Disclaimer: I own nothing Charmed

A/N: Okay, here you go. I planned on waiting for at least 3 (good) reviews – and look at this: I got them. So, thank you.

The next 5 chapters will be posted more or less in a row, as they are already written and just need some corrections.

Oh, and I rated this story T now. I looked through my notes and there will be some talking about sex – no sex scence or anything – but you know what young men a talking about the whole day :-) I just did it to be on the safe side.

Enjoy!

Chapter 2

The first thing Chris felt after he woke up, was emptiness combined with the feeling of being on search for something. He looked at his clock. 9.30. Wow, he couldn't even remember when he slept this long for the last time. The young man turns onto his back staring at the ceiling. What did he have to do today?

Well, nothing! He couldn't hunt demons without his witch powers. He won't have to meet any of his charges. He couldn't even hear them jingle withot his whitelighter powers. No school, no job, no friends!

Great! For weeks he had dreamt about having a day off and now that it has happened, he just felt useless and empty. After a few moments he decided that if there wasn't anything to be done, he could just go on sleeping.

Wyatt Halliwell came late into the office and didn't plan on staying long. After he had bound his brother's powers yesterday he had a bad feeling. He did not fear that a demon will hurt Chris – he surely was able to defend himself with or without magic. No, Wyatt feared his brother would hurt himself.

After Wyatt checked his mail and did last corrections on his article, he hurried to get it on his editors desk and informed that he'll work at home. Before she was able to stop him, Wyatt left the office building and orbed home right into Chris' bedroom.

He recognized that the room was still dime lighted as Chris hadn't opened the curtains yet. But Wyatt could tell he wasn't asleep.

"So, little brother, what are your plans for the day?"

Chris snorted. "I guess… I stay in bed."

"The whole day?"

"No, I believe I'll get up later to get something to eat."

"You know, it's a beautiful day. The sun is shining and I told my boss I'm going to work from home. There must be something we can do."

"Oh, yeah, I know what we do, Wy. You do your work and I stay in bed."

"Are you sure that you want to spend your first day without magic sleeping."

"Yes, I'm positiv. There's nothing to be done. Moreover I'm exhausted."

Wyatt nodded. "Well, okay then. Rest. We can do something tomorrow. Nothing special just watching a movie or something." He waited for an answer but after a minute of silence, decided to orb out.

The next day when Chris woke up he didn't even wait for the empty feeling to appear. He just turned araound in his bed and fell into a light slumber again.

Wyatt stayed in his office until noon. He'd still be there if not an elf had appeared in front of his desk.

"You cover for Christopher?" she asked straight forward.

"Yes, but you've got to be careful if you search for me here." Wyatt closed the doore immediatley.

"If you were at the Halliwell home like you should, I wouldn't have been searching at all," she complains while biting into an red apple.

"I'm sorry but I have more to do than stay at home waiting for people like you."

The elf pouted. "You sure you can fullfill all your brother's duties?"

That was exactly what Wyatt asked himself. "I will do my best. Moreover there are more witches than just me to cover for Chris."

"You want me to go to someone else?"

"No." Wyatt sights. This will become hard work. "What's wrong?"

"Chris!CHRIS! I know you're not asleep anymore!" Piper Halliwell shouted through the closed door. "Chris, you can not stay in bed all day. Again. It's already 4 pm. Your father needs your help with the new cupboard."

Chris put his pillow over his head, blocking his mother's shrill shouts. She must be kidding. Chris has never built a cupboard. Normally, it was Wyatt who helped his father.

"Chris, do you hear me?"

"Yes, mum! I hear you!" Chris yelled back. "How could I not." He muttered under his breath.

"Well then get up! Your dad is waiting for you."

Chris groaned. He stayed in bed until he heard the front door closing. The sign his mother had left the Manor for work. Really slowly Chris rolled out of bed. His father could wait a bit longer. He wouldn't be much help anyway.

Chris went over to his wardrobe searching for some clean cloths. He ignored the mountain of clothing on the floor of his room, knowing that these things were all covered in demon guts, blood or something else from a fight. In his wardrobe he found a black jeans with only one crack at the right knee. For a lack of clean shirts he just kept the long-sleeved one, he wore the last night. He didn't care to comb his hair and went downstairs. He could heat his father in the conservatory drilling a hole into the wook while the radio played. Chris walked straight into the kitchen, got himself a glass of milk and some dry toast.

"Hey Chris! Or should I rather say 'Good morning'?" Leo Wyatt smiled at his son brightly. Chris really couldn't see a reason for his father to be so upbeat.

"There wouldn't be a reason for you to say anything if mum hadn't woken me."

"She just thought you may want to face the world."

"She was wrong."

Leo looked at his son sympathetically. "Do you want to help me with the cupboard?"

Chris shrugged. He emptied his glass. Suddenly the sound of orbing could be heard. Chris hurried into the hallway to see his brother running up the stairs. He followed him. "Wy, is something wrong?"

Wyatt didn't stop on his way to the attic. "Nothing too serious. Just a lower level demon."

Chris followed his brother. "What kind of demon?"

"I don't know yet. That's why I need the book." Wyatt already started to turn the pages.

"How did he look like?"

"Like a normal demon. Human-like body, dressed in black. He stole an amulet from a shaman."

"Maybe to sell it on the black market," Chris murmurred.

He walked over to his older brother. "I may know who he is." Chris reached to turn some more pages. But the antique book closed itself with a loud thud and fel to the floor. Chris face showed a mixture of surprise and shock.

"Remember what Seamus said. No magic. No access to wiccan stuff. Like the Book of Shadows." Wyatt said gently. "It's okay. I can handle it. You go and help dad."

"Sure. I will just stand in his way." After a moment realization darkened his eyes. "But I'm standing in your way also, right?"

Chris went back down to theconservatory. Leo was studying the assembly informations. "You still care to help?" He asked his son without lifting his eyes.

As Piper came back to the Manor a few hours later, she heard the sound of the tv. In the living room laid her youngest son on the sofa, watching a baseball game.

"Hi, sweety. How are you?"

Chris didn't take his eyes from the screen. "Okay."

"That's good." Piper reassured him enthusiastically. "What about the new cupboard? Is it done?"

"I don't know. Dad sent me away because I wasn't any help."

"What?" Piper gasped. She had made sure before she left that Leo'd spend the day with Chris. She went to theconservatory. The cupboard was done, indeed, and her husband eyed it proudly.

"Leo!" He flinched noticable at the harsh tone of his wife's voice. "Didn't I ask you to busy Chris today?"

"Yes and I really tried to, Piper. But Chris isn't a great handyman. I wanted to finish the work today and with his help, it took even more time." Leo silenced seeing the fury in Piper's eyes.

"Then you could have taught him, Leo. This is important. If he shall see the greatness of a normal life, he has to lead a normal life."

"I know about the importance. Listen, what is he doing right now?"

"Watching tv."

"Well, but that's a normal thing and it's good for him to catch up a bit with what had happened during the last weeks."

"He's not watching the news, Leo, but a football game."

"It was baseball," Chris said entering the sun room. "Are you arguing about me?"

"No. Absolutly not, hon'. I fix us some dinner. Paige and Henry will come by," Piper said going to the kitchen.

"Has Aunt Paige already visited my charges?" Chris yelled after his mother but didn't get an answer.

Henry would never get used to his wife's wiccan way of travelling. Everytime he felt a slight dizziness after orbing. He only agreed to this form of transportation today becaous they were already late and he knew how his sister-in-law, Piper Halliwell, reacted to lateness. They reformed right in the dining room where Piper put the bowls of food down.

"You are just in time!" she greeted.

"Yes, we forwent the traffic today." Paige grinned knowing her husband's weak point. "What are we eating?"

"Pasta. Chris! Leo!Paige and Henry are here. "

"I love pasta," Henry stated.

Chris hurried past his father to meet his aunt and uncle. "Aunt Paige did you visit my charges yet?"

"Good evening to you too, nephew Chris," Paige answered sweetly but turned sternly again as she noticed the seriousness of her nephew. "Yes, I did. And all of them were quiet understanding and wish you luck and hope to see you again soon."

Chris breathed a sight of relief.

"Exept for two of them," Paige admitted. "This girl from Italy, Raffaela, she was really angry. She said, that you were the third whitelighter the Elders gave her and she thought you would be the last one, eventually. She told me, that she only wants to see you again, if you can promise not to leave her again. But I think, she wasn't too serious about it. We had a long talk and she likes me."

Chris smiled about the thought of having a long talk with Raffaela. The yound Italian woman was really spirited and got angry really easily. But she also was kind and gentle and not to proud to admit a mistake. Having a long talk with means, that she talks a lot and you are just there to nod from time to time. But she fixed the best tiramisu on earth.

"She gave me something for you." Paige orbed a blue plastic box in front of Chris. It was filled with her popular tiramisu. "She said it was your favourite."

"It is. Tell her thanks." Paige smiled at her nephew warmly. She was really impressed how much Chris' charges cared about him. All of them were sad to hear that they wouldn't see him for a while. They were connected through a really strong bond.

"Who was the other one you had problems with?" Chris asked worried remembering Paige's words from before.

"Oh, it was this boy, Tobey. I had some difficulties finding him and when I did he refused to talk to me altogether."

Chris should have known that Tobey would be a complicated charge towards his aunt. Chris himself needed almost a year to gain the teen's trust. And now Tobey felt so close to his whitelighter that it was more a friendship or even a family like relationship. Something Tobey really needed. As his only family left – his grandma – was in a coma since almost two years now.

"Did you tell him that he won't be able to contact me at all."

"Yes, of course, I did. But I don't know, if he had listened to me. He told me to get the hell out. "

"Where did you find him?"

"In the hospital. He was talking to an old lady."

"It's his grandma."

"Tell me about what happened to her," Paige said. She had totally forgotten about the food on her plate.

Piper coughed. "He will. After dinner. Now we just enjoy the evening."

"But Piper this is important," Paige exclaimed.

"I know. But these normal things like dinner with the family also are."

Paige shot her sister an angry look.

"I tell you after dinner, Aunt Paige. You have to know." Paige knew Chris would have told her right there but did what his mother said to not make her even more angry.

Piper was quite satisfied about the evening. She invited her youngest sister on purpose. To have a normal family dinner she needed normal family members. Like Paige's husband Henry. Henry was in no way involved in magic. He even didn't like orbing. Piper directed the conversation towards everyday topics like work and television stuff. In the end she even got Chris to agree that Henry's job as a probations officer was kind of similar to whitelighter duties.

Shortly before dessert Wyatt orbed into the living room claiming to be hunted by a warlock. "I made some potions and stocked them in the attic,"Chris said. Therefore Wyatt's fight was over sooner than he had expected and he sat fown with his family eating some chocolate cake.

"Tell me about Tobey!" Paige demanded ignoring her big sister's scolding words and Chris didn't hesitate for a second either.

"I met Tobey two years ago. A few days after his grandmother was attacked and fell into this coma. Because she was the only family left, Tobey got foster parents but he caused them lots of trouble. Skipping school, getting into fights, becoming aggressive very easily. The Elders sent me to Tobey not only to help him to learn how to use his powers properly but also to search for the demon who attacked his grandma. She's a really good witch and fought evil all her life. She was the one teaching Tobey. He spends almost all his time in the hospital."

"That's awful. Poor guy is all alone in the world."

"He doesn't like his foster parents and no one else for that matter. He's really mistrusting. But most of all, he is scared and hurt."

"What about the demon?" Wyatt asked.

"What demon?"

"The one who put Tobey's grandma in the coma."

"Oh, yeah, I searched for him everywhere. But I'm sure there's no demon at all but a witch. Tobey's grandma dealt with spices and herbs. Maybe her attacker did it for revenge because some potions didn't work as expected."

"But you are not absolutly sure?" Leo demanded.

"No. But it's the only logical conclussion why I didn't find a demon although I turned around every stone in the underworld. Moreover something prevents that Tobey's grandma can be healed. Some magic blocks it. White magic."

"If it really was a witch then you'll never find him or her." Leo voiced his thoughts. "If it's a good witch, that's it."

"Why's that?" Piper questioned. She didn't like which ways the conversation was going but her curiosity won over her annoyence.

"As a good witch, who only did one evil thing, maybe not even on purpose, she's protected by a whitelighter, the Elders and the Cleaners. No way to find her if she's not becoming all evil," Chris explained.

"That sucks."

"Yes, it does. But it doesn't help Tobey. He really needs a whitelighter, someone he trusts, a friend," Paige agreed. She saw it in Tobey's eyes. The anger and sadness when she told him, Chris couldn't care for him for a while. "Do you think, it's against the rules to bring Tobey here, so Chris can explain the whole situation to him?" she proposed.

"Ask mum, she was the one making up the rules with the Elders."

Piper rose her gaze at her son's bitter words. "Of course, that's okay," she said."First priority is still protecting innocents.

Paige smiled at her sister and orbed away. A few moments later she reappeared with another person. Tobey was 15 with messy blond hair and too large clothes. He shook his arm to loosen Paige's grip on him. He looked around in the Halliwell living room. "What do you want from me?" he asked Paige angrily.

"Talk to me maybe?" Chis got closer and his young charge relaxed.

"Chris? This crazy lady came to the hospital today twice and now she just brought me her against my will."

"This crazy lady is my Aunt Paige, so you better mind your words," Chris scolded.

Tobey rised his eyebrows so they disappeared under his long bangs. He looked at Paige embarrassed. "I'm sorry." Paige waved her hands in disposal.

"Are you hungry?" Piper demanded. "We've still got leftovers." This was typical Piper. Always feeding other people. Tobey just starred at her. He knew Piper was Chris mum as Chris had shown him pictures once.

"I asked Aunt Paige to bring you here because I need to tell you something," Chris interrupted. He was sure that Tobey won't eat anything. He made a face that clearly showed his rejection. Chris pointed to the free armchair. After a moment of hesitation the teen sat down. Chris took a seat on the coffee table across from Tobey. "Listen, Tobey. The Elders don't want me to use any of my powers, therefore I can't be your or anyone else's whitelighter for the next time."

"I hate the Elders," Tobey muttered.

"I know. They think it'd be good for me to lead a non magical life for a while, so they bound my powers. As soon as I pass their test, I'll be your whitelighter again." Chris really tried to sound optimistic but a look at Tobey told him, he wasn't that convincing.

"That's crap. Why did they do this? Did you do something wrong? I could speak up for you telling them that you are a great whitelighter."

"That's really nice but I don't think it'll work. Moreover I didn't do anything wrong. They just believe that's important for me to life without magic for a while."

"Great. But what about me?" Tobey demanded getting up. Tears were shining in his eyes. "And what about grandma? You promised you'll wake her up! You swore to me that she'll be fine again."

"I know, Tobey." Chris tried to reach for the deserate boy but Tobey backed away.

"You said, we are friends. Friends don't leave each other like this."

"It's not like I have a choice. And we are friends. Look, this is the number for my mobile." Chris pulled a small paper out of his pocket. "You can call me. Anytime. Always. You hear me? I go on searching for a way to help your grandma. With or without magic. We rescue her, okay? But don't do anything stupid. Promise me."

Tobey nodded. His eyes were red but no tear rolled down his cheeks. "My Aunt Paige will help you with everything. She's the best. Remember what your grandma told you about the Charmed Ones. Paige is one of them and the most greatest whitelighter ever."

"Really?" Tobey looked over at Paige doubtfully.

"Really. Who do you think taught me? It's really important, Tobey, I will not hear you calling for me if you are in danger."

"Except I use the phone," Tobey joked.

"Yeah, I never turn it off, don't worry. And when I get my powers back I orb us to… I don't know…Roma? The three of us. You, me and your grandmother. Deal?" Tobey shook Chris hand. "Deal," he agreed.

"Don't you give me a hug?"

"Whoa, Halliwell," Tobey stepped backwards. "In front of half your family?"

"Yeah, don't wet yourself. We are softies like that."

Tobey grinned and hugged Chris burying his face in his whitelighter's shoulder. "I'm really going to miss you, Chris."

"Me too."

Tobey stepped out of the embrace finally wiping a tear away. "You can orb me back now, lady!" he said to Paige.

As the blue and white orbs brought Paige and Tobey away, Chris said to no one in particular. "I can accept that you want to punish me, but why him."