AN: All the Keepers belong to ME. Their plot and pasts are mine, and I will sue anyone who tries to steal them. I know that sounds silly, but I've been working on my own story involving the Keepers for a few years, and I don't want to lose it all to someone stealing it. I've worked too hard to just have someone steal my material, so please respect my wishes in not taking them or their stories, the plot behind them, or anything else, unless you have my permission. Which at the moment, you do not

Thanks to all my reviewers!!! I was going to update five with this, but I'm having writers block … grr. I know the outline for next chapter, but some SUGGESTIONS would be welcomed!

POTIONS II: TIME CHASER

CHAPTER FOUR

CAMPFIRE DISCUSSIONS

The group had ridden all day in pretty much silence. Leah would carry on a conversation with Keighlee, and then bark commands at the others. Dante and A.J. would babble to themselves most of the ride, and every time Chris tried to talk to Archimedes, the boy would ignore him. In fact, no one really spoke to Chris at all, and it was getting annoying. Finally, the group decided to settle down far on the outskirts of town. They quickly put up three tents, and had a fire blazing in half an hour. After cooking a supper of salted fish that Leah had pulled out of a bag (shockingly it was wrapped in a Tupperware container), the small group sat around the flames as the night set. It was quiet, and every now and then there were howls far off in the distance. There was also the crackle of the fire, but mostly everyone was lost in thought.

"I want to go home," Keighlee whispered, surprising everyone, but the soft voice full of longing.

"No you don't," Leah replied.

"Oh, says you, Leah. You don't have anything to go back to," Keighlee replied. She turned on her stomach and looked challengingly at the older girl.

"We're a family. You say it yourself," Leah told her.

"'We're family. We hate each other, we love each other … but mostly we just hate each other'," Dante recited. "You're always saying it, Keighlee."

"I know. We are family. I just … I still have another family," Keighlee replied.

"What are you talking about?" Chris asked.

"Tell him about us, Leah. Maybe then he won't be so confused," A.J. suggested.

"Oh, do whatever you want," Leah replied grumpily. "I've got … wood to gather." With that she got up and stalked away to her horse. Seconds later she was gone.

"What did Leah mean earlier, by gates? And was that a squirt gun that you used on the demon?" Chris asked.

"Oh yeah. Super Soaker 2059," Keighlee said with a small smile on her lips. "Those Bagjee demons hate water."

"We're Keepers, Chris," Dante explained. No one paid attention as Archimedes got up and walked into his camper. "We control and monitor time."

"I've never heard of that," Chris said.

"We're mostly considered a myth," A.J. explained. "Five troubled children from different times gathered together to guard the time holes, and bring back refugees."

"You're from different time periods?" Chris asked, feeling some new amusement from this.

"Brooklyn, 2059," Keighlee said.

"New York City, 1985," A.J. replied.

"Italy, 1923," Dante admitted.

"What about Archimedes and Leah?"

"Eh, Archimedes is from Ancient Greece, and Leah's actually a Princess from the times of the plague. Her real name's Mary," Keighlee explained.

"A Princess? Ancient Greece? Back up and explain this to me again," Chris said.

All three laughed. "They're our pasts. They don't matter anymore. Just thought you should understand us a little bit more," Keighlee said.

"I don't think he needs to know all about us," A.J. said. "Explain Archimedes and Leah."

"They had it the worst," Dante said.

"How?"

"We're not really sure about Archimedes. He refuses to tell us, and pretty much keeps to himself. Leah on the other hand, She had things difficult before becoming a Keeper, and she feels she needs to boss us around to protect us," Keighlee explained. "We're all each other have. We can't go back home, and we can't … there's just nothing else out there for us."

"Why can't you go back home?" Chris asked.

"The gates are locked." Dante said, then, off of Chris's look, added, "The gates of time. We're supposed to be the only ones allowed to travel, but many people find ways to slither through. If they weren't meant to time travel, then we must catch them, and bring them back. Then seal all time gates from that time so that person – nor any others – can get through. Then there are Keepers of the Other Gates. They're supposed to monitor other worlds – including parallel universes, or alternate futures, as you may think of them as."

"The future that the other you came from still exists, which is how all memory of that Chris is allowed to remain. It's sort of complicated to explain everything of it," A.J. told him.

"So technically, the future that I originally came from still exists? It's still out there?"

"Well, yes. But you see, you don't belong in this future. By leaving your back pack, you allowed for the two worlds become so closely together, that they became one. This is very hazardous, which is why you must get that back pack back, and fix the future. Is this making any sense?"

"A little," Chris admitted. "But how do you know so much about me?"

"We're the Keepers, Chris. We've been monitoring your actions. Unfortunately, rules forbid us from disrupting something once it is set into motion, but we learned of your trip to the west, and decided to try and interfere there," Keighlee explained. "We arrived three weeks ago."

"So, how old are you guys?"

Dante shifted nervously. "We actually don't have any specific age. You see, Keepers can't grow old, and they can't die."

"That must be great. You have the freedom to escape, and to visit wherever you wish to," Chris said.

"Freedom comes at a cost," A dark voice snapped. Everyone looked up to see Archimedes next to the flames, speaking the first words he'd spoken all day. He took a step closer, glowering at Chris.

"What does that mean?" Chris asked.

All the others looked down, but Archimedes kept eye contact. "It means that we don't exist. We aren't from the times we go to, and although we may feel solid to you or anyone else, we aren't. We're missing our sense of touch. We can't feel the grass, the wood, pain – you could stab me in the stomach right now, and I would feel it. We can get a tan, but we can't feel the rays on our skin. We see things, but it's dull and grey. Do you get it, Mr. Halliwell? We aren't real."

"We still have our emotions, though," Keighlee piped up, trying to shed some light on the situation. Archimedes scowled at her.

"We can eat food, but we can't taste it. It will satisfy our stomachs, but not our minds," He snapped.

"And it isn't worth it?" Keighlee challenged.

"It … I'd rather be dead," Archimedes said. Everyone had caught the hesitation in his voice before he said he'd rather be dead. He'd been looking right at Keighlee. Perhaps the other hadn't caught the look, but Chris had. Interesting, Chris thought. Seems to me like someone's got a crush.

Keighlee frowned, and then shook her head sadly. "Are you going to start this every time?"

"Are you going to learn? Don't you understand!?"

"Maybe it would be best if we got some sleep," Leah said as she approached the little camp. "We can continue such a futile squabble in the morn, but we have to get into Cal Ridge by tomorrow night."

"Is that where the gates opening again?" A.J. asked.

Leah nodded. "Now let's go. You all know your sleeping stations – stay to them." With that she turned and walked away. The others looked disappointed to have to go to bed just then, but it was Leah's word, and Leah's word was the law.