Flesh and Blood (11/25)

Author- Midnight Faith

Pairing- Lindsey/Lilah with Cordy/Angel on the side… some Lilah/other and Lindsey/other

Spoilers- none

Distribution- ff.net, Ace of Harts, Neurotica… anyone else just ask :)

Rating- R/NC-17

Summary- Lilah realises she made a mistake… Lindsey doesn't make it any better

Notes-' Part 3/3 of a trilogy. Which also contains 'Southern Comfort' and 'Silver Cloud, Bitter Lining.'

Warning: This part deals with adult issues including drug abuse

Lilah slept late the next morning, feeling sunlight on her face long before she opened her eyes.

Smiling at the memories forged from last night, she opened her eyes to look at the digital clock on Lindsey's side of the bed. The clock read 10:59 and she also noted the room was deserted except for her.

It was then she realised a note with her name on it lay on Lindsey's pillow. She smiled, recognising the handwriting to be Lindsey's before she unfolded it and began to read:

When Lilah got out of the shower she began to towel dry her hair as she crossed the landing, smiling as she heard the double rushed voices of Lindsey and Cordelia beneath her.

She quickly threw on a brown short skirt, white sleeveless top, accompanied by tan kitten heels, mascara and a smudge of neutral pink lip-gloss.

She smiled at herself in the mirror, before exiting the room, going down the stairs expecting to find Lindsey and Cordy in the kitchen, the atmosphere light and filled with the scent of summer fruit crepes and coffee.

She sensed the uneasiness in the atmosphere before she reached the lobby.

Cordelia and Lindsey both looked despondent and Hannah was crying in Lindsey's arms.

"What's wrong?" Lilah asked, trying to keep her voice sunny, holding out her arms to take Hannah from Lindsey.

He turned away from her coldly, trying to comfort Hannah himself.

"What's wrong?" she asked him, fearfully, the panic and nervousness beginning to rise up in her voice.

"I'm going out," Lindsey told Cordelia, completely blanking Lilah, as he walked out of the front door of the hotel, taking Hannah with him.

Lilah turned to Cordy apprehensively as she wordlessly handed her a large brown envelope.

Lilah peered inside seeing A3 sized surveillance prints and a smaller hand written note.

"What are they?" Lilah asked Cordy, swallowing hard against a suddenly dry throat, passing the envelope back to her.

"The pictures?" Cordy said, trying to keep the nonchalance from her voice, "Surveillance from that club you went to last night. They're all of you. Not your best film reel ever. You kissing that Alex guy… though kissing is a bit of an understatement. You with two other guys, I think it's dancing, looks more like mating. You drinking. You in tequila drinking contest. You drinking from large bottle of tequila. You smoking… oh but wait… here's the best one… you getting better acquainted with Lady snow."

"I only had one line," Lilah said weakly, her knees giving way as she sat down on the sofa next to Cordelia.

"Do you have any idea how dangerous cocaine is?" Cordy lectured her, "It burns the inside of your nose out… and that's one of the nicer side effects."

"It was only one line… it's not like I'm addicted or anything… what did the note say?"

Cordy took it out of the envelope and began to read:

"Some great spells that work better with the blood of a female infant, you think we can't forge papers? See you in court for custody and drug abuse charges. Send Lilah my love, Gavin. Look… he even signed I with a kiss…"

"I screwed up so badly," Lilah said, running her hands through her hair, "Lindsey must hate me…"

"What? Wolfram and Hart are trying to kidnap your daughter and you're more worried about what Lindsey thinks of you? Right now… he probably does hate you… but he's also so in love with you he can't think straight..."

"Did he tell you that?"

"He didn't need to… he knows, just as well as I do you could've gone out and had dinner with the pope last night and Wolfram and Hart would still have found a way to make it look bad…"

"Lindsey must hate me…" Lilah repeated.

"It doesn't matter right now… I'm going to make you some tea and then Wesley wants to see you…"

"Wesley knows?"

"Everyone knows… we've got a serious battle ahead of us if we want to stop Hannah becoming demon food…"

"I can't do this…"

"Sure you can… we'll help you… it's the only way. And we do what we have to do…"

*****

"Is she OK?" Lilah asked Lindsey tentatively, late that night as he held Hannah in the darkened lobby.

"She's fine," he told her shortly.

"I know you're mad at me… but can't you be the kind of mad at me where you still talk to me?"

"It's easier being mad at you right now than being hurt by you…"

"I'm really sorry…"

"You said that already…"

"Well I am…"

"That might work with everyone else but it doesn't with me… you were like this at Wolfram and Hart… I remember. Different guy every night, always high on something… I don’t want Hannah to be brought up like that… to see you with a different guy every month…"

"And she won't have to… I told you last night… you're the only one I want…"

"And you said this after how many tequilas?"

"It's over now… last night was the start of something really good between us…"

"Last night was a complete lie… when I told you there'd been no-one but you since Sunnydale… I screwed my way half way around Nevada and Washington…"

"You're lying…"

"Maybe… but this way you'll never know… and the part where you thought I was in love with you? I can't even stand the sight of you right now… after what you've done to my daughter…"

"Lindsey…"

"Can we not right now? Can you just… get out or something?"

"Fine… I'm going… I'm taking your car…"

"I suppose you're going to tell me what colour this guy's sheets were last night…"

"Blue OK? They were blue… you happy now?"

He couldn’t tell if she was bluffing as she walked out of the foyer, slamming the door shut behind her…