"Touché"

Find a way
A way to be
You're looking down again
Just let it be
And I'd only do for you what you'd do for me
And I only would do for you what you'd do for me

Wastin' time like it was free
Will you ever find where you'll be
And I'd only do for you what you'd do for me
And I only would do for you what you'd do for me
And I only would do for you what you'd do for me yeeeeah
And I only would do for you what you'd do for me

Ohhhh... don't look back just to lean on me
Ohhhh... it's taken the life out of me
It's not like you'd know
You've never been close enough
Closer than you've been to me
It's not what you say
It's just in the way
You push me awaaay

And I only would do for you what you'd do for me yeeeeeah
And I only would do for you what you'd do for me yeeeeeah
And I only would do for you what you'd do for me
And I only would do for you what you'd do for me” Godsmack ( “Touché” The Other Side 2004)


Silence filled the vehicle after Wesley had finished speaking. Buffy could hardly believe all that she had been told. Angel and Giles had always taught her that having a soul made a difference, that a being without a soul was evil. If that was true, then how could Angel explain his actions over the past few years?

Wesley could see the struggle-taking place inside Buffy’s mind. For too long Buffy had been lead to believe that having a soul made the difference between being good and being evil. She had been taught that all demons were evil and needed to be destroyed. The only exception to the rule had been Angel and when he lost his soul, he had proven everything Buffy knew to be right.

Now, like Wesley had once had to do, she was learning that the world was not filled with absolutes, that it was in fact full of grays. Wesley remembered it being a hard lesson to learn. One had to look inside themselves in order to understand everything fully. It was a long, hard, and often times, an ugly process, one in which Buffy was only just starting on.

Taking a deep breath, Buffy steeled herself for the coming confrontation and went to open the car door. Whatever Wesley had been expecting to happen after his revelations, this calm, determined out look had not been it. Reaching out, Wesley grabbed Buffy’s arm. Turning to face the former Watcher, Buffy quietly raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to explain his actions.

“Buffy,” Wesley began, “I know it’s hard to understand but…”

“I get it Wes.” Buffy stated firmly. Meeting the Slayer’s vibrant green eyes, Wesley waited for Buffy to elaborate.

“Nothing is absolute, Angel is an ass and if I don’t talk to these Oracle people Spike might not make it.” Buffy said. Quietly she finished, “And I won’t be able to tell him that I meant what I said that day.”

Getting out of the Car, Buffy waited for Wesley to close and lock the doors before leading her to the basement below the post office. It was dark and dusty, with very little in the way of light. Buffy could hear the faint rumblings of the cars driving along the streets overhead and used the noise to battle her rising claustrophobia. Having woken up in her dark musty coffin had left Buffy with a healthy desire to remain above ground at all times. Standing around in an underground basement was not helping her nerves any.

Gripping the gift she held in tightly in her hands, Buffy took slow even breaths as Wesley sprinkled the herbs and spoke the incantation. She could feel the heavy lead weight in her stomach grow heavier. She wanted to run and never look back. Buffy knew that if she stepped through the now glowing portal that she could never go back to the world of denial that she had been clinging too.

Squaring her shoulders, Buffy made her decision. It was time she learned to live her life her way and not the way her friends wanted her too. Taking one deep breath, Buffy purposefully walked through the bright portal, the time for ignorance was over. She was the Slayer and it was time she reminded everyone of that fact.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“It says that only the blood of the rightful champion, willingly given, will remove the spell and it’s effects.”

“That’s it?” Willow asked, her gaze locking onto the shocked faces of her friends that were currently gathered around the conference table. A telephone had been placed in the center of the table and was currently switch to speakerphone so that everyone could hear what Xander had discovered.

“Yep.” Xander said, his voice crackling slightly due to the international call.

“Then I guess it’s donation time for Buffy.” Dawn answered having come to the same conclusion that several of the others had.

“Maybe not.” Lorne said quietly, a troubled look settling over his face.

“Why?” Willow asked.

“Spike did not get sent back to you. He got sent back to Angel.” Fred answered, picking up on Lorne’s line of thought.

“How do we know its Angel?” Giles questioned, irritation causing his voice to sharpen.

“We don’t.” Cordelia stated. When all eyes turned towards the brunette Seer, Cordelia simply shrugged her shoulders.

“We have no way of knowing why Spike came back here.” Cordelia started, but soon paused becoming lost in thought. Soon a look of dawning comprehension filled her eyes. Standing she rushed for the door, leaving a hasty “Need to call Wes.” to drift back over her retreating form. The group inside the conference room looked at each other all thinking the same thing.

“What was Cordelia not telling them?”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once inside the chamber, Buffy looked around in awe. It looked like what she thought the Greek temples would have looked in the glory days of its empire. It glowed with a warm soft light that filled her with peace and as she walked further into the chamber she could feel the power flowing through the room.

“Welcome, Chosen One.”

Hearing the formal greeting, Buffy turned to stare at the two beings before her. They were both dressed in white togas and had blue and gold decorative skin. The pair moved as one and Buffy got the sense that she was standing before the very beings that spoke for the Powers.

“Umm…right.” Buffy began. “Oh! Here. I was told you guys liked gifts.”

Looking at the snow globe in Buffy’s hands the two Oracles’ glanced at each other before turning amused looks towards Buffy.

“From you, Chosen One…”

“We require no gift.” The male Oracle finished for his sister.

“Huh?” Buffy said, looking from one Oracle to the other. “But Wes said that when Angel came…”

“The cursed one is still striving for redemption and was one of the vessels we used to bring forth our Champion.” The male Oracle stated.

“Though his arrogance makes him believe that he is more.” The female Oracle said with distaste.

“You, Chosen One,” The male Oracle began as he came to stand before Buffy, “Were hand picked by the Powers to be our Champion, the one known as Spike chose to become something more than he was. He, like you, willingly sacrificed his own life for a world that would never know of his accomplishments. But Angel was forced to repent and was given the chance to redeem himself. Just because he is called Champion does not mean that he holds the Power’s favor. He has yet to earn that.”

“I never really thought of it that way.” Buffy mumbled sadly, think of lost opportunities and past regrets. “Though I’m starting too! It’s just that…. Well…I…”

“The ideals of youth blinded you just as the teachings you were given by that Council.” Growled the male Oracle.

“They believed that the Slayers was theirs to control when she was only given to them for safe keeping. They were to guide and nurture our warriors but instead they became greedy and fed her lies using her to further their own agendas.” The female Oracle said, picking up where her brother had left off.

“But you, Chosen One,” The male Oracle said, “Have changed that. You and the souled Champion.”

“Spike.” Buffy stated, feeling as if she already knew the answer.

“Of course.” The Oracles answered as one, their voices ringing through the chamber.

“But Spike’s…” Buffy started, her worry beginning to rise once more.

“Has been cursed by the Wolf, the Ram, and the Hart.”

“With Angel’s help, of course.”

Looking at the Oracles, Buffy got the feeling that they weren’t very fond of Angel. Not that she could blame them; she wasn’t all that fond of Angel at the moment either.

“How do I help Spike? And what does Wolfram and Hart have to do with it?”

“They took advantage of his arrogant belief that he was our Chosen in order to sever the tie between Seer and Champion.” Acknowledged the female Oracle.

“Without the Seer to guide our Champion…”

“The world will fall.”

“That does not tell me how to fix this.” Buffy stated, starting to get frustrated.

“But you can not fix anything.” Declared the male Oracle.

“Only the Champion can.”

“Though it will be up to you to find them.”

“How?”

“Normal is the façade that hides the true nature from those who would seek it.” The female Oracle said.

“That so does not answer my question!” Buffy cried. “We need to know how to save Spike.”

“Only the Champion can do so.” With those final worlds, Buffy found herself standing before the closed gateway that led to the Oracles. Wish a frustrated growl, Buffy turned on her heels and stalked back to where Wesley stood waiting. She reached the car just in time to see him hanging up his phone.

Hearing Buffy’s approaching foot steps, Wesley looked up, his eyes filled with frustration.

“Cordelia called.” Wesley stated. “We may have a lead.”