Fic: Across the Universe 1/? (Willow/Lindsey) PG-13
Title: Across the Universe
Author: Elisabeth
Rating: PG-13, may go up later
Pairing/Characters: Willow/Lindsey, AtS team
Word Count: 1,313 this chapter
Summary: Willow goes in search of Lindsey when he suddenly disappears.
Timeline: BtVS: Post-Chosen, AtS: During Underneath (some dialog may be borrowed from the episode).
Disclaimer: I claim no ownership over these characters. I am merely borrowing them from Joss et al
Distribution: My site, the usual lists, anyone with previous permission. Anyone else - just ask.
Feedback: Yes please! It makes me happy and keeps me writing.
Betas: angelskuuipo
Author’s Note 1: Written for the Which Witch Ficathon. I didn't entirely follow my prompt - What if Willow joins Wolfram & Hart with Angel's team after leaving Sunnydale? - but I hope you enjoy it anyway.
Author’s Note 2: This is a non-direct sequel to my story Searching for Stability. I have a story in mind that takes place in Sunnydale between that one and this one, but it is currently incomplete. The main thing you need to know (if you don’t want to go read SfS) is that Willow and Lindsey met while she was in England for her magic rehab and Lindsey was there hiding from the Senior Partners after he left LA.)
Author's Note 3: For the purpose of this story, Lindsey and Eve were never lovers, just partners.
Chapter 1
Willow sighed as she felt her consciousness return to her body. She knew that she had been on the astral plane for a long time, too long perhaps, but she wasn't having much luck finding what she'd been looking for. Who she'd been looking for. It worried her more than she cared to admit.
She heard her name being called, as if from a great distance. As her senses settled more firmly into her body, she noted the tone of urgency and worry in the voice calling her.
"Kennedy? What it is?" she groggily asked, opening her eyes.
"Thank god! We were starting to think you weren't coming back," Kennedy exclaimed. She pulled Willow into a quick, uncharacteristic, hug.
Willow awkwardly returned the hug before pushing the younger girl away. Apparently Kennedy's crush on her still hadn't gone away completely, despite Willow's continued refusal.
"Don't be silly." Willow accepted Kennedy's hand and stood on shaky legs. "Woah, rubber legs."
Kennedy grabbed Willow and helped her to remain upright. "That's what I've been trying to tell you. It's been almost two weeks since you took your little astral trip!"
If Kennedy hadn't been holding her up, Willow certainly would have fallen given how fast she jerked her head up to meet the slayer's eyes.
"T-two weeks?"
Kennedy nodded. "I hope you found what you were looking for."
"I need to sit." Kennedy helped ease Willow back down on her bed.
"Did you find it?"
Willow dropped her head into her hands. "No. No, I couldn't find him."
"Not even a trace?" Kennedy asked, caring not at all for the person Willow was looking for, but more about the witch's frustration.
"Barely. There was barely a trace… in Los Angeles. It was so faint, though."
"Well, wouldn't those tattoos you told me about make it extra hard to find him?" Kennedy asked.
Willow shook her head. "Not for me. I should have been able to find him anywhere on the planet."
"Do you think he's dead?"
Willow's head snapped up, eyes flashing. "Don't you dare even think that."
"But if he's not on the planet…"
"You know the kind of world we live in. Just because I can't find him, doesn't mean he's dead. In fact, if he were dead, I would have been able to find his body, which means he's alive."
"And last seen in LA," Kennedy concluded.
"I need to go there. He must be in some kind of trouble." Willow stood and slowly made her way to her desk. More importantly, to her laptop.
"Oh, good, you can take care of something for the Council while you're there," Kennedy said.
"What are you talking about?" Willow absently asked as she started looking online for a flight to take her from Rio to LA.
"Word is that those guys that took over Wolfram & Hart tried to get in touch with you just after you left for the astral plane. The CEO himself, Angel something, called Giles looking for you to do some kind of magic thing. Of course, Giles refused to help, because, y'know, they're evil."
Willow had stopped her search and turned to look at Kennedy. "Angel called Giles to get me to do a spell for them? Did he lose his soul again?"
"Why else would he be running Evil Incorporated?" Kennedy flippantly replied.
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner? If Angelus is loose none of us are safe." She grabbed the Orb of Thesula she'd been using as a paperweight and began to gather her other soul restoration supplies.
After several minutes of throwing things onto her bed, she paused. "Wait a minute, you said Angel called Giles?" Kennedy nodded. "Then he still has his soul. Angelus would never call Giles for help. Do you know what they wanted me to do?"
"No idea. Andrew told Buffy that Angel said it was some kind of emergency, but that was it. Apparently Giles hung up pretty quick after that."
"And no one was going to tell me about it either, I bet."
Kennedy looked at her shoes. "Yeah, I wasn't really supposed to say anything about that, I think."
"I need to call Angel," Willow said, reaching for her phone.
"That's probably not such a great idea. I bet he’s really pissed about Giles turning him down."
"Angel's an old friend. If I just explain to him that I never got his message…"
"He'll what? Forgive and forget?"
"You're right. I shouldn't do it over the phone. I'll go see him when I arrive in Los Angeles. Heck, maybe that giant law firm he's running will be able to help me find Lindsey."
"If it's not what made him disappear," Kennedy mumbled.
"Goddess, I hope you're wrong."
Willow went back to searching for flights and found one that left the next day. She booked it and began to pack anything she could think of that she might need, Kennedy keeping her company.
"When you said I could do something for the Council, you meant spying on what Angel's doing at Wolfram & Hart, didn't you?" Willow eventually asked.
"The idea has been bantered about since Andrew went to retrieve that crazy slayer," Kennedy admitted.
"For me to do it?" Willow clarified.
"Not you specifically, no. You're still our main Global Slayer Locator, after all. But if you're going there anyway…"
"I'm not really comfortable with the idea of being some kind of spy. I mean, Angel is a friend."
"Angel was a friend," Kennedy corrected. "Before he agreed to run the largest power center for evil on the planet."
"I'm sure he had a very good reason for doing so. And not because he's evil."
"In that case, what are you going to tell Giles your reason for going to LA is? To look for your missing boyfriend, who also used to be evil?"
"No, you're right." Willow sighed.
~~*~~
"I really must object." "You can't go in there alone."
"One at a time, please," Willow said, resolve face staring into the webcam. Giles and Buffy's images quieted.
"Did you find him?" Buffy asked.
"Not really. I'll tell you about that later," Willow promised, not wanting to reveal her real reason for going to LA.
"I'm sorry. I still think it's a bad idea for you to go to Wolfram & Hart all by yourself."
"I know you do. I don't love the idea either, but I have to believe that there is a good reason that Angel and his team took over."
"You're much too forgiving a girl," Giles chided. "With all that you have seen, how can you still be so naïve?"
"Is it naïve to want to trust my friends? I've met all of Angel's team. Remember? None of the rest of you can say that. They're all good people, and they all followed Angel to Wolfram & Hart."
"For your sake, I hope that you're right." Giles removed his glasses to clean them. "All right, if you must go to satisfy your curiosity, go. But do take every precaution. Kennedy will acc-"
"No." Willow cut him off.
"I beg your pardon?" Giles re-affixed his glasses to glare at her. "Did you just say 'no'?"
"Yes, I said 'no'. I can't go in there with a Slayer in tow after Andrew's little visit. I can take care of myself just fine."
"Promise me you'll be careful," Buffy finally said.
"I promise."
"Have a safe trip," Giles said before he signed off.
"You think he's there, don't you?" Buffy guessed, after Giles was gone.
Willow bit her lip and nodded. "It was faint, but that's the last place he was before he disappeared."
"And you're sure he's not…"
"I'm sure. I'd know it if he were," Willow insisted.
"Good luck." Buffy signed off.
"Hang in there, Lindsey, I'm coming." Willow promised her blank monitor.
Chapter 2
Author: Elisabeth
Rating: PG-13, may go up later
Pairing/Characters: Willow/Lindsey, AtS team
Word Count: 1,313 this chapter
Summary: Willow goes in search of Lindsey when he suddenly disappears.
Timeline: BtVS: Post-Chosen, AtS: During Underneath (some dialog may be borrowed from the episode).
Disclaimer: I claim no ownership over these characters. I am merely borrowing them from Joss et al
Distribution: My site, the usual lists, anyone with previous permission. Anyone else - just ask.
Feedback: Yes please! It makes me happy and keeps me writing.
Betas: angelskuuipo
Author’s Note 1: Written for the Which Witch Ficathon. I didn't entirely follow my prompt - What if Willow joins Wolfram & Hart with Angel's team after leaving Sunnydale? - but I hope you enjoy it anyway.
Author’s Note 2: This is a non-direct sequel to my story Searching for Stability. I have a story in mind that takes place in Sunnydale between that one and this one, but it is currently incomplete. The main thing you need to know (if you don’t want to go read SfS) is that Willow and Lindsey met while she was in England for her magic rehab and Lindsey was there hiding from the Senior Partners after he left LA.)
Author's Note 3: For the purpose of this story, Lindsey and Eve were never lovers, just partners.
Chapter 1
Willow sighed as she felt her consciousness return to her body. She knew that she had been on the astral plane for a long time, too long perhaps, but she wasn't having much luck finding what she'd been looking for. Who she'd been looking for. It worried her more than she cared to admit.
She heard her name being called, as if from a great distance. As her senses settled more firmly into her body, she noted the tone of urgency and worry in the voice calling her.
"Kennedy? What it is?" she groggily asked, opening her eyes.
"Thank god! We were starting to think you weren't coming back," Kennedy exclaimed. She pulled Willow into a quick, uncharacteristic, hug.
Willow awkwardly returned the hug before pushing the younger girl away. Apparently Kennedy's crush on her still hadn't gone away completely, despite Willow's continued refusal.
"Don't be silly." Willow accepted Kennedy's hand and stood on shaky legs. "Woah, rubber legs."
Kennedy grabbed Willow and helped her to remain upright. "That's what I've been trying to tell you. It's been almost two weeks since you took your little astral trip!"
If Kennedy hadn't been holding her up, Willow certainly would have fallen given how fast she jerked her head up to meet the slayer's eyes.
"T-two weeks?"
Kennedy nodded. "I hope you found what you were looking for."
"I need to sit." Kennedy helped ease Willow back down on her bed.
"Did you find it?"
Willow dropped her head into her hands. "No. No, I couldn't find him."
"Not even a trace?" Kennedy asked, caring not at all for the person Willow was looking for, but more about the witch's frustration.
"Barely. There was barely a trace… in Los Angeles. It was so faint, though."
"Well, wouldn't those tattoos you told me about make it extra hard to find him?" Kennedy asked.
Willow shook her head. "Not for me. I should have been able to find him anywhere on the planet."
"Do you think he's dead?"
Willow's head snapped up, eyes flashing. "Don't you dare even think that."
"But if he's not on the planet…"
"You know the kind of world we live in. Just because I can't find him, doesn't mean he's dead. In fact, if he were dead, I would have been able to find his body, which means he's alive."
"And last seen in LA," Kennedy concluded.
"I need to go there. He must be in some kind of trouble." Willow stood and slowly made her way to her desk. More importantly, to her laptop.
"Oh, good, you can take care of something for the Council while you're there," Kennedy said.
"What are you talking about?" Willow absently asked as she started looking online for a flight to take her from Rio to LA.
"Word is that those guys that took over Wolfram & Hart tried to get in touch with you just after you left for the astral plane. The CEO himself, Angel something, called Giles looking for you to do some kind of magic thing. Of course, Giles refused to help, because, y'know, they're evil."
Willow had stopped her search and turned to look at Kennedy. "Angel called Giles to get me to do a spell for them? Did he lose his soul again?"
"Why else would he be running Evil Incorporated?" Kennedy flippantly replied.
"Why didn't you tell me this sooner? If Angelus is loose none of us are safe." She grabbed the Orb of Thesula she'd been using as a paperweight and began to gather her other soul restoration supplies.
After several minutes of throwing things onto her bed, she paused. "Wait a minute, you said Angel called Giles?" Kennedy nodded. "Then he still has his soul. Angelus would never call Giles for help. Do you know what they wanted me to do?"
"No idea. Andrew told Buffy that Angel said it was some kind of emergency, but that was it. Apparently Giles hung up pretty quick after that."
"And no one was going to tell me about it either, I bet."
Kennedy looked at her shoes. "Yeah, I wasn't really supposed to say anything about that, I think."
"I need to call Angel," Willow said, reaching for her phone.
"That's probably not such a great idea. I bet he’s really pissed about Giles turning him down."
"Angel's an old friend. If I just explain to him that I never got his message…"
"He'll what? Forgive and forget?"
"You're right. I shouldn't do it over the phone. I'll go see him when I arrive in Los Angeles. Heck, maybe that giant law firm he's running will be able to help me find Lindsey."
"If it's not what made him disappear," Kennedy mumbled.
"Goddess, I hope you're wrong."
Willow went back to searching for flights and found one that left the next day. She booked it and began to pack anything she could think of that she might need, Kennedy keeping her company.
"When you said I could do something for the Council, you meant spying on what Angel's doing at Wolfram & Hart, didn't you?" Willow eventually asked.
"The idea has been bantered about since Andrew went to retrieve that crazy slayer," Kennedy admitted.
"For me to do it?" Willow clarified.
"Not you specifically, no. You're still our main Global Slayer Locator, after all. But if you're going there anyway…"
"I'm not really comfortable with the idea of being some kind of spy. I mean, Angel is a friend."
"Angel was a friend," Kennedy corrected. "Before he agreed to run the largest power center for evil on the planet."
"I'm sure he had a very good reason for doing so. And not because he's evil."
"In that case, what are you going to tell Giles your reason for going to LA is? To look for your missing boyfriend, who also used to be evil?"
"No, you're right." Willow sighed.
~~*~~
"I really must object." "You can't go in there alone."
"One at a time, please," Willow said, resolve face staring into the webcam. Giles and Buffy's images quieted.
"Did you find him?" Buffy asked.
"Not really. I'll tell you about that later," Willow promised, not wanting to reveal her real reason for going to LA.
"I'm sorry. I still think it's a bad idea for you to go to Wolfram & Hart all by yourself."
"I know you do. I don't love the idea either, but I have to believe that there is a good reason that Angel and his team took over."
"You're much too forgiving a girl," Giles chided. "With all that you have seen, how can you still be so naïve?"
"Is it naïve to want to trust my friends? I've met all of Angel's team. Remember? None of the rest of you can say that. They're all good people, and they all followed Angel to Wolfram & Hart."
"For your sake, I hope that you're right." Giles removed his glasses to clean them. "All right, if you must go to satisfy your curiosity, go. But do take every precaution. Kennedy will acc-"
"No." Willow cut him off.
"I beg your pardon?" Giles re-affixed his glasses to glare at her. "Did you just say 'no'?"
"Yes, I said 'no'. I can't go in there with a Slayer in tow after Andrew's little visit. I can take care of myself just fine."
"Promise me you'll be careful," Buffy finally said.
"I promise."
"Have a safe trip," Giles said before he signed off.
"You think he's there, don't you?" Buffy guessed, after Giles was gone.
Willow bit her lip and nodded. "It was faint, but that's the last place he was before he disappeared."
"And you're sure he's not…"
"I'm sure. I'd know it if he were," Willow insisted.
"Good luck." Buffy signed off.
"Hang in there, Lindsey, I'm coming." Willow promised her blank monitor.
Chapter 2