First original episode...also I've re-uploaded the previous chapters with a few grammar corrections.
As always, your reviews are always welcome!
Original Episode between Angel Episodes 2x17 Disharmony and 2x18 Dead End
Title: The Gem of All Portals
Cordelia paced the hotel lobby waiting for Gunn, Angel and Wesley to return. It was her last day before a good three day break they had earned after fighting so many weird demonic and vampire cults. Wesley was just as eager to take a break seeing as his gunshot wound needed him to take it easy.
She finally heard the doors of the hotel open to admit the trio of demon slayers all looked slightly beat but all alive…well sort of.
"You all okay?" asked Cordelia, her voice full of concern which made the three guys look at each other.
"Fine," began Gunn a little weirded out to the way Cordelia was acting.
"Good!" said Cordelia, grabbing her things and heading to the door. "Now that's over…three days of no seeing or hearing from any of you. Maybe except for Wesley who will call in case anything stars bleeding again or you fall down the stairs or whatever…"
The guys all shook their heads, relieved that Cordelia was still her. "Yes, Cordelia. We'll close up shop," said Angel but just as Cordelia crossed the lobby a vision hit her.
"Look out!" Cordelia heard herself shout just as the sounds of broken glass was heard and an ancient looking dagger its intended target being…
"Wesley!" shouted Cordelia from her place on the couch as Angel steadied her. "Look out!"
The sound of window glass being broken was heard and Wesley just had a second before ducking out of the way as a dagger planted itself to the wall.
Cordelia ran up to him as Gunn and Angel ran outside. They saw a confused man on the ground, a hand to his head.
"Hey!" shouted Gunn, running towards the man and picking him up by his lapels. "Do you think its funny throwing daggers at innocent people?"
"What are you talking about?" asked the man, clearly confused. "Where am I and who the hell are you?"
"You just threw a dagger into our offices," said Gunn, tightening his grip of the man. "You almost killed my friend."
"No, wait," began the man. "I was at the museum, working…a dagger, an old ancient looking dagger? That's the last thing I remember handling before I woke up here."
Angel and Gunn exchanged a look as Gunn released the man. "Well you almost killed my friend. I suggest you leave."
The man didn't need to be told twice as he immediately ran off.
Angel and Gunn ran back to the lobby to see Cordelia and Wesley examining the dagger. As Wesley made to touch it, Angel shouted for him to stop.
"What's wrong?" asked Wesley.
"The man who threw it," began Gunn. "He said the last thing he remembered was touching that thing before waking up on the street outside."
"That thing could be enchanted," said Angel. "I would suggest handling it with care."
"Of course," said Wesley as he wrapped his handkerchief around his hand before taking out the dagger from the wall and examining it further. "I think I recognize this…" Wesley gently placed the dagger on the lobby counter and went inside his office.
"How long do you think before we hear—," began Cordelia but before she even finished they heard the all too familiar exclamation of "Aha!" and Wesley was walking back towards them with a book in his hands.
"The Dagger of Portals," said Wesley showing them the book with an image of the dagger they were currently in possession with. He then began to read the paragraph but he frowned. "But…this can't be right…it was just a story"
"The Dagger of Portals," began Angel. "If this has resurfaced then that means the Gem of All Portals has been reborn."
"He's a myth," began Wesley and at Cordelia and Gunn's confused look he explained. "The Gem of All Portals is considered the greatest magical being in existence but that was just a story…I mean…"
"If he's a myth why is that dagger thing in one of your books," asked Gunn.
"Well the Gem is said to have been a Watcher and that the Council was formed really to safe guard the humans from the magical community," began Wesley. "The Gem was like every Watcher's hero…one that you would consider a role model for us who were kids wanting to be a Watcher to make a difference…but he can't be real. It was just a story that made the history of the Watchers' Council more noble."
"He was and is now," began Angel. "I remembered his power…the Gem could open and close any portal he chose and could send anything to another world or dimension if you threatened the balance of good and evil. A lot of people and things are afraid of him."
"Hold up," said Cordelia. "Are we talking about evil warlock type of guy or working for the good guys type of guy?"
"He was a Watcher," said Angel. "Well the old Watcher type working for the side of good."
"But…" began Wesley. "I mean it was a story that got young children to take their calling seriously…not that I needed to hear it but it was that… a story."
"You can't argue with someone who has seen the Gem in action," said Angel. "Wesley, I've lived long enough…I saw the Gem and his mentor fought some incredible scary stuff. I was surprised that any human could have come out of that alive."
"And based from this," said Wesley turning the book to Angel. "The mentor died…" Wesley's voice faded. "Maybe we should call Giles. I'll consult some of my other books."
Angel nodded and proceeded to the phone as Wesley made his way to his office, Cordelia and Gunn following to help. The two knew that some of Wesley's books were heavy and the ex-Watcher was still nursing his healing wound. Angel couldn't help but smile as he dialed Giles' number. The two were such a mother-hen to Wesley and the man, having been deprived of such attention growing up, didn't find the attention annoying at all.
After a few rings, Angel glanced at the nearby watch. Angel hadn't noticed the time and maybe why Giles wasn't picking up was because the man was already asleep. But then someone picked-up the other line.
"Rupert Giles."
"Giles," greeted Angel. "Sorry to call but we wanted to run something by you?"
Giles, surprised to hear Angel's voice sat down on his couch, replied, "What is it Angel? Anything particular happening in L.A.?"
"Specifically to us," said Angel. "Somebody literally threw a dagger at us. Wesley identified it as The Dagger of Portals."
Giles was glad he sat down. He gazed at his bedroom where he had kept the crystals Travers had given him not too long ago. "Has Wesley researched anything else about the Dagger?"
"No," began Angel. "But we think it's enchanted. The man who threw it at us remembered touching it back at the museum which is a long way from where we are."
"It is," began Giles, rubbing his forehead. "The Dagger technically has a mind of its own…to reunite itself with its rightful owner."
"The Gem of All Portals," said Angel to the surprise of Giles. "I can sense your surprise even from here Giles. I've seen the Gem in action back when I was Angelus. I know he's real but Wesley tells me he's considered a myth by the Watchers' Council."
Giles sighed. He would need Angel's help so might as well tell the vampire everything. "The Gem is on a need to know basis from what Quentin Travers tells me."
"Why?" asked Angel. "Because of his power? I've heard that the gem's power would be reborn in case another apocalypse happens and he is needed."
"Yes that is correct," began Giles. "The Council has taken it upon themselves to keep the Gem's identity and his mentor a secret until they both have control over their powers."
"Seeing as they both are Watchers," said Angel, understanding. "Why do you know?"
"No one really knows when the powers of the Gem and his mentor will resurface again," began Giles. "Just signs."
"Like the appearance of the dagger?" asked Angel.
"For the Gem himself," replied Giles. "For the mentor, it was a bit easier."
"What was it?" asked Angel.
"You know of course that the original Gem of All Portals was—"
"A crystal that absorbed all the magical energy from magical activity around the world," finished Angel. "The Gem and his mentor were sent to protect it but with the magical energy growing stronger…it couldn't be contained in a mere object. So it attached itself to a life form."
"And the original crystal shattered into four," continued Giles. "Those four crystals are then the power gauges if you will of the Gem and his mentor. The mentor's crystals started glowing again when the mentor was born."
Angel was silent for a while but then realization dawned on him. "You mean when you were born, don't you?"
Giles had to smile at how fast Angel's thought process was. "That would be correct."
"Angel?" Angel turned to see his friends step out of Wesley's office. "I may have a way to find the Gem but we also need to figure out who the mentor…"
"Giles," cut off Angel and handed the phone to Wesley who was confused but took the phone as Angel took the book from Wesley's hands.
"Wesley," began Giles. "I'm the mentor." He would have gone into more detail but time was essential. The dagger has resurfaced and the Gem was near where Angel and the rest were. "I'm sorry but it is rather urgent with get to the Gem before anybody else does."
"Of course," said Wesley, his voice serious. "But can you do the spell all the way from Sunnydale if the Gem is here in Los Angeles?"
"Yes," began Giles. "I assume you've read the spell and its requirements?"
"Yes," replied Wesley as his eyes widened in realization. "You want us to do the spell simultaneously?"
"I might not be able to hold the spell for that long if I am at this far of a distance," explained Giles. "With me initiating the spell here in Sunnydale and you also doing it where the Gem is close by, we could have the tracking spell for about 5 minutes."
"5 minutes?" asked Wesley, eyeing Angel who nodded, meaning that would be enough time to pinpoint the Gem and bring him to safety. "Alright, I'll get what I need for the spell. I'll call you back."
"I will prepare myself," said Giles and without waiting for a good-bye they ended their calls.
Angel, Gunn and Cordelia had left Wesley to his preparation seeing as he was the only one who really understood the magic stuff.
Angel had called Giles on his cell and the man was just about set up as Wesley was. "Ready?"
"Just about," replied Giles. "Hand me to Wesley."
Angel did so and he along with Cordelia and Gunn waited for Wesley's instructions. From what Wesley had explained earlier, the spell would shine a green light to the unsuspecting man who is the Gem of All Portals. It won't be visible to ordinary people but only those who were present when the spell was cast, another reason why Giles wanted Wesley to cast it at the same time he was doing so in Sunnydale.
"Alright," began Wesley, talking to the phone as well as to his friends. "Once Giles and I finish the spell, we scout the area for the Gem and immediately bring him back here." He turned to Angel. "I propose we divide the area into four. Angel you take North, Cordelia…East, Gunn…West and I'll take south."
The trio nodded and Wesley took his position. "We're ready Mr. Giles."
Giles wanted to comment about the title but set it aside for another time. "Let's start."
Wesley handed the phone to Angel as the two ex-Watchers started performing the spell. Angel recognized some of the words as Latin but it was mixed with other languages that he couldn't understand. The ingredients around the circle Wesley had drawn began to dissolve and a bright green light began to form then it shot upward.
"That's our cue," said Angel, as he, Cordelia and Gunn ran outside the hotel.
Wesley closed his book and was about to head outside as well when he felt somewhat light headed just as he was surrounded by a green light.
Angel had taken his cellphone just to make sure he was still in contact with Giles. Good thing he did because he had circled the surrounding areas of the hotel already and no green light anywhere.
"Are you sure the spell worked?" asked Angel. "I can't see anything green."
"You must be looking somewhere else," began Giles as he stood on the roof of the magic shop. "I can see it clearly from here."
"What?" asked Angel. "Maybe you and Wesley were wrong. Only you can see it."
Cordelia and Gunn rounded the corner and made their way to Angel.
"No green," said Cordelia.
"None where I was too," added Gun.
Angel looked back but Wesley was nowhere in sight.
"Where's Wesley?"
"Guys!" shouted Cordelia and for the first time Angel turned to look back at the hotel which was incased in the same green light as the one that was created during the performance of the spell.
Angel pocketed his phone as he and Cordelia and Gunn ran back to the direction of the hotel. As they entered they saw Wesley surrounded by the green light and hovering a few feet off the ground.
"Angel," began Cordelia. "His eyes…their green."
Angel saw what Cordelia was talking about. Instead of the normal pair of blue eyes that Angel had come to know as Wesley's…Angel could only see green that filled the whole of Wesley's eye sockets.
"We can't just leave him hanging like that," said Gunn, breaking their silence.
"The spell lasts for five minutes," began Angel. "I'm sure once the spell ends, he'll—"
"Wesley!"
He was cut short by the exact thing that he was saying. Good thing Angel had good reflexes and was able to catch Wesley as he fell from where he was. The man was unconscious but he was breathing regularly…like he was just asleep.
"Wesley? Wes?" tried Angel but the man was still out cold. He turned to Gunn. "Let's get him to the sofa."
Angel and Gunn gently laid Wesley down on the couch and Cordelia immediately went to his side, taking one of his hands into hers. Gunn watched the steady rise and fall of Wesley's chest, making sure it maintained that rhythm. Angel took his phone and dialed Giles' number.
Back in Sunnydale, Giles was impatiently waiting for any news from L.A. The last thing he heard before getting disconnected was that Angel and the rest had yet to see Wesley. Giles was afraid that Wesley may have found the Gem and had ruined everything. Giles shook the thought out if his head. Wesley was a competent man, he managed to perform the spell and from what he had heard from Buffy during her previous visit to L.A., Wesley had looked pretty beaten up but was still fighting renegade Watchers who wanted to kill her. No, Wesley may have stumbled upon the Gem just as other demons or beings were also looking for him. Giles could only hope that Angel had found them in time.
As soon as the phone rang, Giles snatched up the receiver after one ring.
"Have you found him?" asked Giles hurriedly, worry in his voice. "Did Wesley find the Gem?"
Silence. Giles could hear his own heart pounding in his chest.
"Angel?" demanded Giles. "Angel, what happened?"
Angel turned to look at his still unconscious friend. "Giles, the Gem is supposed to be a Watcher right?"
"Yes," replied Giles rather impatiently. What was Angel getting at?
"An active watcher?" asked Angel.
"No…" said Giles. "Well the Council knew I was the mentor and they still fired me. But that's beside the point, Angel. Did you secure the Gem or not?"
"Giles, you should really be getting my drift here…"
"What the bloody hell are you talking about?" demanded Giles. But then it all came crashing down on him. Technically there was only one reasonable reason why a Watcher was in L.A. and that would be because he was no longer an active Watcher…he was fired. And there was one fired Watcher very close by…
"Wesley," whispered Giles. "Wesley's the Gem."
Angel stood by the couch and looked at the unconscious form of his fried, suddenly afraid of what the future had in store for him.
Giles took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. In never occurred to him…he never really even entertained the idea…
The most unlikely candidate
Travers had referred to him as that for the mentor…but maybe he wasn't just talking about Giles. Maybe he was talking about the Gem as well. Travers must have had an idea that the Gem was Wesley.
"Angel?"
Angel still gazed at Wesley. He looked so young…and now he was going to be considered by many as the greatest warlock in existence…many people and creatures were going to be after him. Angel suddenly felt afraid…could he protect his friend?
"Angel?"
Giles' voice brought him out of his thoughts. Angel turned to walk to the back of the lobby so that Cordelia and Gunn couldn't hear.
"Sorry," began Angel. "What happens now?"
"I come to you," began Giles. "I have to awaken him…awaken his powers."
"Can't you…I don't know…not!" asked Angel, louder than he intended. "Why not just let the Gem sleep? Don't awaken him."
"And what happens when the apocalypse he is supposed to stop happens?" asked Giles. "We don't have a choice. Even if I don't awaken him, some demons can sense magical powers and they will come after him."
"It'll be easier," began Angel. "I can protect him."
"He can protect himself Angel," said Giles. "It may not look like it now, but Wesley is more powerful that every single one of us."
"So?" demanded Angel, his anger coming in full force in his voice. "So what if he's powerful? His main purpose is going to be to stop an apocalypse that the Watchers' Council initiated in the first place!"
"The Council plays a key role in the apocalypse but not necessarily the one who causes it," defended Giles, his own bitterness showing.
"And here I thought you no longer sided with them," spat Angel. "The Council has put Wesley through enough pain and suffering and now they're taking away his whole life, his future!"
"This is not something the Council has planned," argued Giles. "Travers told me that I was the most unlikely candidate…those pompous bastards think of this as an honor. It's not something I wanted myself Angel but the fact is my destiny, as well as Wesley's, was set in stone the day we were born." Giles sighed as he sat down. "I'm not doing all this for the Council, Angel. I took an oath to help fight the evils of the world. To help save it. That's why I am practicing magic and honing my powers. It's not because of the Council but because when that apocalypse happens and I play a role…I want to save the world and not be the one who ends it just because I was rebelling against what the Council wanted me to do."
Giles paused to let the words sink in. "And I know for sure the main reason why Wesley is working for you is because he also keeps that oath…fighting the good fight."
Angel sat down on what was once his chair. He gazed at Wesley's table and saw a framed picture of the four of them, a camera that was enchanted that could capture the image of a vampire. Angel thought it wouldn't work and had put on a smile only to be surprised that it had worked. Angel's eyes traveled to Wesley. The previous Watcher had gotten off on a rough start once he had arrived in America but Wesley had grown so much for the past two years that Angel had known him. It just ate Angel up that Wesley was going to face some of the worst things in the world and Angel didn't know if he could help his friend.
Giles was right. As soon as Wesley wakes up and finds out…he would insist that he needed to do this. To fight the good fight. To help the helpless. To protect people who didn't even know he existed. To sacrifice his life so that everyone else could have one…
Angel rubbed a tired hand across his face. No matter what, Angel would stand by Wesley. He would help his friend. They both had prophetic destinies…maybe that's why the Powers made their paths cross.
"He isn't working for me," said Angel, as he stood up and leaned on the doorframe looking out at the three humans in his care. "Wesley's in charge of Angel Investigations now…and I promise I would help him. A promise I intend to keep, Giles."
Giles sighed. He didn't know how it happened but Angel cared deeply for Wesley, he was sure that the same affection was directed to Cordelia. The three of them, once leaving Sunnydale, have developed a bond that could rival the one formed by Buffy and her friends in Sunnydale. This bond…was it enough to help the Gem and his mentor in what is to come?
"I'll be there in a couple of hours," said Giles. "I have everything I need to awaken his powers. Keep him safe until then."
Wesley blinked a few times before realizing he was looking at the worried faces of his friends.
"What happened?" voiced Wesley, his thoughts and his voice asking the same thing.
"You don't remember?" asked Cordelia, her voice devoid of her usual commanding tone and had shifted to the tone Wesley had now been accustomed hearing from her whenever she was concerned. A voice different from her usual annoyance when addressing either Gunn or Angel.
Wesley pieced through his memory. The dagger, the revealing spell…he was about to step out when he felt lightheaded.
"I…I had just finished the spell when I felt off," began Wesley. "Did I do the spell wrong?" He looked around the lobby of the hotel. There was no new addition so they hadn't found the Gem. Great, another failure and Mr. Giles just had to be present when he had done so.
"Actually…" began Gunn but both he and Cordelia turned to Angel to let the vampire know it was his cue to start talking.
"The spell worked, Wesley." said Angel, his voice devoid of any emotion whatsoever which made Wesley more confused.
"If it worked…" began Wesley looking around and then settling his eyes to the stairs. The Gem must still be unconscious and they had carried him to one of the many empty rooms in the hotel. "Oh…he still unconscious then? Have you informed Giles?"
Angel, understanding what Wesley may have thought, turned to Gunn and Cordelia who had encouraging although worried expressions on their faces. "No, Wesley. He's actual conscious as we speak. Giles is on his way."
Wesley turned from Angel to Gunn then to Cordelia. They all had anxious expressions. What was going on? "What happened? Why do you all look like something bad has happened?"
"Wesley, what's the last thing you remembered?"
"I told you," said Wesley. "I just finished the spell and I was about to head outside when I felt lightheaded…"
"And?" probed Cordelia. "What else? What was the last thing you saw?"
"I…," began Wesley. He closed his eyes and tried to picture what had happened a few minutes ago. He was walking towards the doors…something…something happened to him that made him feel a bit off…it was more or less the same feeling he had every time he practiced magic or the test subject of magic. The last thing he saw? As his vision changed from the doors to the hotel to darkness…he remembered seeing another color… "Green. I saw some sort of green light."
Wesley's eyes widened in realization as he turned to look at the three people in front of him. "No…that's not possible. I can't be—"
"You are," cut Cordelia. "Don't even think for a second that you're not strong enough or intelligent enough or powerful enough…because damn it Wesley, you are. You're the bravest, smartest person in the whole planet and if there is a person out there that's destined to save the world…there is no better candidate than you." She took his hands into her own. "Wesley, you saved me. You saved Gunn. Hell you even saved Angel in a way. You stop the apocalypse on a daily basis…destiny couldn't have been more right in choosing you."
"Cordelia…"
"No," said Cordelia softly. "Wesley, you may think that you're not worthy but I am telling you that you are. And I am going to tell Giles the same thing. Hell, even if the whole jerk-filled Council of yours comes here, I'll tell them. They need someone saving the world? Well, they have him in the name of Wesley Wyndam-Pryce."
"Amen to that," added Gunn with a small smile. "English, you're one of the few guys who I trust. Hell, you took a bullet for me. No better candidate for someone who is destined to save the world."
"I…" began Wesley, his eyes watering a little. "You really think I can do this? I'm…"
"They're right, Wes," said Angel. "Nobody has proven their worth more than you. You've changed for the better ever since I first met you and like I told you before Wes…I can't do this without you. The world needs to be protected…like they said, there's no other candidate."
Wesley looked at all of them with awe in his eyes, a few tears falling. "I…I don't…thank you." He stopped as he wiped the tears from his face. "This is all a bit overwhelming…but thank you." Cordelia smiled and hugged him, Gunn patted him on the shoulder and Angel couldn't suppress the smile that found itself on his face. Wesley made be the most powerful warlock in existence but he will always need his family.
Giles had prepared the ingredients for the spell to awaken the Gem ever since Travers had told him. Frankly, Giles had immediately studied everything he could about the Gem and his mentor back when they were first alive.
Of course he knew that whoever the Gem was, he would be younger than Giles but he never thought it would a 16 year age difference. Giles even thought that with his luck, the Gem would have been Ethan. He was a little glad that it wasn't…but he was equally worried that it was Wesley Wyndam-Pryce.
The most unlikely candidate…
Travers' words…Giles couldn't help but feel that the Council had an idea that the Gem would have been Wesley, or rather Travers had. Those words weren't meant for just him. So with the same cryptic message, he had send word to the Council that the dagger had appeared in Los Angeles and that Travers was to get his ass back to Sunnydale ASAP.
Giles on the other hand was maybe half an hour away from Los Angeles, driving at break neck speed. In a way, the appearance of the Gem was of perfect timing. It was great big distraction for him. Ever since Joyce had passed…well not everything was the same. He was making himself available for Buffy not just in his role as a Watcher but also as a parental figure in her life, as well as in Dawn's life. Giles found it as training because of the mentor role he had to accomplish for the Gem. At first, he was scared at how the Gem would see him and how he would even teach the Gem. He envisioned a perfect Watcher who would never take orders from him…and then he envisioned a perfect student, like Willow, someone who he could have long conversations about well any intellectual topic under the sun.
In a way, Wesley could be the latter. Giles never really did find out because he was too bitter at being fired when the young man was in Sunnydale. Giles had realized too late how immature his actions were during that whole fiasco with the mayor and with Faith. Buffy had told him that Wesley was in Los Angeles and that he was working with Angel. Buffy had even mentioned that Wesley had looked beaten up, maybe from fighting demons. Giles had the initial thought if Wesley did in fact fought with demons then he would have been dead but he was alive and Giles couldn't believe that the man was able to fight off demons, get bruises and live…because this was the same man who made a big deal of asking for an aspirin when he didn't really get into the heat of the fight with the mayor.
Giles kept reminding himself that two years have passed and to let his resentment be water under the bridge. He didn't know Wesley truly. He had made up his mind about the young Watcher as soon as he arrived. Like they said, don't judge a book by his cover. Wesley had acted all authoritative and pompous back then…and Giles had come to realize that it was all act so that he could get the people in Sunnydale to recognize his existence.
From Angel's tone earlier, the man had found a family in Los Angeles, a family that cares for him deeply. The Wesley he had met in Sunnydale was a completely different man from the one Angel is currently working with…for. Another surprise to Giles.
Before Giles knew it, he was near the Hyperion. It surprised Giles how easily he had navigated himself to Angel Investigations, given the fact that he wasn't a frequent man of Los Angeles. Maybe it was because of his connection to the Gem but Giles just followed his instincts on where to turn and found himself at the Hyperion. He parked and got his things and made his way to the lobby. Just as he was about to open the doors, he heard the voices inside.
"He won't be mad at you." came Angel's gentle voice.
"And why would he be?" came Cordelia's authoritative one.
"Well," hesitated the other voice who Giles couldn't believe was Wesley's. He never used the tone in Sunnydale. It was either arrogant or pompous or just simply annoying, never small and doubtful. "I just always seem to do something stupid and fail everyone."
"You haven't failed us, English." came a strong voice Giles did not recognize.
"Well everybody concerned from Loser-dale wanted you to fail, Wes," said Cordelia. "They would never have accepted any other Watcher but Giles because they are such an exclusive club of jerks. They would have treated any Watcher that came like he wasn't welcome."
"I still think I failed," began Wesley and Giles felt a twinge in his heart at the hopelessness in his voice. "I just…I don't know how to face Mr. Giles…and fail again at something as important as this."
This wasn't the same man that Giles had met…or rather it was the same man but Giles was too focused on losing his job as a Watcher to see the hardship the young man was going through. Wesley had lacked field experience which he more than made up for with his Academic stature. He was wiser beyond any other Watcher that had gone through the Academy. Something he had only found out as he looked at Wesley's file that the Council had sent when he first came to Sunnydale. He had been made head boy at a young age and even with so many classes still manage to be part of the cricket team and be part of a shooting interest club, where Wesley was described as a perfect shot, something that Giles wished he had known because he would have been useful with a crossbow during graduation.
Wesley was wrong. It wasn't him that had failed but it was Giles who had failed his colleague and fellow Englishman. And this was the time to make things right.
Giles pushed through the doors, "I'm here."
The usual faces of Angel and Cordelia met his gaze. There was another man, tall and dark, another associate, Giles assumed. Sitting on the couch was someone who looked a lot like Wesley but someone he would never expect to be the same Wesley he had first met in Sunnydale. He wasn't wearing a suit but was wearing a blue buttoned down shirt over a plain white t-shirt. Both looked a couple of sizes big for him. His hair wasn't neatly combed to one side and his face was incredible young as Giles remembered.
"Gunn, meet Rupert Giles," began Angel. "The Slayer's Watcher back in Sunnydale."
The young man came up to Giles and offered his hand which Giles took. "I'm sorry I didn't catch that."
"Charles Gunn," said Gunn. "But it's really just Gunn. So you're English?"
"Yes."
"I usually call Wes, English," began Gunn. "So I hope I don't offend you."
"Sure you ask permission with him and not to me," said Wesley, a smile playing on his face as he looked at Gunn.
"May I remind you who carried you in and out of Angel's car when you still had stitches," said Gunn looking back at the man on the sofa.
"Well I did get those stitches because I took a bullet for you," said Wesley. "So I think that still gives me one up on you, Charles."
"And the odd couple are at it again," said Cordelia. "Giles." She acknowledge, her voice plain but with her usual trace of annoyance.
"Cordelia, you look radiant as ever," said Giles as he acknowledged her with a nod.
"And you as old as ever," said Cordelia. "Must be why those stuffy English folk took you back as a Watcher."
"Cordelia!" hissed Wesley as the man finally stood and walked over to Giles. "Mr. Giles."
"Wesley," said Giles as he offered his hand to Wesley. "But seeing as we are going to be working more closely, you should probably drop the title. Rupert or Giles will do."
"Oh," said Wesley, surprised. "I'm…alright…of course, Giles."
It should have been like that years ago, Giles thought as an eerie silence fell on the group. Cordelia glaring at him. Gunn looking worriedly at Cordelia. Angel looking at Wesley and the man looking at the floor, avoiding Giles' gaze.
Giles sighed and cleared his throat. "I guess nothing left for us to do but simply get on with it."
Wesley swallowed the lump in his throat. He was nervous as to what was to come but he did not dare ask Giles about it.
"Wesley," the call of his name surprised him as he looked at Giles. No trace of annoyance or anger in his eyes. "Why don't you help me with the spell and I'll try to answer whatever questions you may have to the best of my ability."
Angel did not like the set-up. He did not like it all. Neither did Cordelia. Gunn on the other hand was fascinated but was also anxious about what was going to happen. As Giles had explained it, unlocking the Gem's powers was trickier than that of the mentor's. The Gem in a way had to be reborn around magic for him to access his powers. At the words 'reborn' both Angel and Cordelia turned to Giles, wide-eyed.
"By reborn," began Angel. "You mean—"
"Not necessarily," said Giles. "The spell that Council had come up with is not really being reborn from a physical life…but rather being reborn from a spiritual and emotional life. To make this work, Wesley, I will have to make you relive moments in your life where you felt like you were dying physically but also emotionally. Coming out of those experience made you stronger. Reliving them with magic around will again make you stronger, this time, magically."
"Are we really sure that I am the Gem?" said Wesley all of a sudden. "Not that I am afraid to go through whatever you just explained. But these," he pointed to the ingredients of the spell. "Are very rare, Mr…I mean Giles. I just…I still do not see how I could be destined to save the world when I tripped over my own feet this morning."
Cordelia made to retort but Giles spoke up before she could open her mouth. "Why don't we test it again?" He pointed to Wesley's office. "Get inside. Close the door and step away from it." Wesley raised an eyebrow but did as he was told.
Giles turned to Gunn. "If you would oblige?" As he motioned for Gunn to take the dagger.
Gunn turned to Angel who nodded. Gunn took the dagger and was just looking to it at first but all of a sudden threw it with such strength and speed right at Wesley's office door. Cordelia gasped and Gunn was wide-eyed with shock. "I…I did not just do that. Did I?"
"The dagger is enchanted," explained Giles as a shocked Wesley opened the door to his office and hesitated to touch the dagger. "It has a minds of its own…to reunite with its owner. Cordelia, if I may ask you to touch it."
"I do not want to stab Wesley, Giles." said Cordelia in shock.
"That's not what's going to happen," assured Giles. Cordelia wasn't exactly convinced but Wesley nodded for her to do it and she sighed as she slowly walked up to the dagger. She took it from the door and just like Gunn studied it for a while then suddenly offered it to Wesley.
"You can touch it Wesley," said Giles. "It is after all yours."
"Cordy?" asked Angel but the girl had a blank expression on her face.
The all studied her. She had her eyes on Wesley and wasn't blinking.
"Can't say I wouldn't mind having her like this forever," said Gunn which earned him glares from Angel and Wesley. Wesley took the dagger and Cordelia blinked a few times and looked around her.
"What just happened?"
"Do you have any urge to throw it to someone?" asked Giles to Wesley who was now looking at the dagger.
"No," said Wesley. "But…this feels a bit weird…but it feels like this dagger is familiar."
"Because you have used it before," said Angel. "I mean, the Gem did. That dagger was made by his mentor. It was a gift."
Wesley kept the dagger back in his office as he and Giles continued to set up the spell.
Now as Wesley laid in the center of the circle and Angel and the rest standing a few feet from them, the feeling of helplessness and anxiousness engulfed them.
"You said you were going to make him relive moments where he almost died," began Angel.
"Yes," said Giles. "Not just replaying them in your head Wesley…I am sorry to say but you will remember how you felt during those moments. Physical feelings and emotional feelings." He took his crystals from his pocket and wore them. They glowed a strong blue. "Like I said, you came out of those instances as a better and stronger person. Now, same circumstances but you will be a stronger person, magically speaking."
"Yes," said Wesley as he sighed. "Any particular memory I should be focusing on?"
"Do you have more than one in mind?" asked Giles.
"Well," began Wesley, trying not to sound whiny. "Well of course there was the time our previous offices exploded but I was basically unconscious after so there isn't really a feeling of helplessness."
"Maybe we can fix it with another memory?" said Giles. "I'm really sorry to pry but was there any moment in your life where you felt hopeless? It doesn't have to be hopeless in the sense that you thought you were dying…" Giles swallowed the lump in his throat. "It could be hopelessness that you were going to fail or that everything was pointless." He was sure that both Angel and Cordelia were thinking about Sunnydale two years ago. He did not expect what he heard next.
Wesley turned to Angel with a look of regret in his eyes. "Faith…"
"I'm sorry," said Giles. Did he hear right? Did Wesley say Faith's name?
"Yeah, psycho slayer kidnapped and tortured Wesley for hours," said Cordelia, her voice telling one very strong emotion. Anger and annoyance and by the look on her face, it was directed to Angel. "I guess that is one memory filled with hopelessness."
"Not really," said Wesley. "I always knew Angel would come."
Cordelia snorted but one look from Angel stopped her from saying anything else.
"Not to bring back bad memories," said Gunn. "Though that is what's needed…how about recent events. When you were shot, Wes, we were all afraid that you would die and at the same time every one of us at the hands of those zombie cops."
Giles couldn't believe what he was hearing. Wesley was tortured by Faith less than a year ago and recently was shot. Was this really the same man who had demanded for an aspirin after being punched once?
"I guess…but those only felt physical," began Wesley. He then lifted his head to meet Giles' eyes. "I'm guessing the memory and the reliving of the moments are the key to this spell. I don't want to mess this up. Can I mix different memories in my head? To really, I don't know how to properly word this, but to really feel like I'm dying and be brought back to life by magic."
Giles couldn't fight back the smile on his face. Wesley was smarter than he ever gave the man credit for. "That is exactly was the spell is designed to do Wesley. Bring you back with magic and that magic stays with you. And to answer your question, you may. But that might be difficult on your part…having to remember all those memories."
"The physical injuries aren't that difficult," began Wesley as he laid back down. "It's the other one that will be more difficult…especially since it took place so long ago."
Both Cordelia and Angel cringed at that which did not escape Giles' eye. Angel and Cordelia both of course remembered some of Wesley's passing comments about fathers and their roles in the family and in a child's life. Both knew what Wesley chose for a memory of hopelessness, especially added with Giles' comment about failure.
"Giles," said Angel, wanting to put an end to his friends suffering. "Just get it over with."
"It's alright," said Wesley, his eyes closed. "I'm ready when you are Giles."
Wesley concentrated on all the memories of his failure. That proved to be difficult because he had a lot. Sunnydale wasn't the first…no the list of his failures started the day he was born. Well, that was according to his father. Wesley was always a weak, fragile child as his father would describe him. What Wesley lacked in physical appearance, Roger Wyndam-Pryce made sure he made up with his intelligence. Wesley had to study 24/7. He had to know more than your average child. He had to be prepared with the knowledge because that was his only possible strength in the world. He had no physical capability, he lacked leadership and social skills. Roger Wyndam-Pryce even believed that Wesley would never be assigned as a Watcher.
Roger would always compare Wesley to his older brother Richard Wyndam-Pryce II. Rick, as Wesley called him, was a tall muscular man and was ten years older than Wesley. But Rick never wanted the life of a Watcher and he ran away from home when Wesley was 5 to study medicine. Roger considered that as another of Wesley's failures.
That's one.
Another was what he had learned recently from Darla. His uncle, Richard Wyndam-Pryce the first, was killed because he saved his older brother Roger for one main reason…so that Wesley wouldn't live without a father. Wesley immediately thought that his father might have also blamed him for that…that it was Wesley's failure to act like a competent Watcher who didn't need a father growing up that made Roger lose his brother.
Two.
Sunnydale. Three.
Faith. Four…make that five and six. Wesley has failed that girl more than once.
Cordelia suffering from all those visions and not saving her faster. Seven.
Getting caught in that explosion. Eight.
Angel firing them. Nine.
Getting shot and being a total useless weight. Ten.
The list could go on and on…and suddenly Wesley realized that he was a complete waste of space…that emptiness, that uselessness began to eat him up inside…and them it tore him up inside quite literally.
With his mind's eye, he suddenly saw Faith again, holding a shard of broken glass in front of him, playing around with it, teasing him on where she could cut Wesley. Then it was the heat as he tried to run up the stairs as the bomb exploded behind him, throwing him away like a rag doll. Suddenly it felt cold…one instant of frozen sensation as he saw the cop get his gun and fired.
It felt like everything was in slow motion. It felt like the pain would never end. And as he felt everything, memories of his childhood…of Sunnydale…of his friends suffering played on replay in his head.
Wesley thought he was in hell and that there was no way of coming out of it.
"Wesley, fight through it."
Something inside's Wesley's head snapped back into place.
Come out of it stronger.
Wesley opened his eyes to find his surroundings pitch black. He looked around, panic settling in his heart. He couldn't do it. He just couldn't…
He suddenly heard Cordelia's pained screams…followed by Gunn and then of Angel. All calling out his name for help. Then it was his mother, his brother…his father. It was Giles, Buffy…even Faith. All asking him for help…then a voice, a young woman…someone Wesley did not recognize, calling him, shouting his name…and then Wesley ran.
He ran to where he thought the voices were coming from. He ran to protect them as the pain he felt intensified. He fell but stood and ran farther. He could see a faint green light at the distance. Wesley knew he had to get there…but his body felt like it was being tortured, being burned by a flaming building and being shot….all at the same time. And then there was the voices calling for help being drowned by other voices now…his father telling him that he was never going to amount to anything…Faith telling him that he had failed as a Watcher….Angel firing them all…Virginia breaking up with him…
Everything was telling Wesley to stay down…but he gazed at the faint green light in the distance…a distance he didn't know if he could get too…but Wesley knew one thing…he had to.
Giles had finished chanting in Latin as swirls of green light enveloped Wesley and the circle on the floor. The ingredients dissolving into green light.
Angel could see that something has happened to Wesley. He's eyes were closed but his breathing was different. He was moving slightly at first but now he was thrashing violently.
"Wesley, fight through it." whispered Giles. Cordelia made to come to Wesley's side but Angel caught her. She couldn't interfere. This was something Wesley had to do on his own.
"What's going on?"
"Like I said," began Giles, his gaze never leaving Wesley. "He has to relive everything that has made him who he is…which is his failures, his feelings of helplessness, his worst experiences…those define who we are and have made us stronger."
Giles stopped and Angel knew all too well what the other Watcher was thinking. Was Wesley strong enough to face those experiences again? Angel truly believed that Wesley could…one experience at a time but to face all of them at the same time…like being bombarded with all your worst faults in one go? Angel didn't even know if he, himself, could accomplish that.
And then Wesley stopped moving…and breathing.
"Giles!" shouted Angel but before the trio could move an aftershock of green energy erupted from the circle and threw all of them back. Giles, who was expecting it, threw two crystals similar to what he was wearing towards Wesley who had caught it as he sat up. His eyes were green, the same as when Giles had performed the tracking spell. Green light surrounded Wesley's body but then it concentrated into the two crystals in his hands.
As Wesley stood up, his eyes began to turn to their usual appearance and the crystals were glowing a strong green.
Wesley released the breath he was holding as he looked at his friends. "That," he began, as he panted. "Is something I am not doing ever again…" His voice faded as his knees buckled under him and Angel was quick enough to stand and catch him. Wesley gave him a grateful smile and Angel returned it.
"Always knew you could do it, Wes" said Angel as he helped Wesley sit down.
"That makes one of us," said Wesley, as he looked at the two green crystals glowing in his hands. "I don't have to do that again right?"
"No," said Giles as he pocketed his own crystals. "Your powers are now at your disposal. But it was latent for the past 27 years, you must practice them if you truly want to be prepared for what is to come."
"What are you saying?" asked Angel.
"I'm not saying he comes back with me to Sunnydale so I can supervise him," said Giles. "I just don't want you to be afraid to use them. They're now an asset, Wesley. I know you've done magic before in the Academy. Now you can hone your abilities. I think it'll even be of help with your business."
Wesley nodded as he studied the crystals in his hands. "Are…I mean…everything about the Gem is true then?"
Giles took off his glasses and cleaned them. Angel knew that action all too well…Wesley did the exact same thing when he didn't know what else to do.
"Yes," began Giles, replacing his glasses. "Anybody can take hold of that crystals and plunge it inside of you. One crystal and you feel agonizing pain like you just felt a few moments ago. Two crystals and you lose your will."
"Wait, what?" asked Gunn, glaring at Giles. "Why does that happen?"
"The crystals are power gauges if you will," explained Giles. "They are filled with magic…with Wesley's magic. If you take one crystal and put it inside Wesley, it feeds off from itself...like someone taking away your life energy…that's why it is painful."
"And the mindless puppet thing?" asked Cordelia.
"That is something I haven't found a reference too," said Giles. "There was a tale about the Gem before that two of his crystals was placed inside him…and he followed orders from another warlock."
"Maybe…" began Wesley, looking up at Giles. "The Gem of All Portals was an object before right…it housed magical activity…that was why the original Gem and his mentor were sent to acquire it. That much powers turns something…rather someone into a weapon. When both crystals are inside of me…I may feel nothing but power and lose myself into it…making me…well not human."
Giles looked at Wesley amazed. He had never looked at it like that. He had theorized that maybe the crystals were weakening him that is why when both are inside him…he loses his own will because he was weak. But Wesley's explanation made more sense. Being overwhelmed with power tends to make a human lose his humanity…and also his will.
"Can the same be done to you?" asked Angel.
"Yes," said Giles. "Four crystals, two Watchers. Checks and balances if you will."
"What about the mark?" asked Wesley and his hand immediately traveled to the back of his neck and sure enough he felt a circular scar that wasn't present when he woke up this morning.
"Be mindful of that one, Wesley," said Giles and as Cordelia and Gunn looked at him for answers, he added, "The Gem's mark is where he was hit with the Gem's housed energy. It is said to be his Achilles heel if you will…somebody else touching it will make him relive that moment…well the pain of that moment."
"Maybe that's not…" began Wesley but Giles immediately went to his side and pressed the scar and Wesley yelped in pain. "Alright, you're right. Mindful of the mark, got it."
"Would it be alright if I had a word with Wesley?" asked Giles as he looked pointedly at Angel.
Angel did not reply but looked at Wesley who nodded anxiously and Angel nodded, grabbing hold of both Cordelia and Gunn.
Giles sighed and sat down besides Wesley. The spell was a very tiring one and his crystals weren't glowing as bright as earlier. "I believe…well…I mean…we got off on the wrong foot…before I mean…"
Wesley looked at him liked he had sprouted horns or something. "Giles?"
Giles sighed and took off his glasses and pretended to clean them. "Things were said and done two years ago that I regret, Wesley." He placed his glasses back and looked at the young man. "I'm glad I have a second chance to start things over." He offered his hand to Wesley. "My name is Rupert Giles, currently a Watcher from the slayer back in Sunnydale and I am your mentor."
Wesley looked surprised at the gesture but smiled and shook Giles' hand. "My name is Wesley Wyndam-Pryce and I am honored to have you as my mentor, Mr. Giles."
"Rupert," said Giles. "Besides that of a mentor relationship Wesley…I want us to be colleagues…to be friends. I was a prat when you first arrived in Sunnydale…only wallowing in my self-pity for having been fired…I didn't give you a chance. I am truly sorry for that…but like I said…I am truly glad for this second chance."
"Thank you," began Wesley, surprised at the gesture and words of the man he had seen as someone like his father, only seeing Wesley's failures and criticizing him for it. "But the fault was on both sides…if I hadn't acted like a pompous, in-experienced, authority figure…things would have turned out differently if I hadn't acted like my father."
Giles patted Wesley on the back, knowing too well that this wasn't the moment for words.
"I'm assuming you've informed the Council?" asked Wesley.
"Travers is coming on the next flight in," said Giles. "I haven't told him it was you. I just told him that the dagger has surfaced in Los Angeles. He actually told me that I was the most unlikely candidate to be the Gem's mentor…I wonder what he'll say when he finds out about you."
"Oh joy," replied Wesley but a smile on his face. "I wish you could take a photograph though."
"You could see it for yourself," said Giles. "Travers is coming to Sunnydale. Maybe we could demand a few things from the Council seeing as you are now the most important Watcher in existence."
Wesley raised a questioning glance at Giles but the older man only had a warm smile on his face. Wesley shook his head at the title. "I think I would love to see what Travers thinks. We were scheduled for a three day vacation anyway…"
