Southern Comfort (5/?)

Author- Midnight Faith

Spoilers- 'Dead End,' 'That Vision Thing'

Distribution- FF.net, AOH anyone else just ask :)

Pairing- Lilah/Lindsey

Rating- PG-13

Summary- Lilah and Lindsey take a trip to Caritas

Disclaimer- not mine… yadda, yadda

She awoke just before sunrise the next morning. Surprised, though she didn't know why, to find him still in her room, sleeping lightly on top of her comforter, half way down her bed.

A half smile crossed her face as she reached down in the comfortable familiarity of friendship to smooth down a few stray strands of his hair.

This action caused him to stir in his sleep, and look up at her with sleepy eyes.

"Oh god," he said, struggling to a half sitting position, "I feel like I fell asleep about two minutes ago."

He sat up and twisted around to look at her.

"You're OK right? Do you need anything?"

She laughed slightly.

"No I'm fine… awake early… but fine. So you really stayed here all night then?"

"I guess so…"

"The last thing I remember was you sitting next to me and saying you were going to stay until I fell asleep…"

"Yeah I did… and then… I can't explain it I just wanted to stay…"

She smiled again, another weak, half smile.

"That's sweet…" she told him, "God, listen to me. I just called you sweet."

He smiled back at her.

"You too," he said.

She leaned forward caught up in the moment, moving in closer to him.

"Did I just say that?" he asked her, cupping her face with one hand, preventing her from kissing him. It wasn't that he didn't want to kiss her… he couldn't explain how he felt. He guessed it was because he'd gained her trust and he didn't want to risk losing it again… not while she was so vulnerable.

"Yeah," she said, moving back quickly realising what had almost passed between them, "You. President of the 'We hate Lilah Morgan society' back at Wolfram and Hart."

"I was never president," he cut in quickly, realising she was trying to cut the tension between them in the air, "Janitor, maybe…"

She smiled again, feeling that maybe her cheekbones would crack should she smile for much longer.

"See, I knew you knew how to." He said affectionately.

"What?" she asked.

"Smile." He told her.

He leaned forward and ran a hand through her mid length, silky hair, letting his fingers tangle with the strands.

"Lilah, what's going on with us?" he asked her suddenly.

"I don't know," she told him shakily but truthfully, "If someone had told me on Friday morning that you would walk back into my life I would've hated it. But now…"

"We'll take whatever happens slowly," he pledged to her, "and promise me no more secrets."

"I promise," she told him, "Complete honesty from here on in."

He leaned forward and let his arms encompass her shoulders. She clung to him tightly as he smoothed her hair down. Drawing back from her, he let his expression fall suddenly serious.

"What?" she asked him.

"There's something I have to tell you… actually something I have to ask you about."

"Go on…" she said slightly suspiciously.

"Yesterday… I went to visit Angel… but he wasn't there… he's out of town this week. His… associate, I guess, Cordelia asked me to go and work for her… just for this week. I mean it's not much… filing… answering the phone… strictly low key… I just wondered if you minded."

"I don't," she told him.

"Really?"

"Lindsey, you don't have to ask my opinion to take a job. I'm fine with it…" she told him.

"Thankyou," he said.

"No… Thankyou." She told him nervously.

"Why?"

"Just because…"

He drew her to him again and they didn't let go until the sun had risen high into the noon sky…

*****

"You look fantastic… I told you that already didn't I?" Lindsey asked Lilah as they walked side by side into Caritas.

"Three times," she sighed, exasperatedly.

"Lindsey… please don't walk on eggshells around me… just talk to me normally… we're just two… people… out for a drink to celebrate you getting a new job… at a demon karaoke bar..."

"I know it's a little strange," he told her with a smile, "But I used to come here all the time… before the whole plastic hand situation… Tomorrow night you can take me to a bar you like… deal?"

She nodded.

"OK number one… you actually *sing? * And two I frequent a bar which is in Beverley Hills *not* Chinatown… I go to a bar once in a blue moon… my favourite happens to be my liquor cabinet at home…" she said with a smile.

"Still an elitist at heart," he teased.

"And don't you know it…"

Lindsey caught the eye of The Host from across the room.

He was over to them in a matter of seconds.

"Lindsey! It's been… a millennium at least!" Lorne gushed happily.

They shook hands.

"Been out of town," Lindsey explained elusively.

"And I sense you're the better for it… gracing us with a number tonight?"

"No, purely a social call… Lorne this is Lilah, Lilah, Lorne,"

Lilah forced a polite smile and went to shake The Host's hand.

As soon as her skin came into contact with his she heard a shocking hissing sound radiate from his skin and he drew his hand back sharply.

"Whoa!" he said, cradling his scorched hand with his other, "Either I'm allergic to your brand of fabric softener… which I'm not… or your insides are so conflicted they're burning… literally," He paused and told Lindsey,

"I'll bring some drinks over to you and Ms. Firecracker here… once I get some ice for my hand…"

"What just happened?" Lilah said, a little shaken, a few moments later.

"Nothing… you just burned him a little…" Lindsey tried to softly soothe.

"So… now I can't even touch people without burning them? What's next? I look at someone and they'll have to call the fire department?"

"Hey," Lindsey said softly, taking her arm and guiding her gently to a booth.

"You can still touch me," he said lightly touching the tips of her fingers with his own.

"See? Safe as houses…" he told her.

They smiled warmly at each other as the Host carried their drinks over on a green bar tray.

"Here," he said, placing the tray down on the table in front of them and sliding into the seat opposite them. "TNT, sea breeze for me… and I'm sensing coke with half a shot of bacardi for el scorcho here," Lorne said gesturing to Lilah.

"Sorry about that…" Lilah trailed off.

"Only joking with ya honey, anyway it's not your fault… blame your soul, want a reading?"

"Do I have to sing?" she asked sceptically.

"No-first one's on me," he explained.

"OK," she shrugged nervously.

"Mind if he sticks around?" Lorne asked, gesturing to Lindsey awkwardly.

"No," she said simply.

"OK princess I need you to close your eyes and clear your mind,"

She did as Lorne instructed her.

"Right," he said, "Life serialised. I sense you're completely overwhelmed with work. It's making you intensely paranoid. You don't trust anyone and you haven't for a long time. You're a smart girl sweetie. You don't need to be there. But you'll never leave because you're scared to.

You avoid your family. Particularly you're sister because she's so 'normal.' You don't know it yet but you crave that normalcy.

The guys in your life. Wow… now I'm sensing I know where the fire comes from. Lingering feelings for some guy called Holland. Your mentor, your father figure right? And now he's dead, you've got no one to turn to.

Angel. Capital A-N-G-E-L. My god honey how you burn for this guy. But your subconscious is telling me not to mention a certain dark avenger in front of this guy," he gestured to Lindsey.

"OK, open your eyes sweetie,"

She did as was instructed.

"My advice? Stick with blue eyes here. He won't hurt you… he won't let you down… this time anyway. Some might even call it destiny."

"So you don't sense any true evil, any real hate then?" Lilah asked him tentatively.

"No evil… a big hate on for some guy called Gavin though… who the hell's he?"

"That would be me…" a voice said from beside them.

Lilah stood up sharply and found herself standing face to face with Gavin.

"What are you doing here?" she asked him suddenly feeling very trapped.

"Hello to you to," Gavin responded dryly, "I'm actually doing *your* job. You're supposed to be recruiting demons tonight remember?"

"Is it mutual?" she said turning to Lorne, referring to her hatred of Gavin.

He shrugged.

"Pretty much."

"Not going to introduce me to your friend?" Gavin said the acid seeping into his voice.

"Uh sure… Gavin, Lindsey… Lindsey, Gavin," she said quickly, gesturing uncomfortably between the two.

"Mr. McDonald, at last we meet," Gavin said offering him his hand to shake. "You're quite the legend in Special Projects… they say there's been no one like you since," Gavin said glancing at Lilah. "I work with Lilah."

As they shook hands Lilah corrected,

"I work for Lilah," then she said to Lindsey,

"We're so not equal."

"I was brought in to replace you," Gavin told Lindsey.

"No you weren't!" Lilah said, feeling the familiar feel of anger race hot in her veins.

"OK kids! Let's calm it down!" The Host cut in.

"Mr. Park, nice to have met you but this is a private reading."

"See you tomorrow Lilah," Gavin said with all the fake nicety of a stoat.

"Look forward to it," she bit back.

As soon as he was out of sight and earshot she sank back down into the leather of the seat.

"God!" she said angrily, "He just infuriates the hell out of me!"

Lindsey tried to place a comforting arm around her shoulders but she just shrugged him off.

"Lindsey, no. If Gavin's around his minions normally are too… actually you're probably better off staying at the hotel for a few days…"

He turned to her.

"Well do you want me to?" he asked her, concerned.

"This isn't about what I want… it's about what's safest," she pointed out logically.

"I'm not leaving you," he told her, "I promised you I wouldn't… besides look at you after two words with him… you don't even know your hands are shaking do you?"

She looked down at her hands and watched them shake violently.

"I guess I just so used to it…" she admitted.

"I'm not leaving you," he emphasised, "We'll be OK right?" Lindsey asked Lorne.

"You're gonna be fine," he told them, "But watch out for a serious life changer say… tomorrow… see ya…"

Lorne sauntered off.

Despite the gentle, reassuring smile that graced his face when he looked at Lilah, Lindsey was certain things would get worse for them before they even began to get better…