Angel kicked Lindsey's face hard, almost knocking him out stone cold.  Lindsey laid his head back, shaking all over.  Slowly, feeling every part of his body aching, he raised his neck.  He saw his beloved truck speed off. 

His truck. 

Not a Mercedes pieces crap he was given by Wolfram and Hart for work; OK so that wasn't entirely true.  The Merc. was a gorgeous piece of crap but it wasn't his; not really. 

He'd had that truck for years.  He got it in college when it was falling apart and completely un-road worthy.  His first car.  His baby that he worked in the local diner for the last three years of high school and then when he finally got it, he fixed it up the whole two summers before and after his freshman year at college.  But it was worth it.

Not a penny of his salary at Wolfram and Hart now when on new interior or paint job.  His car wasn't going to be tainted like he was.

Is my car really the issue?  Lindsey thought.  He fell back, exhausted from raising his upper body.  My hand.. Cut it off and then smash it why don't you Angel?  Why not decapitate me?  Oh that's right.  No killing humans. You just cut of their hands and then smash their plastic ones and sleep with the person their in love with and have a 150 years relationship with the same person and manage to screw every plan you have for your work which could lead to an eventual firing.. In front of a firing squad.  Well put me out my GODDAMN misery, you COWARD!!!

Then he felt a hot tear prick his right eye.  Another one filling his left.  He blinked them away several times, letting them run down his cheeks.  Before he knew it, he was weeping.  He brought his hand over his face only to realize that even his plastic one was gone now.  It started a whole wave of tears and hiccuping sobs, raking his body.

Goddamn you Angel.  Goddamn your stupid hair and your stupid sire and your stupid epiphany.  Why can't you just die?  Is that really so hard?  You're pushing two-fifty, just give it up.  Please pleasepleaseplase stop torturing me.  Pleasepleaseplease.

Damn, his head hurt.  Maybe if I sleep a little.  Maybe if I just close my eyes, the pounding will stop.

He rolled his head to the side and flickered his eyelids shut, bringing a curtain over his cool Mediterranean sea blue eyes.

He was awakened later, how much later he wasn't sure, by a car rolled up near his head, the headlights blaring.  Lindsey shut his eyes hoping whoever it was would think it was a hit and run  A car door opened and he heard someone jump down onto the ground.

More footsteps.  Light.  Hardly committing to the ground before moving off again.  They walked further away, like in the distance.  Was the person leaving?

Hey come back!  He wanted to shout, but all that came out of his rounded mouth was a croak.  His tongue tasted the dried blood on his lip.  Bitter copper penny tang.  Then the footsteps came back.  Like at the other side of his head.  Whoever it was had just rounded the vehicle and then the clunk! sound of a door opening.  the opposite car door, Lindsey concluded.  Then the person approached, casting a shadow over Lindsey's body, paling the size in comparison.

Lindsey kept his eyes shut.   I don't want to know, I don't need to see, he repeated in a mantra.  Make it quick.

He was slightly shocked at the strong hands under his arm pits, dragging him upwards.  Then the arms locked around his waist, pulling him into a standing position.  The person (presumed a man, as Lindsey didn't want to open his eyes.  Play the unconscious victim.) draped Lindsey's arm around his neck.  Cold.  And lifted his legs, sweeping him up.  Lindsey felt himself moving forward and then bundled delicately into a car.  The interior, the height, the way the air from the passenger cooler blew off centre, he guessed that it was his own.

Angel.

Cold hands sitting him upright and shutting over the door.  Lindsey kept his eyes closed, ready to surprise Angel should he have to.  He figured he might as well let Angel work.  Goddamn prick smashed his hand and cut off the previous, slightly more alive and useful one.
 

Once Angel got in the car, he started the car and drove over the spot where he and Lindsey had fought.  He knew Lindsey was awake, his breathing wasn't deep breaths of slumber, but didn't say anything. 

Better not to.
 

Lindsey felt the car stop about fifteen minutes from his house and if it was in the other direction, about ten from the Hyperion.  No mans land.  Angel turned the engine off and got out the door with a clunk!

The cold arms carried him out of the car and further this time.  He felt Angel turn after a while backing up and pushing a door open.  The bell tinkled and signalled their arrival.  Lindsey resisted the urge to peek and scrunched them shut.  He heard people milling about as Angel put down his broken body on a comfortable seat, spreading him gently out.

Lindsey kept his eyes shut for a few minutes more, feeling completely unable to open his eyes or move his body.
 

"Hey, I need a room for the night," Angel said in a low voice.  He was wary about being in such glaring lights with his face looking like he'd just been run over by a truck.  Well, I have..

"Sure sir.  Single, double or twin?" The polite receptionist asked, tapping keys.

Angel chuckled and glanced over at Lindsey.  "Single, definitely single.  My brother.  Little drunk.  Thought I'd put him up for the night so his wife doesn't have to deal with him until he's sober," Angel lied convincingly and very charmingly.  She giggled and looked at Lindsey.

"He's seems pretty out of it.  You two don't look alike," she pointed out.

"Yeah gosh," Angel bit his lip and shook his head, grinning at her suavely.  "I got my mothers good looks and he got my fathers alcoholism.  What can you do?"

"Not much," she giggled again. 

"What's your name?"

"Put it under Liam Chase," Angel nodded, watching her put it up.  "How much is that?"

"Ninety dollars please sir."

"Sure," Angel said, taking out what little cash he had on him giving the receptionist the right change.

"Thanks.  Here you go sir," she handed him a key, "on the second floor."

"Thank you," Angel nodded, smiling again, returning to his 'brother'.
 

Lindsey smelled his after shave wafting back over and Angel gently scooped him up in his arms again.  Heading in the direction of the bing! sound, probably an elevator.  He heard the doors slide open and Angel stepped inside with Lindsey, pressing a button with his free hand.
 

A man in a grey suit looked to side where Angel was cradling Lindsey and didn't seem to be having much difficulty holding a grown man despite the cuts and bruises half masking his face.

"Hey," Angel said lightly.

"Hi," the man nodded surely, glancing at Lindsey, head lolled back on Angel's shoulder.

"Drunk brother," Angel explained quickly as the elevator opened at the second floor.  He stepped gracefully out and tried to see what number room his best friend Lindsey was staying in at his expense tonight.  "OK, room 212," Angel mused, looking at the numbers.  201 on one side and 202 on the other.  He followed the 202 side.  "204..206..208..210.. Ah, 212," Angel said to himself.  He fumbled to get the key in and when it finally unlocked, he pushed inside, eager to unload Lindsey.
 

Lindsey felt the soft feather bed replace Angel's steady hold as the vampire spread him out.  He heard Angel sigh and then felt him tug his boots off.  When both of his black boots where at the foot of the bed, Angel pulled his coat off, throwing it elsewhere - probably on the nearest chair.  The vampire yanked down the sheets and lifted Lindsey inside, tucking the sheets him. 
 

Angel stopped and stood back, looking at Lindsey still with his eyes closed, feebly trying to pretend he was unconscious.

Time to leave, Angel concluded, sighing.  He went into the ensuite, washing his face lightly because his cuts (that wouldn't be there in less than an hour) stung under the attack of the warm arm flowing around in the hotel room.  Angel dried his hands and dabbed his face clean with the white towel and the hotels name stitched onto it.  He went past Lindsey's bed and opened a window because it was stifling even for a human.

Angel went to the hotel room door, opening it before shutting it over again lightly.  "I still need to borrow your car.  I'll return it as soon as."

He heard Lindsey's distressed voice echoing Why?  Why do this for me?

Angel replied, out loud.  "I guess I'm still sorry.  About everything.  I'm still sorry.  The smallest act of kindness is the greatest gift in the world," he repeated.  "I guess I wanted to remind both of us of that and if I don't show you some kindness, it'll just continue.  I guess I did this because it's my job," Angel sighed opening the door.  "I save souls.  It's what I do," he dropped his hands to his sides and hit the sides of him.  "Can't fault me on that, Lindsey."
 

Lindsey heard the door shut and felt that Angel wasn't there anymore so he opened his eyes and sat up, holding his head in pain.  He looked around at the room and it wasn't half bad.  He didn't think he could move to his apartment himself anyway and Angel had probably already paid for it, best to stay put.

The door opened again and Angel's head peered through.  He tossed the key that he had left in the outside lock into Lindsey's good hand.

"You're welcome," Angel smiled and left.

Lindsey held his head in more pain, sure Angel should have taken him to a hospital instead.  He placed the key attached to a large wooden 212 key ring on the bedside table.

He chuckled softly at Angel's words

The smallest act of kindness is the greatest gift in the world... I save souls.  It's what I do..

Well, it was a start.

"Thanks," Lindsey shook his head and fell back, letting real sleep wash over him like a tide.
 

finis