No such things as mercy if you are a Halliwell

Chapter 11: Torture

WARNING: THIS CHAPTER HAS A LOT OF VIOLENCE IN IT! IF YOU DO NOT LIKE TO READ SUCH THINGS THEN YOU SHOULD SKIP THIS CHAPTER...

"Okay, where did he go?" Piper mused while she paced restlessly. "Where could he be?"

"I don't know Piper," Leo admitted guiltily as he failed to sense his second born. "He shut me off the radar..."

"Can anyone sense him?" Paige asked hopefully. "I can`t..."

"So who can?" Phoebe pressed. "Maybe we find him..."

"I can`t," Leo sighed defeated. "One time in the world when I need my powers they do not work."

"Me neither," Paige´s shoulders sank. "I wish I could do more..."

"But first we need a vanquishing potion for this demon-guy," Piper announced suddenly. "But which one is powerful enough?"

They all looked around helplessly.


Chris was at his minimum power level.

He had suffered from several injuries so far. One energy ball had hit his bare torso but it was only a scratch. He had survived more serious wounds before.

His head was thrown against a wall and he suffered a laceration. It was bleeding heavily but he guessed all head wounds did that. It seemed worse than it was. After all he was still standing.

Several kicks had succeeded to find their way to Chris` body and leave bruises. Chris was not going down so easily, however. The demons knew that now but would it be enough in the end? Would he be able to survive?

I can`t fight for much longer... At least I took some demons out...

"Well Matt, you are really good! And you are truly one of the charmed ones! So much power even when you are heavily poisoned," Jo praised him as he had shimmered in, "Or should I call you Chris?"

So he knows my identity...

"What?!" Mike exclaimed who had shimmered next to Jo. "He took out fifty demons!" His gaze wandered over the battle field and sudden unknown fear developed in Mike.

Fifty? Wow...

"Fifty?" Jo repeated unimpressed, "It`s your own fault if you hire lower-level demons to do the job!"

Thought so...

"Well, there had been at least three upper level demons!" Mike tried to defend his tactics.

Wow... now I am scared...

"If you say so...," Jo retorted and turned his attention to Chris, "So Chris, you are going to die in a very cold area! I want to let you suffer more before I kill you!"

Try – bastard!

"Do you not want to reply or did the cat get your tongue?" Mike provoked Chris.

I don`t need to answer you!

"He is probably all worn out Mike. Let`s shimmer him there – I don`t think that he can orb himself anywhere anymore," Jo spoke in disdain.

Try...

Jo tried to shimmer Chris away but somehow Chris was still at his space. With all of his might Chris fought against the feeling of the shimmer power.

"What the hell...? How did you do this?!" Jo shouted angrily. His plan was failing before he even had a chance to unleash it, "Where do you have your powers from?!"

"I ... thought ... you knew...," Chris stammered out between quick breathes. He needed to finish them quickly and then get a long nice rest.

"Don`t get too cocky!" Jo screamed now frustrated. He shot a glaze to one of the demons around and that one nodded at the unspoken command of his master.

It shot glances to his other companions.

What has he planned now?

Chris looked around worriedly. There were at least four demons approaching. They had no energy balls or athames but somehow that did not comfort Chris. All the while Jo was smiling evilly.

Suddenly one of the demons grabbed Chris under his arms as if he wanted to lift him up. Chris hadn´t even noticed that it was behind him. His sluggish reaction allowed the next one to grab one of Chris` arms and the third one to grab the other arm. Chris tried to struggle free or use his orbing power to escape but nothing would work.

What is that for? And why can`t I orb out?

"Don`t even think about an escape! We blocked your orbing power! And you`re too weak to run!" Mike yelled triumphantly.

But why?

Then Chris knew. And he wished he didn´t.

No no no no no no no... God no...

The fourth demon appeared at his left side. Unable to do anything to get away from the three demons that already had their filthy hands on him he tried to kick out at the fourth demon. He did not fall down because those three had a tight grip on him but the fourth seemed to be prepared for his feeble attempt to fight against them. He grabbed his left leg with his right hand just under the knee and with his other hand he seized Chris´ ankle.

As Chris watched in dawning realization; his eyes widened in the slightest bit. The demon took his time to look up into his prey´s eyes and smile. Then without further delay he twisted first the ankle and then used the broken bone and his firm grip on Chris´ knee to twist the lower leg until it cracked.

Chris tried his hardest but he couldn´t keep from screaming in agony. The three demons kept their firm grip on him until he had no breath left to scream. His throat was dry and his eyes red but he refused to cry.

Jo laughed as if someone had just told that sick bastard a very good joke. "Gottcha!"

With a sign all of them shimmered out taking Chris with them.


"Nearly ready – I tried to make a potion as strong as possible!" Paige announced with determination. "I hope this one helps!"

"Okay Paige that`s a start!" Phoebe replied while rocking a crying Wyatt. "I wonder if we succeed."

Wyatt was upset; he could feel how Chris weakened but he couldn`t sense his correct position as if someone was shielding him from his brother.

"I still can`t sense him," Leo said crestfallen as he orbed in from the elders. "Where are you Chris?"

"And they could not find him either," concluded Piper angrily. She was scrying for her second son; so far without result. "That`s normal... they cannot help."

"Do you think he is shielded somehow?" Paige suggested. "That would explain a lot."

"Why? Do you think he is kidnapped?" Phoebe asked in horror. "Oh Chris!"

"Better than to think that he...," Paige commented without thinking. "died"

"That he what?" Piper pressed. "Don`t you dare say that he is dead."

Suddenly Wyatt stopped crying.

"Wyatt?" Phoebe asked her little nephew. "Has he calmed down?"

"Cwis!" he shouted and orbed out along with Phoebe.

"Phoebe! WYATT!" Piper yelled shocked. How many times would her little angel do that? Was it for the third time today?

"Come on, let`s orb after them!" Leo shouted and ran over to Piper. As soon as he grabbed her arm he vanished into blue orbs and took her with him.

Paige filled the little bottles and orbed along.


"Why... are... you... doing... this?" Chris wheezed. Can`t you just kill me? Why torturing?

Chris was lying on his left side and breathed heavily. He thought that at least one or two ribs had not taken the kicks to them very well. He dared not to assess his current predicament.

One of his eyes was swollen and his lip bled where it had cracked as several fists had connected with it. His headache was back with a vengeance. His throat was still dry and he felt like a man who just spent the last days in a desert.

His left leg lay in a twisted form awkwardly on the ground. It was broken just below the knee and Chris dared not to move a muscle. One of the demons was cruelly standing on his lower leg keeping him even from squirming.

His right arm was currently held up by a demon. The demon had a firm grip on his wrist though he did not break that, too. The demon enjoyed to break one finger after the other instead. So far he had almost broken his index finger but Jo had stopped him.

"So Chris, if you answer my question he won`t break your index finger," Jo whispered into his ear, "If you do not answer or you lie or you do anything at all that is not as I wish then you ... well I guess you know."

Chris glared at him keeping himself rigid. He breathed heavily in and out but did nothing else.

What have I gotten myself into now?

"Be nice Chris – maybe you live a little bit longer then," Mike told him from afar. That bastard had not even joined this sick game so far.

Great advice...

"First question: Are you from the future?" Jo inquired in a whisper. Chris could feel and smell his foul breath hot against his cheek right next to his right ear. From the corner of his eyes he watched Jo.

Why did I not know it?

But Chris kept quiet. He just breathed in and out trying not to move too much.

Let`s see if you keep your word...

"Last chance or you loose a finger: ARE YOU FROM THE FUTURE?" Jo asked louder this time as he rocked back on his feet.

Okay...

Chris sighed in defeat as the demon that held his finger began to squeeze it backwards rather painfully.

Wait... wait!

"Yes!" he admitted in a defeated tone. He tried to brace himself for the pain.

Man... that was close...

"Wait," Jo ordered the demon to stop immediately. "That was tight Chris!" Jo informed him disapprovingly.

I know...

Chris glared at him once more. He had just revealed something the demon had already known but somehow he still thought that he had failed. He kept breathing in and out but it was also hurting now as the shock subsided. His ribs had definitely taken damage. He could feel the pain more clearly now.

I wish I could kill you...

"If I think again, however," Jo said in a pensive mood and put a hand to his chin as if in deep thought, "this was bad behavior. Go ahead."

He nodded towards the demon, stood up and moved a bit backwards.

What?

Before Chris´ sluggish reaction could catch up with what was just revealed to him he felt the hand on his index finger return. His gaze wandered in slow motion towards his right hand and he watched as an outsider how that bastard twisted it all the way backwards in one swift motion only to move it back and forth after it was broken. He looked like he had the fun of his life.

I won`t give you the pleasure and scream...

Chris did not scream this time. It took all of his willpower but he managed to keep quiet. His pain filled eyes were the only thing that betrayed his defiance.

"This is no fun if you do not scream!" Jo complained rather annoyed and ordered the other demon to step on the broken leg.

Bastard! This hurts like hell!

Now Chris couldn´t help but scream. There was only so much shock could do to help you ignore your body being on fire. Some sickening crunch reached Chris´ ears and he resisted the urge to retch.

You`re dead!

Jo laughed again. Now he seemed almost satisfied and proud of himself: "Well, it works everytime."

"Now let´s get to the next question," Jo leaned down to him once more, "And remember Chris you only got nine fingers left."

"Is Piper Halliwell your mother?" Jo asked as he grabbed a handful of Chris´ hair and pulled his head backwards rather painfully.

Great...Nine fingers left, ten tows, two ears, two eyes and God only knows what else... How can I get out of this mess?


Wyatt and Phoebe rematerialized on the field where Chris and the demons had shimmered away only seconds before.

Phoebe fell on her butt.

"Wyatt!" she exclaimed and wanted to scold him for orbing her off in the middle of a crisis but as she saw how worried he looked she kept quiet and looked at him closely.

Wyatt looked around worriedly. "Where is he?" Then he saw the blood. There were spots which looked like puddles.

Phoebe looked at Wyatt and wondered: "Why are we here?"

Leo and Piper orbed in shortly after that and both ran over to Wyatt.

"Wyatt honey! Don`t do that again!" Piper said scared to death as she stroked through his hair happy to see him fine, "You scared mommy half to death!" "Why does he orb out? Has he found Chris?"

"Wyatt! Mommy and I were very worried!" Leo added and added a loving hand on his son´s shoulder, "Don´t do that again." "He is okay – thank God. At least one child is okay."

Paige orbed there ready to throw the potions.

"Huh? Where is this demon and where is Chris?" she asked as she spotted neither of them. "What did I miss?"

"Paige, we don`t know" Phoebe said and stood up. "I have the same questions..."

"Then why are we here?" Paige asked puzzled. "Why?"

"Cwis!" Wyatt insisted suddenly and pointed to the ground.

Then all of them saw it. The ground in front of them was covered in red blood which was still warm to the touch. The grass was tramped down and there at least six different sets of footprints.

Some trees still smoked where an energy ball had connected with them. But aside from this marks the surroundings looked almost peaceful.

"Oh my god! He is injured!" Piper exclaimed as she took in the horrible sight in front of her, "My baby lost a lot of blood!"

She sobbed heavily and leaned on Leo. "Is he even... Is he even alive?"

"Piper, we are going to find him and heal him," Leo tried to soothe her. He rubbed her arms. "If he is the one that lost all this blood," Leo added with emphasis not ready to believe it. "Chris, how are you? Where are you?"

Wyatt tried to sense his brother. "Come on Chris answer me!"

"Maybe we can scry with that for him!" Paige suggested eager to help and walked over to the blood. She crouched down and already held a pipette at ready. "At least I hope so..."

"What is that? His protection is lowering... I can sense Chris... He is so weak... Oh no!"

"I got him!" Leo announced suddenly alarmed. "Let`s go!"


All of them understood and orbed out.

They arrived just at the moment as Jo asked Chris the second time if he was Piper Halliwell´s son and the child of an elder.

Chris who did not notice their arrival and fearing further injuries before his death answered in a small and broken voice.

"Yes."

Here or there I am dead anywhere I just hope that they will know the truth when I`m born... They need to focus on Wyatt now... Not on me... Oh Wyatt I am so sorry that you knew...

Jo had noticed the Charmed Ones, smirked and asked Chris again.

"What was that? I did not hear you Chris!" Jo gripped the hair tighter and pulled Chris´ head back further.

You gotta be kidding me!

The other demon began to twist the next finger.

Can`t this end?

"I said," he wheezed out, "that I am, um..., Piper Halliwell`s, um..., one of the Charmed Ones," he had to take a breath and spit out some blood before he could continue to stutter in shame, "and Leo Wyatt`s, an elder..." Again he had to swallow to get more words past his dry throat.

"That I am, um.., their son," Chris pressed out between clenched teeth and in pain. The grip on his hair loosened somewhat but Chris knew it was far from over.

I hope they will never know how I died... I am a shame to the name of Halliwell...

"Very well Chris – should I ask your mom and dad then how they think about you?" Jo asked and grinned evilly. He knew that they were already here and that Chris was still oblivious to the fact, "Or should we ask your beloved big brother Wyatt?"

What the hell?

"Don`t talk about them!" Chris hissed at him and turned seething eyes towards Jo. The demon that held his wrist tightened his grip; Jo tightened his grip on Chris´ hair again and Chris earned a kick to his ribcage in return by the third demon.

Chris coughed up more blood and tried not to writhe in pain for it might move his injured leg.

Bastards! If I weren´t so sick right now I would never tell you anything. What have you done to me?

"No, no! Not so rude Chris!" Jo scolded him and tugged at the hair warningly. "They won`t help you! You mean nothing to them!"

That`s not true!

"They are my family!" Chris shouted. He immediately felt sorry for it as he had to cough heavily and received another kick to his ribcage.

I just have to be born... Maybe dad gets nicer this time around... if I change my behavior and be a good boy... but I just have to be born. If I die here I will fail for sure but my past self could still make a difference.

"I can kill them!" Jo said to Chris in a foul mood. Chris did not dare to hope. Jo added, "Then you would not even be born! Now who could I torture then?" Jo laughed humorlessly.

You won`t! If you try to harm them I swear I will come back from the dead and haunt your sorry a**.

"Don´t you dare harm them!" Chris threatened. His voice was quiet but strong. He stared up at his captor and glared at him.

"Shut up!" Jo hissed and pushed Chris´ head to the ground. With a nod he let the other demon step on Chris` leg again. The crunching sound was back and so was the sickening feeling.

This time, however, Chris did not scream. Instead he used his last strength to attack Jo one last desperate time...


Change of scene... back to where the sisters Leo and Wyatt orbed in... all of that now in their POV:

They arrived at the moment as Jo asked Chris the second time if he was Piper Halliwells son and the child of an elder.

Piper held her breath not daring to draw in a breath as she looked at what must have been the cruellest scene to her since Prue´s death. "What does he answer? He looks so beaten up!"

Leo was near tears as he spotted Chris lying there helplessly in the clutches of at least six demons. "Oh Chris! I am so sorry!"

Wyatt could not look at his brother. Even at his little age he knew what it was like to feel pain. He would often fall over and hurt a knee. But as he saw his brother lying there, bleeding and hurting, he felt sick. "Why is his leg so...? And his face?"

Paige and Phoebe held each others´ hands. They clung to each other as if they tried to wake themselves from a terrible nightmare. Each of them thought. "Oh my god!"

"Yes," Chris answer was barely audible to them. Yet at the same time it broke their hearts as realization took home.

Piper`s heart sank. "It`s really true... He is my son..." She felt empty inside as she recollected the last weeks and months with this stranger who now turned out to be her son. Then her emotions changed from hollow to shock to anger to sadness to simply terrified madness.

Leo gasped almost choked. He knew he had treated Chris horribly and was in return treated horribly but for Chris being his son... "Oh Chris... my poor boy"

"Oh Chris!" Wyatt thought fearing the worst.

"What was that? I did not hear you Chris!" they heard the demon guy called Jo ask again as he pulled at Chris´ hair.

"Is he deaf?" Phoebe whispered as she watched in horror and denial. "He can´t possibly ..."

"I don`t know Pheebs," Paige whispered back as she shook her head slowly from side to side. "Do not hurt him..."

"Chris!" Wyatt was very worried.

The sudden revelation left all five of them paralyzed.

The other demon began to twist the next finger.

"Don`t hurt my boy!" Piper wanted to cry out. She stood still, her breath was slow. She stared in shock as if she just watched a cruel scene play in front of her. One which she could do nothing against. Then slowly, rather painfully, her thoughts changed. She considered attacking the demons and rescuing what was left of her son.

"I said," they heard Chris wheeze out, "that I am, um..., Piper Halliwell`s, um..., one of the Charmed Ones," they saw how he had to take a breath and spit out some blood before he could continue to stutter in shame, "and Leo Wyatt`s, an elder..." Again he had to swallow to get more words past his dry throat.

"That I am, um.., their son."

The world seemed to stop. No one dared to move a muscle or take a breath in. Surely this had to be a mistake or some terrible joke.

As Jo had asked the question and Chris had answered with a horrible clear 'yes' they had tried to deny the truth. They had tried to face away, go back to their normal life where a certain neurotic whitelighter was nothing more or less than a pain in the a**.

But as they listened rooted to the spot where they were standing to the painfully slow declaration of Chris they had to take it for true. They had watched him every day, they had seen him, they had talked to him but never before had any of them suspected anything. Well, except for Wyatt maybe.

They recalled all the times they had insulted him, threatened him or just simply ignored him. They thought about how they treated him, how they were suspicious at and angry with him.

It took six demons, a good handful of torture, poison and the thought of being alone and about to die to loosen Chris´ tongue about his true identity. Sure he had told them that he was Chris Perry from the future. He just seemed to have forgotten to mention that he was a Halliwell; Wyatt´s little brother.

Paige thought she was going to be sick. The neurotic little whitelighter was her nephew. She remembered that she wanted to ask him for advice this morning. She almost had to smile at the irony. Wasn´t it up for the aunt to teach little nephews stuff? Her heart clenched as she watched the scene in front of her. How much more would this family have to suffer?

Phoebe was certain that she should feel anything, anything at all. But she felt empty; she felt nothing and everything at the same time. It left her with the uneasy feeling that she had not really got what had just been revealed. Chris was her nephew? How could this possibly be true? Yet, as she was beginning to feel sorrow and something akin to family ties she began to accept the truth.

Piper stood and thought. Somewhere in the back of her mind she realized that her cheeks were wet. She had to be crying. Her body was quicker to accept what she had heard than her head. As she watched unable to come to a clear thought and to take action she felt Leo´s hand reach out for her and touch her. The almost hurting grip on her arm did nothing to bring her back to reality as she felt horrible.

Leo was standing next to her. He was closer to her than any time before in the last few weeks. He had grown apart from Piper because of a certain whitelighter and his elder duties. Now as he witnessed how Chris testified to being his and Piper´s son he felt an enormous guilt trying to crush him down. He had been so distrustful and angry. He gripped Piper´s arm to steady himself as his emotions threatened to knock him over. At last Leo´s worry turned into anger against Jo.

He just wanted to intervene, to fight, to maim, as he heard Jo say:

"Very well Chris – should I ask your mom and dad then how they think about you?" Jo asked and grinned evilly. "Or should we ask your brother Wyatt?"

"Don`t talk about them!" Chris hissed and earned a kick to his ribcage in return.

Leo watched as his son was kicked hard in the ribcage as he tried to defend his family. He felt so awful for treating Chris like shit before... If only he had known...

Piper could not take it anymore. Her son ... by defending what was the most precious gift in his life he got kicked all the while lying on the ground like some fish out of the water.

"No, no! Not so rude Chris!" Jo scolded him. "They won`t help you! You mean nothing to them!"

"That is not true!" Piper thought immediately. She was beginning to feel very protective of Chris. As she watched and listened some more her resolve tightened and she could feel her foot take the first step forward.

"We`re here son! We do help you!" Leo protested in his mind. His anger was urging him forward to aid his son.

Wyatt looked over at his brother again: "I am here Chris! I`ll help you!"

Phoebe promised silently and vowed to Chris ready to help him: "Nephew of mine... you can count on me!"

Paige was indignant: "You damn liar! We are here for him!"

"They are my family!" Chris shouted and received another kick.

Piper cried again. "I am so proud of you! You love your family more than anything else on the world!" Her resolve to help him turned to anger.

"Oh son! If only I knew earlier!" Leo thought the guilt trying to eat him away. But his anger was burning.

"I can kill them! Then you won`t be born!" Jo announced.

"Try if you are brave enough!" Piper threatened him and finally her other foot followed the first one. She just had to get over there and get her little baby to safety. No one would mess with her.

"You won`t succeed!" Leo promised and took a step forward to keep up with Piper.

"Don´t you dare harm them!" Chris threatened.

"Shut up!" Jo hissed and pushed Chris´ head to the ground. With a nod he let the other demon step on Chris` leg again. The crunching sound was back and so was the sickening feeling.

This time, however, Chris did not scream. Instead he used his last strength to attack Jo one last desperate time...

"Chris no!" Leo screamed in his mind. "You could kill yourself if you use up all of your power!" He took to a run towards his son.

Piper exploded. Something in her flipped a switch and she rushed forward in frenzy. She threw up her arms and blew up the demon that had stepped on Chris leg again. She was determined to save her son and looked like a fury. She did not waste a second thought on why she had taken so damn long to rush forward and end this. She had only a single goal in mind: save Chris.

Leo ran alongside her but then decided better of it and orbed over to Chris. He rematerialized next to his fallen son who was now free of the demon that had trampled on his broken leg. He did not care about the demon that was gripping Chris´ wrist because he knew Piper would make short shrift of it.

Leo got in front of Chris who struggled to stay upright as he used his hands to release his telekinesis. Before he could unleash his last surge of magical power though Leo grabbed his hands to prevent him from an attack. Leo had to use more strength than he had anticipated and from the looks of it had managed to hurt Chris.

As pain filled eyes with deadly intent turned towards him Leo had to gulp down a lump in his throat. For a few agonizing seconds Leo was not sure if Chris was going to recognize him or if he just lost his son to madness. A violent tug on his hands told him that Chris was indeed not recognizing him but rather trying to break free.

Without minding his son´s injuries Leo kept his firm grip on his boy´s hands.

Wyatt had orbed after his daddy and as soon as he rematerialized next to him he put up his shield. A blue bubble of about 2 m Diameter appeared around them and protected his daddy and brother.

Paige and Phoebe came out of their stupor shortly after the parents. They attacked the other demons around. Phoebe rushed over to one and kicked him repeatedly. She was running on rage, her own and that which she felt through her emphasis power of Leo, Piper and Paige. Paige threw a variety of vanquishing potions at the other demon while orbing back energy balls that were thrown at her. Together with Phoebe they made short shrift of the two demons.

DAD? What are you doing here? Chris thought he recognized the face in front of him. The person who was currently restraining his hands as if his life depended on it looked just like Leo. Chris´ tried to break free and to clear his vision. He blinked several times.

"Easy Chris," Leo spoke softly as he gripped Chris´ hands tighter. He sensed the renewed struggle of Chris, "I am not here to harm you, Chris. Do not use up your last strength." "Please Chris listen to me!"

Leo hoped that the blinking of his eyes meant that his words were getting through to Chris. He did not like having to harm him in order to save him more pain later.

How much did he overhear?

Chris was not sure but his eyes told him that Leo had replaced the demons and was now standing over him. Was he here to harm him? Was he here to punish him?

"I don`t understand," Chris mumbled confused. His last energy spent on a feeble attempt to escape Leo Chris resigned himself to his fate and let his arms go limb. He let his head hung in shame as he stared at the ground and waited for Leo to slap him.

"Shh. Do not talk," Leo soothed Chris as he slowly let go of Chris´ wrists, "We will handle this!" "Please Chris obey" He was relieved that Chris had ceased to struggle.

Oh no... He knows... He is sounding like he does not want to hit me, he is actually sound like he cares about me...

"But," Chris began to protest and to test his luck. He even dared lift his head and look up at Leo.

I can`t believe it!

"No, Chris! You stay still here!" Leo demanded as he threw up his arms in desperation. "Sorry for my harsh tone"

Chris saw the movement of the arms and flinched assuming he was going to be punished for talking back. As he obeyed to stay still and did not speak he was surprised to feel no hit.

Leo had witnessed how his son had flinched as he had only thrown up his arms. He did not like to think about what would make Chris react in this way but he felt compelled to reassure the frightened and hurt boy from the future.

"Chris?" Leo sighed as he crouched down next to him. He added in a gentle tone, "Do not be afraid, son."

"Oh Chris, your daddy is here! And mommy and brother Wyatt... Oh and not to forget your aunts!" Jo taunted Chris.

"Yes and we are going to kick your ass!" Piper exclaimed as she stood in front of him. "Do not worry Chris mommy is here!"

Mom? Chris´ mind finally realized that he was in the past. He had just barely escaped demon clutches and was now in the middle of a battle field with the past versions of his family who just happened to be there when he, tired, sick and hurt as he was, confessed to being a Halliwell. Seriously why was the whole universe against him? He just wanted to rid the world of a maniac called Wyatt Halliwell.

"Huh? Excuse me? What did you say?" Jo asked innocently.

"I ... said... you ... are... DEAD!" Piper repeated and blew JO up with a power surge that she got as she took another look at her battered and bruised boy. But as expected he was not vanquished. "You are going to die here one way or another!"

"Little witch! You may be one of the Charmed Ones but you can`t kill me with that power!" Jo laughed as he backed further away from Chris and Leo and stood up, "And you can`t stay all the time behind your son`s shield either!"

"I agree to that but WE can kill you!" Piper replied with determination. "Just watch!"

Mom! Be careful please!

"Piper!" Chris shouted behind a small coughing fit, "You have to kill Mike first!" He pointed to a demon that stood a good few paces away.

Piper flinched as she heard him call her Piper instead of mom. "But why should he?"

"Chris! No talking!" Leo scolded him again and added softly: "We can handle this!"

Dad are you serious?

"Leo, no!" Chris insisted and tried to get himself into a sitting position and to get his hands free, "I have to help her!"

Leo pushed Chris softly but firmly back down with one hand and used his other to grip Chris´ wrists again. He held him down and looked him deep in the eyes.

"Even if I have to use violence to keep you here you will stay! Let us take this over!" he was sounding harsh but he had to get Chris to agree.

"Leo!" Chris tried again but with less force.

"Do I need to gag you?" Leo threatened and let his eyes shortly move towards his belt and back to Chris.

Chris was shocked and fell silent. He closed his eyes in defeat and horror.

"Listen Chris... it was not meant this harsh. Really I`m sorry," Leo quickly apologized as he felt the small shudder run through his body, saw that Chris closed his eyes and saw the slightest contortion of pain in his son´s features.

Chris turned his head away form his father and pressed his eyes close together to ride through the pain the small shudder had caused.

That can`t be true... not true... this is not true!

"It seems that you are helpless!" Jo announced as Piper had stopped blowing him up after the 100th time.

"Maybe, but now you`re dead!" Piper retorted. "Thank God that this tactic worked!"

"Yeah is that so?" JO replied at ease, "Why?"

"Because of this little bottle here!" Paige announced as Jo could watch Phoebe throwing another bottle at Mike who burst into flames.

"Wait!" Jo shouted but Paige already threw two more bottles at him.

"NO!" Jo screamed in agony as he was engulfed in hot red flames and vanished.

Wyatt lowered his shield and his aunts ran over to them.

"Good timing Paige!" Phoebe praised her sister and dusted off some blood of the demon she had kicked until he had bled.

"Yeah thanks to Piper she distracted the guy long enough for us to come behind him..." Paige replied but stopped short as she watched the scene before her.

Piper and Leo were by their son`s side.

Chris breathing was labored and his eyes were closed as he was turned away from Leo.

"Chris?" Piper asked tentatively. "Hey are you alive? How are you? I love you... I`m sorry... sweetie you`re my boy..."

"What is it?" Chris replied softly and corrected his response quickly by a soft, "Err...thanks for rescuing me"

Piper had tears in her eyes as she heard his words. She did not dare reach out and touch him yet. "Chris! You`re my son! I would do it again in a heartbeat!"

"Oh Chris... we bring you home," she declared with determination. "I won`t be cruel to you again!"

Home? So she knows, too. I am screwed.

"Cwis?" Wyatt asked afraid. "You don`t look too good brother!"

"Wy... I`m fine...," Chris replied, opened his eyes and turned his head to look at his brother. Please do not worry... I don`t want to be the reason why you turn...

"Chris! Cut the crap you look like hell!" Piper protested and was back to feeling angry. "You`re not fine!"

She is really worried about me... She only talks like that when she is very worried... Oh mom... I miss you so much...

"Leo, heal him" Piper ordered her ex-husband. "Then I have to have a serious talking with him..."

"Chris do you mind?" Leo asked carefully. As he waited for his son´s reaction. After last time Leo would make sure to warn Chris first. "How will he react?"

What the...? Dad? What`s the matter with you?

"Chris?" Leo tried again sensing that something was upsetting Chris. "Oh no..."

"It won`t help anyway...," Chris muttered and then sighed. He kept looking at Wyatt effectively blocking out Leo´s and Piper´s worried gazes. "Your powers are blocked..."

"What did you say?" Leo inquired not wanting to frighten Chris and also wanting to respect his wishes. "Chris, talk to me please!"

"I meant, um, yes, you can heal me," Chris whispered and looked away. He let his head sink to the ground and closed his eyes in defeat. It was easier for him to figure it out on his own than for Chris to have to tell them. He lay there waiting for the inevitable.

I don`t want to see their faces when it doesn`t work...

Leo held his hands over Chris` leg and waited in anticipation for the familiar golden light to appear.

But nothing happened, nothing at all. No light appeared, no bone was healed. They could only hear Chris breathing. "What`s wrong?"

"Why is it not working?" Piper asked worriedly. "This can`t be!"

"Daddy?" Wyatt whispered. "What`s the matter?"

"I don`t know," Leo admitted terrified; "Something is blocking my powers."

Silence was the only thing that greeted Leo. Chris tried to suppress a shudder as he imagined what their faces must look like. This was exactly why he did not want to face them when they learned about the truth.

I told you...

TBC...

YEAH another update!

Tell me what you think if you read this. I love to hear what you think!

Maybe there is an update soon... Who knows but I was in a good mood and look a lot of pages are written...

A/N: I tried to improve this chapter – fixed some typos and grammar mistakes, added some descriptions. I hope you approve of it!

Thanks for your feedback