Chapter 9

When Chris appeared before a row of golden robed Elders, he clapped his hands. "Congratulations on winning the Worst Timing Award," said Chris, putting his hands down. "You guys are good."

"Christopher Perry Halliwell," said an Elder as he rose to his feet, standing amongst his colleagues.

Chris raised his eyebrows. "Didn't know we were familiar with each other."

The Elder raised his hand and Chris stopped talking. The Elder looked around at his fellow Elders before looking back up to Chris. "Christopher, we have been informed of some very grave news."

Chris' heart plummeted to his stomach. "What news?"

The Elder stared down at Chris. "Chris, when was the last time you saw Zak, your whitelighter?"

Chris blew out in relief and relaxed. He had thought something had happened to his family. "Zak? I saw him yesterday."

"And did he tell you anything?"

"Besides that he thought I looked good after fighting demons on my own?" said Chris and some of the Elders frowned. "No. He decided not to stay and chat. It's not really his thing anyways."

"Be serious, Chris," said the Elder, annoyed by Chris' tone.

"I am being serious," said Chris, his tone lined with steel and bitter. "I saw him yesterday. He was only at the Manor for maybe a minute, but I might be exaggerating a bit on that."

Some of the Elders sighed and shook their head, muttering underneath their breaths. Words that Chris couldn't hear nor did he want to hear. They were probably talking about how he's like the rest of his family. Stubborn and uncooperative.

The Elder spoke again. "Chris we are doing an investigation and you are an important key in solving this tragedy."

"What tragedy?"

The Elder standing up didn't answer. Instead, it was another one, who rose to his feet, his eyes demeaning and his expression on his face was grimed and disturbed. Chris knows him. The Elder was Leo's mentor. His name was Gideon.

Gideon spoke. "Your whitelighter, Zak, is dead."

BREAK

Earlier that day…say 1 a.m.

Wyatt was standing in the shadows of an old abandon building outside the city. Inside, the place had molding floorings, leaking pipes, and scurry mice, but that didn't bother Wyatt at all. He had called Zak just a few seconds ago, but he wasn't expecting him to show up anytime soon.

Then blue and white orbs floating into a figure and Zak was soon standing in the middle of the room.

"Wyatt?" he called out, looking around. "Love what you have done with the place," he muttered. "Wyatt?"

Wyatt stepped out of the shadows. "You know," said Wyatt. "You come awfully quick when there's no danger. Why is that?"

"I have no idea what you mean," answered Zak. "You called. I came. So, what is it? What can I do for the famous Wyatt in this early of the morning?" Zak had a smile on his face. Wyatt has never called him before, always preferring his father, Leo, to him.

Wyatt scrawled. "You can start by wiping that smirk off your face!"

Zak shuddered his smile back into a trembling frown. "Okay…anything besides that?"

Wyatt began walking in front of him. "Yes, I have some questions and I need answers."

"Why don't you go check the book?" retorted Zak. "You don't need me. At least, that's what your brother Chris said."

Wyatt's blue eyes turned to slits. "Don't talk about Chris," warned Wyatt. "You have no right! No are you going to help me?"

Zak rolled his eyes. "Yeah, okay, shoot," he said. "What questions do you have?"

Wyatt stood up straighter, more proud. "Where were you when my mother and my aunts were dying?"

Zak blinked. "What?"

"You heard me," said Wyatt, his voice threatening. "Now, answer."

Zak gulped and looked around the room once, then to his feet. "I-I was away. Doing other things for other charges. I didn't know they were in danger. If I did, I would have helped them."

"Where were you when Chris was being attacked?"

"In Latvia," Zak replied, forcefully. "I already told him that."

"Did you know that he was being attacked?"

Zak slowly nodded his head in guilt. "Yes, I did, but I knew he would be okay! He had you and you know, you're the Twice Blessed Child, I figure the two of you were powerful enough to take care of the demons or whoever was attacking."

Wyatt shot an energy ball at Zak. The whitelighter wobbled before falling down to his knees. The burning hole in Zak's chest though healed and he stood up, frowning at Wyatt. "Wyatt! What the hell?"

"You're right, Zak," said Wyatt, forming another energy ball at the tip of his fingers. "Chris and I are powerful together, but that still doesn't give you the right to not come when we call. When Chris calls."

Zak's face turned red. He wasn't angry, he just felt extreme heat surrounding him and he didn't know if Wyatt was doing it or not.

"Wyatt," said Zak, trembling. "I-I'm sorry. I never wanted to hurt your family. Y-You know that right? I liked your mother and your aunts. I really did! I also find Chris to be a rather fun guy as well when he's not in his neurotic mood, but I…I'm sorry. I will try harder. I promise." His eyes were nervously staring at the energy ball.

Wyatt flamed out his energy ball and the young whitelighter looked relieved. He brush his hair back. "Thanks Wyatt," he said. "I promise I won't mention this to the Elders or anything."

Wyatt blinked. "I know." Then he stared behind Zak.

Zak, wondering what Wyatt was looking out, turned around and saw a spiked hair Darklighter with his crossbow out, the arrow pointing at Zak.

"Wyatt leave!" shouted Zak as he tried to orb away from the Darklighter, but found that he could not. Zak spun around to also find that Wyatt didn't orb. Instead, he found him with a satisfactory smile on his face.

"Wyatt?"

Wyatt eyed the Darklighter. "He's all yours."

The Darklighter chuckled and raised the crossbow up again. Zak panicked and cried out for Wyatt. "Wyatt! Help me!"

Wyatt shook his head. "I rather not," he said, as he walked away. He then turned to look over his shoulders. "Besides, this is a lesson that I highly doubt you will ever forget."

Wyatt orbed away just as the black arrow punctured Zak's skin. The first arrow hit him in the stomach, but the Darklighter put another arrow into the whitelighter's heart. He waited until he was sure the whitelighter was dead, before black orbing down to the Underworld.

The Darklighter was happy with himself. Though he didn't like the idea of working for the Twice Blessed, he did the job. Now, the Charmed Ones' children didn't have a whitelighter to protect them. Just two old mortal men and a harmless, love-struck, cupid. The Charmed Ones' reign would so end. He will tell his colleagues of the news and they will begin the destruction and death.

"Happy about something?"

The Darklighter turned around to see Wyatt standing in the shadows. Before the Darklighter could do anything. Wyatt blasted him with an energy ball, killing the Darklighter.

"Sorry," said Wyatt, unapologetic manner. "Just can't have you running off and telling people."

The Darklighter's ashes scattered as the Wyatt orbed away and back to the manner. His family was now free from Zak. No worries or wondering if he will come or not. He received his rightful punishment for not saving his mother and aunts and for almost allowing Chris to die. He paid the price of his ignorance.

Wyatt then smiled. His next step: become his family's new whitelighter. He would make sure no one would harm his family ever again.

BREAK

"I SWEAR," yelled Chris, "I don't know anything! I-I…he left! He doesn't say much. I can't help you."

"So, he never mentioned to you about the Park Avenue Industrial Building?"

Chris shook his head. "No, I never heard of that place and like I said, Zak wasn't much to tell us anything or help us in anything."

"Christopher—"

"I don't have anything else to say!" shouted Chris. "Nothing! Nada! Rien!"

Gideon and the Elders had all began rubbing their heads. They had no clue where to go from here. They found Chris to be his usual self, but right now, he was their only evidence and key to everything. Normally, when a whitelighter is killed by a darklighter, the Elders wouldn't investigate, thinking they did it to protect their charges. However, Zak's arrow ridden body was found in an unusual place. An abandon factory where no one would go to, so why was Zak there?

"Chris," said another Elder. Chris recognized her too. She wasn't very tall among her fellow Elders and she had short blonde hair. Her name was Sandra. "If that's the case, then you are in great danger as well. Whoever killed your whitelighter, they will be coming for your family next."

"Please," scoffed Chris, annoyed by the Elders. "They could come after us anytime. Every fucking demon out there knows that Zak is—was—a pathetic whitelighter. They don't need to kill him to try to kill us!"

"Still," said Sandra, "you must stay here."

"Like hell I am," said Chris as he marched to the doors. He grabbed the handles and tugged, but they wouldn't budge open. He tugged again and again with no luck. He glanced over his shoulders and at the Elders, specifically Gideon, thinking he would help out his friend's son. "Let me out!"

Gideon shook his head. "I'm sorry Christopher, but you cannot leave unless we say so."

"You can't keep me here!" said Chris. "I have a date back on Earth and a party to go to tomorrow!" Chris rattled the doors again, trying desperately to get out. "Let me go!"

"We already contacted your Uncle Coop to handle your affairs with your, uh, date," said Gideon. "As he was the one that set the two of you up."

Chris dropped his hands from the handles. He knew he wasn't going to go anywhere. They wouldn't let him. They always got what they wanted. Who cares about everyone else, just as long as they got what they wanted.

Chris slowly walked back to the center of the room. Sandra waved her hand and Chris felt himself be pushed down and into his seat.

"You might want to get comfortable," she said. "It may be for a while."

"I have school on Monday."

"Taken care of if it comes to that."

"What about Wyatt?"

"Being Twice Blessed," said Sandra. "I'm sure he will be fine. He can protect himself."

"Yeah and poor pathetic me can't," grumbled Chris and he looked around at all the Elder faces. He arched his brow. "Where's Leo?" When he had first entered the committee, Chris was determined not to search for his father. He didn't want to acknowledge him, but at the moment, any family member or ex family member would be great. But, Leo wasn't anywhere.

Gideon spoke. "Leo is not present because of his bias and personal relationship with investigation."

Chris arched his brow higher. "Personal relationship? I hardly call ours personal. Besides, he wouldn't give a…wait…bias and personal relationship?" Chris thought before he leapt to his feet, pointing at the Elders. "You're not keeping me here for protection! You're keeping me here because you think I killed him! You're holding me prisoner!"

The Elders did not deny Chris' words. They simply shrugged them off and they all stood up from their seats. Gideon looked down at the witch-lighter. "Chris, as of now, yes, you are the main suspect and evidence. Therefore, you must await here until further notice."

"What about this whole innocent until proven guilty?"

Gideon smiled. "That's your country's law," he said. "Not ours."

With that statement, all the Elders orbed out of the room, leaving Chris alone. Chris kicked his seat. "Of course," he said. "This would happen to me."

BREAK

Leo was in his own private room, meditating, when he felt a strong, familiarity sense in the Heavens. He opened his eyes and searched his room. He knew it was one of his sons, but he couldn't distinguish the two at the moment. He could feel one of their presences.

Leo shook his head. He needed to stop being ridiculous. Wyatt and Chris wouldn't come up to Heavens to visit any Elder expect their father. Even then, they wouldn't come up. Wyatt and Chris aren't exactly fond of the Elders, so they never come unless they were summoned and even then, Leo would know. He would know because he would be in the meeting and staring at his angered son.

So, he kept meditating, when he heard the sounds of someone orbing into his office.

"Be right with you," he said, his eyes still closed.

"Trust me," said the voice. "Knowing you, I know that I have to wait until you have the time."

Leo opened his eyes and saw his son Wyatt standing before him. Wyatt eyes were cold and his mouth curved down in the same manner at Robert De Niro. Leo stood up and walked over to his son.

"What is it Wyatt?" he asked, concerned. Wyatt wouldn't orb up to the Heavens unless something bad happened. "Is everything okay back home? Demon attacks?"

Wyatt narrowed his eyes into slits. "No, not everything is okay at home," he said, confirming Leo's thoughts. "For starters, you aren't ever there, but I'm not here for you. I'm here for Chris. Where is he? I know you have him."

Leo blinked and looked wildly at his son. "What? I have no idea what you are talking about? Chris isn't here."

"Don't lie to me!" snapped Wyatt, his face twisting into an ugly glare. "I had been trying to sense his location after Uncle Coop told me his date got cancelled."

Leo blinked in surprised. "Chris was on a date?" Piper would be proud. Some normalcy for her boys. For Chris.

Wyatt frowned at his father. "Key word there," he said. "He was on a date. Now, I can't sense him anywhere except for up here, so where is he?"

Leo shrugged. "I don't know," said Leo. "I didn't summon him here. I mean, I guess he could come up here."

"I think we both know that Chris would never do that," said Wyatt. "So, that means you stupid Elders summoned him."

"Which isn't true, because there was no council today," said Leo. "Trust me, Wyatt. I would know if Chris is here."

"I only put my trust in Chris, Dad," said Wyatt. "You lost my trust a long time ago."

Leo looked into his son's dark eyes. He meant those words. Leo didn't have his trust. Piper once said to him that trust is a precious thing and shouldn't be abused. Yet, apparently, Leo abused in some fashion. Leo just hoped he didn't lose his trust with Chris, though, he began to think that he lost Chris' trust years before.

Then Leo perked up. "How long have you been in the Heavens Wyatt?"

"I got here when I landed in your space," said Wyatt. "Why?"

Leo nodded his head, remembering that he sensed one of his son's presences earlier. "Chris was here," uttered Leo. "I felt his presence, but I didn't think it was him."

Wyatt scoffed. "Of course you didn't. Why would you? You hardly pay attention to him anyways."

"That's not true, Wyatt!"

Wyatt rolled his eyes. "Doesn't matter, where did you feel his presence?"

"In the Committee Chamber."

Wyatt orbed away at once, but Leo followed and soon, both father and son materialized in the white chamber room. They didn't have to look very far when they saw a scrawny Chris slumped on the floor near the door.

Chris lifted his green eyes up to the newcomers. They brightened when they saw Wyatt. "Wy!" Chris shouted as he ran forward and hugged his brother. "I knew you would come. Now, let's go before they come back."

Wyatt was ready to go, but Leo stopped them, grabbing onto both of his sons' wrists. "You can't go," he said. "Especially you Chris. If the Elders summoned you here, then you must wait for them."

"I already had my meeting with them," said Chris, angrily. "They're just keeping me here because they think I'm a murderer."

"Murderer?" questioned both Leo and Wyatt.

Chris nodded his head, and tried to brush his hair away from his eyes. "Yeah, um, Zak…he's dead," explained Chris, "And the Elders think I have some involvement or knowledge of who killed him since I was the last person to see him."

"Yeah, but he, like, what?" said Wyatt, his voice harsh. "Stayed for a minute? That's what you said to grandpa."

"And that's the truth," insisted Chris in frustration.

"Wait!" said Leo, interrupting his boys. They both looked at him with the same annoyed and resentful expressions. Leo took a deep breath, his blue eyes focused on Chris' green. "You swear that you only saw him for a minute."

Chris nodded his head. "Yes! He was in my bedroom and asked if I needed any demon help. I told him I called for him three days ago. Then after I told him I didn't need him, he left. That's all that happened."

"Then why do they think you are a murderer?"

Chris shrugged and looked over at Wyatt. "Have you ever heard of Park Avenue Industries?"

Wyatt pondered, but then shook his head. "Nope," he answered. "Never heard of it. Should I?"

"I never heard of it either, but that's where they found Zak's body," said Chris, turning to Leo. "They found his body with two darklighter's arrows and a burn from a energy ball."

"Darklighter arrows and an energy ball?" said Leo, thinking. Leo had heard of Park Avenue Industries, but they have been abandoned for years. What was Zak doing there? "That doesn't make sense. Darklighters don't normally torture their victims. It was as if Zak got himself trapped. Usually, Darklighters kill quickly. They don't waste time in case witches or other whitelighters show up to save them."

"Maybe Zak pissed that darklighter off a lot," suggested Wyatt. "He's known to do that to people." Wyatt said off to the side.

"Well, none of those things are going to help me," said Chris. "The Elders still think I'm involved and I can't leave. I even tried orbing, but nothing is working. None of my powers are working."

Wyatt looked concerned, but Leo didn't. He knew what happened to his youngest son. He placed a hand on Chris' shoulder. "The Elders just bind your powers to endure you couldn't leave. They'll return them to you soon after this ordeal is over."

Wyatt eyes narrowed and the blue in his eyes burned brighter. "THEY WHAT!" he roared, approaching his father threateningly. Leo backed a little a way from his oldest son, but not too far from his youngest. Wyatt's fingers curled into a fist. "They stole his powers!"

"They'll give them right back, Wyatt," said Leo. "They didn't strip him of his powers."

"Unless they find him guilty."

"They won't."

"That's what you think," said Wyatt. "They don't care about us. They think they have the power to rule over us, boss us around, and take whatever they want! Fuck them and fuck you for siding with them!"

Wyatt's face had contorted into a monster. His face was beat red from the anger inside of him. He eyes burned brighter as if the blue in his eyes were flames. During his rant, Wyatt had seized Chris' arm, jerking his younger brother closer to him, so that they could orb away.

Leo lunged onto his sons and redirected their path to his office. When they landed Wyatt shoved his father off of him. "What the hell are you doing?"

"You can't just orb Chris away," said Leo and he looked down at his youngest son. He looked so much like Piper, especially right now, his look of confusion and determinism. "If you take him away, the Elders will think Chris is guilty. He has to remain here until this whole ordeal is over. Wyatt, you might want to go back home. The Elders—"

"Screw the Elders, Dad," said Wyatt. "I'm not leaving Chris unprotected against them."

"He'll be fine," insisted Leo. "I will be there."

"You weren't there last time," commented Chris. Wyatt smiled and wrapped is arm around Chris' shoulders. The comment jabbed Leo in the gut.

Wyatt smirked at his father. "I'm staying."

Leo sighed in frustration, but at the same time, he was happy. Happy to know that his sons were close to one another. "Fine, just stay here, okay? Nowhere else."

"Where're you going?" asked Chris.

"Checking with the other Elders," he said. "I want to know why I wasn't there at the trial with you."

"Bias and personal relationship," answered Chris. "That's why they said you weren't invited." Wyatt and Leo looked at Chris. "They told me when I asked them where you were."

"You asked for me?" This made Leo's heart swell. Chris had asked for him.

Chris shrugged. "Well, yeah, I just asked because I wanted to make sure you weren't around." It was a lie, but Chris didn't want Leo to know the actual truth.

Leo's lips trembled back to his normal state. "Okay, well, I'm still going to have a word with them."

However, Leo didn't have to orb away when they Gideon and another Elder appeared in the room.

"Leo!" said Gideon approaching Leo, his eyes glaring at him. "What are you doing? What's going on here?"

Leo looked at his mentor. "Don't worry Gideon. It's nothing."

"I don't think so," said Gideon, eyeing Chris and Wyatt. "How did Chris get out of the chamber?"

"That can be explained," said Leo. "But I want to know why—"

Wyatt walked forward towards Gideon, his eyes narrowed in resentment at the Elder. "I came to rescue my brother from you."

"Rescue?" said Gideon. "Chris doesn't need to be rescued. He's perfectly safe. No one here is going to hurt him."

"That's why you stripped him of his powers?"

Gideon stood up straighter, trying to show his higher status to Wyatt. "It was just a precaution. We couldn't have him lose control or escape. It was only until the trial was over."

"HE DIDN'T KILL ZAK!" bellowed Wyatt and Leo had to push his oldest son back away from Gideon. "He wouldn't do that!"

Gideon held his hand up. "We have to make sure," said Gideon. "He was the last person to see Zak and therefore, he is connected to the case."

Wyatt was still fuming. "Why don't we strip you of your powers? Aren't you connected to Zak as well? You are his boss right? That makes you a suspect!"

Gideon frowned. "We wouldn't hurt our own kind."

"Neither would Chris," said Wyatt. "Yet that doesn't stop you from threatening him and stealing his powers!" Wyatt moved forward towards Gideon, but Leo stepped in between.

"Wyatt, calm down," he said. "Take it easy."

Wyatt snapped his head to his father, but he didn't say anything. He just backed away and stood right next to Chris who had been watching his fate between his brother, his defender, Leo, the peacemaker, and Gideon, the offense.

"Besides," said Gideon. "Shouldn't you be busy taking care of your charge?"

"I'm sure he can manage himself for a few minutes," said Wyatt, but Gideon grinned.

"I think now is a perfect time for you to check up on him," he said and suddenly, Wyatt was gone. Leo stared blankly at the place where Wyatt was standing.

"Gideon?" asked Leo glancing from the empty spot to his mentor. "Where…what?"

Gideon didn't look away from where Wyatt was standing before, his smile still playing on his lips. "Relax Leo, I just sent him back to Earth and to his charge. He's fine. He was getting to emotional over this situation."

"You still didn't need to do that," said Leo, walking over to his youngest son, taking the place where Wyatt was standing.

Gideon bowed his head slightly. "I'm sorry friend, but we have to keep going with the investigation. Now, Chris, if you please."

Gideon was holding his hand out to Chris, but Leo watched his son refuse it. Gideon frowned. "Take my hand Christopher."

"No," repeated Chris. "I would rather not."

Gideon looked up at Leo, telepathically telling Leo to convince his youngest son otherwise. Leo nodded and turned to Chris. "Chris, buddy."

"I'm not your buddy," corrected Chris.

Leo's face fell a little bit. Chris use to like it when Leo called him that. Times have changed. "Chris, you understand that they are going to review and discuss what to do with you, right?"

"I didn't do anything wrong."

"Yes, I know," said Leo, hearing Gideon muttering something. "But, you still need to go through this."

"They're just going to keep my powers."

"That's not true Chris," said Leo. "They'll return them when you are proven innocent."

Chris still didn't make any movement towards Gideon or the other Elder. He just folded his arms in front of his chest. "I'm not going."

"It's already well known that you and your brother did not like Zak, Chris," said the other Elder. "But, if you truly are innocent, you need to prove it. Right now, you are putting yourself in a position that will make us force to do something we don't want to do to you."

"So you already believe that I'm guilty!"

"No, Chris," said Gideon. "We don't. We just want to learn the truth."

"I told you the truth!"

Leo rubbed his forehead. He couldn't stand watching his son being accused. Leo knew Chris. He wouldn't kill anything. He remembered when he was younger he ran into the house crying to Piper about how he accidently stepped on the neighbor's cat. Piper had to tell him that it was okay and that he didn't mean to hurt it, but Chris still kept crying. If Chris truly did kill Zak, Leo would be able to tell, but right now Chris just looked desperate, not sad or afraid.

"I'm not going," said Chris, still refusing to go with the Elders.

"Then how will we prove you innocent?" questioned Gideon. "If you refuse, then you'll never get your powers back."

Leo looked back from Gideon to Chris. He tried to think of a way that he could prove Chris' innocence without his son being sent away with the Elders in a trial format. "Why don't we do a memory recall?"

"Memory recall?" asked Gideon and Leo nodded. Gideon thought about it and then looked at Chris. "Well, that might settle a lot of things and it could also determine whether he is innocent in this whole situation. What do you say Christopher?"

Chris was listening. He eyed at all three Elders trying to weigh in his options. "Fine," said Chris unfolding his arms. "What do I have to do?"

Gideon approached Chris. "You just have to return the chamber and then we will being able to see what you saw through a simple process."

Chris nodded his head. "Okay. Let's go."

"I'm coming with," said Leo, but Gideon and the other Elder gave him a warning look. Leo insisted. "First off, I'm an Elder. Second, I'm his father. I have the right to attend on both of those reasons."

Gideon shrugged. "Fine, then I suspect that you would want to transport him over to the chamber."

Leo nodded. The two Elders orbed out and Leo turned to his son. Chris' mouth was thin and his eyes blazed at the sight of Leo. "Elder first, uh? I figured."

Leo sighed. "That's not what I meant, Chris. I meant it as a reason to be with you for this," he said. "They don't find being a father to be a particularly good enough reason to join the chamber."

Chris rolled his eyes. "Yeah, whatever, just orb me there."

Leo sadly stared at his young son before orbing him to the chamber.

BREAK

The whole memory recall process hurt. It felt like a comet was piercing through his whole body and head throbbed in mini darts of pain. Chris tried hard not to show his pain, but he wasn't doing a good job because he felt a hand tighten on his. He knew it was Leo's, but he didn't shrug him off. Instead, he gripped it tightly until the Elders were done.

Chris fluttered his eyes open and saw Leo staring down at him, looking concern and brushing his brown hair back. "Chris?" he said. "How you feeling?"

"Great," muttered Chris. He blinked several times before looking at the Elders for a response. It was Sandra who strolled over to him.

"Chris," she greeted. "After examining your memories, we find that you are innocent and therefore are free to return home."

"What about my powers?"

"You have them all back."

Chris tried them out and telekinetically shoved the doors of the chamber opened.

"Thanks," muttered Chris.

"We're sorry," said Sandra, but then she turned to Leo. "Leo, the rest of the Elders and I were wondering if you could call Wyatt up for a second?"

Chris didn't move to the door. What did they want with Wyatt? Leo thought the same thing. "Why?"

"Well, everyone up here knows that the Halliwell's weren't exactly very fond of Zak and from Wyatt's last reaction to the topic, we thought—"

"Wyatt wouldn't kill Zak," interrupted Leo. "I know him."

"Yes, but…"

"No," said Leo. "I won't allow you to hurt Wyatt. He's innocent. He wouldn't kill anyone."

Chris heard his father's words and suddenly, the pit that he had tried so hard to keep cool, boiled. "So Wyatt's innocent, but I'm not?"

Leo spun to look at Chris. "I didn't say that Chris."

"Yes you did!" spat Chris, his voice raw and angry that Leo didn't recognize his son's voice. "You just said that Wyatt was innocent and that you wouldn't let them harm him! But what about me?" Chris' eyes started to turn red and taunt as he spoke to his father. "I was innocent, yet you didn't defend me. You still let them strip my powers and made me go through hell and back!"

All the Elders were watching the confrontation between father and son. Leo approached Chris. "No, Chris, I didn't want you to go through that at all, but they already had you and your powers…"

Chris took a few big steps back. "Don't come near me!" said Chris. "You always liked him better than me! I hate you!"

With that last statement, Chris orbed back to the Manor, leaving Leo with the Elders.

BREAK

Sandra just stared just as most of the Elders did. Leo didn't turn to look at the Elders. He immediately orbed back to his office. However, he wasn't alone for very long when another blue and white orbs appeared revealing Gideon.

Leo didn't look at him as he spoke. 'Why didn't you tell me he was here?"

Gideon sighed. "Because, the Elders and I wanted a trial where emotions wouldn't get in the way," said Gideon. "Leo, when you're with your sons, you tend not to think straight, especially when they are in serious trouble. We had to keep this matter private, which sadly, didn't become private. Never realized how strong your sons bonds are to one another."

Leo nodded. "Yeah, it strong and it's hard to separate them. I remembered when they were just toddlers. I picked Chris up in my arms to take him to the kitchen and when I got there, Wyatt orbed in next to him." Leo smiled at the memory. Wherever Chris went, Wyatt orbed there. Even when Chris got scared at night, he would cry and Wyatt would orb into the room with his force field raised. Chris did the same thing too once he learned to orb. He would follow Wyatt around and try to act like him. Piper said it was adorable and Leo found it humorous.

"This is why we don't let you come to meetings or councils when it involves your family," said Gideon. "You become bias. You would have done everything to prevent this situation from happening. Do you agree?"

Leo nodded. "I would have done everything to stop what you guys were planning to do to Chris, but it doesn't matter anymore. He hates me."

"He doesn't mean it, Leo," said Gideon. "Not truly. I'm sorry for what we did to him, but it had to be done. You understand right?"

"I understand," said Leo, gravely. "But next time, when my sons are involved, you tell me. I will handle them." Then he sat down to meditate as Gideon turned to leave.