Machinations

„So, I figured we could use that spell that took us through Leo's memories that one time, or maybe we could modify the ‚finding secret things'-spell, since a truth spell wouldn't work…" Paige chattered, obscenely cheerful for the amount of sleep they'd got.

"Right," Piper muttered darkly. "'Cause anyone can fool a truth spell."

Glancing from sister to sister, Phoebe couldn't help but wonder if they weren't a bit hasty.

Sure, Chris had said that he'd never tell them, but that had been just after one of his epic fights with Piper, and Phoebe knew from experience that those left you barely coherent, not to mention completely illogical.

Perhaps they should simply call for Chris and argue their point again, instead of plotting how to best get into his head.

She had voiced her opinion twenty minutes ago, when this 'strategy meeting' had started, and had been stared down by both of her sisters in answer.

So keeping her thoughts to herself for now wasn't cowardice, it was … a tactical retreat. Yes. She would speak her mind once they'd become reasonable again.

Talking of which… It looked as if her sisters had moved on to a new and even more nefarious plan.

"…or we could just sic Grams on him," Piper said, and even Paige looked shocked for a moment, before a worrisome glint appeared in her eyes.

"You know, that might actually work," she pondered slowly, and Phoebe decided that now was the time to step in.

"Oh no, no, no!" she protested. "you know how Grams is – she'd take over everything and simply burst into Gideon's office. And remember what she had to say about you and Leo the last time…"

That got Piper to abandon the Grams-plan real quick. Phoebe grinned, and even Paige smirked in amusement.

Phoebe sighed and took another sip from her coffee. Sitting in the kitchen on a Saturday afternoon with both her sisters present was an unusual, if great, activity as of late.

Somehow, they only ever seemed to come together when demons attacked or other catastrophes happened.

Sure, there was an enslaved assassin from the future with a short life expectancy tied up in their attic right now, but that somehow didn't feel very catastrophic. Perhaps because they knew what to do about it, and until Chris showed up, they couldn't do anything anyway.

"I think your first plan is still the best," Piper told Paige, interrupting their companionable silence. "You trap him with the crystals, and I throw the potion. That should do it."

Cowardly or not, here I go, Phoebe thought, determined to add her two cents now, before it would be too late.

But as if the fates had tuned into her thoughts and decided to play her a little joke, the sound of orbing could be heard from the living room. Her sisters were off and running before Phoebe could even lift a hand.

Great, she thought.

Now they'd have a pissed of, imprisoned whitelighter on their hand, who'd refuse to cooperate at all. That's what cowardice got you, in the end.

She reached the living room door just in time to see Paige orb the crystals towards Chris and Piper throw the potion. Both moves were executed perfectly, and as Phoebe watched the crystals vanish and reappear, her heart sank.

But instead of ending up trapped, Chris somehow twisted away and around, executing a perfect evasive roll and coming to his feet again just in time to deflect the potion vial with a flick of his wrist.

He was free. And not even breathing hard.

He too one long look at the useless heap of crystals, the potion now dying the wallpaper an unpleasant shade of green, and the sisters' disbelieving stare.

How had he moved that fast?

His eyes narrowed, and Phoebe simply couldn't suppress a panicky "uh-oh," that had Chris huff in irritation.

But he didn't orb away. He just closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep, calming breath.

"We'll just pretend this never happened, shall we?" he offered lightly and walked past them into the kitchen.

But if Phoebe believed the tense line of his shoulders, he was still angry. Very, very angry.

Piper however either didn't notice shoulders, or she just didn't care.

"How did you do that?" she demanded as soon as she reached the kitchen. Phoebe could see Chris' left eye twitch, but somehow he maintained the pleasantly light tone from before.

"Is that really the most important thing we need to talk about right now?" he inquired.

"No," Piper answered, irritated. "But since you told us that you'd never help us free the girl…"

"Ah, yes, the girl," Chris said as if he'd only now been reminded of her. "I changed my mind. I've got the spell you need right here."

His simple declaration was met with shock from Phoebe and Paige, and with open suspicion from Piper.

"What are you planning, Chris?" she asked.

"Me? Planning?" Chris lifted both hands to signal his innocence.

"Yes," Piper gritted her teeth. Audibly.

"You've never changed your mind that easily before," Paige offered, but Chris just shrugged.

"I analysed the situation logically and decided that she would be of greater value to us alive," he said. He sounded just like Mr Spock.

For the blink of an eye, Chris' lip twitched. Neither Paige and Piper noticed it, being too busy with their outrage, but Phoebe saw it clearly.

He's goading us! She thought, disbelieving. He's actually having fun with this!

"I don't believe you," Piper stated flatly.

"No?" Chris sounded utterly disinterested. "Does that mean you don't want the spell after all?"

"No!" Paige protested. "I mean yes… or… oh, jut hand over the spell, buster!"

With an open smirk, Chris offered her a folded piece of paper, which she snatched from his fingers as if it would burn any minute.

What was that all about? Phoebe wondered as she watched Chris and her sisters. And then, when she remembered the way Chris' mind worked: What's it he doesn't want to talk about? Why is he hiding the reason he changed his mind?

But as her sisters were busy with other concerns, Phoebe tucked those questions away for later thoughts and joined them in their examination of the piece of paper.

The first part of the spell was pretty straightforward, but after the rhyme followed a series of letters and numbers that didn't make any sense at all.

"What's this part about?" Piper asked, pointing to the strange sequence. "It's gibberish."

"No, it's the code that will make the counterspell work," Chris corrected in the condescending tone he always used when lecturing them about magic. "In the future, many newly created spells use such a sequence. The spell becomes a lock, and only the counterspell with the right key will work. Start and finish the spell with this, and the servilis will be broken."

He paused for a moment, but not long enough to let them formulate questions like Who the hell had thought of that? or Why was he carrying such sequences around in his brain?

"You need to be very clear on this," he then said, totally serious. "If you use this spell, you will be magically drained for a long time. Your active powers won't be available for at least a week, and it'll be a month before we can even consider taking on Gideon."

Phoebe and Paige nodded immediately, accepting the consequences, but Piper hesitated.

"What about Wyatt?" she asked. "I mean, normally I'd ask Leo to take him up there or to magic school, but with the Gideon-situation…"

Now Chris hesitated, too.

"I'll take care of Wyatt," he offered. He could see as clearly as Phoebe that Piper wasn't happy with that idea, but after another moment, she agreed.

If Chris was hurt by her reaction, he didn't let on.

"Now, I know that you won't stay safe in the house during that time," he continued. "But we should at least secure your rooms with crystals and you should keep a few vanquishing potions close to you at all times. Paige, I'd suggest that you stay in the Manor until you can orb again. I'll stick around and sleep on the couch until your active powers reappear."

Now none of them looked happy about the next week.

Phoebe wondered how she'd manage to juggle work, Jason, and the high likelihood of demon attacks without her magic and Paige's useful orbing, but all that was unimportant in comparison to Hand's life.

From the look on Piper's and Paige's faces, they had gone through a similar thought process, and they all agreed. Chris seemed relieved.

"I also suggest that we move Hand to the cellar," he said. "I'll keep her dosed with the blocking potion, so she won't be able to use the Nexus against us. We'll put crystals around the room and add one of the old camping beds. Okay?"

Again, they all nodded. And Chris smiled, an honest-to-God smile from their bitchy whitelighter.

He looked very satisfied, and Phoebe suddenly wondered if this was how he'd expected them to behave when he first arrived to the future - thinking it over carefully, offering improvements to his plan and then doing what he said.

Well, if he had expected that, he couldn't know the Charmed Ones of his time very well.

"Then we'll start in half an hour. I'll prepare the attic. Phoebe, would you make sure the rooms are safe?"

Since Paige would have to pack her stuff (and explain to Richard why she'd disappear for a week), and Piper would no doubt use the time to fuss about Wyatt, Phoebe nodded.

"Right," Chris still seemed disturbingly cheerful. "Then let's get this done!"

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The next update might take a while longer, but feel free to motivate me with reviews!