A/N: Thanks again for the reviews! And this is a shameless plug, but if you're interested in reading more about Chris, check out my new fic Chances! It's a One-shot Revelation fic centered around Chris and Leo. Enjoy!

Chapter 11

"Leo! I'm surprised to see you here. I didn't think I'd be in your company until the Elder's meeting."

Leo smiled at the calm, wizened voice of his fellow Elder and mentor. "Hello, Gideon."

The raven-haired man smiled, opening his arms in a welcoming gesture. Then he held his hand out to Leo, who shook it. "Good to see you."

"You, too," Leo replied, but he was more sober now, remembering his purpose. "I'm actually glad I caught you here; I have a few questions I need to ask."

Gideon's expression turned serious, and he folded his hands behind his back. "Do these questions have anything to do with the Charmed Ones?"

Leo frowned, recognizing the hint of disapproval in Gideon's tone. "Yes," he said, a touch defiantly. "Chris was taken hostage not too long ago by a pair of demons—they caught Piper, as well. We barely managed save them."

"And you went along on this… rescue mission, I presume?" Gideon asked, his disapproval sharper and angrier now.

"Yes, of course."

Gideon sighed deeply , closing his eyes and shaking his head. When he opened them again, he looked resigned. "Leo, you know you shouldn't be doing this. You shouldn't even be with them now."

Anger immediately tightened Leo's jaw. "We've had this discussion before, Gideon. I have to protect my family. Nothing is more important."

"The Elders are important; your job is important!" Gideon replied, and he was the closest Leo had ever heard him come to yelling. "Are you aware of the risk you take when you do things like this? Not only for yourself, but for your fellow Elders?"

"My son needs me. And my wife—" Leo broke off abruptly, realizing his mistake. Gideon nodded slowly, catching it as well.

"This is your problem, Leo," Gideon said, voice gentler now. "You're still thinking of them as your family. But Piper isn't yours to look after anymore, and you're doing her a disservice, being around now when you won't be able to later."

Leo ran his hand over his eyes, growing weary of this conversation. "I know, but I can't abandon them, not when they still need me. I was their Whitelighter from the beginning, and I'll always want to take care of them. And Wyatt…."

"You need to curb that desire. Otherwise it will only be harder in the end, when you have to go back. And you will have to go back, Leo."

Gideon's tone was kind enough, but there was a hint of a threat in it, and Leo fought the urge to rebel. Instead he said, "This isn't what I came to discuss."

Gideon waved his hand in a wide, sweeping motion, acquiescent again. "Very well then, carry on."

Leo nodded and described all that they knew about the demon; everything he'd heard from Chris and Piper. Gideon listened intently, eyes never wavering from Leo's face. Once Leo had finished depicting the battle that had taken place in the Underworld—during which Gideon obviously had to restrain himself from scolding Leo again—Gideon stayed quiet for a long time, apparently lost in thought.

"Well?" Leo asked, battling to stay polite despite his impatience. "Have you ever heard of anything like that?"

"No," Gideon said slowly, gaze still focused away from Leo's face. He walked slowly over to the numerous bookshelves, hands brushing lightly from spine to spine. He stopped and removed an old but well-cared-for leather book. He continued this process until he had four books in all; then he carried them back to Leo.

"Here," he said, dropping the lot carefully into Leo's arms. "You can search through these; you might find what you're looking for."

"But wouldn't you know who the demon was if it was in one of these books?" Leo asked, failing to disguise the disappointment that coursed through him. Gideon smiled wryly.

"I'm an Elder, Leo, but I don't know everything. And I certainly don't have this entire library memorized. Look through those, and if you find nothing, come back. I'll give you more." Gideon paused for a moment, eyes resting on Leo in an appraising way. "I will be happy to aid you any way I can, as long as you promise me that this is what you will do— research. No battles with demons, no risks. I need you to stay safe, Leo."

Leo stayed silent for a moment, wondering if he could make that kind of promise. Then he nodded reluctantly and said, "I'll try."

"But alas, trying is not doing," Gideon replied, eyeing Leo shrewdly. "I believe I'm making a mistake, letting you stay here. But I will continue to do so until Wyatt is safe; after that, Leo, you will need to return to your post."

"I know," Leo said tightly, hands contracting around his pile of books. "Believe me, I know. Thank you, Gideon."

And with that he orbed out, leaving Gideon standing alone in the center of the room. After a few minutes, Gideon walked over to his wooden desk and waved his hand, and an old, tarnished key materialized from thin air. Taking the key, Gideon carefully opened the bottom drawer of the desk and shifted around the books inside. Satisfied that they were all present and accounted for, he locked the drawer again and sent the key away.

After he was finished, he picked up a black crystal that rested on the edge of his desk, skulking behind books and papers and writing utensils. He held the smooth stone to his lips and said, "They're searching for you now. I'll be down shortly. We have much to discuss."


"These are actually pretty cool. Nothing like the Book of Shadows, but impressive," Piper commented as she flipped through one of Chris's books. They were odd, written almost like textbooks, and they included information on hundreds of demons. Some Piper had heard of and even vanquished, and others she'd never seen.

"The Book's always been the best resource," Chris said absently, not looking up from the sketchpad he was currently poring over.

Piper frowned. "Have you used it? In the future, I mean?"

"Always out for information, aren't you?" He muttered, and he did look up then. He obviously was not fooled by the forced casualness of her question. "Don't read into everything I say. Almost everyone knows that the Book of Shadows is one of the greatest Wiccan records in the world. You said it yourself that demons are always after it for that reason."

She nodded grudgingly, feeling a little sheepish now. "True."

She turned her attention back to Chris's books, flipping to the next page. More illustrations and detailed descriptions. A picture caught her eye and she studied it. It didn't look exactly like Jack when he was fully transformed, but the demon in the illustration was distinctly human-esque, and it had a pair of sharp, twisted spikes protruding from its head. Perhaps that was how the demon looked when he wasn't furious.

"Could this be him?" She asked, and Chris jerked his head up at once. With a flick of his wrist—she thought about scolding him for using his powers so carelessly—he brought the book over to him. He read intently for a moment and then laughed, and she looked at him confusedly.

"Good guess, but try reading the description next time. This particular demon is known as the 'Flower-Killer'. Apparently its power is to sap the energy from any surrounding plant life."

She flushed, both from embarrassment at her oversight and anger that he was being so patronizing. Did the fact that she was a Charmed One mean absolutely nothing to him?

He must have realized her look, because he added, "That's not to say it isn't a threat. Apparently this thing created the Sahara desert."

"Oh, just give the book back," she snapped, agitation darkening her tone. "What are you doing, anyway? You were supposed to be helping me--actually, I was supposed to be helping you."

He rolled his eyes and walked over to where she sat on the couch, dropping the old volume back into her lap. Then he threw the sketchpad down on top of it, and she nearly gasped at the image that met her there. Drawn in pencil and crudely done, it was still incredibly frightening. A giant, rough-skinned monster with pointed horns sprouting from its forehead and a series of smaller one making up the rest of its face. His eyes were the worst, though, deep, bottomless and ineffably evil.

"You drew this?" She asked, unable to hide her shock. She hadn't ever really thought about Chris having a hobby or a talent. She'd honestly never even thought of him doing anything remotely normal before. It surprised her.

He nodded. "It's basic, I know, but it can give you some idea of the demon side of him. I can work on what he looks like when he's not angry, too, if it'll help." All of this was said in a self-deprecating, matter-of-fact way.

"Yeah, sure. This is good—really good," she smiled at him, and after a moment he smiled uncertainly back. "It's too bad we don't have someone like you around when we're adding things to the book. Our entries always stay pictureless because none of us can draw."

He shot her a peculiar look then, one she couldn't all-together read. Then he glanced away, and the moment was broken. "I'll get to work on it, then. Use that one to help you look."

Piper nodded and pulled the paper free of the sketchpad, making sure not to rip the drawing. Chris gave her a sideways look, as if surprised by her caution, and then he shrugged and snatched the sketchpad away again. They settled into their previous silence, the only sounds the scratching of pencil against paper and the quiet flapping of turning pages.

An interruption came in the form of Leo, who orbed in just as Piper finished another section of the book. She noticed his heavy load and hurried to help him, grumbling as she went, "Great, more to read."

"Gideon thinks these will help," Leo explained, setting three books on the table while Piper idly began to flip through the forth. "If they don't, he'll look around for more."

The volumes were ancient, leather-bound and slightly smelly. Piper wrinkled her nose at the thought of working with them. Leo caught her disgusted expression and laughed.

"Good job," Chris commented from his seat, eyes still focused downwards. "Having the library will be a huge asset. There's no way the demon's not in at least one of those books, even if he's been avoiding attention."

"Yes, but we're not sure which one," Piper said, sour again. She set the heavy, unfamiliar tome on the table, wishing the Book of Shadows had been good enough. She felt strangely let down upon realizing that the Book, which had gotten them through so much over the past few years, was useless in this situation. They would have to add an entry, she thought decisively, once they figured out just who this demon was. Whether they vanquished him or not, it would be a certain kind of vindication to record him there.

"I'll help you," Leo volunteered, smiling down at her in a fond, indulgent way. Without thinking, she smiled back.

"Great," she said, feeling relieved. "This is what we're looking for," she added, showing him Chris's sketch. He took it and released a low whistle. "Along with Crusk, who you've already seen."

"Did you draw this, Chris?" Leo asked easily, already knowing that Piper had no talent for such a thing. He took his time, scanning over every detail of the image.

Chris looked up from his second drawing, and after a moment he nodded.

"Nice job," Leo complimented, smiling at him. Chris looked even more wrong-footed than before, and Piper bit back a laugh.

"Thanks," Chris said finally, and then looked away again. He did that a lot, she noticed.

"You're welcome," Leo said, still sounding completely at ease. Piper wondered whether the two of them had talked and worked things out, or if Leo was still trying to gain trust from the unyielding Chris. From the expression on Chris' face, she was guessing the latter.

"I used to draw too, you know," Leo continued, as if he didn't notice that he was in a one-sided conversation with the world's most stubborn Witchlighter. Piper shot him a startled glance.

"I didn't know that," she answered. She knew Chris wasn't going to help this conversation along any and she was genuinely curious.

"Yeah. It's been years," he said, his smile a little wistful now. "I used to really enjoy it, too."

"Maybe you should try again sometime," She said, reining in her urge to suggest that he and Chris do it together. They wouldn't, of course, but she would have enjoyed watching their reactions to her idea.

"Hey, guys? We have work to do, remember?" Chris had looked up again, and the expression on his face was one of pure annoyance.

Leo and Piper exchanged half-exasperated, half-guilty looks, and then they both turned their attention to finding the demons again.


"Do you have any idea what you've done?"

Asmodeus looked at the Elder, forcing his expression to stay placid even as his nose itched to wrinkle and his mouth to sneer. He was not angry yet, and therefore his façade was not difficult to hold onto. Even so, he could feel it crawling underneath his skin. "Yes. In fact, I'm incredibly aware of it, Gideon."

The Elder walked forward at a slow, unhurried pace, everything about him staid and proper. And yet anger sparkled bright and black in his eyes. "As I told you, they are looking for you. You know as well as I do that they won't quit. I've tried to distract them, give them a new problem to worry about, but they're not deterred. They know you are the biggest threat."

Asmodeus glared at the Elder, still fighting to keep the demon buried underneath the surface. One day he wouldn't have to hide his form—his true form. One day he would be free to walk in his own skin, even in the mortal world. One day he would claim all of it.

"I realize that," Asmodeus replied, with a flippant gesture of his hand. The situation with the Charmed Ones was, in truth, worrying. He'd thought deeply about the problem, and had come up with a solution of sorts. He wasn't altogether satisfied with it, but it would have to do. Everything had changed, after all.

Gideon stared at him, and even through the collected mask Asmodeus could see the disgust and disdain the Elder held for him. Asmodeus understood, for he loathed Gideon just as much. For a brief second, he let his hatred shine through. His eyes flashed red.

Then he pulled himself together again, laid the thin veneer of normalcy over his demonic self. "I've come up with a… suitable course of action."

"I should hope so," Gideon said, but he could not fully mask his relief. Although, that wasn't to say he believed Asmodeus so eagerly; distrust shined clearly in his eyes. "I agreed to let you take Chris, but I admit I believed you'd have a more stealthy approach than immediately alerting the Charmed Ones to his absense."

The idea that Gideon had allowed Asmodeus do anything had the demon knashing his teeth furiously. His attack on Piper Halliwell had been deeply strategic, a way to shake Christopher's resolve. Of course, Gideon didn't know of Asmodeus's plans, and he was firmly set on keeping it that way. "You're forgetting that I haven't done anything. Crusk attacked the Halliwells."

"Yes, your partner," Gideon wrinkled his nose in open revulsion. "That doesn't change the fact that Chris managed to escape from you, and that you took Piper Halliwell despite strict orders to leave the Charmed Ones alone."

The audacity of this pompous Elder! Asmodeus could kill him in a second, faster than the old fool could react. But he composed himself, thinking of his plans. "Mistakes were made, I admit. But I assure you, I've thought of a way to repair them."

Gideon nodded approvingly, and Asmodeus's temper flared again. "Crusk will be sacrificed, I assume?"

Asmodeus nodded. "I've decided to send him after the Charmed Ones. They'll defeat him, of course. All three are prepared for an attack and have probably already discovered a way to vanquish him. That will shift their focus, give them a feeling that they've begun to win."

"This is not a game to be won or lost," Gideon snapped, nostrils flaring now and arms waving in wide, angry gestures. "You know what's at stake here. A future with this child does not bode well for either side."

"I do realize that," Asmodeus replied, sneering slightly. "I obviously agreed to help you, didn't I? After the child dies, will I not become your scapegoat?"

Gideon looked stunned, and he unthinkingly took a step backwards. "I have no intention of—"

"You will double-cross me. Don't think I'm unaware of that," Asmodeus replied coldly. Then an evil grin twisted at his lips. "It is lucky for you that demons are more trustworthy than Elders."

Gideon's eyes narrowed, almost imperceptivity, but Asmodeus saw. So the Elder was expecting some form of treachery from Asmodeus. The demon grinned, glad to know that he had not partnered himself with a complete fool. Still, nothing Gideon did would change the course Asmodeus had set for the future. The Elder would not stop him.

"Once Crusk is disposed of, I suggest you disappear completely. If we can cover your trail sufficiently, they will eventually begin to work on a new means to save Wyatt. They certainly won't forget, but hopefully we can shift their concentration away from you."

It was sickening, the way the Elder was trying to protect him. All for Gideon's own means, of course, Asmodeus had no doubt about that. But still, this arrangement was unnatural, abhorrent. Good and evil were never meant to work together like this. It went against both beings' very natures.

One day, Asmodeus promised himself, one day the Elder will die, and I'll be the one to kill him.

"So we've reached an agreement, then?" Asmodeus said cordially, offering a sinister grin.

Gideon returned it, his smile sickeningly pure and heartfelt. "I believe we have."