Tittle: When love finds you

Author: Steph (Stephs_star@angelfire.com)
 
Author's note:

SUMMARY: This is about Bobby and Lindsay's' original relationship, which I have always been
fascinated with. This is not necessarily what I believe happened, but it is a version I feel is
kinda plausible, though it doesn't follow any kind of timeframe. I am ignoring the whole Victoria
Keening and Chris Kelton saga here too, except that I reckon it is after Chris, because I made a
mention to her being drugged.
 
Disclaimer: These characters belong to DEK at ABC

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It was late, and Bobby Donnell was alone in the law offices of Donnell, Young, Dole and Frutt. His
latest case was driving him crazy; the defendant had a habit of keeping him in the dark about
crucial pieces of evidence, which could help to convict or acquit him. As a result, Bobby had been
forced to change his defense a dozen times, and was currently going over his argument for self
defense...it was running him ragged.
 
He sighed as his vision blurred until he could no longer read the words on the page, and decided
to pack it in for the night. He looked up as his door opened.
 
"Hey." One of his associates, Lindsay Dole stood in the office doorway.
 
"You're still here?"
 
"Yep." Lindsay bit her lip anxiously. "I've been gathering the nerve to speak to you."
 
"Surely I'm not that scary." Bobby laughed, a little nervously himself, as Lindsay looked serious.
"What's up?"
 
"I...I umm," Lindsay stammered a bit trying to get the right words out, then she finally gave up
and went for it. "Look, what I'm trying to say is: we're both single - you are single aren't you?"
At his nod, she smiled slightly and continued. "So, we're two single, young and professional
adults, but I can bet we're both lonely at nights..."
 
Lindsay trailed off, looking for a response, but Bobby just stared at her. Was she asking him out?
The prospect was new to him - she was...well, she was Lindsay. Lindsay whose naiveté and idealism
made her cry when she discovered that she may have to set drug dealers free, Lindsay whose win in
her first ever case practically saved the firm, Lindsay the Harvard graduate who stuck by the firm
when she could do so much better.
 
The prospect was new...but Bobby began to relish it. The image of dating Lindsay didn't scare him,
as it should, but instead, he remembered looking her over after they had first met. He had thought
her cute, but now - now he thought that she was stunningly, heart achingly beautiful. Instead on
acting on his first impulse to ask her out though, he had ignored it, because they worked
together, and so it had died, or so he thought, buried under friendliness and comradeship. It
seemed that he was getting a second chance.
 
"Lindsay, I think I know we're your going." Bobby smiled, half standing.
 
"I think that we should have sex." She said bluntly.
 
"Excuse me?" Bobby coughed, sitting down with a thud.
 
"You heard me. Like I said, we're two single, lonely adults, who could use the comfort of each
other at nights- but only at nights, I'm no good at relationships." She looked at him
thoughtfully. "I think I would like making love to you, Bobby."
 
"Well, I'm flattered, but..."
 
"No, it's alright." Lindsay interrupted quickly. "I told myself that if you didn't want to, that
would be fine. We'll just forget this ever happened, okay?"
 
Give up a no-strings sexual relationship with a beautiful woman? Was he crazy? "Lindsay, wait."

Lindsay half turned and bit her lip. She had never done anything like this before, and inside she
burned with the fear of rejection. When she had first started working for Bobby, she had thought
his smoldering blue eyes to intense for hers, his face to perfect, and his mind to brilliant. He,
like many other men she had thought extraordinary, was a dream, just a fantasy for long, cold,
lonely nights. Mistakenly, she thought herself just average, pretty rather then stunning like she
imagined Bobby was used to.
 
Day by day though, Lindsay had begun to appreciate Bobby's honor and kindness, recognizing similar
flaws and seeing his human side rather than his perfection. Inside, Bobby was a well of
insecurities, just like her. So as her confidence in herself grew, Lindsay began to ask herself
why she couldn't at least try to date Bobby. Hell, she was pretty, she was smart, and she deserved
to have someone like him.
 
When Lindsay made up her mind to do something, she did it straight away, and that morning when she
awoke alone yet again, she decided that she was going to have Bobby - or at least make the offer
to him. He would be a boost in her self-confidence if nothing else. She was young, and busy with
work, so she didn't want a relationship, especially not one with Bobby, who would surely break her
heart. But, he would be incredible in bed, and perhaps she would improve in that area herself as
she needed to loosen up and enjoy the moment - without being drugged first.
 
So that was why she was doing it, for three reasons: To prove to herself that she could sleep with
an incredible man like Bobby, to finally make her dreams into reality, and to improve herself
sexually. It was a bit cold and clinical, but Lindsay was sure that there would be no complaints
from Bobby - in fact it would be right up his alley.
 
"You...want to have sex, with me?" Bobby barely choked the word out.
 
"No, I'm talking to the handsome, single man next to you." Lindsay said it so matter-of-factly;
Bobby half-turned to see if there was someone there. When he turned back, Lindsay was laughing at
him.
 
"Sex, just like that?"
 
"Well, we couldn't tell anyone, you know how much conflict that would cause, so it wouldn't be a
dating thing or anything. Just us, two people enjoying each other's company. It may last weeks, or
who knows, we may be still sleeping together in six months. We can discuss the terms later, okay?"
Lindsay in fact, had thought it out and knew the terms perfectly in her mind.
 
Bobby almost choked again, on the fact that they were going to be discussing terms at all, but he
kept it back, as he realized that she was serious. "Now?" He asked jokingly, and was surprised
when Lindsay shrugged.
 
"Well, we could go to your house, or stop for some food, I am pretty hungry."
 
"Umm..." Not really sure what to say, Bobby almost laughed at the absurdity. Normally, sex came
naturally after dates, he wasn't one to plan it out like this, but Lindsay seemed determined, and
he wasn't complaining! "We could go Chinese on the way..."
 
"Perfect!" Lindsay smiled. "You ready to go?"
 
Bobby merely nodded. He didn't know how to act, so he held open doors for her, made stilted small
talk and acted like he was on a first date, rather than with a long time colleague and friend.
 
"Bobby," she laughed as he rushed to open the car door for her, "I want sex not a chivalrous
knight. Relax, okay?"
 
She didn't know why she was telling him to relax, when her own stomach felt like there were
billions of butterflies flying about inside.
 
"Okay, but how can you be so calm?"
 
"It's only sex. I have no expectations, and none to meet. If we don't like it, we don't have to do
it again, but if we do, then we can. It's no big deal."
 
At least, that's what she'd been telling herself, and she'd been lying. She was making light of
something that she had always taken very seriously. Unbeknownst to her, so had Bobby. In fact, he
was a little perturbed by her approach. It was supposed to be every man's dream - uncomplicated
sex, but it sure as hell wasn't his. He was a bit old fashioned, and he believed in commitment and
relationships, they scared him, but he believed in them. But, he also wanted Lindsay, almost
unbearably now that the thought was in his head, and she had made it pretty clear that she only
wanted sex.
 
They ate their Chinese in silence, both too nervous to speak. Lindsay had slipped off her shoes
and rubbed her feet anxiously together. What if she wasn't good enough for him? She asked herself,
trying to dismiss it by telling herself that she wasn't some virgin, that she was moderately
experienced. She stared at Bobby's loosened tie, distracting herself by imagining taking it all
the way off...
 
"It's a bugger of a case I'm on, Linds." Bobby said finally, but it was sounded embarrassingly
rehearsed, which it was.
 
Lindsay looked up from her food and met his eyes. "I don't really want to talk about work."
 
Embarrassed, Bobby looked down at his plate. Suddenly, he didn't feel like eating. Lindsay
obviously did though; she had finished her own and was looking hungrily at his. An evil little
smile playing about his lips, Bobby decided to lighten the atmosphere. He picked up a bit of fried
chicken with his chopsticks, and leaned over the table to shove it in her mouth.
 
Choking, she coughed and narrowed her eyes. "Thanks." She said dryly.
 
"I'm not hungry." Bobby explained.
 
"That's too bad then." Lindsay smiled seductively, leaning back in her chair.
 
Bobby stood up slowly, he knew how to play this game, and the nerves left his stomach. He walked
to her, kissed her softly on the lips - god, he hadn't known she could feel so right, and gently
tagged her hand on the way to his bedroom.
 
Startled Lindsay followed wide-eyed. She almost backed out as she realized that it was actually
going to happen. Even the kiss had been incredible, she sighed, what was she getting herself into?
 
In Bobby's bedroom, Lindsay looked around, impressed with the way he kept it, but her eyes kept
moving back to that bed...She swallowed, trying to look nonplussed. She was fine; she was
cool...she was scared out of her mind.
 
"No second thoughts?" Bobby asked, seeing her nervousness for the first time. "Cause I'm warning
you, this is your last chance to back out."
 
She swallowed heavily. "I'm fine."

So Bobby drew her into his arms, and kissed her passionately. Lindsay felt dizzy and overwhelmed
with emotions, whilst Bobby's heart beat a million times faster. Lindsay did feel right; she felt
more right then any one ever had before.
 
Later, Lindsay lay still and amazed face down on the bed. "WOW" was all she could think for a long
time. Had I done that? Had he done that? She couldn't believe it. And had she really asked him to
suck her elbows? That was her own secret fetish, she had never told anyone about it before, she
was much to straight laced, except for her wild college friend, Helen Gamble.
 
Slowly, Lindsay's mind slowed to normal levels, and she began to gather her thoughts. She felt
Bobby stir beside her, and she suddenly panicked. What should she say? What should she do? Should
go home, or should she stay? Lindsay was sure he was used to girls who knew when to go, girls who
knew what to do.
 
Somehow, Lindsay had gotten it into her head that Bobby attracted women by the busload, and slept
with them all. She imagined that he had a lot of one night stands, when in fact he wasn't a one
night stand kind of guy at all, though admittedly, he had done it a few times before.
 
She would just leave. Lindsay decided finally, and save them the embarrassment. As she got up,
Bobby's hand snaked out and caught her.
 
"Don't go." He yawned sleepily, then rolled over and went back to sleep.
 
Lindsay stared at him for a moment more, then quietly and awkwardly got back into the bed. She lay
awake for a long time, not wanting to move and wake him, though she wished she were brave enough
to wake him with a long steamy kiss. She hated feeling so awkward, after she had just made
passionate, incredible love to him, but she couldn't help it, and despite his beautiful
whisperings in her ear, she had no idea if he had enjoyed it as much as her.
 
Because of her lack of sleep, Bobby awoke a long time before her, and just sat in bed staring at
her. She was so beautiful, he thought as he looked at her. Her face was troubled, even in sleep,
and she curled into herself, like an echidna does for protection. Noticing that made him notice
how far she was away from him, like she was making an effort not cuddle. He should have known that
she wasn't the affectionate type, though she was certainly passionate, melting, then simmering as
soon as he kissed her. He couldn't believe it when she asked him to suck her elbow. He had thought
it was some sort of joke, but it threw her into fits of ecstasy. He found that incredibly sexy.
 
"Wake up, sleepy head." He finally whispered in her ear, though he could have watched her all
morning. She jolted awake immediately, then sat up with a start.
 
He laughed as she groped frantically for the sheets to cover herself, but he already knew every
inch of her incredible body.
 
"Bobby. God, this is awkward." Lindsay said, not looking at him.
 
"Why?" He asked, his tone light and in direct contrast to hers.
 
She looked at him in amazement, "Because now we have to go to work and pretend like nothing
happened."
 
"Well, you better get used to it, because it will be happening a lot from now on."
 
"Oh." Was all Lindsay could say, but inside her heart was doing flip-flops.
 
"You want breakfast?" He asked, jumping up.
 
When she nodded, still dazed, he leaned over and kissed her witless, then pulled away the sheets,
making her gasp, and try to grab them back.
 
"Lindsay, relax." He taunted, using the same tone she had last night.
 
Lindsay felt her inhibitions hide again. "Relax?" She teased, leaning back on the bed. "That's a
good idea."
 
Bobby felt his heart thud to a stop. "Breakfast...can wait." He whispered huskily.

They made up a signal to tell each other whether they were available or not that night. When
Lindsay was, she hung her jacket on the coat rack each morning, but if not, she would put it over
her chair. When Bobby was free and if he had seen her coat, he would leave his coffee mug by the
copy machine. It was simple, and fun, and they both enjoyed the intrigue, and the fact that they
made themselves free more often than not. Lindsay took to staying late after everyone else had
gone, and they wouldn't even make it to either of their homes. She grew to know his couch quite
well, after a few weeks.
 
Despite the great sex, they fought often and bitterly, mostly over cases and the way they treated
each other during the day. Inside, they were both upsets that they couldn't be open, despite the
fact that they enjoyed the secrecy. In his haste to make sure Lindsay received no special
treatment, Bobby was a little too harsh on her, making her angry, because she did crave that
special wink, or the squeeze of a hand that he reserved for her.
 
With each passing week, Lindsay grew more and more in love with Bobby, until she could no longer
bear their time apart. She finally decided that she would have to end them, before she crashed
completely. She wished and wished in her heart that Bobby would request for them to be open, and
start a real relationship, but she knew that he wouldn't for she thought that he was happy with
their current arrangement. Bobby actually felt the same way as she did, but he didn't want to
broach the subject for fear of losing her all together.
 
One night, about two months later, she entered his office much the same as she had before.
 
"Lindsay, I'm glad you're still here, c'mere." Bobby smiled, standing and holding out his arms.
 
"Bobby, we need to talk." Lindsay said softly.
 
"What?" He asked, coming around from his desk, but sensing the news bad.
 
"We aren't working out, Bobby. This...it isn't right."
 
"What do you mean, it's perfect!" Bobby cried, afraid of losing her. "We have wonderful,
incredible sex almost every night, what's not to work out?"
 
"I need more!" Lindsay almost shouted, but instead, she just shook her head.
 
"I want a reason!"
 
"I think that we are getting caught up in this. I don't like were it's leading. My friend, Helen
Gamble, she's been asking about you, I think that you should go out with her instead."
 
"That's a cop out, Lindsay, things get to tough, and you want to walk away!" He wanted to say that
she couldn't walk away from him, but he choked on it. She didn't want to be with him, and so he
wasn't going to embarrass himself by pushing it.
"You know, you're right Bobby. Things have gotten to tough, too serious for me. I don't want to be
with you anymore, and that's all, okay?"
 
Bobby just strode to the door and opened it, blinking back tears, as he watched the best thing
that had ever happen to him walk out of it.
 
Lindsay went home, and sobbed into her hands. She felt miserable, and like a witch. Bobby had
opened her up, made her feel alive and beautiful under his touch. She had achieved what she had
wanted, had gotten her incredible man, had turned her dreams into a reality, and had improved
herself sexually by letting herself go, craving affection rather than running from it. It was
wonderful, meaningless sex. But why did it hurt so much? Why did it feel like her heart was
breaking?
 
Over the next few days, they were somewhat cold and distant to each other, but each was determined
to let the other one think that they were over the other person. Soon, it was like they were
before, and Lindsay began to appreciate the time they had, rather then long for the time they
didn't. She hadn't been joking when she had told Bobby about her friend, Helen, and though she was
heartbroken, she was sincerely happy for them both.
 
Bobby meanwhile, longed to hold her at night, and missed the way he felt when she poked her head
into his office and grinned mischievously, wriggling her eyebrows to tell him that no one else was
there. But Helen...Helen was beautiful and sexy, and he felt himself falling in love with her, as
she opened herself to him so completely, as Lindsay had never done. With Helen he could talk to
her about future plans, whilst with Lindsay he was too afraid to, for fear of her rejecting him.
It was wrong, but he did let himself think of Lindsay, and miss her, even when he was with Helen,
and after Helen broke up with him, he longed for the day when he could tell Lindsay that he did
care for her.

THE END

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Okay, that's it. I was careful not to say that Bobby loved Lindsay, because if he did, why did he
not react when she told him that she loved him in Trees in the forest?
I actually also tried to make it as factually correct as I could, but I am not sure if it is all
right.
 
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