not in the cattery now."

"I'll check on her after lunch."

"I'll come with you- perhaps in the literal sense."

"Can't we wait until tonight? Until after the appointment?"

"Sure. I was just teasing." Lindsey looked up as the front door to the hotel opened and Cordelia walked in carrying a brown paper bag full of groceries. "I've got to go, Lilah. See you soon."

"Looking forward to it…"

"Love you."

"Bye."

Cordelia set the groceries down on the front counter before asking Lindsey, "Lilah, again?"

"Yeah." He smiled and coloured slightly. "I just needed to hear her voice. Take the phone calls out of my pay check."

"First day apart from your evil girlfriend-now-spouse? Must be hard."

"It is. I ache for her."

"That nice… and, graphic."

"You know what I mean."

"How is she, anyway?" Cordy asked, hopping up onto the counter and locating an apple in her grocery bag.

"She's fine. Busy, but fine. Why do you ask?"

"Because she's your wife. You're playing house with her and it's polite. Visitation rights restricted to after hours only."

*****

On arriving home Lilah was greeted by Tigger mewing and weaving round her ankles. Smiling, she deposited her briefcase and picked up the cat, who purred and nuzzled into her shoulder.

Lindsey appeared from the kitchen and advanced towards Lilah. "Is tuna pasta bake OK?" he asked, kissing her on the cheek. "Thai for later, continuing our 'we eat a lot' schedule."

"You're a God. It sounds delicious."

He moved to hug her, but Tigger hissed and swiped a paw at him. Lindsey backed away.

"That cat doesn't like me."

"Sure she does. She just didn't want to get squashed. I think she should sleep in our bed tonight. The inoculations might scare her."

"I don't want to reach out for you in the middle of the night and get bitten."

"It never bothered you before, lover." she purred, sultrily.

"That was you, not the needle sharp teeth of a kitten. It would trash all the work the cattery did with her. She stayed in her basket all night, yesterday."

"I guess so." Lilah sighed and tickled the cat behind the ear.

"Sit down, come on, you look exhausted." Lindsey guided Lilah down the steps and sat her down on the sofa. She set Tigger down and the cat contentedly curled up at one end, licking her paw.

"She's precious." Lilah noted.

"And I was under the impression you had the maternal instinct of an ironing board."

"It's not maternal instinct. It's… a certain fondness for animals that extends as far as our little ball of fluff." She smiled at the cat before turning back to Lindsey. "I could use that hug now."

He drew her to him, holding her in his arms before flicking a stray lock of hair away from her face. "You look tired."

"Rough afternoon."

He took her hand from where it rested against his chest and brought it to his lips. "You're wearing your ring."

"Linwood knows. Random mind reading. He spent the afternoon laying into me." She shivered against him.

"He didn't hurt you, did he?"

"Not in the physical sense. Some of his words stung a bit."

"Words are all he has, Lilah." He kissed her hair. "What did he say?"

"I don't want to tell you. But one of the more pleasant anecdotes was 'He doesn't love you- the psychics saw it the last time they read him.'" She exhaled.

"Did you believe him?"

"I don't know."

"Lilah-" he cupped her face, looking her in the eye, "I love you, you know that."

She smiled weakly, abashed. "Yeah, I know."

"Good."

"I think he's bitter he can't rip us apart. If you were still at the firm we'd be lucky if we wound up in the same dimension. I can't even think about it- it'd be horrible."

"I'm not going anywhere," he reassured, playing with her hair. "Let me take Tigger to the vet. You look like you could do with some sleep."

"No. If I sleep now, I won't tonight."

"Well, when we get back we can have Thai food in bed. Are you worried?"

"It's nothing. Just a long day- intense." Her throat constricted with threatening tears.

"Lilah?"

"I'm alright; it's just a bit much…" She sniffed back a sob.

"Anything I can do?"

"No… Just… it's scary."

"I know. But it's also the happiest I've ever been in my life."

"Me too." She leaned up to kiss him. "Thank you."

"For what?"

"Being you. Being so special."

"Look who's talking." He ran his hand reassuringly up her back. "We're gonna be OK, you know, Lilah."

"Promise."

He hesitated a moment. "I promise."