Title: Stuck In The Middle
Sequel to 'Caught in the Act'
Author: Rob
Rating: NC-17
Xander waited impatiently for the elevator to open. Once it did, he literally jumped inside. He pushed the number of his floor, and then leaned on the 'close door' button. The doors closed, much too slowly, in his opinion, and the elevator began its steady ascent. It stopped on his floor, and as soon as the doors were open far enough for him to fit through them, he was out of the elevator and into the hallway. He quickly walked to his apartment door and threw it open.
"I�m home!" he exclaimed as he entered, shutting the door behind him. Silence greeted him. Xander�s face fell, but he wasn�t too disappointed. He went over and checked the bedroom. It was empty. So was the bathroom. Xander went back to the living room, sat on the couch, and buried his face in his hands.
"He lied to me," he choked. He began sobbing; feeling as though there was no way he was ever going to recover from this. He was sitting there, feeling sorry for himself, when the front door opened, and in walked Lindsey McDonald, the ex-lawyer from Los Angeles, and the love of Xander�s life. He was carrying suitcases, and was almost knocked over by Xander, who jumped up as soon as he saw the other man enter his apartment.
"Where were you?" asked Xander after he had kissed his lover.
"I- I wasn�t expecting you to be back so soon. I went to the motel and brought all of my things over. I hope that�s okay," explained Lindsey.
"Okay? It�s more than okay! It�s- It�s perfect! When I got back, and you weren�t here- I- I thought- I was certain you had left for good."
"Oh," said Lindsey as he looked into Xander�s eyes. The pain he saw there, as the younger man thought about Lindsey leaving, caused him to reach out and pull Xander close for another hug. "I�m sorry. I just wanted to surprise you."
"Well, it was definitely a surprise," Xander told him. He then picked up some of the things that Lindsey had dropped, and moved them out of the doorway. Lindsey took his things to the bedroom, and as he watched the older man leaving the room, Xander leaned back against the door and took a deep breath. He let it out slowly, and then took the things he was holding into the bedroom, where Lindsey was waiting for him.
Xander set the things he was carrying on the floor and watched Lindsey. Lindsey just stared at him. Xander stepped closer to Lindsey, cautiously, as though he was afraid the other man would run screaming from the apartment if he did something wrong. Lindsey smiled. His new lover was constantly amazing him. Finally, he walked up to Xander, embraced him, and then began kissing him. Xander wrapped his arms around Lindsey, a little too eagerly, and returned the kiss. He then jumped up and wrapped his legs around Lindsey�s waist. Lindsey tilted backward slightly, adjusting for the added weight. He turned and carefully made his way to the bed.
He and Xander fell to the bed, still in an embrace; still kissing passionately. Xander let go of Lindsey and began unbuttoning the older man�s shirt. Lindsey, caught up in the passion and filled with desire, wasn�t so gentle. He ripped Xander�s shirt open, and began licking his chest. Xander pushed Lindsey�s shirt off of him, and then unbuckled the ex-lawyer�s belt. He was moaning in pleasure. Lindsey made his way down Xander�s chest, across his abs, and down to his belly. At that point, Lindsey stood up at the edge of the bed. He grabbed Xander�s jeans and ripped them off.
Xander just lay there, naked and burning with desire. He watched, mesmerized by Lindsey�s body, as Lindsey tossed Xander�s jeans to the floor, and then removed his own pants. Like Xander, Lindsey hadn�t bothered with underwear. They each knew that the only reason they had dressed at all was to go out in public. Xander propped himself up on his elbows and continued to admire Lindsey. Lindsey climbed back onto the bed, placing one knee on either side of Xander�s feet. He bent down and kissed Xander on his shin, making the younger man moan in ecstasy. Slowly, he crawled forward, licking and kissing Xander from his shins to hips, purposely leaving the crotch unattended. Xander fell back against the bed, waiting to see what would happen next. Lindsey kissed the man�s navel and then licked a trail from the belly button to the center of the chest.
Xander was still moaning softly from the pleasure he was receiving. He couldn�t remember the last time that he had wanted, even needed, someone so badly! No one had ever made him feel as alive as Lindsey. He couldn�t believe that he had finally found someone with whom he could himself in fifty years. Anya had been great, but Lindsey was infinitely better. He controlled the urge to wrap his arms around his lover and pull him into an embrace. Instead, he caressed his lover�s head, as it moved across his chest. He felt Lindsey�s hands slide under his body, coming to rest in the small of his back. He had no idea that the small of his back was such a sensual place to be touched. As Lindsey�s hands came to rest, chills radiated from the spot where they connected with Xander�s skin.
Xander arched his back, reeling from the sensations that were filling his mind and body. As he did, Lindsey moved from his chest up to his neck. The moves were so synchronized that it was like they had been practiced until perfected. The arching of his back also brought his body fully in contact with Lindsey�s, causing even more sensations to flood through both men. Lindsey bit Xander�s neck lightly, and Xander could tell that it was because of the magical sparks between them. The moaning got a little louder, and the temperature in the room seemed to increase by at least twenty degrees. Both men were suddenly sweating and trembling. Lindsey kissed Xander�s Adam�s apple and then ran his tongue up Xander�s neck, over his chin and up to his mouth. When Lindsey finally got to Xander�s mouth, Xander started kissing him with more passion than either thought possible.
Xander�s arms finally wrapped themselves around Lindsey�s body, pulling him closer. Xander then wrapped his legs around Lindsey�s lower body and held him there. Lindsey didn�t object. Xander moved his hands down to cup Lindsey�s ass, trying to pull him even closer. He began grinding his body against Lindsey, and was only vaguely aware that Lindsey�s hands were moving across the back of his body. One moved from the small of his back up to his neck. The other hand made its way slowly down to his ass. Xander sighed contentedly as one finger slid up inside him. He shifted his own hands, sliding one lightly up Lindsey�s back, making the man moan with delight. That hand came to rest on the back of Lindsey�s neck. The other hand caressed his ass for a moment before one finger slid up inside him.
Lindsey started grinding back against Xander, finding and matching his rhythm. The two of them were lost in passion. Neither wanted to change anything. Their cocks were sliding in the sweat and pre-cum, which was all that separated the two men. They continued kissing and grinding. They both reached orgasm at the same time, but neither of them even slowed down; the passion was too great. They just kept going, lost in each other.
***
Xander was awakened by the need to relieve himself. He was not surprised to discover that he and Lindsey were still in their passionate embrace. The only thing that had changed was that, at some point in their lovemaking, they had rolled over onto their sides. He carefully pulled himself away from Lindsey and rolled over onto his back. He sat up and threw his legs out over the edge of the bed. As they hit the floor and Xander stood up, Lindsey stirred.
"What�s up?" asked Lindsey.
"Nothing. Just gotta pee," replied Xander as he took a step. "Go back to sleep."
When Xander returned, he was glad to see that Lindsey had indeed gone back to sleep. Xander climbed into bed and just lay there, staring at the man beside him. He reached out and moved a few strands of hair off of Lindsey�s face. Xander lay there, admiring Lindsey. He smiled to himself, still unable to believe that Anya had been right all along. Xander was gay. Or, at the very least, he was bisexual. He just knew that no one else had ever made him feel alive, safe, or loved like the man who was sleeping less than six inches away. Xander leaned forward and kissed Lindsey�s forehead.
"I love you," he whispered. Then, slowly, he drifted off to sleep again.
***
When he woke up again, Xander was alone in the bed. He picked his head up and looked around. He listened, trying to discover where Lindsey might be. For a couple of moments, there was no sound at all. Then, Xander heard something that sounded like metal clinking on metal. He sat up, trying to place the noise. The bedroom door opened, and in walked Lindsey, carrying food on a tray. The sound had been the silverware hitting the tray. Xander smiled broadly as Lindsey set the tray on the nightstand beside the bed.
"Morning, sunshine," said Lindsey with a smile.
"Hello," replied Xander. He motioned to the tray. "What�s all this?"
"Breakfast. You�ll need to keep your strength up," answered Lindsey. He sat next to Xander on the bed and brushed the hair off of the younger man�s face. After staring into Xander�s eyes for a couple of seconds, Lindsey shook his head, as if coming out of a trance, and reached for the tray.
"Hope you like waffles," said Lindsey as he grabbed the tray. Xander sat up and moved up in the bed, so that his back was resting on the headboard. Lindsey set the tray on his lover�s lap and stood up. "I�ll be back in a few minutes. Don�t get up, okay?"
"Um- okay," said Xander as he began eating.
Lindsey smiled again at Xander as he stepped out of the bedroom. He shut the door and headed back to the kitchen, to clean up the mess he had made while preparing breakfast. It had taken a little bit of time, but he had managed to find everything he needed. After washing the dishes, he wiped down the counters and tossed the dishrag into the sink. He dried his hands on a towel and headed back to the bedroom. He had his hand on the knob, ready to turn it, when the doorbell rang.
"I�ll get it," he called, to let Xander know that he wasn�t to get up. Lindsey shook his head slightly. He didn�t want to answer the door. He wanted to get back into the bedroom, out of his clothes, and into the bed with Xander. He sighed as he reached out for the knob on the front door. Then he paused. He thought he heard someone crying on the other side of the door. Quickly, he twisted the knob and pulled the door open. He sort of recognized the girl standing there. She had been there yesterday, with the rest of Xander�s friends.
"Is Xander h-here?" she sobbed.
"Uh," said Lindsey. He wasn�t sure what to do. Crying teenagers was not something he dealt with on a regular basis. "I�ll get him," he said quickly as he turned away from her and practically ran to the bedroom. He opened the door and stepped inside, shutting the door a little too forcefully. The slamming of the door caused Xander to jump. He looked up at Lindsey, and could tell right away that something was wrong.
"What is it?" asked Xander.
"There is a girl out there. She asked for you. She uh- She is crying," Lindsey explained.
"Who?" asked Xander.
"I don�t know her name. She was here yesterday, with your other friends. She seems really upset."
"Dawn?" asked Xander, more to himself than to Lindsey. "What would she-"
Xander jumped to his feet. The only thing that he could think of was that something had happened to Buffy. He grabbed a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. He got his pants up and was fastening them as he stepped around Lindsey and left the bedroom. He pulled his shirt on as he walked across the room to take Dawn into his arms. Lindsey stepped into the doorway, but was uncertain what he should do. He just stood there.
"Dawn? What is it?" Xander asked.
"I-I didn�t know where else to go. I-"
"Did something happen to Buffy?"
"No," cried Dawn. She was shaking. Xander finally stopped and examined her. The shirt she was wearing was hanging off of her, having been torn, and the pants she was wearing were tattered and dirty. Xander realized what must have happened. He reached out to hug her, but she pulled away from him. There was fear in her eyes as she looked up at him. Xander�s heart broke, and then anger took over.
"Who did this to you?" he demanded. Dawn just looked up at him for a moment, and then turned away. She wrapped her arms around herself and leaned against the wall. She started sobbing.
"I�m calling Buffy," Xander said.
"No! I mean- I-"
Xander looked at her then, unable to decide what he should do now, turned to look at Lindsey. Lindsey just stood in the bedroom doorway, not wanting to say anything. He didn�t know what to do. Xander looked back at Dawn, who glanced up at Lindsey. She paled, and then blushed. Then, as she sank to the floor, she started crying. Xander made up his mind. He went to the phone and dialed.
"Hello? Tara? This is Xander- Yes, something is very wrong, can you come over? Great! See you soon." He hung up the phone and turned back to Dawn. "Tara is on her way over. She said Willow was out, so she will be alone. Can- Can I get you something?"
Dawn just sat there, crying. She had pulled her legs up so that her knees were just under her chin, and she had her arms wrapped around her legs. She was rocking slightly, and her lips were moving, but she wasn�t saying anything. Xander started to panic. He had no idea what to do for her. He turned to Lindsey again. Lindsey walked over to him and looked down at Dawn. He looked up at Xander, and wanted to die because of the pain that he saw in Xander�s eyes.
"What should we do?" he whispered to Xander.
"I- I have no idea. I guess we just wait for Tara o get here."
Xander went then to the front door and opened it. He stepped out into the hall and looked in each direction, as if expecting to see Tara magically appear outside his apartment. When he didn�t see her, he went back inside and closed the door. He looked at Dawn. She was still sitting there, moving her lips without actually speaking. He turned his attention back to Lindsey.
"Tara isn�t here yet," he said. Then he turned and opened the door again. Tara still wasn�t there. He shut the door and once again faced the interior of his apartment. "Why isn�t she here?" Xander asked, his voice wavering.
Lindsey�s heart broke when he heard the pain in that voice. He wanted nothing more than to rush over to Xander and embrace him. Not knowing how that might affect Dawn, Lindsey decided that he had better not. Instead, he shrugged his shoulders and sat down on the couch. Xander took a step towards the couch, and then stopped. He reached out and placed his hand on the doorknob.
"Dawn?" he asked again, hoping that he would be able to get some sort of response out of her. She started shaking her head. When she stopped shaking her head, she leaned it against the wall and squeezed her eyes closed. She took a quick breath, and then started sobbing. Xander couldn�t bear to look at her in such pain, so he turned his attention to Lindsey once again.
"I- I know this isn�t how you wanted to spend this time." He couldn�t think of anything else to say.
"It- It�s okay. Some things are more important than-" He glanced down at Dawn, and then looked back up at Xander. Xander only nodded. Lindsey wasn�t sure that Xander was even paying attention. He wanted to say more, but no words came.
There was a painful silence, broken only by Dawn�s occasional sob.
Someone began pounding on the door, and all three people inside the apartment jumped. Dawn sobbed louder, as if someone had struck her. Xander didn�t have time to open the door. It was shoved open, and he was pushed out of the way as Tara and Buffy entered the apartment. Tara looked around until she saw Dawn, and then immediately went to her and knelt beside her. Buffy, however, turned her attention to Xander.
"What happened?" Buffy demanded.
"I- I don�t know," said Xander. "She wouldn�t say."
The look on his face told Buffy that he was telling the truth. She turned to look at Dawn, and, when she finally saw her sister, huddled in the corner, obviously a victim of some type of violence, her entire life came crashing to a halt. Her jaw fell open as she took in the sight before her. Dawn sat in the corner, and Tara was kneeling beside her. Tara reached out tentatively. Before her arm made contact, Dawn pulled away with a strange squeaking sound. Tara looked up at Buffy.
"Can you help her?" Buffy asked.
"I- I can t-try," said Tara. She turned her attention back to Dawn. "Dawnie? It�s me, Tara. Can you hear me?" Dawn nodded. "Can you talk?" Dawn turned to face her, as if just realizing that Tara was there. She loosened her grip on her legs. She looked up and saw Buffy. A look passed over Dawn�s face, and then she grabbed her legs again and started crying. Everyone looked at Buffy, who stared in stunned silence at Dawn.
"Dawn?" said Buffy, after a moment. She was close to tears. "Dawn, what happened?" Tears streamed down Buffy�s face.
There was no evidence that Dawn had heard her. Buffy looked from Dawn to Tara. Tara gulped. She looked scared. Buffy looked back at Dawn. She had no idea what to do. All her Slayer abilities were useless now. She wanted nothing more than to have her mother back. Her mother would know what to do. Buffy looked back to Tara.
"What do I do?" she cried. Tara shrugged, and then turned to face Dawn again. Buffy looked around, and spotted Lindsey. She quickly turned back to Xander, while pointing at Lindsey. "What is he doing here?" she demanded.
"H-he lives here," said Xander, unable to imagine why Buffy was attacking him. Lindsey stepped into the bedroom and shut the door. That made Xander angry. "Listen, Buffy! If it hadn�t been for Lindsey, I wouldn�t have been here today at all, so you really should be thanking him for keeping me home so I was here when Dawn got here! He�s the one who answered the door!" He was yelling, but he wasn�t certain why.
"I- I�m sorry," said Buffy as she dropped her gaze to the floor. "I just- I feel so helpless."
"So do I, but you don�t see me getting angry at innocent people!" Xander hissed. Buffy just looked at him. The hurt and fear in her eyes made Xander�s anger fade immediately. "I- I better go talk to him." He then went to the bedroom. Buffy turned back to look at Dawn.
"Dawnie? Are you in there?" asked Tara. Dawn stopped trembling for a moment and looked at Tara. Tara smiled. Dawn reached out and wrapped her arms around Tara, rested her head on Tara�s shoulder, and started crying. Tara patted her on the back. "Go ahead and cry, Dawn. Let it all out. Just- Cry."
***
Xander shut the door to his room and turned to face Lindsey, who was sitting on the bed. He didn�t know what to say. He wanted to tell Lindsey that everything was okay, but- He was afraid that nothing was okay. Silently, he crossed to the bed and sat next to Lindsey. The two of them just sat there for a few moments, listening to Dawn cry in the next room.
"I-" said Lindsey. He was not used to this sort of situation. He was used to being the cold, sadistic lawyer. If he played that part now, he would most likely lose Xander, and that was the last thing he wanted.
"It�s okay. It isn�t your fault. Buffy wasn�t upset with you. She just- it�s Dawn. Dawn is her little sister. Seeing her like that- I can�t imagine what this must be like for Buffy."
"And I can�t imagine how horrible this must be for you," said Lindsey. "I have never- I- I never cared about anyone before. It was never about people for me. I had a job to do, and that is what I did. This-" He motioned around the room. "All of this- it�s so new to me. I never cared about anyone but myself."
"You don�t have to explain," said Xander. He was uncertain what Lindsey was trying to tell him, but he wanted his lover to know that things were still okay between the two of them. He leaned over and rested his head on Lindsey�s shoulder. His hand sought Lindsey�s, and when it found it�s target, Xander squeezed Lindsey�s hand for reassurance.
"You really care about her, don�t you?" Lindsey asked.
"Buffy? Yeah."
"No- The girl- Dawn."
"She�s like a sister to me."
"Then- What are you doing in here with me?" asked Lindsey.
"I- What do you mean?"
"I mean, you should be out there, helping your friends find out what happened to that poor girl."
"But-" said Xander. He was afraid of where this was leading.
"It�s okay. I am fine. I will still be here when this is over. Right now, they need you a lot more than I do." Xander got up and took a step to the door. Lindsey stood up and grabbed Xander by the arm. When Xander turned, Lindsey kissed him. "I do still need you, and I am not going anywhere." Reassured, Xander went back out to the living room.
Buffy was standing by the front door. Tara and Dawn were sitting on the couch. When Xander opened the bedroom door, Buffy looked up at him, a question in her eyes. Xander caught her gaze and nodded. With a sigh of relief, Buffy relaxed a little. She walked into the kitchen, motioning for Xander to follow. Quietly, Xander passed behind the couch and met Buffy in the kitchen.
"She still won�t say anything. She won�t even let me get near her," Buffy explained. "I don�t get it. What the hell happened to her?"
"I think you already know what,' whispered Xander. "I mean, it�s pretty obvious that she was-"
"No!" hissed Buffy. "No! That couldn�t have happened. Not to Dawn. Not- Not to Dawn," she sobbed. She leaned on Xander�s chest for support. He wrapped his arms around her, and held her close. There was a time when he would have killed to be able to hold her like this- Now, though, and in these circumstances, he just felt numb.
"It�s going to be okay. I don�t know how, but- It�s got to get better. It just has to," he told her as he rubbed her back. She went from gentle sobs to crying, and Xander just stood there, holding her. He didn�t know what else to do.