Owing (6/7)
Author- Midnight Faith
Feedback-
missangel186@hotmail.comSpoilers- Blind Date
Distribution- FF.net, AOH, watcherscouncil.com and Neurotica… anyone else just ask :)
Pairing- Lilah/Lindsey
Rating- NC-17
Summary- Actions always have consequences, and now Lindsey must pay the price
Disclaimer- they belong to the almighty Joss… I am but a child in his candy store
Notes- many, many hugs and kisses to Seersha, Minim Calibre for the 'americanising,' and Roseveare for teaching me to write in coherent sentences :)
Holland had called an 'emergency meeting' with both Lindsey and Lilah at nine o'clock.
It was now 8:56 and Lilah was getting tenser by the second, if that were at all possible- that morning her hands had shaken so much she hadn't been able to put her eyeliner on.
She leaned forward, willing herself to breathe deeply, until she felt Lindsey's hands on her back.
"Stop it!" she turned around and hissed.
"Lilah, the cat's pretty much out of the bag now."
"It's still not very professional."
Lindsey leaned back into his chair and sighed, wanting to soothe her frazzled nerves, and thought back to how perfect yesterday had been. Watching movies and lying on her bed for most of the day, finding out more of what the other liked.
Later, Lilah had told him, 'Come on. It'll be OK if we do it in the bath, and if you don't fuck me sometime soon I'm gonna go insane.' He'd picked her up and run her a bath, letting her slide into it before joining her. The sex had been gentle, soft, lasting for the better part of an hour and when she came she arched right up into him, moaning, 'Oh God, Lindsey.'
Afterwards, they'd dried themselves off, and as Lindsey watched Lilah climb into bed he'd pointed out,
"You said my name."
"Haven't I before?" She batted her eyelashes with faux innocence.
"Weren't you thinking about me before?"
"Sometimes," she teased, "Sometimes Russell Crowe." She leaned in to kiss him. "But for the last couple of weeks it's been you. My Lindsey."
"And my Lilah."
Lilah was confused. Nervous as hell, yes, but mostly confused. Here she was, wholly prepared to walk into a meeting with her boss and quit her job for Lindsey. Of course, avaricious by nature, she wanted both- but yesterday had clarified the way she felt about Lindsey. The way he'd treated her, touched her, brought her painkillers and tea in bed, kissed her and given her back rubs. And afterwards his gentleness in the bath had just felt right.
She watched the second hand tick towards the twelve, and exactly as it reached the number the door opened and Holland walked out.
Lilah hesitated, trying to swallow down nerves.
"Lilah," Holland acknowledged, "I'd like to speak to you first."
She nodded, but Lindsey said, coming to stand beside her, "It's both of us or nothing."
"I'd like to hear Lilah's version of events first," Holland told him coldly.
"There is no 'version of events…'"
"It's OK, Lindsey," Lilah cut in, her voice tense and strange and not quite hers.
Holland turned and walked into his office, leaving Lilah and Lindsey alone in the reception area. Lindsey opened his mouth, but Lilah silenced him with, "It'll be OK. I promise. Just stick to the plan." She kissed him once on the lips, suddenly feeling calmer, more in control. With non-shaking hands, she followed Holland into his office.
*****
For the first time in fifteen years, Lilah was chewing her fingernails- correction, fingernail, specifically her left thumb. It highlighted her nervousness perfectly. She wished she had something of Lindsey's in her office to comfort her. If she drove home to her apartment she might actually believe they were living together, the amount of things she'd collected of his. Half finished bottles of scotch, packets of his favourite chips, DVDs, country music CDs she hated but played on the odd hour he was away to remind her of him. Her bedroom, they were definitely sharing now. His things littered every corner, magazines, books, cologne, shaving foam and clothes taking up half her closet.
And then there were things that belonged to neither of them- that were simply theirs. Hand written notes, a pair of lacy, black panties he'd bought for her, half finished games of hangman.
Lilah sunk forward on her desk, mentally cursing herself, rehashing her conversation with Holland, kicking herself for her answers, for appearing so weak, vulnerable.
"So what exactly is going on between you and Lindsey?"
"What's going on?"
"Yes, Lilah."
"I really don't think it's any of your business."
"I think it is. It will enable me to make a decision about both of your futures. Try to give me a definition. Are you, for example, 'seeing each other?' 'Dating?' Because, like I told you, before this kind of thing can only detract from the usefulness of employees."
"We're in a relationship."
"Really? Do you love him?"
"Would I be here if I didn't?"
"Lilah?" Lindsey's hand shaking her shoulder snapped her from her thoughts.
"Lindsey?" She threw her arms around his neck, squeezing tightly, once again tense and shaking.
"You OK?" He drew back to quickly check her face and neck for marks.
"I'm fine. Are you alright?" She rested her hand on his cheek.
He gently eased her from her chair onto the floor and put his arms around her.
"I'm OK, now." He sighed into her hair and she let him hold her for a moment, before asking, "Did Holland make his decision yet?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"He offered me an ultimatum. Either I keep my promotion and go to the New York office or I accept a demotion but I get to stay here."
"I guess it won't be too bad. There'll be weekends and Christmas is coming up," Lilah sighed, stroking his hair.
"Lilah-"
"I'd never ask you to give up your promotion."
"I know. And that's why I did."
She didn't say anything for a moment, only holding him tighter.
"How long did Holland give you to decide?"
"Twenty four hours."
"You should take that time."
"Lilah." He lifted her chin; "No-one needs a company car and a six figure salary. I need you, though."
She smiled as he kissed her forehead. "Are you sure about this? It could mean no promotions for years, maybe never."
"I don't care."
"We've only been together five weeks."
"And I haven't been home, not to sleep anyway, in that time. We're practically living together."
"One step at a time." She struggled free of his arms and got up off the floor. "You should go- just in case."
"I'll pick you up on the way home?"
She nodded, as he got up from the floor and kissed her again. "Seven-ish?"
*****
"You ready to go?" Lindsey asked, stepping inside Lilah's office just after 7:00.
She looked up at him from a pile of papers on her desk.
"I guess not." He closed the door, throwing his briefcase and coat onto the leather sofa. "What's all this? I thought you were pretty much case free."
"Holland offered me a four day weekend if I pulled an all-nighter to finish this case."
He dropped into the chair opposite her, annoyance obvious in his face.
"Four day weekend, Lindsey," she repeated, "Plus, he kind of implied he'd look the other way if you were AWOL on those days too. You should go home, get some sleep. I'll call you tomorrow."
"No. I planned to spend the night with you and I'm not changing plans because Holland's snapped his fingers and you've jumped. Two of us will get this case done faster. Where should I start?"
"Lindsey?"
"Hmm?"
She sighed, leaning forward.
"If you do this for me, I'll be back to owing you again."
"For God's sake, Lilah. You owe me nothing." He picked up a pile of papers and stomped off to the sofa.
She followed, sitting down beside him. "Are you pissed at me?"
"No. I'm pissed at Holland for being such a moron. He could've asked someone else."
"Lindsey." She put her arms around him. "Let's not. It could be much worse. One of us could be on a flight to Japan."
"I guess." He leaned his forehead against hers. "Today has driven me crazy. Knowing you're right down the hallway and not being with you."
"Crazy is something we'll have to deal with," she said, swinging her legs over his lap, "Now shut up, McDonald. Let me get this done so I can start my four day weekend."
"Mine too."
"You're only staying with me if you help with this brief."
"Then perhaps I'll get to help you with a different kind of brief later?"
"Very possibly."
Around 4:00, Lindsey delivered the twenty page document to Holland's office, the post-it note attached simply reading, 'From us both.' He walked back to Lilah's office, where she lay on the sofa, completely exhausted.
"I'll drive," he said, picking up her car keys and cell phone from her desk, "I'll leave my stuff. You want me to carry you?"
"No- I think I'm just about capable of walking."
His arm around her waist, they walked across the parking lot to her car. He helped her into the passenger seat, wrapping his jacket around her to keep her warm, before driving to her apartment. She fell lightly asleep on and journey and this time she let him pick her up and carry her to her apartment, and lay her in her bed. He removed her shoes and skirt, tucking her in before taking off his own shoes and pants and lying beside her. She moaned slightly, linking her hand with his, and moving closer.
"You know when you're so tired you just can't sleep?"
"Yeah."
"I have that now- talk to me." She flipped over, eyes still closed, cuddling into the crook of his shoulder.
"There are some things I've been meaning to tell you anyway. Firstly, you're the most beautiful thing I've ever seen. I'm really looking forward to this weekend and I love… being with you." He turned away, laughing awkwardly at himself, "Mr. Suave, huh?"
"You too," she said, opening her eyes.
He leaned down to kiss her softly, smiling into her mouth, something fluttering deep inside.
After the kiss broke, neither of them said a word. They didn't need to, simply curling up into a ball, holding each other close until long after daybreak.