Flesh and Blood (13/25)

Author- Midnight Faith

Pairing- Lindsey/Lilah with Cordy/Angel on the side… Kate/Lindsey, Angel/Buffy allusions

Spoilers- none

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

Rating- R

Summary- a crisis brings Lilah and Lindsey closer together

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

"Hey," Lilah and Cordelia greeted Wesley simultaneously the next morning as he walked into the kitchen of the Hyperion at 6:30.

He only earned a very brief smile from Lindsey by way of recognition as he noted both Lindsey and Lilah looked tired and glassy-eyed.

"We think Hannah's sick," Lilah said by way of explanation, "She's all… well she was up half the night… actually all of the night… she's running maybe half a degree above ninety eight point six."

"I'm sure she'll be fine," Wesley reassured her, "It's probably nothing more than… a common cold. Try giving her cold water to bring her temperature down."

"I'm just being paranoid right?" Lilah asked him worriedly, "Being a first time parent with no idea about… childhood anything."

"Probably," Wesley told her with a smile.

"What are you doing here so early anyway?" Cordy asked Wesley as he sat between Lilah and Lindsey at the table.

"I bought Lindsey's car back and Connor home so I thought I'd offer Lilah a hand moving in with you… that's if you're still going…"

"In my car?" Lindsey cut in adversely, before Lilah could reply.

"And you can see how I haven't thought this through," Wesley said.

"It was sweet of you to offer but I think I need Lindsey on this one to settle Hannah into a new place… especially the way she is right now…" Lilah told him.

"Well let's go now," Lindsey said, "That way we've got the day to move you both back in and I can cook you some sort of brunch."

"It's not like I'd ever say no to your pancakes," Lilah said as Lindsey followed her out of the kitchen, holding the door open for her and gently touching her between the shoulder blades as she walked past him.

"He's trying…" Cordelia explained to Wesley across the table, pouring him a cup of coffee, "He feels really bad about what happened…"

"Good… he deserves to…"

"I know you don't like Lindsey. But he's a decent guy and he's the father of her child…"

"Lilah knows she made a mistake… she doesn't need to hear about it from him every time they have a row in the next five years… something that seems to be a weekly occurrence. Anyway, far be it for me to judge her… you still looking for a bigger flat?"

"We're going to need to if Lilah's staying permanently… her and Hannah can hardly camp on my sofa forever can they?"

"Well then you're in luck… one just became available in the building opposite me… it'll be ready the day after tomorrow and the occupants are looking for a quick deal… emigrating to Australia apparently. It'd be perfect for you… split level, four bedrooms… it's almost like two apartments in one."

"OK… you can save the sales pitch… We can't afford it… even with a quick sale… and it's not like we can manage rent every month with money being as wonderfully sporadic as it is here…"

"But with three people plus Hannah… rent shouldn't be too much of a problem."

"Is this my cue to say 'Wesley. Move in with Lilah and me so you can play happy families with her and Hannah.'"

"No… I'm perfectly happy in my own flat and I'm not interested in Lilah in that way…"

"Good… as long as we're clear. Because she has this knack of sending out this 'screw me I need to feel loved or at least something,' vibe to every male she meets. So if not you then who's the third roommate? Angel and Fred are pretty much settled here…"

"What about Kate?"

"I don't think so… Lindsey?"

"I'm sure it'll be fun to live with them… they can yell up and down the stairs at each other before screwing and you can get the 'I feel used…' speech from each of them in the morning."

"Not likely… his and Lilah's screwing days are over as you so gently put it… he's asking Kate to go steady with him today…"

"How does Lilah feel about this?"

"How do you think she feels? She's devastated… her and Lindsey are soulmates…"

"Since when do soulmates make each other cry every night?"

"Since forever… look at Buffy and Angel… they're soulmates but major angst factor. Lindsey's the only guy Lilah's ever loved… I think he's the only guy she ever will love…"

*****

"Hey," Cordy said, opening the door of her apartment to Lindsey and Kate.

"Is she still running a fever?" he asked stepping inside.

"Yeah… Hannah's still sick," she told him, "We thought it was best to probably call you… see what you think. Lilah's got her in my room trying to calm her down… she just won't stop crying… and Lilah's getting in a serious state over her…"

Lindsey followed the sound of Hannah's crying through to Cordelia's bedroom leaving Cordy and Kate standing uncomfortably in the living room.

Lilah was pacing up and down with Hannah looking shaken, exhausted and close to tears.

"She was fine… snively but fine… and the next thing I know she's running a hundred and two," Lilah explained to Lindsey, handing Hannah to him, "How is this possible? She's thirteen days old and she has the flu? I don't know what to do… what if this is my fault? What if by moving her from the hotel to here I gave her some sort of bug? Its not like I can give her two aspirin and say 'Here Han, swallow these.' I just don’t know what to do…" she told him, her eyes filling with tears.

"It's OK…" he reassured her, "I'm going to drive her to the hospital, we're going to let the doctors take care of her… everything's going to be fine. How long will it take you to throw a bag together?"

"Three minutes…"

"I'll send Kate in to help you…"

Lindsey left Lilah in Cordy's room taking Hannah with him.

"How is she?" Kate asked him, going forward to take Hannah from him, gently rubbing a hand up and down his spine.

"Can you give Lilah a hand?" he asked, weaving around her to go and stand next to Cordelia.

"Sure…" Kate told him, a little taken aback.

"I'm taking her to the hospital…" Lindsey told Cordelia.

"Great… I'm coming with you…"

"You don't need to… she's my daughter I can take it from here…"

"Stop and think for a minute. She's not just yours… she's Lilah's too. And right now Lilah is freaking out and blaming herself… but I guess you don't care about that…"

"I never said I didn't care…"

"You never said you did either… that's why I'm coming with you…"

"OK… but you and you only. This isn't an Angel Investigations team building activity… I need you to call the hospital for me."

"I've got my cell, we'll call them on the way. I'm calling Wes too… he was going to stay at the hotel tonight…"

"Why?"

"Because he'll want to know… because he cares. Who do you think sat up all night with Lilah those months when you were on your unscheduled walkabout and comforted her… talked to her… made her feel at least human…"

"You?"

"Yeah, me but Wesley was there too…"

"OK… we're ready," Kate said, Lilah following close behind her.

"Thanks," Lindsey told Kate, as he handed Hannah to Cordy, ushering Lilah quickly out of the door, "Call Angel… get him to come and pick you up."

"Can't I come with you…"

"This is a family thing…" Lindsey said, kissing Kate guiltily on the cheek before following Lilah and Cordelia down the steps and to his car leaving Kate staring vacantly after him…