Disclaimer: I don't own charmed
Chapter 6: Trial's Bite
"Chris! Somebody help!" Andrea yelled again.
"What is it?" Chris asked having orbed down frantically from the attic. What he saw was Andrea standing on a chair. "Come on Andy, it's just a little garden snake," Chris chastised, as he reached down to pick it up. "Ouch, it bit me, stupid thing," he mumbled as he threw it out into the garden. "You can vanquish demons, but you can't handle a little snake," he laughed. "All better?"
"Thanks Chris, you're my hero," Andrea pretended to swoon. The two turned to each other and laughed, then remembering they were mad at each other, turned away.
"Really I'm far from being a hero; after all I did send Leo to Valhalla. Crap!" Chris cried when he realized what he had just said. "I didn't mean to say that. Why did that just pop out like that?" Chris asked turning toward Andrea.
"YOU DID WHAT!" Leo yelled advancing on Chris with his hands balled into fists. "You told me you didn't do it, and I believed you," Leo said as he grabbed the front of Chris' shirt and began to shake him. "After the prince charming fiasco I defended you. Now you admit that you betrayed me?" Leo's face became redder and redder. There was a primal anger in his face. He was a man on the edge.
"Yeah and I killed that Valkyrie for her pendant," Chris said before he could stop himself. "I, I, I'm sorry?"
"That's it," Leo said grabbing Chris' arm. "We're going to talk to the elders."
"NO," Andrea yelled, but it was too late, Chris and Leo had already orbed away. "Listen, I know you're all angry at Chris for keeping secrets," Andrea pleaded to the sisters, "But you have to believe me when I say Chris did everything he did for a reason. Please we have to get up there." Then Andrea grabbed the sisters and pulled them through a portal before they could argue.
Outside Groglak stood watching the scene before him. "This is the perfect distraction and they thought that they could vanquish me. They won't even suspect the truth," he laughed as he shimmered away.
Down in the underworld, Groglak entered into a dark cave, lit only by a torch. In the corner, a man sat on a throne, but his face could not be seen. "It is done my lordship, but I do not understand. Why infect the whitelighter, why not the Charmed Ones?"
"My simple Groglak," patronized the voice in the shadows, "it is not your place to understand my great plan, but I'll explain anyway. You see, the whitelighter is the one with the most secrets. By infecting him, we'll thoroughly distract the Charmed Ones. Besides, I do not want the Charmed Ones harmed, only kept busy," said the disembodied voice.
"Yes my lord. I understand. What shall I do now?" the demon asked, bowing low at the foot of the thrown.
"Actually, I believe I'm done with you," and with a flick of the shadow man's wrist, Groglak had exploded. "Now, I just have to wait."
"You are all here for the trial of Chris Perry. Charmed ones shall be seated to the left," said a short balding elder who stood behind the marble bench in the middle of the court. Everything was set up much like a court on earth. The only main difference was that the floor was made of clouds, and everything was white. Chris was trapped in a cage made of lightening bolts next to the judge's bench. The Charmed Ones sat at a table facing the judge's bench. On both of the side walls there were risers where all of the elders, including Leo, were seated. "The charges brought against this whitelighter are 'imprisoning an elder', 'murder', and 'impersonating a whitelighter'. The sentence pending is deportation to the future. What do you plead to these charges?" asked the elder judge.
"G-" Chris started, but was then struck mute. He kept trying to talk, but couldn't. He looked panicked over to Andrea. She sat next to the sisters, and gave Chris a wink, before standing up.
"Your honor," she said stepping forward, "Due to the fact that my client as been struck suddenly mute, I wish to speak for him and plead not guilty." After she finished her speech, Andrea turned and gave Chris a little wink.
"Very well Miss?"
"Caldwell, you honor, Alexandria Caldwell. Now that we have that taken care of, it seems as though my client has miraculously regained his speech," Andrea said with a wave of her hand, "therefore, I request that he would be able to take the stand in his defense."
"Request granted," stated the judge, sitting back in his chair. It was apparent on his face that he had already decided that Chris was guilty.
"Thank you. The first charge against my client is 'imprisoning an elder.' Chris please tell the court, did you send Leo to Valhalla?"
"Yes," Chris answered eliciting gasps from the other elders.
"Did you ensure his safety while he was there?"
"Yes, I made sure he was fed, and not hurt. He was even surrounded by beautiful women the entire time," Chris pleaded. "I was going to let him out once I had finished what I came here to do."
"Did you play any part in Leo's escape from Valhalla?"
"Yes," Chris said relieved, "I got the Valkyrie pendants for the sisters so that they could sneak onto the island and rescue Leo. I also trained Piper as a Valkyrie so she could fit in better.
"I would like it on the record that while my client did imprison Leo, he also set him free. Therefore, the charge should be cancelled out. Leo?" Andrea asked turning toward the elder.
"We'll see," said the judge, "you have plenty of other charges to worry about."
"Very well your honor. The next charge you mentioned was murder. Chris who did you murder?" Andrea asked, hoping there was some way of negating this charge.
"Leysa," Chris whispered slightly abashed.
"Leysa? You mean Aunt Leysa, but she's a Valkyrie. You can't kill a Valkyrie as long as the pendant is still intact. Do you still have it Chris?
"Yeah, right here," Chris said handing her the pendant out of his pocket.
"Hmmmm," Andrea wondered as she stepped to the center of the court. She placed the pendant on the floor, and took out her own pendant from beneath her shirt. Then Andrea said a few words in Latin, and a bright blue light began to emanate from the pendant. After a moment Leysa stepped out from the pendant.
"Where am I," she asked disoriented. "Chris?" Leysa asked, angrily bearing down on him. Luckily Andrea stopped him before she could do anything damaging.
"It's not important," she dismissed. "All you need to know is that you're all right," Andrea assured as she opened a portal to Valhalla, and pushed Leysa through. "As you can see, Leysa is perfectly alright, therefore Chris did not murder anyone and is therefore innocent," Andy concluded with a smug grin.
"I agree," the elder conceded reluctantly, "the murder charge is dropped," stated the elder.
"The last charge you said was impersonating a whitelighter. First I would like to say that Chris is a whitelighter. Sure he's also half witch, but that doesn't make him any less of a whitelighter. Secondly, Chris, please tell the court, did the elders ever ask if you were a full whitelighter?" Andrea asked.
"No, actually they didn't," Chris suddenly realized. "After Leo became an elder, they just told me that I was the Charmed One's new whitelighter."
"Glad to see you guys are on the ball," Piper quipped under her breath. "You didn't even make sure that we had a whitelighter that could heal. That's just shameful."
"That's enough Piper," said the judge. "The other elders and I will recess to discuss the new evidence brought forth. Leo, because this is directly related to you, you cannot vote in the proceedings. We've already heard your side of the story."
"Well that was fun," said Andrea once the elders had all disappeared. "Chris are you ok?" she said running over to the cage, genuinely concerned.
"I'm fine. You're dad was right, you really should have been a lawyer," Chris laughed, before remembering he was in a cage. Chris was genuinely concerned. He had tried so hard to fix things, but it seemed like everything he did went wrong. "I just hope they don't send me back. Wyatt would kill me, literally."
"So Wyatt really does turn evil?" asked Piper.
"Yeah, listen I am sorry for all of the stuff I've done, but you have to believe me. Everything I have done has been to save the future," Chris pleaded.
"I'm sure," scoffed Leo.
"Listen, Chris," Andrea started, "I'm sorry about earlier-"
"No, I'm the one who should apologize. I was out of line, and-"
Before Chris could finish his sentence, the elders came back. "Due to the recent facts, the other elders and I have decided to reduce Chris' sentence. His wings will be temporary clipped, until Leo believes that he has been properly rehabilitated. You will only loose your whitelighter powers. You will still have any wiccan powers. Chris also owes twenty hours of community service," finished the elder.
"What-" Chris yelled. "This isn't fair. He hates me; he'll never give me back my powers. How am I supposed to protect my charges?"
"Adjourned," called the elder. When the sisters, Andrea, Chris, and Leo looked up they were suddenly back at the manor.
"How could you do this to me you son of a-" Chris yelled lunging at Leo.
"Christopher! Stop right now. We don't have time for this," Andrea panicked trying to pull Chris off of Leo. "This isn't the time. We'll get your powers back, just calm down!"
"ALL- I'M- TRYING- TO- DO- IS- SAVE- YOUR- SON!" Chris yelled between punches.
"That's very noble," said a mocking voice from the shadows, causing Chris to freeze. "You always were the good son." A gasp escaped from Andrea's lips. The sisters looked to the corner as the voice moved out of the shadows. The man who belonged to the voice was about six feet tall, and had long curly blond hair- it was Wyatt. Everyone was so shocked by the man's appearance that they didn't notice Andrea slipping through a portal and away.
"Wy, uh Why are you here?" Chris fumbled. He was trying to keep the sisters and Leo from recognizing Wyatt, and putting two and two together. He knew that under no circumstances could he let the sisters and Leo know who he was. He had to get them out of here. "Leo, get Piper, and the sisters out of here."
"Why? Is there something you don't want us to know Chris?" Leo asked, very suspiciously, completely forgetting about the 'demon'.
"I think there is," taunted Wyatt as he advanced on Chris. "What could that be little brother? Scared I'll tell them all your little secrets?" Wyatt asked as he tightened his fist, choking Chris. Then he snapped his fingers and twelve demons appeared and captured the sisters and Leo. "Of course, I suppose I could just let you tell them, considering the Groglak demon I sent has infected you. Thought you vanquished him?" Wyatt asked, seeing their confused faces. "So, the elders bound your powers, makes my job much easier. I was hoping they'd just send you to the future, but- Oh well."
"You won't take me again!" Chris yelled as he lunged at Wyatt, knocking him to the floor.
"Nice try Chrissy," Wyatt teased as he rose from his feet, and contracted his fists. Chris fell to his knees, unable to breathe. "Join me, we could rule the world, not that I don't already."
"NEVER! You listen to me," Chris choked, "I came here to save you, and you can torture me until my body is broken and my mind is gone, but I will never- arrrgh," Chris screamed as he doubled over in pain.
"What did you do to him?" Piper screamed in panic. "Stop it!" she ordered trying to break free.
"I, uh, I didn't do it," Wyatt said, unclenching his fist to prove it. Chris was still doubled over.
"What are our orders Lord Wyatt?" inquired the demons.
"Wyatt?" asked Piper. "But you called Chris brother, which would mean-"
"Enough!" said Wyatt. "Bring them to the lair. I must find my wayward wife." Then, Wyatt orbed out.
"Wife?" asked Leo.
"Andrea," murmured Paige. "She's Wyatt's wife. What are we going to do?"
"Quiet," ordered the demon. "Let's get out of here," he said as he and the other demons shimmered to the underworld, taking their captives with them.