A/N Evil Buffy is exactly that: Evil. Please don't patronize me about what she does with Angelus. I've always wanted to toy with the idea of what Buffy would be like evil. I think she'd be just as bad as Angelus. Maybe even worse since she knows him and how to play him.

Chapter 53

Buffy watched from the second story overlooking the hotel lobby as Lorne walked into the Hyperion. Fred perked up. "Lorne! Did you find out anything?"

"Zip. Zilch." Lorne said. He noticed Lilah who had recently joined the group. "And what in the hell is succu-bitch doing here?"

"Still trying to figure that out." Cordy said. "So.. nothing?"

"Talked to every contact that hasn't beat it for higher ground. Nobody's heard bo-peep about Angel's soul."

"Forget about the goody-goody. You want to kill the Beast and give his boss a run for his evil? The answer's downstairs in a cage. Sic Angelus on him." Lilah said.

Buffy smiled as Cordy piped up. "Do you know what Angelus would do if we let him out?"

"Kill you all except Buffy in a bloody shower of violence.. but, hey, greater good."

"Buffy?"

"She's the apple of his evil eye. The files Wolfram and Hart have on Angelus proves that if he can't defeat it, he falls for it. Buffy is the very embodiment of that. He couldn't defeat her, so.. Well, it doesn't take a genius to see the way he looks at her."

Cordy shook her head. "Buffy would never. Anyways, we'll find another way. I'm sure if we just all.."

"What? Hold hands and sing a hymn? That might be a little hard when the Beast is ripping your guts out."

"Lilah, I know things look grim right now.."

"Don't go Watchtower on me, Saint Cordelia. I don't think I could stomach it."

"Man, I'd love to punch your face in."

"Are you trying to turn me on?"

"You know what's sad about people like you, Lilah? It all comes down to fear."

"Fascinating. Now that we've got that settled.."

"You're too scared to believe in anything because you're too scared to hope. You won't even open your eyes to the possibility."

"You don't get it, do you, twinkie? I'm what I believe in. And you think I got this far by sticking my head in the sand? The Beast that eviscerated me has a boss and that boss is going to end life as we know it and nobody is coming to save us! Not Angel, not the Powers That Be and not the Forty- damned-second Cavalry! So if anybody has scales on their eyes.." Suddenly Cordy's head rocked back and her eyes went white. "It's you."

"I can bring him back. I know how to re-ensoul Angel." Cordy said.

Buffy's eyes widened and she gasped. They all looked up at her. Lorne smiled. "Hey Blondie. I guess you heard the great news."

Buffy smiled and made her eyes tear up. She pretended to be speechless and nodded. Gunn walked up to her and hugged her. Buffy did her best not to pull away. As soon as Gunn released her, she walked down the stairs to face Cordy. "How?"
Buffy walked down the stairs and Angelus smiled. "Hey there!"

Wesley stood up and walked over to her. "You shouldn't be down here."

"I'm ok." Buffy said. "They need you upstairs."

"Why?"

"Cordy knows how to bring Angel back."

"Really? How?"

"She had a vision."

Wesley hugged her. "I bet you're so happy."

Buffy smiled. "Of course. Now get up there and bring my husband back." Wesley left and Buffy looked at Angelus. "What's with all the damn hugging? I never hugged that much when I was good."

"I wouldn't say that." Angelus said.

"That wasn't hugging. That was locked in an orgasm with soul boy." Angelus started to chuckle, but Buffy punched him in the face and sent him sprawling. "Shut up. We need to figure out how to stop this."

Angelus stood up and watched her pace. "I don't see how we can. Unless you let me out now and we run away together."

"Now that would just give me away."

"So?"

Buffy wheeled on Angelus. "I have plans moron. If they find me out, that upsets the plans. God! Those stupid visions. I should have killed Cordelia the minute she gave you lusty eyes back in sophomore year of high school." Buffy went back to pacing. "Damn it."

"How about we let them ensoul me and then you have the shaman ready to take it away again?"

"Angel would know and he'd tattle on me."

"Not Angel. He loves you too much. Knowing him he'd probably lock you down and figure out a way to make you good again."

"You just contradicted your own plan idiot."

"Oh, such dirty words. Talk more to me Buff."

Buffy rolled her eyes and went back to pacing. Angelus watched her like a predator watches his prey. They spent an hour waiting and then Wesley and the others came down with their arms full of magick stuff. Buffy stood in the corner watching. Connor came over, but she waved him away. Wesley set a skull down in the center of a ritual circle on the floor in front of Angelus' cage. Connor kneeled to Wesley's right while Fred laid down sticks in a runic pattern across from him. Cordelia, Gunn, Lorne, and Lilah stood nearby watching.

"Almost done." Wesley said. He looked at Buffy. "Then you'll have Angel back."

"Yippy." Buffy said.

"What's the matter?"

"I don't know if we should try this. What if it goes wrong?"

"It couldn't. Cordelia's visions are always precise."

"She's right." Angelus said, catching on. "Have you all lost your minds? You're going to use black magick to restore my soul. People, this never goes well. Am we the only ones paying attention?"

"Ten-to-one, the entire hotel gets sucked into a hell dimension." Lilah said.

"You two, with the shuttin' up." Gunn said.

"Talk about eleventh hour desperation. Face it, you're grasping. No jar, no soul." Angelus said.

"You sound pretty desperate yourself." Connor said.

"Do you have the vial?" Cordy asked Wesley.

"Let's be realistic. Even if your precious champion makes another guest appearance, you can't stop the apocalypse. Bottom line is, you're going to lose." Angelus said. Cordelia held the vial over the center of the circle and poured blood onto the skull. "The last thing you smell will be each other's blood."

"That's your opinion." Fred said.

"You tell him, honey." Lorne said.

"You shut your fat mouth."

Angelus chuckled. "Look at you. Heroes. So tangled up in your own crap, you can't even find the world to save it."

"Does everyone have their talismans?" Cordy asked.

"Oh, I don't." Buffy said. "Guess it won't work, right?"

"You don't need one." Everyone held up bundles of bones and feathers. Cordelia went over to the cage and stood before Angelus.

"Hell, even Angel knew you never stood a chance. You want to know why he really let me out? Because he finally gave up. He knew you were all too weak and selfish to stop what's coming. He gave up his soul because he gave up on you." Angelus said.

"Right. Bye-bye." Cordy threw a handful of sand on him to initiate the spell and Angelus was hurled across the cage and slammed into the wall. He struggled to his feet, gasping, as Wesley started the incantation.

"Don't kid yourselves. I'll still be around long after your corpses rot." Wesley said something more and Angelus screamed and doubled over in pain as a glowing wispy-white cloud rose from the center of the circle and snaked toward him. "I promise you, this isn't the end." The cloud encircled Angelus and lifted him off the floor. He moaned in pain as the glowing energy enveloped his body. The skull exploded and the energy disappeared. Angelus dropped to the floor, stunned.

Buffy walked up to the cage tentatively. "Angel?"

"I'm so sorry." Angel said.

"It worked." Lorne said.

"Did it?" Connor asked, moving over to his mother.

"Fred?" Angel asked.

"What?" Fred asked.

"You came down the stairs. You had blood and I grabbed.."

"I'm fine."

"The spell, it worked. I feel it." Cordy said.

"We have to be sure." Wesley said.

"Get Lorne to read him." Gunn said.

"Angel? Are you aware of what's happened?"

Buffy helped Angel get to his feet through the bars. "I'm back." Angel put his hand on Buffy's cheek. "There's.. something else. Something worse than the.."

"The Beast, yes. And we need your help to fight it. But first you have to sing for Lorne."

"I.."

"To prove it's really you."

"Oh, right." Angel took Buffy's hand and cleared his throat. He began to sing. "Raindrops keep falling on my head.." He continued to hum the tune as Lorne stared at him.

Lorne's face broke out in a huge smile. "Oh, yes. Yes! Sweet fancy B.J. Thomas, it's him. It's Angel."

"You sure?" Buffy asked.

"Yes, yes! The aura's totally changed and the vibe screams soul." Lorne looked at Cordelia. "Oh, bless you and your beautiful landline to the PTB, honey."

"He's back." Connor said, moving over to Buffy's side.

"Then we can let him out." Fred said.

"No. I'm staying in here. I'm doing what's best for the group." Angel said.

"Since when is locking up one of the leaders what's best for the group?" Cordy asked.

"Since when does your vision come with a guarantee? For all we know, this spell.. it's only temporary. And god forbid.. I can give orders from down in here and the new ones are: no more back-biting, fist-fighting, fraternizing, or vengeance. From now on you focus on one thing: making it out alive. Cause I'm only going to say this once. What Angelus told you was a lie. I haven't and will never give up on you. We'll get through this thing.." He looked at Buffy. "Together."

Buffy realized that it wasn't Angel the minute he looked down at her and she smiled. Lilah looked around. "I can't believe we didn't crush you people years ago."

"Wes, you and Fred get back to Lilah's books. We need any new information we can get on this new player. Lilah, make some coffee. Earn your keep around here. Lorne, I want you out working low-pro real estate. If this thing is bigger than the Beast, it's going to be laying down roots and it'll need square-footage."

"Good to have you back, boss." Lorne said as he went upstairs.

"In the meantime, Connor, Gunn, work damage control. Sweep the surrounding blocks for civilians. Save who you can." Connor stared at Angel. "Connor, it's me."

"I know." Connor said as he and Gunn headed upstairs.

"Cordy.."

"No." Cordy said.

"I didn't say anything."

"True. But I thought I should tell you up front that I don't take orders from guys too scared to step out of their cages."

"I made the right call. This way everybody stays safe."

"And you don't have to look anyone in the eyes. Bonus."

"I hate that you saw me like that."

"You're not him. You think we don't get that but we do."

"What if.. what if the spell doesn't last?"

"The Powers need a champion, Angel. And obviously they need one pretty bad, the way things are going. Who knows? You might even be their only hope, Obi-Wan."

"So how do I go up there?"

"Easy. Leave him and what you did inside the cage." Buffy said. She took out the key and tossed it to Cordy who opened the locks. The door opened and he stepped out. Cordy slipped the keys back into her pocket and Buffy took Angel's hand.

"You're not Angelus." Cordy said.

As she turned to lead him up the stairs, he yanked her violently back toward him. She screamed at the sight of his vampiric visage. Buffy smiled. "Guess again."

Cordelia kicked Angelus in the gut and decked Buffy with a right hook, knocking her and Angelus away from her. She ran into the cage and pulled the door shut, locking herself inside. Angelus helped Buffy up and then reached through the bars and seized Cordy, yanking her forward and slamming her head into the steel. She dropped to the floor, unconscious.

"Stay down." He said. He looked at Buffy. "Great to be out."

"It's great to have you out." She smashed her lips to his in a passionate kiss. "Come on, it's time to play." They walked upstairs to find Fred flipping through ancient parchments, continuing her research. She heard a noise and turned to find Angelus and Buffy in the doorway, holding hands.

"Sorry if I scared you." Angelus said.

"Angel, I thought.." Fred said.

"Cordy and Buffy let me out. Well, actually, I asked them to be let out. You know what? Never mind." He turned to go.

"No, wait." Angelus turned back to her. "I'm the one who's sorry. After everything you've been through, I.."

"Has been a little rough." Angelus put his arm around Buffy's shoulders.

"On all of us. The stress is."

"I know I could use a drink." Fred looked at him sharply. "Now you see, that's what I was afraid of. For the rest of your life you'll only see this.. evil thing."

"You're my friend, Angel. Past is past and done is done."

"Thanks, Fred. Can I get a hug?" The sound of breaking glass echoed from elsewhere in the hotel. Fred turned, wondering what it was and when she turned back, the room was empty. Angelus and Buffy had gone to investigate.

Wesley looked up from Lilah and the broken china. "Angel. I thought you were confined.."

"Change in plans. Buffy actually talked me out of staying down there. Now we've got our own mission." Angelus grabbed his and Buffy's coats as Gunn and Connor descended the stairs and entered the lobby.

"Which is?" Connor asked.

"Too dangerous, Connor." Buffy said. "Afraid you can't go with us. We have to go save the world." She paused and looked at Angelus, then walked out the door with a flourish. As soon as they were a block from the hotel, Angelus grabbed Buffy by the waist and hauled her up, twirling around in a circle. "Freedom!"

"American." Buffy laughed.

"Not likely. I'm Irish. Speaking of, you want some Irish in you?"

Buffy smiled widely. "Later. I think you have something to do." She looked at the chaos around them and motioned towards the running people. He smiled and kissed her, setting her back on the ground. They walked through fires that burned everywhere. Chaos reigned. Vampires and demons prowled the streets, picking off anyone they could find. Angelus and Buffy made their way through the carnage, Angelus shaking his head in disgust. "What?"

"It's like shooting fish in a barrel. Where's the fun in that?" Angelus asked. He grabbed a man sitting on a bench only to find he was already dead. He dropped the body as a little girl ran past. Buffy seized her and held her up to Angelus only to find she was a vampire. "What happened to pedestrians? Human pedestrians? Is there no fast food left in Los Angeles?"

"Well, there was a whole hotel full of live ones. Wanna go back?"

Angelus smiled and danced Buffy in a circle, dipping her low and kissing her neck. "My blonde goddess of evil." They walked hand in hand back to the hotel. Of course the idiots had left the venerable ones at the hotel.

"Divine intervention? Trust me. You have more chances of winning the lottery six times in a row. I had the numbers done." Lilah said.

"It just makes me question.." Cordy said, but she didn't get to finish.

"What's it all for, huh?" Angelus asked. "I would, too, if I were about to die."

Lilah and Cordelia looked up at the balcony and reacted as Angelus leapt off of it toward them. Lilah raised her gun and fired as Angelus somersaulted to the floor. He was too quick and the rounds impacted harmlessly against the far wall. She dropped the empty gun in frustration as Cordelia raised her crossbow and fired. Her aim was true and the bolt flew directly at Angelus, but he caught it in mid air.

"This time.." He whipped the bolt back at her and it embedded itself in Cordelia's thigh. She dropped to the floor with a scream. "You stay down. As for you, luscious thing, I mean, you were going to let me out of that cage so, let's see, I'll give you a 10-second start? Ten, nine.." Lilah didn't hesitate. She bolted down a side corridor and out of sight. "Now there's a girl who takes advantage of her opportunities." Gasping in pain on the floor, Cordelia reloaded the crossbow and fired. This time the bolt went wide and slammed into the wall next to Angelus' head. "Don't be jealous, kitten. She's just the warm-up. I'll save some the good stuff for you."

"Where's Buffy?" Cordy gasped.

"She's here."

"She's not.."

"Dead? Nah. I have other plans for her." Angelus turned and walked off down the hall. "Eight, nine.."

Buffy walked out of the shadows. "She went this way."

Angelus took her hand and together, they stalked the halls hunting Lilah. "Lilah.. oh, Lilah.." He saw her dart behind a corner and he grabbed Buffy's neck, making it look like her had her in a death grip. He poked his head around the corner. "Boo!" Lilah raised her axe to strike but he easily wrenched it from her grasp and knocked her to the floor. "Oh, Lilah, I had such high hopes for us. Your devious mind, my killer instincts.. what a team we would have made."

"Could still make." Lilah said.

"Always were a closer. Unfortunately, with the new big scary in town, you're just not looking so tough anymore. And I'm a winning-team kind of guy. Also, I've got plans for my wife here. Couple that with the recent people shortage, you know you're lucky I'm letting you yak this long." He dropped Buffy who pretended to be out of it and lept at Lilah. She raised her legs, using his own momentum to hurl him up and over a nearby stairway banister. Angelus tumbled head over heels to the bottom of the stairs as Lilah struggled to her feet and pushed a supply cart down the stairs on top of him, then immediately turned and limped down the hall in the opposite direction as fast as she could.

Buffy got to her feet and walked down the stairs. She grabbed Angelus and hauled him up. "You are so stupid. Come on, let's kill this bitch and get the hell out of here." Angelus shook his head, clearing his vision and then followed Buffy down the corridors.