Explanation

Erik walked out quickly and quietly as to not draw attention to himself. He ran through darkened alleys and dark streets until he came upon the once abandoned hotel. He ran up the stairs and went inside. At a counter were two people, man and woman. They looked up and saw him standing in the doorway, panting.

“ Do we have any more surprises today? First evil lawyers and now masked stranger. What’s next?” asked the already annoyed woman. He walked over to them.

“Where is Angel?”

“In the back room with a sobbing father who lost his daughter. Who are you?”

“Just call me Ghost for that is all I am to you.”

“Ok Mr. Ghost. I’ll go get him.” She rolled her eyes and went into the back room.

Cordelia walked into the back room and found Angel sitting on a couch talking to Lindsey. She walked in and smiled.

“There’s a man here to see you Angel. His name is Ghost. Weird if you ask me. He has a mask on half of his face and is dressed like he’s depressed. Just like you Angel, no offense.” She added quickly as she saw him glaring at her.”

Angel looked at Lindsey and smiled.

“It’s him. Let’s see what he wants.” Lindsey shook his head.

“You go. I don’t want to see him.” He put his head back on the pillow and watched Angel and Cordelia walk out.

Angel growled at the masked stranger.

“Why did you take her Erik?”

“Because if I didn’t, she would have been killed. I came here to get Lindsey. She misses him. If he doesn’t he will be killed.” Erik explained. Angel scoffed.

“Is that a threat? You started killing again?” He walked closer to Erik in a threatening manner. Erik backed up.

“No I would not hurt him. I have no reason to. Wolfram and Hart does though. I happened to be in the area that some of them chose to use as a secret meeting. They said she was a threat to them and needed to be eliminated. They also said that they would need to eliminate Lindsey if he got in the way.”

“Why do you want to help?” He asked suspiciously. Erik shrugged.

“I have my own reasons. Something I will never share with you.” He said solemnly. Angel glared at him, but it would not faze Erik.

“Will she ever come back? Let her come home?”

“Yes I will let her come home. She is not my prisoner.” He reassured him.

“I will talk to Lindsey and see if he wants to go.” He nodded and Angel went into the back room again.

He came back out five minutes later with Lindsey on his heels.

“Where is she?” he asked, glaring at Erik.

“She is sleeping at my lair. Please join us. You are in danger from the firm that owns you.” He warned.

“Thanks for the help but I think I can take care of myself.” He said sarcastically.

“As you wish but if you need help or a place to hide, our place is always open.” He smiled and just like that he vanished.

Lindsey looked astonished as Erik vanished and turned to Angel who, in turn, looked astonished.

“I forgot he could do that.” He said as he looked at Lindsey.

“I don’t trust him. He will not keep her!” warned Lindsey. Angel

sighed.

“Good luck trying to get her. If her doesn’t want to be found, he won’t be. He has had over 100 years to improve his hiding skills and he was already unstoppable before.”

“I’m going anyways. She is coming back!”

“Well have fun. I’m going to wait, come up with a plan, and then come rescue your sorry ass.” Lindsey scoffed.

“Don’t bother coming. I’ll come back and I will have her.” He walked over to the door. Angel suddenly called after him.

“You’re going to get yourself killed. He’s not one to take trespassing lightly.”

“I’ll take my chances.” he said as he walked out and was out of sight seconds later.

Angel grabbed his head and groaned.

“He is so stubborn! I really hope Alex is not like that.” he said to Wesley and Cordelia who had walked in seconds earlier when they heard the door close behind Lindsey.

Lindsey ran through the streets back to the door they went in last time. He ran through the underground cobble street until he came to the river, but this time, the boat was on this side. He grinned and went down and got in, he rowed quietly over and saw Alex sitting at an organ, fiddling with some notes. He yelled out to get her attention as he rowed to shore.

“Alex!” she turned around and smiled.

“Dad you came!” she ran down and helped him out of the water.

“I came to take you home. We need to leave now.”

“But I don’t want to leave. Erik takes care of me and told me what would happen if I went back.”

“I can take care of you. I can keep you from Wolfram and Hart.”

“You don’t know the whole story,” came a voice that echoed across the lair. Lindsey and Alex looked around for the voice but there was no one there. Then Alex looked up in the rafters high above us and saw Erik standing in the shadows. She smiled and watched Lindsey as he tried to find the voice.

“So why don’t you tell me the whole story.” said Lindsey sarcastically. The voice became louder and angrier.

“It is you who is to kill her! Wolfram and Hart owns you and will use you as the killer. If you refuse to kill her, they will kill you along with her. Could you really lose your life as well as your daughters?”

“I would never hurt her! I would die before I hurt her!” he growled. Erik laughed.

“You would die so you wouldn’t have to kill her and yet she would die anyways.”

“Shut up! You don’t know what I would do for her!” Erik laughed again.

“I am sure I know what you would do. You would go to the end of the earth for her and you would do anything to keep her from getting hurt.’ he whispered very low but we could still hear him. ‘And so would I.” Lindsey looked at me in disbelief.

“What does he mean? Does he love you?”

“Yes he does. I love him too. He and I have known each other for about six years. He wants me to come here and live here when I turn eighteen.”

“Will you come?” he asked quietly.

“Yes. I see nothing wrong with him and I... I love him.” She felt Lindsey grab her and hold her close.

“You finally fell in love. Wow, you really are growing up.”

“Yeah I guess I am dad. But you know, you can’t hold onto me forever. It’s almost my eighteenth birthday and I am going to come here to him.”

“I know you will. I don’t want to lose you though. I love you.” he couldn’t hold back his tears any longer and let them fall. For minutes we just stood like that until Erik came out of hiding and walked over to us. Lindsey quickly stopped crying and wiped away his tears.

“Before anything else happens, let’s meet your father.”