......::::::::::::......
Paige and Phoebe were still in the attic. They were both looking rather confused. Neither of them knew what to think of Chris, and, more importantly, Piper and Leo.
It was Paige who spoke first: "I think we'd better get the crystals for the cage. And a scrying crystal..."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, Richard! But what do you mean scrying crystal? He can't orb, can he?"
"No, but he does have a car, you know", said Paige moving over to the cupboard in which they kept their ingredients and other magical stuff. She got out several crystals and one attached to a sort of necklace; the scrying crystal. "Map?"
"Yeah, see, you might wanna let me do it, because of me being an empath and all?" said Phoebe hesitantly, taking a step in Paige's direction and extending her hand.
"You're right. I kinda forgot that I'm not the only one tryin' to help him..." Paige looked rather sad at these words and instead of taking the scrying crystal, Phoebe put her arm around Paige and pulled her into a hug. "Honey, he's going to be OK, just fine, the both of you. I can feel it."
"I don't believe I've seen you in a premonition, lady, but what the hey, go ahead", said Paige, still looking sad but heartened at her sister's embrace. She gave Phoebe the ring that Richard had bought her at their one- month-together anniversary. Phoebe opened her hand and as soon as the ring touched her hand, she was drawn into a premonition.
Richard was standing in the attic, right next to the cupboard Paige had just gotten the crystals out of and he was looking at two figures talking and hugging. They didn't seem to be able to see him and a malicious grin spread over his face as he watched the red-haired one sniff a little and giving the other the ring...
Phoebe opened her eyes again, only to find that Paige was looking at her, thoroughly concerned and Richard was nowhere to be seen. She drew a deep breath and called out: "Leo! Chris! We need you, pronto!"
......::::::::::::......
Chris was still on the floor when he regained his consciousness. Piper was still towering over him and looked supremely unconcerned. The minute he opened his eyes, she started to preach about trust and loyalty.
"...And I don't care what you have to say about the future. YOU COULD HAVE TOLD US! I would have believed and it would have made thing so much easier." Like this she went on for minutes, but they seemed like ages to Chris. He was still lying on the floor, closing his eyes every now and then. He remembered what he had thought of in the cool darkness before and felt desperate. This wasn't exactly the way to get love, from either Piper ór Leo. But, yes, finally Piper seemed to get to an end in her preach.
"Anything else?" said Chris coolly, trying to sound as unconcerned as Piper had been, but not quite succeeding. He heard his own voice tremble and break and viciously scolded himself for it.
Yet, it seemed just this revelation of weakness combined with grief that made Piper bend over to him. She brushed his hairs out of his eyes and her lips touched his forehead in a way that told him he was her son now.
"Yes...I love you."
......::::::::::::......
Paige was screaming out loud. Richard had just hit her in the back with a fire ball, but it had only hit her partially. Now she was on the ground. Phoebe was looking on concerned and wondered what she could do. She had no active powers. A spell?
"I wouldn't try a spell if I were you", said Richard in a cool voice. He looked supremely powerful. Phoebe wondered what had turned him to face his problems with magic. And win, obviously... But how in heaven's name could he know what she was thinking? Luckily, Chris and Leo came orbing in, Piper in between them.
"Whatsa matter, Pheebs?" said Piper, looking around and spotting Richard.
"Oh! Uch!" she shouted as she, too, was hit by a fire ball. Chris took one step forward, but was telekinetically pushed backwards. He looked utterly confused and tried again. You could see something was pushing him back, but he wouldn't move. It was a silent battle between two powers. The only question was who would win...
"Hey", shouted Chris, "Don't you guys think it's time you did something?" Suddenly, he fell over. Obviously because Richard had stopped pushing him back. Richard moved forward and knelt next to Paige. He put his hand on her back and she moved gingerly. Richard looked up and for a second, Chris could see the fire stir in his eyes. Then, Richard orbed out.
Confusion all around...
"I thought Richard couldn't orb?" said Chris, being the first one to speak.
"So did I", said Phoebe, "but he can tap into our powers in some way. See, just tick it away. Orbing, that's Chris, Leo and Paige's. Telekinetic power, that's Chris', the fire balls are Piper's and he had empath powers."
"I didn't see that?" said Leo, wondering.
"You came in too late", said Phoebe,"but never mind that. We need to focus on getting Paige back. Scrying crystal, anyone?"
"Wait!" said Piper. "If he can tap into our powers, he must have immense power, right? But what if- no listen to me, Phoebe! What if he doesn't really have it under control? What if Paige was driving him mad, as a powerful being? She's around him all the time, but he loves her so much he doesn't tell her and in the end he can't control himself any longer!"
"You know, I would be surprised if you turned out to be right, Piper", said Leo. "Good thinking. Now we need to start scrying, Pheebs, you do that. Chris, you collect the crystals for the cage. I'll go and get some, eh, stuff from downstairs, OK?"
Everybody nodded in agreement, except for Piper.
"Hey, what about me? Leo?" But Leo was already gone. Piper sighed unhappily and sat down on the chintz chair standing in the corner of the attic. She looked extremely worried and unhappy.
......::::::::::::......
The minute Leo arrived downstairs, he was hit by the Elder powers he had gained by becoming one and thrown against the wall. Meaning Richard was somewhere here, no doubt hiding. He looked around and saw Richard's foot around the corner. Effortlessly he pulled Richard out from his hideout. He lifted him into the air and paralyzed him before Richard could do anything.
"What the-"shouted Richard. "You're not supposed to have these powers! You can't beat me, because I should have those powers too. What are you doing, what are you-"
"Surprise!" said Leo. "We Elders might not strike you as powerful, but we have some...tricks." He moved closer to Richard, who was still hanging in mid- air. Richard choked as Leo made a fist.
"Ha...ha..." said Leo, in a soft but defiant tone. Richard shot him one very angry look.
"So...where's Paige?" asked Leo, fearing he might not be able to hold Richard there much longer. He might have powers, but not more than was necessary in protecting his charges. This time it was Richard's turn to laugh. And laugh he did. He laughed so hard, he choked and stopped laughing at once. When he spoke, he was rather hoarse.
"You won't find her. I have got the Charmed Ones' powers and I made damn sure they're not gonna get her." said Richard in a tough tone Leo had never heard before. Nevertheless, he thought it was time for action. With his last powers he telekinetically summoned whatever else was around the corner. The only thing that came flying around it was the end table Grams had left them. Disappointed, Leo called out loud to the girls and Chris.
They came orbing in at once. Chris saw what had happened at once and relieved his father by moving over and putting three crystals down. Leo dropped Richard, after which he fainted and before Paige's hubby could move again, Chris put down the fourth.
"Finally", said Leo, exhausted from the effort, "I thought I was going to crack. I couldn't hold him there much longer."
"We need to scry for Paige", said Chris, not wasting time apologizing. "Phoebe?"
"Yes", said Phoebe,"I'm on it. We need her back to find out what happened to Richard. I don't him much. Do you, Piper?"
Piper only looked sad and a tiny little bit angry. Chris walked over to her.
"What's the matter, Piper?" he asked, but she didn't answer.
"Leave me alone, please? I'm fine, OK?" she said, but Chris didn't quite believe her. Everyone else was too busy scrying and trying to get Richard awake again. He pushed Piper on the couch and asked her again what was wrong.
"Please..." said Piper, on the verge of tears. "Don't leave me, too..."
broken...
broken heart
broken mind
silence...
silent tears
silent screams
nothing...
only foolish hope
stupid wishes and fake dreams
i'm messed up
Chris understood her. He put his arms around her and pulled her into a hug, hoping she would feel it. Hoping she would feel he understood it and felt exactly the same.
Paige and Phoebe were still in the attic. They were both looking rather confused. Neither of them knew what to think of Chris, and, more importantly, Piper and Leo.
It was Paige who spoke first: "I think we'd better get the crystals for the cage. And a scrying crystal..."
"Huh? Oh, yeah, Richard! But what do you mean scrying crystal? He can't orb, can he?"
"No, but he does have a car, you know", said Paige moving over to the cupboard in which they kept their ingredients and other magical stuff. She got out several crystals and one attached to a sort of necklace; the scrying crystal. "Map?"
"Yeah, see, you might wanna let me do it, because of me being an empath and all?" said Phoebe hesitantly, taking a step in Paige's direction and extending her hand.
"You're right. I kinda forgot that I'm not the only one tryin' to help him..." Paige looked rather sad at these words and instead of taking the scrying crystal, Phoebe put her arm around Paige and pulled her into a hug. "Honey, he's going to be OK, just fine, the both of you. I can feel it."
"I don't believe I've seen you in a premonition, lady, but what the hey, go ahead", said Paige, still looking sad but heartened at her sister's embrace. She gave Phoebe the ring that Richard had bought her at their one- month-together anniversary. Phoebe opened her hand and as soon as the ring touched her hand, she was drawn into a premonition.
Richard was standing in the attic, right next to the cupboard Paige had just gotten the crystals out of and he was looking at two figures talking and hugging. They didn't seem to be able to see him and a malicious grin spread over his face as he watched the red-haired one sniff a little and giving the other the ring...
Phoebe opened her eyes again, only to find that Paige was looking at her, thoroughly concerned and Richard was nowhere to be seen. She drew a deep breath and called out: "Leo! Chris! We need you, pronto!"
......::::::::::::......
Chris was still on the floor when he regained his consciousness. Piper was still towering over him and looked supremely unconcerned. The minute he opened his eyes, she started to preach about trust and loyalty.
"...And I don't care what you have to say about the future. YOU COULD HAVE TOLD US! I would have believed and it would have made thing so much easier." Like this she went on for minutes, but they seemed like ages to Chris. He was still lying on the floor, closing his eyes every now and then. He remembered what he had thought of in the cool darkness before and felt desperate. This wasn't exactly the way to get love, from either Piper ór Leo. But, yes, finally Piper seemed to get to an end in her preach.
"Anything else?" said Chris coolly, trying to sound as unconcerned as Piper had been, but not quite succeeding. He heard his own voice tremble and break and viciously scolded himself for it.
Yet, it seemed just this revelation of weakness combined with grief that made Piper bend over to him. She brushed his hairs out of his eyes and her lips touched his forehead in a way that told him he was her son now.
"Yes...I love you."
......::::::::::::......
Paige was screaming out loud. Richard had just hit her in the back with a fire ball, but it had only hit her partially. Now she was on the ground. Phoebe was looking on concerned and wondered what she could do. She had no active powers. A spell?
"I wouldn't try a spell if I were you", said Richard in a cool voice. He looked supremely powerful. Phoebe wondered what had turned him to face his problems with magic. And win, obviously... But how in heaven's name could he know what she was thinking? Luckily, Chris and Leo came orbing in, Piper in between them.
"Whatsa matter, Pheebs?" said Piper, looking around and spotting Richard.
"Oh! Uch!" she shouted as she, too, was hit by a fire ball. Chris took one step forward, but was telekinetically pushed backwards. He looked utterly confused and tried again. You could see something was pushing him back, but he wouldn't move. It was a silent battle between two powers. The only question was who would win...
"Hey", shouted Chris, "Don't you guys think it's time you did something?" Suddenly, he fell over. Obviously because Richard had stopped pushing him back. Richard moved forward and knelt next to Paige. He put his hand on her back and she moved gingerly. Richard looked up and for a second, Chris could see the fire stir in his eyes. Then, Richard orbed out.
Confusion all around...
"I thought Richard couldn't orb?" said Chris, being the first one to speak.
"So did I", said Phoebe, "but he can tap into our powers in some way. See, just tick it away. Orbing, that's Chris, Leo and Paige's. Telekinetic power, that's Chris', the fire balls are Piper's and he had empath powers."
"I didn't see that?" said Leo, wondering.
"You came in too late", said Phoebe,"but never mind that. We need to focus on getting Paige back. Scrying crystal, anyone?"
"Wait!" said Piper. "If he can tap into our powers, he must have immense power, right? But what if- no listen to me, Phoebe! What if he doesn't really have it under control? What if Paige was driving him mad, as a powerful being? She's around him all the time, but he loves her so much he doesn't tell her and in the end he can't control himself any longer!"
"You know, I would be surprised if you turned out to be right, Piper", said Leo. "Good thinking. Now we need to start scrying, Pheebs, you do that. Chris, you collect the crystals for the cage. I'll go and get some, eh, stuff from downstairs, OK?"
Everybody nodded in agreement, except for Piper.
"Hey, what about me? Leo?" But Leo was already gone. Piper sighed unhappily and sat down on the chintz chair standing in the corner of the attic. She looked extremely worried and unhappy.
......::::::::::::......
The minute Leo arrived downstairs, he was hit by the Elder powers he had gained by becoming one and thrown against the wall. Meaning Richard was somewhere here, no doubt hiding. He looked around and saw Richard's foot around the corner. Effortlessly he pulled Richard out from his hideout. He lifted him into the air and paralyzed him before Richard could do anything.
"What the-"shouted Richard. "You're not supposed to have these powers! You can't beat me, because I should have those powers too. What are you doing, what are you-"
"Surprise!" said Leo. "We Elders might not strike you as powerful, but we have some...tricks." He moved closer to Richard, who was still hanging in mid- air. Richard choked as Leo made a fist.
"Ha...ha..." said Leo, in a soft but defiant tone. Richard shot him one very angry look.
"So...where's Paige?" asked Leo, fearing he might not be able to hold Richard there much longer. He might have powers, but not more than was necessary in protecting his charges. This time it was Richard's turn to laugh. And laugh he did. He laughed so hard, he choked and stopped laughing at once. When he spoke, he was rather hoarse.
"You won't find her. I have got the Charmed Ones' powers and I made damn sure they're not gonna get her." said Richard in a tough tone Leo had never heard before. Nevertheless, he thought it was time for action. With his last powers he telekinetically summoned whatever else was around the corner. The only thing that came flying around it was the end table Grams had left them. Disappointed, Leo called out loud to the girls and Chris.
They came orbing in at once. Chris saw what had happened at once and relieved his father by moving over and putting three crystals down. Leo dropped Richard, after which he fainted and before Paige's hubby could move again, Chris put down the fourth.
"Finally", said Leo, exhausted from the effort, "I thought I was going to crack. I couldn't hold him there much longer."
"We need to scry for Paige", said Chris, not wasting time apologizing. "Phoebe?"
"Yes", said Phoebe,"I'm on it. We need her back to find out what happened to Richard. I don't him much. Do you, Piper?"
Piper only looked sad and a tiny little bit angry. Chris walked over to her.
"What's the matter, Piper?" he asked, but she didn't answer.
"Leave me alone, please? I'm fine, OK?" she said, but Chris didn't quite believe her. Everyone else was too busy scrying and trying to get Richard awake again. He pushed Piper on the couch and asked her again what was wrong.
"Please..." said Piper, on the verge of tears. "Don't leave me, too..."
broken...
broken heart
broken mind
silence...
silent tears
silent screams
nothing...
only foolish hope
stupid wishes and fake dreams
i'm messed up
Chris understood her. He put his arms around her and pulled her into a hug, hoping she would feel it. Hoping she would feel he understood it and felt exactly the same.