Winter break!! And Christmas is soon! So await a Christmas-y chapter next!
Again, thank you to all reviewers and story-alerters. All I can ask is that these numbers increase...or no update, mwa-ha-ha .\/.
"Dammit Chris, carrying you isn't exactly my idea of fun you know?"
Darren paused abruptly and the dead-weight Chris was launched forward, almost hitting the ground.
"Whoa there partner! Don't go tripping all over the place now."
Darren set Chris on the ground gently, propping him against some rocks, frowning at the witchlighter's pale and feverish face. Making sure the disguise charm spell was back on, Darren reached a hand to Chris's forehead and placed it there softly, feeling the heat radiating from the skin.
Chris's eyes shot open at that exact moment.
Oh crap.
Chris felt himself coming back to wakefulness slowly. He was dimly aware of someone supporting him and then of almost falling flat on his face. A strong hand snaked itself around his arm (the uninjured one, thank heaven) and pulling him up before he could meet the ground. Someone propped him up on something hard and then there was a hand on his forehead.
Chris hated it when people touched him. Most especially when he was just waking up and vulnerable. And he had no idea just who had a hand on his head.
His green eyes popped open immediately, focusing on…Darren.
Just great.
"What happened?"
"Well…The demons attacked, you got knocked out cold and they're now after us. Nice little summary huh?"
"They're after us?"
"Yup. I'm guessing they don't like their prey orbing all over the place. I'm pretty sure they're searching for us as we speak. So we need to get up and go." Darren lied easily.
Chris glared at him and tried to stand. His head hurt like hell, his arm was on fire and he wobbled shakily on his legs.
"What're you looking at?" He bit out, looking at Darren, threatening him to call out his obvious weak state.
"We don't have all day." Darren responded, grabbing Chris's uninjured arm and tossing it over his shoulder. Chris was about to protest but kept quiet when Darren gave him a look.
"You know you're about my size?"
Darren grunted his response as they began to walk.
"That makes you short for your age."
Chris snickered when Darren demonstrated that he was pissed at the comment.
"What, no comeback?"
Thought so, Mr. Halner.
"I see you witches have found me. Took you long enough." The Replica Demon sneered at them.
"Well that's a first. Demons aren't usually so eager to get vanquished."
Paige grinned at Phoebe's comment.
"It truly is an honor to see I've garnered the attention of the Charmed Ones. Though I might be inclined to make the battle a bit more…" The Replica Demon divided himself right before their eyes, replicating himself into several more copies, "even."
"Bring it. We can handle all you've got."
"So, how do think we'll find our way out of here?"
"No idea."
"Oh, so you're making me walk around in circles?"
Actually, we both know the Underworld like the back of our hands so just shut up, Chris.
"Well, do you have a better idea?"
"Not really."
"Good. Then shut it."
"We'll just have to wait until the sisters vanquish the demon then. You sure the Greater Powers didn't mention any grave danger?"
"Positive."
Don't worry, Chris. Your mom will be all right. They're fighting him as we speak.
"Well then, I concede defeat."
The Replica Demon glared at them with a leering smile, backing away from the battlefield and the three sisters that now had him surrounded.
"Just remember I won't be the last to gain entrance into your beloved home."
Piper paused in her motion to say the Power of Three spell, narrowing her eyes.
"What do you mean?"
The demon smiled, looking beyond them into the shadows of the cavern.
"You'll see what I mean soon enough."
"Enough with the mind games. Let's do it Piper, we need to find Chris and Darren."
Phoebe nodded her approval and took her sister's hands as the spell spilled out of their mouths in a tone full of power.
"The Power of Three will set us free.
The Power of Three will set us free.
The Power of Three…"
A muffled screech reached Darren's and Chris's ears. Both young men turned to look at each other, surprise flying across both their faces.
"I guess we must have been closer than we thought."
"See? I wasn't leading you around in circles."
The Charmed Ones turned to look from the pile of ash to a new sound at one of the many entrances to the cave.
Piper raised her hands instantly, ready to blast away.
"Hold it, Piper, I'm sensing Chris."
Sure enough, Chris and Darren appeared seconds later, the neurotic whitelighter being supported by the newest addition to their team.
"Whoa. What happened to you two?"
"Long story." Darren muttered, then looking at them with a bright smile. "Demon gone?"
"Yup. He's over there. Course now he's a pile of ashes." Piper answered, walking forward with her sisters.
"Ooh, Chris you're bleeding." Paige said with a wince, gazing at Chris's head.
Chris rolled his eyes towards his arm, failing to see any signs of the crimson liquid. Knowing the action was the perfect moment to bring attention to Chris's hidden injury, Darren spoke quickly.
"You injured your arm too?"
Chris's head shot up, meeting the whitelighter's with great frustration and anger.
"Wait, Chris, you hurt your arm and you didn't tell us?"
"Can we discuss this some other time please? I probably have a concussion and I'm not in the mood for 20 Questions."
"Fine. But we are talking more about this young man."
Chris groaned but knew better than to argue with Piper. Damn you Darren!
"Hold it up Chris, I'm not playing."
"Does it look like I am?"
Darren huffed and lifted Chris's arm a bit higher, beginning to peel back the sleeve. Maybe I did put a little too much pressure before I knocked him out…
"Ow."
"Deal with it. You could have had me heal it sooner."
"I thought we already told you not to hide things like this." Paige interjected, crossing her arms and giving him a look.
"I'm sorry, okay? Now will you just let me be? I'm fine aren't I?"
"Well something could have happened." Piper stated, passing him a cup full of steaming liquid. "Drink this, it's warm and will help bring your fever down."
Chris took it thankfully, trying to overcome the feelings of love and pain that surged in his chest. His mom had always made this tea for him when he'd been hurt.
Phoebe scrutinized him then, sensing Chris's sudden affection.
Chris caught the looks and quickly battled the emotions down, letting out another 'ow' just for show. Darren finally succeeded in getting off the bandages and frowned deeply at the wound. Knowing the sisters would only berate Chris more if they saw it, he quickly set to healing it, unconsciously heaving a sigh of relief as the ugly lesion disappeared.
"Done."
"Well it's good to know both of you are all right. How did you avoid the demons?"
"Well…" Darren began. "We managed to avoid them by orbing all over the place. I'm glad you got rid of the Replica Demon when you did though. They might have found us otherwise."
"Power of Three never fails."
Chris flinched at the comment. What happens when there aren't three of you anymore?
"I don't like this at all Kumalo."
The Great Power that Be looked at Alyssa, lost for words.
"Whatever do you mean?"
"What happened in those caves was never supposed to. If Chris had woken up…" Alyssa turned away, unable to continue.
"I don't know what our future selves were thinking, sending Darren back to this time. Everything has just grown more complicated. My visions of what happens are unclear. Unclear and disturbing from what little I can sense."
Kumalo looked at her more closely, now at unease.
"What do you see?"
"I don't really know. Things are changing too fast. And I fear that more threats are rising. Threats against the Charmed Ones and their children."
Kumalo paled at the implications. The Charmed Ones were balance. The equalizers in the world of good and evil, providing equilibrium that the Greater Powers could not. Their children then, were just as important, representing the future of the continued balance. Without them…
"Without that balance, the future remains unchanged. And by coming to the past…I fear that Chris and Darren have opened a rift in time and space. A gate more easily accessible now by those who wish them and the Sisters harm."
"You fear demons from the future will try to come and stop them?"
"Not just any demons. The Demon who tormented Darren during his last years in the future is chief in my worries. But there is also the possibility…the possibility that Wyatt himself might attempt to come after his commander and his brother."
Kumalo set a reassuring hand on Alyssa's shoulder.
"We must inform the rest of the council."
Alyssa shook her head sadly.
"We are powerful, but not as powerful as the Twice-Blessed. If he discovers what his brother is doing…that his second in command is aiding us. I fear for both their lives. He might choose to send that demon I see in both their nightmares. And there is another danger I fear."
Alyssa paused, turning to look into Kumalo's eyes.
"Wyatt knows who and what Darren is. To learn that truth from him would be devastating to both. I'm afraid we have made the wrong choice, but now and in the future, of keeping Darren's bloodline from him."
"We have made no such mistake!" Keiran's voice boomed at the pair, startling both Greater Powers with his sudden apperance. "I hope you are not suggesting we go and tell the boy who his parents are?"
"Perhaps that is what is needed. He is already growing closer to Chris. There will be no sense in hiding it any longer. Not if there is the threat his identity will be revealed by others who will not know to be gentle and patient!"
"You know very well the utter disaster such a revelation would cause. Both to him and to Chris! Chris must never know."
Alyssa glared at him, turning to walk away. "He's a Halliwell. He deserves to know he has a-"
"Enough! No more of this talk! Do not trouble Darren with any hint of this. He has a mission to complete."
"Your heart has turned cold, Keiran."
"The Greater Good is at stake. There is no superior cause than that."
"Not even the lives of witches? Good witches that have served the cause of good for so long?"
Alyssa continued bitterly when Keiran offered no response.
"We truly do not deserve the Halliwell line."
Ouch! I should make a chapter where the Greater Powers battle it out! Anyways, next chapter will have some mention of Christmas as well as a little Q&A between Darren and Chris. Nice Wyatt will also make a heavy appearance, so stick around an drop me a review! (Or Evil, Future Wyatt will be sent after you! XD)
