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Straight and Narrow
Part II - The Station
by Spirit
Author: naughtyspirit@cableinet.co.uk
Pairing: Lindsey/Kate
Rating: NC17
Summary: Before all the madness of Angel, Kate and Lindsey meet.
Disclaimer: Not mine, although I really wouldn't mind borrowing Lindsey from
Joss if he did this. Of course, I'd give him back afterwards. Promise.
Notes: For ethrosdemon, because she asked me to. No, I don't count, "GET OFF THE
IM NOW AND WRITE IT" as begging. For Lar, because she puts up with me
babbling at her and comes up with brilliant lines and explanations when she
can drag her brain back from the visual. Rabbit for her suggestions about
the penis and Donna, because she'd currently rather gouge her eyeballs out
rather than read.
~~~~~~
Kate brushes her hair back from her face and reaches for the coffee. It's
been a long morning and she doesn't get off 'till probably never. From the
moment she wakes up until she goes to sleep again, she kicks on all five
cylinders, asking the right questions, making sure that she's still standing
where her Daddy would be proud if only he'd look. It's tiring and takes away
the energy she has for other things, the stuff the guys in the office call
life. They seem to be able to pull it off just fine - they have wives,
mistresses and even children. She imagines them leaving the station and
depositing their work ID at the door; faces changed so that they can relax,
their hands clean of blood.
She sometimes wonders if hers have been dirty from the moment she understood
what Daddy did for a living. Or whether she just imagines it all; she's the
good guy, right? And whatever Stamford can come up with, whatever steps she
has to take to get him to admit to witnessing this murder, she's entitled.
The coffee tastes really bitter.
"Kate, you ready now?"
She waves her hand at Jake and gathers herself together. Kate hasn't been
doing this long enough to accept that she really belongs here yet. Most of
the time, she feels like she's playing catch up. 'Look at Lockley's girl
doing the overtime. Like she got this job off her own ass'. She hasn't heard
them say it in front of her yet, but she's heard the rumors and even if she
hadn't Kate's sure she would have invented them herself.
Gathering the photos together, she moves to interview room six, waits for
Jake to step inside and sees Stamford relaxing in the chair, feet on the
edge of the desk. He doesn't look as weasely as she'd like - the guys who
like to push you around are the easiest to deal with. You just let them
bully you until their tongues trip over. Stamford's smarter than that, knows
what she's after and might let her get to it. But they're going to sweat
before that happens.
"I don't have to say anything until my layer gets here."
She nods at him and looks up at Jake, "Who's representing?"
"Wolfram and Hart," he shrugs and leans against the wall, "Someone loves
him."
"Or doesn't want him dead yet," agrees Kate and turns on the tape. She reels
off who's present and sips at her coffee, staring out Stamford who she knows
won't say anything until his council gets here.
The knock at the door is almost a relief, so she turns, ready to greet this
week's piranha. And at some level she's not surprised that it's his hands
she recognizes first, hair still ruffled and this suit more formal and well
made. But it's his hands she's drawn too - elegant long fingers that she
knows are capable of more than holding a door open.
To her credit her mouth doesn't fall open, but her hands tighten against the
table. When Kate stands up she doesn't move for a second, afraid that she
might wobble; that she might give herself away to the room's other
occupants. She's almost scared that he won't recognize her at all, that she
was just one in a long line of women who've occupied his bed, but Lindsey
meets her startled expression with one of his own. The smile she's been
dreaming about lately rests briefly on his lips.
"You're from Wolfram and Hart?"
Lindsey breaks away from Kate's intense gaze and turns to Jake, holding his
hand out.
"Lindsey McDonald. I trust you haven't been coercing my client into saying
anything without council's advice."
Jake chuckles and gestures to a seat next to Stamford, "Been giving him
exactly the treatment he deserves."
Kate swallows as Lindsey sits down, memories that seem suddenly too vivid
passing behind her eyes. But she's in control here - he's on her turf and
the least she can do is be civil.
"Detective Lockley," she says, listening out for any tremble in her voice,
"and this is Detective Sutton. Your client I assume you know."
He grins at her, lightening flashing between them. Lindsey shakes the
disgruntled Stamford's hands and draws out a folder from his briefcase, its
contents far more organized than any of Kate's own. And so it starts, Kate
asking reasonable, repetitive questions, offering photographic evidence and
suggesting he might like to look a little harder. Every time she sees him
worry, every time he looks to be on the verge of telling her something,
Lindsey's low confident voice interrupts and pushes her in a different
direction.
And despite the ease with which he fills the enemy's boots, she can't shake
the feeling that his mind is on something else. Though it dismays her, Kate
struggles to push aside the memory of his naked body against her own,
languid mouth touching her skin and fingers rubbing her with a talent she
longs to feel again. Kate talks directly to Stamford, eye line never
wavering where it wants, never meeting Lindsey's penetrating stare. She's
pretty sure she won't be able to think of anything else if she does that.
"Just look at this face. You're sure you don't know him?"
"You've asked that twice already and my client has assured you he doesn't."
Kate ignores him and pushes the black and white under Stamford's nose.
"Your wife's cousin and you don't even think he looks familiar?"
Stamford looks up to Lindsey briefly before shaking his head, a smug grin
across his face. Lindsey leans forward and touches the photograph.
"Detective, we're wasting time here - you haven't produced any evidence to
connect my client with this atrocity and you're holding an innocent man
without reasonable cause."
Kate looks up finally, anger allowing her to believe she can face him
without lust shadowing her judgment. But he still looks the same; the lazy
seductive smile still curls and makes her belly clench in unfulfilled
expectation. And until she can tell him outright, 'I'm working here, don't
try and distract me with anything from outside', she isn't going to get
anywhere with this case.
"Mr. McDonald, would you just step outside a moment, I think we need to have
a word."
She shakes her head at Jake's puzzlement and walks out the door, Lindsey at
her heels, uncomfortably close despite the distance. Room three is empty and
she gestures for him to enter, calling to Barney that she'll be in there if
she's needed. He waves his hand dismissively - no one will notice she's
missing - and she closes the door behind them, drawing the blinds, trying to
compose herself.
"You're even prettier in daylight."
She turns to him, Lindsey seated and watching her closely. Kate looks at
him, waiting to see that shit eating grin break out, but he seems sincere
and she tries not to revel in the compliment.
But it's damn hard and she takes a deep breath.
"Mr. McDonald, while I'm naturally surprised to see you here, I think we
should keep this professional."
"I wasn't suggesting anything else, Detective."
She nods and forces herself to still, aware that she'd find this much easier
if he wasn't so genial; if she hadn't begun to associate his accent with
reaching her climax. Kate's spent several nights since in the bath, fingers
exploring and the memory of Lindsey whispering to her as she comes.
"Your client's guilty."
He shrugs, "You don't have the evidence to prove that."
"You know he did this."
"I know that Wolfram and Hart provide the best defense our clients can
afford. And you're going to have to do more than go to court on a whim."
She shakes her head at him, knowing he's right, hating the system that
allows him to be so.
"That's why Wolfram and Hart's a four letter word round here."
He grins at her then, smile opening up his face, becoming something less
amiable, infinitely more arousing.
"And I thought all police officers were literate."
Her hands gravitate to her hips and she wonders what he's thinking. "We know
the difference between right and wrong."
"Really? Police officers never make mistakes?"
She glares at him, the low steady throb in her belly flying south and making
her long to get home and in the bath. "They do...when they don't have all
the information."
"Is that an admission of guilt, Detective?"
"Bad judgment maybe."
Lindsey smiles softly, "You think it was wise for me to get involved with
someone who could arrest me at any point?" He pretends to frown before
showing his teeth, "though the handcuffs would have been almost welcome."
She rolls her eyes and begins to pace.
"We're not involved. We had one night, and if I'd known who you worked for
then, we wouldn't have had that."
"Prejudiced, Detective?"
She glares at him and manages to stand still, biting down on instincts that
would have them both forgetting name, rank and file.
"You're going to take that man out of here when you know he's guilty as
hell. And you'll set him free to go kill again and again because he happens
to have a big bank balance."
"Because his alleged victim was so innocent."
"That's not the point!" She hears herself, shrill when she wanted to be
focused, pulls it together, lowers her voice. "You're not doing this to keep
the innocent safe; you're protecting your own ass and ignoring anyone he'll
hurt if you set him free."
"And you're so much better than that?"
Kate sets her lip, body wanting to shiver. "At least I can go to bed with a
clear conscience."
Lindsey glares at her and she hides the hypocrisy in her tone, waits for him
to say she can never know that. She senses the anger he's holding in and
wonders why she thought she had the right to question him - one night, that'
s all. It doesn't entitle you to any questions beyond 'have you got condoms'
.
She can't help it.
"My job would be a whole lot easier if you'd actually let us put the bad
guys behind bars."
Kate raises her chin; certain she's had the last word.
"I hate to interrupt this whole holier than thou spiel of yours, Detective,
but I really want to fuck you now."
"What?" She looks at him for a moment in disbelief, sure that her ears are
playing tricks. But he's still wearing that aggravated, predatory look and
Kate's hearing is just fine. "Here?" Throws in a mocking tone, "Now?"
Kate expects to see it thrown back at her but his face is deadly serious.
"Right here. Right now."
She opens her mouth to say something, words failing her entirely, when he's
out of his chair and pushing her back against the wall. Full body caress,
thighs and torso pressed against her, hard evidence against her hips. And
when his mouth finds hers, kissing her with a fierceness she discovers she
wants, Kate couldn't give a shit about which bad guys go where.
He slams her hands above her head with his left hand as his mouth trails
down her neck, nuzzling at her collarbone. And he slips the buttons of her
shirt open quickly, threads torn as he seeks access to her breasts. Licks
along the lace as she groans; nipples almost sore with the friction. Lindsey
's tongue flickers over her bra, sucking the tip into his mouth while his
other hand seeks out its companion. And Kate wants to tell him it's wrong;
wants to point out all the very good and sensible reasons why she shouldn't
be pressed up against a wall with his legs between her thighs.
Somehow, she can't vocalize a single one.
He moves back up to her face again, kissing her hard, tongue all invasive.
She feels him free one breast, hard nipple under his palm; her whole body
keyed into fucking him, keyed out of where they are and at they should be
doing. She whimpers as his hands stray down her body, reaching her skirt and
sliding up, fingers touching and stroking over her panties, insistent and
enticing.
"What do you want, Kate? Tell me what you want."
Kate tries to free her hands, feels him let go and relishes the long strokes
he takes down her body. She could move now, could get away and just stop
this entirely, but his fingers feel so good and she wants to feel him inside
her again. She wants to come with his cock filling her and his hands
grasping her ass. Needs it now, needs him and recognizes that she's on the
verge of becoming addicted.
"I want you."
He nuzzles into her neck, middle finger rubbing softly across her panties,
hips already rocking against her. "Want me where?"
"Inside, God, inside me."
She can feel his grin even though she can't see it, but Kate still gasps in
surprise as she feels his hands slide up and grasp the sides of her panties,
pulling them so quickly that the elastic snaps. The air conditioning hits
the back of her thighs at the same time as his fingers slide to her exposed
flesh, teasing and probing until she can't stand it and Kate reaches for his
pants. She undoes the buckle as fast as she can, fiddles with the button and
lowers the zipper. Feels the lightening again as her hand meets flesh,
thrilling at the soft skin that's so damn firm and warm in her hands.
Thrills at knowing he doesn't wear anything beneath that lean suit - the man
still exists inside the lawyer.
Lindsey's hands slip away to her ass, lifting her up, pushing her against
the wall. Kate obliges, wrapping her legs round his waist, feet digging into
the back of his thighs hard enough to bring bruises. She realizes with a
modicum of desire and horror that they're not being careful, feels the
bulbous head slide up and inside and struggles to care. And then she can't
think straight about anything at all as he thrusts forward, groaning against
her neck as he buries himself in her body.
Kate whimpers again as his hands tighten, fingers leaving imprints as he
tries to gain purchase. And though they're doing this together, she knows
she's going to have to get there alone, work at it until she comes. She can
feel him panting against her neck as he moves faster, his cock beginning to
throb inside her. Her head rocks to the side as he crushes her body back
against the wall and as he lets out a deep rumbling groan, she feels him
slip from her body, warm liquid covering her thighs.
She strokes the back of his head as he shudders, brain coming back into
focus and into the present. He moves away, lowering her gently and pulling a
handkerchief from his pocket. Kate leans against the wall, head still
pounding as he bends and wipes her legs clean. She sees him toss it into the
trash before easing her skirt back down and pulling her back into his arms.
And it's as he kisses her again that Kate clicks into reality and steps
back, trying to work out if she's imagining this.
"I have to go...to the bathroom."
He nods and she watches the faded wolf-grin on his face, still seductive
despite his sated attitude. And she realizes, despite who is and what he is,
she hasn't had enough of him yet, not by a long shot.
Lindsey reaches for her hand and rubs his thumb along it, Southern twang
more distinct now as his tone slows.
"I'd like to take you out."
"On a date?"
He looks up at her and she sees the appreciation there, preens and waits for
him to answer.
"Dinner, entertainment...good night had by all."
She smiles back amused, suspicious he knew she was going to say yes before
he'd asked the question. "I think I can set aside some time for that."
"You busy Saturday?"
"I've got this sleazy lawyer I have to deal with, but I think I can distract
him."
He grins hard then, slides his fingers over hers and squeezes, business
definitely not over. "I know you will."
He walks to the door before she stops him.
"And your client?"
"You didn't have the evidence."
Kate raises her eyebrows, "I could damn well get some."
"You don't want me to lose my reputation as a piranha?"
He kisses her again, licking her bottom lip as he pulls away.
"In the light of new evidence I'll inform Mr. Stamford that he'll find the
court more favorable if he co-operates."
"Sexual favors, Mr. McDonald?"
He shakes his head. "Not for this, no."
And then he's gone and Kate lets out a deep breath, rocking back against the
wall before she leaves the room. Splashes cold water over her face and legs,
walks back out to find Jake's witness suddenly a whole lot more informative.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Lindsey settles back in his office, takes the last phone call and explains
that some evidence is just too strong to walk away from. Accept the
consequences this time, say it was witnessed and admit culpability. He
listens to the suspicious acceptance and hangs up, done with work for the
day and his own man again.
He draws the panties from his pocket and smiles to himself, running the
filmy fabric through his fingers as he tries to decide where to take her.
Somewhere they can be without all the crap that surrounds them, somewhere
they can pretend they're just regular people - a guy and his girl out on a
date. Somewhere he can find a quiet space and make love to her, feeling her
body against his and the sweet guilty tang of her mouth.
He clicks on the intercom, "Jen, where's the nearest Rodeo?"
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So that must have been some talk you and he had."
Kate flashes blue eyes up at Jake and tries to phrase her answer so that he
doesn't get any more suspicious than he already is. He's got to think she
and Lindsey are doing some kind of deal. But right now she doesn't care too
much what Jake thinks, just wants him to go away so she can get on with her
research.
"Who knows? Maybe Wolfram and Hart set this up."
He shrugs and sits at his desk, but she can feel his mind ticking over,
trying to find the angle. Kate shakes her head and taps at the keyboard,
flicking through the options until she finds his name.
Better to go on a date armed with the dangerous.
~~~~~~~~~~~
End part two
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