-The Evil Within Series-
Story 2.5 ( Interlude)

Summary: A Series Interlude, Story 2.5: Things aren’t quite right when the Scoobies wake up from their’ post-apocalypse party… Please read "The First Evil " and "Opening the Gates " first.

Rating: PG-13

Shipper: B/S, hints of Connor/Dawn

Chapters: 1

Status: Finished

Genre: Humor/Mystery

Disclaimer: BtVS and AtS belong to Joss, ME and all the other lovely people who own and produce the lovely shows. I don’t get paid for writing this…so why am I? ‘Cause I can!

Buffy awoke with a splitting headache.

“Uhhhghh… Alchohol…” Buffy panted, trying to force the bile rising in her throat back down. “…And Buffy…. Non…mixy things.” She moaned. Slowly she cracked open one eye, followed by the other. She had passed out leaning over the dining room table. As she glanced up, she noticed that Spike, Xander, Anya, Cordelia, Angel and Lorne had also crashed out on the table, various empty bottles of alcohol cluttering the table around them. She moaned again as her head felt like it was imploding.

“Shpiiikke.” Buffy slurred, fully feeling the effects of her hang over. He was crashed out next to her, so she nudged him with her elbow.

He moaned sleepily. She nudged him again. “Spike.” He raised his face off the table slowly.

“Wha?” He moaned.

“S’ morning…or afternoon… I donno…” She rubbed her head.

“Oh.” Spike croaked as he raised himself off the table and into an upright position. “Oh bloody hell… ow.” He put his hand to his head. “I don’t think I’ve had this bad of a hang over before.” He mumbled.

“What’d we do? Drink all the alcohol in Sunnydale?” Buffy said as she struggled to stand on wobbly legs. She failed, and sat back down.

“And half of L.A., luv.” Spike muttered miserably.

“Guys…wake up.” Buffy nudged Xander awake.

“Huh? wha?” Xander sat up abruptly, knocking Anya off his shoulder, in turn waking her.

“Ow!” Anya grumbled groggily.

“Oh God…” Xander groaned as he squinted against the harsh light of day. “What time is it?”

“Day.” Spike muttered.

“Wake them up, would you?” Buffy gestured to Cordelia, Angel and Lorne sitting next to Xander, “I’m afraid I’ll hurl if I move.”

Xander nodded, and then immediately regretted it when it sent his vision swimming. He steeled himself and nudged Cordelia. After a few pokes she moaned and lifted her head.

“What?” Cordelia mumbled tersely.

“Wake up.” Xander replied as he rubbed his temples.

“It’s a little late for that.” Cordelia groaned.

“Wake up dead boy, would you?” Xander ignored her barb. Cordelia muttered something under her breath and sat up all the way.

“Hey, Angel…” Cordelia nudged him. The Vampire didn’t move. “Angel, wake u-aaaaaaaaaaaaahhh!!” Cordelia shrieked and jumped out of her chair far faster than a person with a hangover should.

Lorne’s head shot up immediately; a little too fast, and he and his chair tipped over backwards, crashing to the floor. Lorne groaned.

“What? What is it?” Buffy asked her.

“It’s Angel!!” Cordelia pointed, nudging away from him as far as possible.

“What the bloody hell is all the racket?” Giles sat up in his sofa chair, rubbing his eyes.

“Look!” Cordelia pointed frantically at Angel. Willow and Tara now being awake, got up and walked closer.

“What?” Willow asked in confusion.

“No body panic…” Lorne recovered from his fall and stood up shakily. “ I’m okay. No please, don’t rush to help me up.” He said wryly as he unsteadily brushed himself off.

“Angel’s wearing leather pants!!” Cordelia shouted. “Can’t you tell? They clash with the green sweater he’s wearing, duh! I mean, are you all fashion blind?” Cordelia said and then held up her hand, “Wait, don’t answer that.”

“Cordelia, I think we have bigger problems then Angel’s sense of fashion,” Buffy sighed as she tried to clear her fuzzy head so she could think. “Or lack there of.”

“Oh Goddess, I jinxed us! I just *had* to bring up him going all ‘grrr’, and now look what happens!” Willow said.

“It wasn’t your fault honey.” Tara squeezed her shoulder.

“Okay…gotta think….” Buffy mumbled to herself.

“Well, I for one suggest giving him the ‘Spike’ treatment.” Giles said, being of clearer mind simply because he hadn’t consumed as much alcohol as the rest of them.

“Bloody hell, yeah. Good plan Rupert.” Spike nodded.

“’Spike’ treatment?” Buffy asked, not quite processing it.

“Chain him up an’ toss the wanker into the bathtub, luv.” Spike smirked. “You know, incase he goes all ‘grr’.” Spike said, holding up his hands in a clawing manner.

“Oh, right. Yeah, lets do that.”

“I’ll go get the chains.” Giles sighed and headed out the front door.

Lorne raised his eyebrows at the Watcher’s departure. “Would have never pegged him as the bondage type.”

* * *

A short while later, Xander, Giles and Spike had managed to chain Angelus up, carry the unconscious vamp up the stairs and set him in the bathtub.

The three men were standing in the bathroom, looking at their handy work, two out of three panting from over exhaustion, but all three of them were looking a bit green around the gills from their hangovers.

The girls had followed them up and were crowding the doorway.

“Now, I wonder how the hell this happened.” Spike said to no one in particular.

“Don’t look at me!” Both Buffy and Cordelia said at the same time. Then they both gave each other death glares.

“Okay… so that narrows down the possibilities considerably.” Giles adjusted his glasses with a puzzled look on his face. “We were all…drunk last night… and Angelus consumed more than the rest of us, I take it.” Giles said glancing over at the still passed out vampire. “We need to sort this out…and the best way, I suppose would be to question him.”

“Well he’s kind of unconscious right now.” Buffy sighed. “Let’s go downstairs and get some coffee.” She said, leading the way. “Then we’ll figure this out.”

* * *

The whole group save Connor and Dawn were standing around the kitchen, each with a mug of coffee.

“You sober yet?” Spike asked Buffy.

“No.” She moaned miserably as she sipped her coffee.

“Well I feel okay, aside from this skull splitting head-ache, and a fuzzy memory.” Willow said, trying to sound perky.

“I hope you all know that I’m blaming whoever brought the liquor for creating Mr. Leather pants upstairs,” Cordelia grumbled, “And my headache.”

“It was his idea.” Xander pointed accusingly at Spike.

“Was not!” Spike defended as he went to the fridge and got out a packet of blood, poured it into a mug, and popped it into the microwave. “It was hair boy’s idea.”

“Splendid.” Giles sighed as he put down his coffee mug. “Well I suppose we won’t be getting any information until Angelus wakes up. So I suggest we all eat some breakfast and ingest a handful of aspirin.”

“So, who volunteers to cook?” Xander asked, and then frowned when he was met with six pairs of death glares. “What?”

* * *

An hour later the group was feeling much better, after Xander was unanimously volunteered to cook breakfast.

While the others sat and exchanged tales (first the singing demon in Sunnydale, then Angel’s “Mandy” performance at Caritas), Spike, having better hearing then the rest of them, got up and went to the upstairs bathroom.

“Mornin’ Grandpa!” Spike said with fake enthusiasm as he swung the door open wildly. Angelus gritted his teeth and strained against his chains.

“Don’t call me that.” Angelus growled.

“My, my, woke up on the wrong side of the tub, eh pumpkin?” Spike chuckled.

“Shut up, William.” Angelus ground out, sending Spike a piercing glare.

“Now, now. No need to be all rude like. I come in peace and all that rot. So how has souled-life been treatin’ ya peaches?” Spike asked as he leaned on the wall next to the tub, signifying that he wasn’t leaving anytime soon. Angelus growled low in his throat.

“Untie me.”

“Oh right! Yeah, let me just untie you so you can go downstairs and eat everybody. Sure, let me find that key.” Spike said, pretending to look for the key by patting his pockets.

“You don’t know what you’re talking about boy. LET ME GO!” Angelus growled and struggled against his chains more.

“I thought we already went over this.” Spike sighed. “Now, we can play this the hard way, or…” Spike stopped and pondered for a moment, a smirk lighting his face, “Actually, I just want to play.” He shrugged and turned on the shower tap.

* * *

Everyone in the kitchen suddenly looked up when they heard the shower tap being run, followed by Angelus' high-pitched girly: “AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!” Emanating from the bathroom upstairs.

Xander grinned evilly. “Quick! Somebody go flush a toilet!”

* * *

Spike turned off the water and Angelus sputtered water out of his face.

“What the hell is this?! Chinese water torture?”

Spike ‘tisked’ at him while shaking his head.

“Really mate, I’m British! Thought you’d ‘ave learned that by now…!” Spike said mockingly as he turned the water back on, eliciting another angry growl from Angelus. Spike turned the water off again, and took a good long look at Angelus. He most decidedly looked thoroughly pissed…and wet.

Xander came barreling up the stairs and practically skidded into the bathroom. He took one glance at the soaking wet Angelus, and an evil grin spread across his face.

Xander leaned in close and patted Angelus on the shoulder in mock comfort.

“Don’t worry, that happens to all men when they get cold.” Xander smirked while nodding at Angelus’ crotch.

* * *

“Don’t you think you should rescue Angelus from those two?” Giles asked Buffy wearily. Buffy only grinned when she heard Angelus’ threatening growl and Spike and Xander’s uncontrollable laughter emanating from the bathroom. She just shrugged in indifference.

“Buffy.” Giles said sternly.

“Oh alright.” Buffy sighed, “Kill joy.” She muttered as she passed him.

She went up stairs and took one step into the bathroom and busted up laughing.

“So that’s what a drowned vamp looks like!” She said in between laughter.

“Buffy, why am I chained up? Is this some sort of joke?” Angelus struggled against his chains. “And why am I wearing leather pants?”

Buffy, Spike and Xander all exchanged glances.

“Your not evil?” Buffy asked.

“What? NO!” Angelus said. “All I know is that I woke up with a hell of a hangover, chained in your bathtub!”

“How do we know he’s telling the truth?” Xander asked. Buffy thought for a moment.

“CORDELIA!! LORNE!!!” Buffy shouted. Moments later the pair entered the bathroom.

“Oh, I see sleeping evil is awake.” Cordelia said as she glanced at Angelus.

“He said he’s not evil.” Buffy told her.

“Huh! Yeah right!” Cordelia snorted. “I mean, look at what he’s wearing! Only something truly evil would *ever* mix and match like that.”

“Hey!” Angelus said.

“I know how to tell.” Lorne sighed. “Sing me something.” He told Angelus.

“Oh lord no.” Cordelia groaned.

“It’s the only way, sweetie.” Lorne patted her back sympathetically.

Angelus sighed in annoyance. He pondered for a moment, and then quietly sang: “Do me baby one more time…”

“He’s not evil.” Lorne announced immediately.

“He is for singing *that* song!” Cordelia muttered.

“Now let me go!” Angel said quickly.

“So why is he wearing leather pants?” Cordelia asked. Spike held up his hand to silence everyone.

“Did you hear that?” Spike tilted his head, concentrating on something.

“What?” Buffy asked.

“It sounds like…” Spike paused, listening closer. He furrowed his brows in confusion as he followed the sound out the bathroom. He stopped in front of Dawn’s door. He opened the door quickly, startling Dawn and Connor.

“You!” Spike pointed accusingly at the pair.

Dawn and Connor were sitting Indian style across from each other; the evidence of spell casting was set between them.

Dawn looked up and her mouth dropped open. “Uh oh.”

* * *

A short while later Dawn and Connor were sitting on the living room couch with their heads down as the extended Scooby gang stood around them.

“So…” Giles adjusted his glasses as he peered down at the duo. “You two decided to play a prank.”

“Dawn how could you?” Buffy asked her sister.

“It was just a joke. I thought you’d find it funny.” Dawn mumbled.

“Not when you use magic to put leather pants on Angel!” Buffy glared at her sister. “And you, mister.” Buffy pointed her finger at Connor, “I know that you’re still new to this dimension, but I expected you to have more common sense than this.”

“Sorry.” Connor said with his head down.

“Well you, missy, are grounded.” Buffy pointed at Dawn, but then frowned, “Still…for longer.”

Angel sighed as he looked at Connor. “I’m not sure how to punish you… I’m still getting used to this parent thing.” He admitted.

“Why don’t you take away his hair gel?” Spike couldn’t help but mutter, and got an elbow to the ribs from Buffy.

“You could sing all the way home.” Lorne suggested. Then he grimaced. “Mind if I ride home with you doll?” Lorne asked Cordelia.

“No problem. No one should have to endure that torture.” Cordelia said.

“Hey, my singing isn’t that bad.” Angel pouted.

“One word,” Cordelia held up her finger at him. “Mandy.”

“Just remember Angel-cakes,” Lorne patted him on the back, “Practice makes…” Lorne stopped mid-sentence and grimaced, “…better.”

“Well it’s sundown,” Angel sighed in annoyance. “We should get going.”

“You all are invited to our wedding in a week. Please, bring lots of gifts…or just give us money.” Anya smiled at Angel, Lorne, Cordelia and Connor.

“Sure thing.” Cordelia smiled a little too brightly at Anya, turned her back and made a face at Angel and Lorne.

“Bye Buffy.” Angel hugged her and waved goodbye to the rest. Cordelia, Lorne and Connor said their goodbyes as they headed to the door.

Buffy, Spike and Dawn walked them to the door and waved goodbye as they put on their coats and walked to their cars.

Buffy did a double take when she saw Angel’s coat. She turned to Dawn with a glare, and Dawn smiled nervously as she walked quickly into the kitchen with her head down.

Spike was laughing, and Buffy glared at him too. “You gotta admit luv, it’s pretty funny.” Spike snickered.

Written on the back of Angel’s leather coat in white shoe polish was:

“Stake me”

* * *

THE END!