Author's Note : Hmm, 'Polly want a cracker?"

Chapter 15

Moving back as the door slammed shut in front of her, Buffy turned back into the gloomy house, the lights had come back on but only part way, lighting the house in a dim glow. While she was wondering where to start, her decision was made for her when she noticed a familiar figure lying on the floor at the foot of the staircase.

Buffy approached the foot of the staircase cautiously looking around the foyer for any sign of the spirit that inhabited the house. As she approached the body of her friend however her feelings went from apprehension to disheartenment. At the foot of the staircase lay the body of one of her best friends, blood covering his torso from his earlier injuries. Shaking herself out of her reverie she grabbed his hands and preceded to drag him towards the door, surreptitiously ignoring the trail, his blood drenched clothes left behind. All she had to do was get him outside and he should be okay, at least that was what they hoped.

The wind started to pick up, blowing dust around and flicking her hair into her face. It was not until she was almost at the door that it stopped and a voice called from across the room.

"I guess its kind of pathetic now isn't it"

Buffy stopped and looked up, noticing for the first time that the lights had come back on and that there was now a man standing at the foot of the stairs were Xander had been just a minute before.

"Huh?" To surprised and not caring to form much more of a question.

"This…" He remarked gesturing around him, "The wind, the foreboding menace, I mean I don't need it anymore, you all basically know the deal more or less."

Buffy looked closely at the man, her task momentarily forgotten. He looked to be a man in his mid thirties, blond hair, a soft smile…the picture in the library, "You're Michael McKinley?" Her enquiry was half question and half statement.

"Yes Miss Summers I am, well at least a physical manifestation of the living spirit of the dead late Mr McKinley." He cocked his head in thought, "Did that make sense?" He asked looking at a now scowling Buffy.

"You, you did all this, you made Angel evil, got people injured…killed, I'd say that just makes you evil."

The spirit hung his head momentarily before looking back at her sadly, "I'm afraid it was necessary…After 54 years, you and your friends were probably my one chance for freedom. I did not mean for your friends to be hurt, but as you can see once you leave this house all those transgressions will be reversed."

"Tell that to the two slayers you killed. Where are their bodies?" Buffy spat in return, glowering anger at him, only to have him smile genuinely back at her.

"That is what bothers you? Worry not, they did not die here…they accepted my offer."

Still scowling and her voice filled with scathing Buffy rebuked, "You expect me to believe that. If they didn't die then why were new slayers called, huh?"

The spirit continued to smile, only now it had become a sad wistful smile, like someone awaiting their inevitable end. "Because the offer released them from their duty, that was what they wanted when they entered the house and I was obligated to provide it, as I am required to offer it to you now."

"What?" Her expression was warring between her anger and her confusion.

"You wish to be relieved of the duty of the slayer, to be able to be a normal girl and live a normal life…It seems to be the common thread among slayers, the two previous slayers wished the same."

Buffy's anger deflated as things became clearer in her mind. Her next question asked in a cautiously hopeful tone, "So you didn't kill them, they just walked out of here?"

The spirit nodded in response before explaining, "Yes, they were released from their duty and another slayer was called. They left to go and lead a normal life away from the Watcher's Council." The last two words came out as almost a growl.

The spirit regained his composure all emotion leaving his face before he asked the next question with the look of a man walking to his death with dignity. "Do you wish to be released from your duty?"

Buffy dropped Xander's arm with a dull thud as everything from the night started to click over. "Everything you've done, scaring Willow, drowning Xander, turning Angel, its all been a means to an end, trying to get a certain reaction, a belief…foreboding evil. Yet you have let two slayers go, given them a gift of freedom, a gift you now offer to me…" She wanted to pace, to do something other then just stand there. Ignoring Giles calling from outside she continued to think out loud, trying to figure out what her subconscious was trying to get across.

"You said 54 years, you've been here since the Hell's Gate key was put in here. You died here and you're stuck here…you offer people exactly what they want and they say yes…only Willow said no and I bet everyone else did too. All these incidents would make us want to say no, not trust you." She looked directly at him as the realisation crossed her features. "Cause you need us to say no, don't you, that is how we can free you."

Michael McKinley deceased looked at her sadly, though glad she had figured out what he would never be able to tell her, "So Miss Summers, do you wish to be free of your destiny?"

Buffy continued to look at him as she seriously thought about that question; what it meant to her to be a slayer, what it had done to her life. Would she be able to give that up? Could she look the other way to all the evil in the world? What of the impact on the lives of those around her, especially the impact on the spirit of the man in front of her? Could she just turn her back on him and her friends?

A smile crossed the slayer's face as she came to her conclusion, "No, I don't think I do, I may not be happy about being the chosen one, but it is my duty, something that has become part of who I am. I think if I gave that up I wouldn't be Buffy Summers anymore, so thankyou Mr McKinley, but no thanks, you can keep your offer."

The spirit gave a full-fledged smile in return, "No Miss Summers, thankyou and your friends." With that he turned to ascend the stairs and the house forever.

"What if someone evil came in wanting…well something evil, would you have to give it to them?"

The spirit stopped and turned to her, "Yes I would…but I would not have to let them leave the house."

Buffy nodded in understanding before turning to open the front door but stopped when McKinley's voice called out to her, "And Buffy…" He waited until Buffy turned back to him, "…Giles cares very much for you, don't hold his duties against him, he dislikes the council as much as you or I…"

Buffy nodded in response and turned back to the door, still hearing his final comment, before the house became silent and all the lights again went off.

"…Have a happy 18th birthday Buffy."


The door swang open in front of Giles, revealing a weary looking Buffy, much to the Watcher's relief.

Buffy pulled Xander through the door, pulling him in front of where the other three stood and the fully conscious Cordelia sat. They gave her a questioning look, "McKinley said he should be okay."

"Can we trust him?" Cordelia asked cautiously as she moved toward her boyfriend.

Her answer came in the form of a groan from Xander, "Next time someone else plays crash test dummy."

He was met with crushing hugs from both Willow and Cordelia.

"Perhaps I should try this more often…Ow!" The last elicited as he received two hard punches for the comment.

Smiling at her friends, glad they were all alive, Buffy turned to her watcher who looked lost in thought. "Giles." As he turned to her she asked, "How did all this happen?"

The question captured everyone else's attention as they too were awaiting a response, except for Xander who frowned at the question.

"I think perhaps it may be best if we head back to Sunnydale and discuss it there. I was led to believe Xander was given a full account of the details"

"Yeah, its an enchanting yarn." Xander added his tone glum as he ignored the looks of surprise from the others.

Xander was directed to the back of the van, by order of the group to rest, while the rest of the group collected the gear that had somehow been moved to the front porch of the house during the night and started to pack it in the van and Giles' car.

Climbing into the back of the van, Xander immediately noticed the brooding figure in the corner trying to stay clear of the rising sun's rays. Xander turned back to the door to assist in the loading only to have his hand slapped by Buffy as a warning for him to sit down and rest. Xander surprised the Slayer by doing just that and not making one complaint about the company. Xander knew why they had sent him to the van and not Giles' car.

Xander sat in the quiet van listening to the sounds of the rest of the group moving around outside and discussing something, probably travel arrangements, he could hear Cordelia bickering with Giles. He could feel Angel's stare on him and he turned to look at the vampire.

The vampire looked morose, like someone had contaminated all his good blood supply with Holy water and he was left with only vermin blood. "Xander…" Angel spoke apprehensively almost glad when he was interrupted.

"Angel…" The voice was tired and weary and Xander actually stopped to think about what he was going to say, aware of the fact that given his tiredness he would be hard pressed to make sense.

Xander continued in the same weary voice, "We're not friends, in fact I doubt we ever will be, but what happened in there, I know you feel guilty…At least I hope you feel guilty."

The weariness gave way, as Xander seemed to contemplate the idea and perked up when he queried, "You're not filled with glee are you? Cause if you are, I want to rethink my next comment."

Angel could not help it and smirked at the comment, before putting on his best broody and guilt ridden face and shaking his head.

"Ah, good." Xander seemed hesitant before continuing, "I may hate…dislike you for a lot of other things, but what happened in that house was beyond your control and it needed to happen, sort of. I just want you to know that I won't hold what happened in that place against you."

Angel was taken by surprise, not quite sure how to respond before deciding the simplest answer was the best, "Thank you."

Oz and Willow getting into the front of the van cut off any further discussion on the point.

"Are you okay Xander? Do you want to swap?" Willow asked immediately.

"Nah, I'm good Will."

TBC… And all will be explained