Disclaimer: Who owns Charmed? I don't! I don't!
Author's note: Thanks for all the reviews so far, guys! It's a real confidence booster. Hope you enjoy the chapter; this was the one I enjoyed writing the most so far.
Chapter 5
Chris was breathing heavily by the time he got down to the first floor. His eyes were flashing and his blood was boiling. He started to pace. He was confused and conflicted; the room felt like it was spinning. He just couldn't seem to put his head around everything, so he felt somewhat comforted when all the confusion melted into a hot anger. Anger was at least something he knew, he could cope with anger.
And boy was he angry! He was angry at the Elders because they were so full of themselves, they wouldn't deign to help the Haliwells out. He was angry at Piper for bringing him back and then rejecting him. He was angry at Leo for not keeping his promise to fix all this. But most of all, he was angry at himself. Everyone kept saying this wasn't his fault, but deep down he knew it was. It had to be. If it wasn't then, he wouldn't have been so happy this had happened.
He had wanted the baby to have a fresh start, to live a better life than he had, but he had never wanted to die. He still didn't want to die. There had been no after life for him. No Great-Grams welcoming him to the spirit realm. There had been nothing. He had just ceased to exist. He didn't want to go back to that.
Chris could feel the tears threatening to come, and that pissed him off even more. He refused to let himself cry. He spied one of Wyatt's toys lying on the ground and picked it up. With an angry roar he hurled it across the room as hard as he could, knocking down one of the wicker chairs.
"Your mom's pretty fond of those chairs. I don't think she'd be too pleased if she came down and found them 'vanquished'." Leo said wryly. Chris spun around, his eyes on fire. He looked as though he were wishing he hadn't thrown the toy because now he was out of ammunition.
Leo took a step towards his son, but then stopped, sensing that Chris was likely to recoil from him when he was this angry. "Listen, Chris, we're all really confused right now about what's happened. Emotions are running high, but this ISN'T your fault. You have to believe that. "
Chris didn't answer; he just continued to glare at Leo. "You know we're all really glad that you're here, that you're ok, right?" Chris didn't say anything, but his eyes flickered. Leo knew he'd found the problem. "Chris, it's not that we'd rather have the baby than you. That's not it at all. I wish there was a way that we could have you both. Oh, God, Chris. You can't believe that we don't want you, but this isn't your time, it's the baby's. We can't just sit back and take away his future, your future."
Leo might as well have been talking to a wall. Chris was completely caught up in his own anger; there was no coming back now. "Gee, Leo was that supposed to be one of your famous pep talks, because it was really below standard." He said sarcastically. Leo looked hurt and reached out to put a hand on Chris's shoulder.
Chris took a step back. He didn't want Leo near him right now. He needed to be alone. He needed to think, to figure all this out. He desperately needed to clear his head and figure out if what Leo was saying had really hurt him or if he actually agreed. "The bridge." He thought to himself as he started to orb. Once more, he was blocked by something very hard and painful and found himself sprawled on the floor of the living room with a very concerned Leo leaning over him.
"Chris, are you ok?" Leo asked.
"I'm fine!" Chris growled, ignoring Leo's proffered hand as he got to his feet. "My powers just don't seem to be working, or didn't the all knowing Elders tell you that when you were up there?" Chris felt bad even as he was speaking, but he couldn't stop himself. Someone had turned on the sarcasm and he couldn't turn it off.
The doorbell chimed. "Saved by the bell." Chris sneered as Leo headed over to the foyer. He was glad his back was now turned to Chris. He knew that Chris was upset and just lashing out, but it hurt being the one he lashed out at, and he always seemed to be the one Chris aimed his tantrums at.
"Sheila! Darryl!" Leo said with surprise when he opened the door. "What a pleasant surprise!" The girls, having heard the doorbell, spotted them as they came down the stairs. "It's so great to see you guys!" Paige exclaimed. They had all been sure that Darryl wouldn't be visiting them any time soon. He looked nervous and refused to meet their eyes. He was carrying a huge wrapped box with a big blue bow on top.
Sheila hugged them all. "Congratulations, Piper and Leo! You'll have to excuse Darryl; he hasn't come to his senses yet." She said as she sent him a dark look. "We came to visit the new baby! But I really am so sorry to hear about Chris. We're all going to miss him, he was…" She trailed off as she spotted Chris leaning against the doorjamb behind Leo's shoulder. "Chris?" She asked. "But Darryl said…"
"That I was dead? There seem to be some complications with that." He didn't look particularly pleased to see Darryl, who was staring wide eyed at him.
Piper came forward and took Sheila's arm. "Where are my manners today? Come in, sit down!" Sheila started to follow Piper into the living room, but Darryl didn't budge from the door.
"I'm sorry guys. I'm really happy for you and all, but I meant what I said before, I don't want to have anything to do with you anymore. Please, try to understand." He handed the big present to Phoebe and said, "Come on Sheila." as he turned and walked away.
Sheila gave them all an apologetic look. "Don't mind him, he'll come around. He really does love you guys. He's just being stubborn right now." And she followed her husband out of the house.
"Aw, Darryl's leaving? And I'm not even bleeding to death this time." Chris said bitterly and then he turned and walked away. Piper looked shocked and confused by his reaction and started to follow him, but Leo put a hand on her arm and shook his head. Chris needed some time alone to come to terms with all of this.