The Lies We Tell
"Chris!" Phoebe called as he walked towards the stairs leading up to the attic. He stopped and slowly turned around.
"What?" he asked. Didn't she know he had a demon to find?
"Are you ok?" she asked.
"Fine," he answered and continued on his way.
"You're lying. Something's bothering you," she countered, following him.
"Whatever kind of empathic vibe you're getting, just forget you ever felt it, ok. I have work to do," Chris shot, flipping open the Book of Shadows with more force than he'd intended.
"Chris, please talk to me," Phoebe begged.
"Phoebe, drop it," Chris snapped. She reached her hand down and shut the book, making him jump.
"No. I'm not going to drop it, Chris," she shot right back.
"Alright, fine," he sighed and sunk down onto the couch nearby. Phoebe pulled up a chair and looked at him.
"What's bothering you? I'm getting this really upset vibe from you," she said, her voice gentler than it had been moments ago.
"Nothing…just…today just sucks that's all," Chris muttered. Phoebe looked at him with a raised eyebrow.
"Care to elaborate?" she pressed.
"No," he answered.
"Come on. Talking about it can help," she prodded.
"Look…I lost some innocents on this day ok," she spat.
"I'm so sorry," Phoebe murmured, placing a hand on his wrist.
"I couldn't save them…" he murmured.
"Does this have anything to do with how you became a whitelighter?" she asked. Chris could feel the sweat trickling down his neck. How could hell her that he'd lost his mother and sister on this day in the future and that he wished he'd died?
"Sort of," he mumbled.
"Do you mind me asking how?" she murmured.
"I couldn't save them in time; a mother and her daughter. I thought I could handle the demon….guess I was wrong," Chris said with a bitter laugh.
"That's awful," Phoebe rasped. She stood up and pulled him into a hug. She expected him to pull away but he held on tight. She shushed him and rubbed his back for a few minutes before letting him go.
"Feel a little better?" she asked. Chris sniffled a couple times but tried to crack a s mile.
"A little," he said with a nod.
"I'm glad. You're emotions are way too high strung for my feeble mind," she said with a laugh.
"Thanks," he said jokingly.
"Now…what were you in such a hurry to check the book for?" she asked.
"A possible lead on who may be after Wyatt," Chris muttered.
"Thank you for trying to protect my nephew but you should relax," she said.
"I didn't come here to relax, Phoebe. I came here to protect Wyatt," Chris retorted. Phoebe shook her head.
"I'll make you a deal," she said.
"Ok…I'm listening," he replied, eyeing her suspiciously.
"You take the rest of the day off and I'll keep my empathic vibes to myself," she said.
"Doesn't seem like much of a deal to me," Chris said with a smirk.
"Trust me…it will h elp you relax…me on the other hand…I may be locking myself in the basement again," Phoebe said. Chris smiled and nodded his head, stepping away from the Book.
"Ok…no demon hunting the rest of the day," he promised.