om4

~~~Part 4~~~

�Hey Dad?� Lindsey sat back on the lumpy couch.

�Lindsey?� Frank McDonald�s happy voice answered back. �It�s great to hear from you!� Lindsey smiled at the familiar voice. His father had always been there for him, supporting whatever choice he had made whether to be good or bad. Life hadn�t been easy on Frank McDonald, having lost two of his six children more then fourteen years ago due to a doctor prescribing the wrong medication. His father had been devastated, and slipped into a serious depression. Resulting in the family losing there home. But things got better from there. His father received the help he needed and got his life back on track.

�Sorry I haven�t called in awhile; I�ve been busy with school ...and at Wolfram and Hart.� Lindsey stood and walked to the kitchen. Going to the refrigerator he got himself a beer.

�Hope that fancy little internship isn�t taking time away from your studies.� Lindsey�s jaw tightened. �Hey you�ll never believe who I ran into the other day. Harold Parker. He asked about you, and said that he can�t wait until spring when you come home and join his practice.�

Lindsey gritted his teeth together, knowing where this conversation was going and fast. They had been through this several times. His father wanted him to come home after college and work in the small practice with a family friend. Perhaps in the beginning Lindsey had wanted that too, but after seeing the kind of power and money he could obtain with Wolfram and Hart he had started to get loftier goals. He no longer wanted to return home to no where Oklahoma.

�Dad do we really need to go through this again?�

�Son you made a promise to Mr. Parker. He was the one that pulled the strings to get you into Hastings. I taught you to follow through on your word.� Rolling his eyes Lindsey took another mouthful of beer.

�Can�t you be happy that a firm as successful as Wolfram and Hart wants me to work for them? Of all people I thought you�d be happy for me.�

After a long pause Frank McDonald sighed. �Lindsey I�ll always love you, and I am so proud of you.� Lindsey knew the words, had heard them several times in the past. But at the same time could hear the words that weren�t spoken. His father wasn�t happy over the decision to stay in LA after graduation.

�I have to go. I have class in an hour.� Lindsey lied.

�I�ll tell your Mother hello.� Lindsey hung up the phone and finished his beer.

~~~*~~~

�Giles I�m worried about her.� Buffy paced back and forth in front of Giles, chewing on her lower lip. �After everything she has been through the last few months I think she�s finally cracked.�

Giles watched as his young charge not sure he understood what she was trying to communicate. �Yeah G-man, you should have seen her this morning. She didn�t even remember where her locker was, then when we had to show her she didn�t know the combination.� The Watcher glared at the young man, hating the nickname he couldn't seem to get the youth to stop using.

�Oh and then in History there was a test she *forgot* about.� Buffy stopped pacing.

�Buffy forgetting a test doesn�t constitute for the panic your in. Willow is going through a lot of stress.� Giles pointed out.

�And she�s not the only one flaking out. In French class Faith sat around like one of the pod people, but of the denser stupider kind. Every time she was called on she�d panic until the teacher took pity on her and call on someone else.� Xander raised his brows.

�And Amy nearly burnt down Chem lab today.� Giles looked from Xander to Buffy. �*Then* at lunch they sat with Cordelia...on purpose.� Buffy�s lower lip stuck out a little remembering the slight sub she had felt.

Giles looked thoughtful. �Well did you ask them if something was wrong?�

�Giles were teenagers; there�s always something wrong. I don�t know but something just feels off.� Buffy gave the Watcher her best puppy dog look. �Ever since Willow�s parents were...killed and she chose to live on her own I�ve worried that something weird would happen. She�s too young to be on her own.�

�I hate to speak ill of the dead, but her parents were never home before they...died.� Giles took off his glass and started to clean the invisible spots off.

�Please talk to her.� Buffy looked at him from beneath her lashes. �Or maybe I could get Angel to talk to her.�

�Oh I can see that conversation. He�d stutter she�d stutter. Yup lots would get accomplished there.� Xander rolled his eyes. Both Buffy and Giles turned to shoot him a look that clearly said his input was unneeded.

�Fine. But I�m sure we�ll find that everything is fine.� Giles relented, turning his back from the slayer and the conversation.

~~~*~~~

�I really never remembered school being this...� Amy closed her locker, looking at the other three girls.

�Boring?� Faith offered.

�Long?� Cordelia ignored the odd stares she had been getting from the other students all day, sure that they were just confused by her ignorance of the social order of things. Not wanting to confront Harmony and the other girls, Cordelia had chosen to avoid any contact with them yet.

�Monotonous?� Willow gained a strange look from the three girls.

�So what time is your practice?� Faith smiled at Cordelia, not wanting to miss the brunette make a total ass of herself.

�I was thinking of not going.� Cordelia mumbled.

Willow looked up sharply. �No! We need to act like nothing is different. That means that you need to go to cheerleading. Amy and I need to meet at the library and Faith... well who knows what she does.� Willow looked indecisively at the slayer.

�Maybe she volunteers at the local hospital.� Amy smiled.

�Oh yeah I can see. -� Cordelia was cut off as someone called out Faith�s name. As a group the four girls turned to see Wesley coming toward them.

�Okay now that�s... interesting.� Willow murmured.

�Ah... is that ...an earring? Wes has an earring?� Cordelia stifled a laugh.

�Oh goody, let the fun begin.� Faith straightened, holding her breath waiting to see that familiar disappointment that was always in Wesley�s eyes. No wait, the last time she saw him there was pure hatred and distrust.

�Faith I was worried about you.� Wesley got close and did something that could only happen on the Hellmouth. Wrapping his arms tight around her have gave her a kiss on the forehead.

Faith stood dazed, a part of her wanting nothing more than to bask in the apparent affection. But after all she had done she knew she didn�t deserve this kind of treatment. No she deserved the hostile guarded looks that Wesley was casting her way just two days ago.

�Wes, you�re acting as though I was in danger or something.� Faith pushed her way out of Wesley�s arms and put some distance between them. Frowning Wesley straightened, and gave a short nod.

�I see... well I suppose we should get going.� Faith looked questioningly at the other three girls, wondering if it were smart to split up. �You missed yesterday's practice.� Faith smirked; there was the stuffy Watcher she knew.

�Yes have fun Faith.� Cordelia grinned at her giving a short wave. �*Behave* yourself.�

Wesley turned to leave, and Faith flipped the other girl off behind his back. Hesitantly she followed.

Cordelia, Willow and Amy watched silently until the pair disappeared down the hall. �Okay what was that?�

�One of the changes?� Willow hitched her backpack higher on her shoulder.

�Okay then...on that note I guess it�s time to do something I *never* thought I�d have to do again.� Willow and Amy looked at her uncertain what she was saying. �Stepping foot willingly into that moldy smelling gym.� Cordelia rolled her eyes. With a wave she was down the hall.

�Library?� Willow asked Amy. The blonde nodded and both girls headed down the hall.

~~~*~~~