A Simple Act of Faith
Chapter 15

Lorne’s sleep which he considered almost as important as singing was interrupted by someone knocking at his door so loud that he heard it upstairs in the bedroom.  He looked at his clock and saw that it was far too early to get up.  He tried to go back to sleep but the knocking would not stop.

He sighed and got up.  He wondered if he should start charging people for advice.  Double if they came before the club opened.
 

Lindsey was waiting at the door when Lorne opened it.  Neither man said a word.  Lindsey did not comment at Lorne’s flaming red pqjamas.  Lorne did not have to hear Lindsey sing to know what happened.  Lorne moved to the side to allow Lindsey to enter, then he followed him down the stairs.

Lindsey took a seat by one of the tables and leaned back slightly.

“I need your advice,” he finally said.

Lorne shook his head.

“But Faith—I—“

Lorne touched Lindsey’s hand.  “We’ll deal with that in time.  You’ll get your chance to sing.”

“Come on,” he started singing, but the host put his fingers to his lips. 

“Not yet.  Now listen, people who come to sing here aren’t musically inclined.  We need some entertainment—real entertainment.  Otherwise the place is bound to get rowdy.  Not that they can do anything, but you know there’s always fights outside.  We need people to leave here a little mellow.”

“What are you getting at?”

Lorne looked at his watch.  “The bar opens at 6.  You want advice, I want at least two sets.”
 

Faith showed up at the office at 10.  Lindsey was not there.  His office was untouched.  Lina was sitting at Cordelia’s desk.  Alex’s office was empty, but her computer was on indicating she was somewhere in the building.

Faith had promised herself she would try not to see him, but there were a few things she wanted to tell him.  She would be leaving LA in three weeks, once she was sure Spike and Drusilla were gone. She knew the host said she needed to stay where she thought was home and LA is the only place she ever thought was home, but she still wanted to get away from the memories.  Maybe she could spend a year or two in New York and then come back. Or maybe she could stay here and Lindsey could leave.

Though his leaving also bothered her and leaving him bothered her too.  Although he betrayed her, she still loved and wanted to see him.

Faith walked towards the desk.  She hoped that Lina would not say anything, but she also knew she could not avoid it.

“Good morning, Faith,” Lina said, chipper.

“Good morning,” she said, paused and stopped at the desk.

“Where’s Lindsey?” she asked.  “He’s usually here by now.”

“Look—Lindsey’s okay—“ she said, “but I gotta talk to you about him okay?  Later though.”

“Oh god,” Lina said, horrified.  “You guys broke up.”

“Yes,” Faith said. She often forgot Lina was slightly psychic. “But I can’t talk to you about it now.”

“I know—I sensed something.  He’s been kinda down lately.  I guess he did something bad.”

“Yeah—look, I promise I’ll talk to you about it later.”

Lina nodded.  Faith was glad she understood.  She headed to Lindsey’s apartment.  At first she knocked, but no one answered, then she tried the door.  It was unlocked.  She pushed it open.
 

The apartment had no things.  It still had the furniture Alex provided, but all of Lindsey and Cordelia’s stuff were gone.  It had been completely clean out.  Everything that read of Lindsey was gone.

Faith collapsed to the couch when the realization hit her.  He was gone.  The man she loved was gone.  Maybe for good.

“Faith?” said Alex’s voice.  She came out of the bedroom.

“When?”

“He left early this morning.  He didn’t stay because he knew it would upset you. Did you want to see him?”

“No, not really.  I’m still pissed off at him.  I wanted to give him a piece of my mind.  But that’s me doin’ without thinking.”

Alex nodded.  “He threw away all of her stuff.”

“Yeah.”

“He loves you Faith and I know you’re mad at him—but if you were able to forgive the man who killed Wesley, you should be able to forgive the man you love.  I think he’s sorry.”

“I don’t know if I can,” she admitted.  “You see Angel didn’t have a choice, Lindsey did.”

“You at least have to see him before he leaves.”

“I don’t know,” she said, “I’m not sure I want to see him again.”

“Faith—“

Faith didn’t reply.  She just wished she could let go of her anger the way she had with Angel.
 

Angel insisted that Doyle stay at the hotel with him.  The hospital had kept him a few days for observation, but they only thing they could find wrong with Doyle was exhaustion.

Doyle came in and collapsed on the couch in the middle of the room.

“You want anything to eat?” Angel asked.

Doyle shook his head.  “Lindsey did this?”

“Yes—well sort of.  Vocah was the one that put you out of commission—I don’t know how much Lindsey knew.”

Doyle sighed.  “Poor guy.”

“Poor guy?  He betrayed everyone who cared about him.”

“He just wanted to make things right for Cordelia—“

Angel sat down next to him.  “She was really that special?”

Doyle nodded.

“The Cordelia in Sunnydale never gave a damn about anyone but herself.”

“She changed.  She learned humility and to love.”

“And I took her from him?”

Doyle touched Angel’s shoulder.  “Angelus took her from him.”

Angel did not reply.  “Despite that I know Lindsey and Darla were laying on the guilt.  I still have the same feelings.  I still destroyed his life.”

“Hey, I don’t know about you, but I could really go for a drink and maybe you can get some advice.”

“That’s not the answer to everything,” Angel said, defensively.

“It is in our case,” Doyle said, pushing his tired body to stand up.
 

Chapter 16

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