Chapter 10
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Charmed except my own.
Chris flung his hand forward, throwing one of the pheromenes against the wall of the cave. Him and Alonna had been battling the demons for what seemed like an hour, but had only been minutes. He crouched quickly as an energy ball came flying in his direction. He looked over at his wife to see how she was doing. He couldn't hold back a wince when he saw her kick one of the demons forcefully. His eyes scanned the rest of the demons, wordlessly wondering if they could take out all of them. Alonna had already vanquished four of them, but there were more...and they were angry. And rightfully so. Their leader had just been killed in front of their eyes and they were out for blood.
Alonna continued to duck, parry, and punch. The adrenaline was pumping through her veins as she delivered a final punch, sending the demon sprawling on the ground, letting the anger she felt spur her on to fight harder. The anger she was feeling was directed at herself though. She had actually thought that they would have at least given her a chance because she was part pheromone, but they hadn't even considered it. Now she was still no closer to finding out any more leads about Wyatt than she was before. Not to mention she was risking Chris's life right now. They hadn't even thought to bring vanquishing potions with them. All he was mostly using was his telekinesis and orbing to fight. His actually physical fighting ability was okay, but it definitely needed work. As evidence of her statement, she heard a loud groan from behind her and she quickly turned to the sound. What she saw brought tears to her eyes. Chris was lying on the ground holding his chest, the blood seeping out and coloring the blue of his shirt. She glanced up at the demon that was stalking towards him and she quickly sent an energy ball, killing the pheromone instantly.
She ran over to Chris's side and knelt down to look at his wound. "Jesus...this hurts," he whispered, grimacing at the sight of the bloodstain growing on his shirt. Alonna ran a hand down his hair lovingly, feeling the guilt hit her ten fold. She should have never agreed to bring him down here, especially not without vanquishing potions. Now he was hurt badly. She black orbed and they appeared back at the manor in the living room. She helped Chris to his feet and led him to the couch. Chris sank down wearily and peered at the woman sitting next to him, noting that her face was in a state of anguish. He couldn't help feeling worried about her, in spite of his current state.
"Don't worry...I'll be fine," he told her weakly. "Just go get by my dad...so that he can heal me." Alonna nodded her head quickly and was just about to call for Leo when her stomach started glowing. The soft glow seemed to extend out of her stomach towards Chris. She looked on as the light encompassed his wound completely, before disappearing all together, leaving his shirt absent of the blood that had stained it just seconds before. Alonna touched Chris's chest tentatively, running her fingers across the area in awe of what she just witnessed. She glanced upwards and met his eyes, seeing an expression that mirrored her own.
"Wha-wha just happened," Chris whispered, looking down at his chest and then back at her. "I didn't know that you could heal. Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because I didn't know either," Alonna replied softly, returning her eyes to his chest, also taking in the fact that the blood on his hands was also now gone. She brought both of her hands down to the edge of his shirt and lifted it up, exposing his stomach to her view. She slid one of her hands up to his chest and felt the area. She just wanted to make sure that he was indeed healed. Satisfied with the feel of his smooth skin underneath her fingers, she swiftly removed her hand and fixed his shirt back in place. She couldn't understand how this could have happened. The last time she checked, she couldn't heal other people, only herself. Alonna looked down at her stomach, realization sinking in. It had to be. "I think it was the baby that did it," she murmured, turning surprised eyes to her husband.
Chris's eyes went immediately to her stomach. He reached out a hand and touched her stomach reverently, a soft smile on his face. His baby actually did that...his daughter. She had so much power already and she was barely formed. His eyes floated up to Alonna's face once more and his smile turned to a frown. Tears were streaming down her face and she was taking in shallow breaths, almost to the point of hyperventilating. "Honey it's okay…I'm okay now," he said anxiously, touching her cheek softly, trying his best to reassure her. She shook her head frantically and moved away from him, flinching from his touch, refusing to look at him. "Alonna just look at me okay," he pleaded.
Her watery eyes drifted up to his face, but then moved quickly to his chest again, almost as if she was still picturing the wound in her mind. And she was. Alonna couldn't get the sight out of her head…the blood pouring out…his gasps of pain…it was all resounding in her head over and over, drowning out the reality that he was safe now. Her silent cries were now turning to audible gasps and would soon become wrenching sobs. She placed both hands over her mouth, squelching the sound from being released, jumping up from the chair. She could hear him calling her name, but it sounded like he was far away, like it was just something echoing in her brain. The only thing she could focus on now was that her husband could have been killed and it would have been her fault. What had she been thinking? Going down there with some stupid plan, thinking that it would have actually worked. Right. Her species had never accepted her before, because she was a half-breed. Why would they accept her now?
"Alonna…Alonna," Chris called, his concern for her visible as he rose from the couch to stand behind her. She was standing with her back turned, her shoulders shaking with sobs. He knew she was scared…probably terrified at what had just happened to him, terrified of the possibility of losing him. He heard his name and his eyes flew to the entranceway to the kitchen, letting out a sigh upon seeing his parents standing there. They both stood watching him and Alonna, the questions in their eyes apparent. His attention went back to Alonna, knowing that his first priority was calming her down. "Alonna…sweetheart look at me," he tried again, holding her by her shoulders and turning her around to face him. He pulled her into his arms and she held on to him willingly, clutching furiously at his shirt as she continued to cry. He smoothed his hands down her hair and rubbed her back; all the while murmuring words that he hoped would calm her.
Piper glanced at Leo, giving him a worried look, before cautiously crossing the room to where her son and his wife were standing. Chris met her eyes and his expression was pained. Suddenly, Alonna's sobs stopped and her body began sliding downwards. He immediately held her closer to him and when he looked down he realized that she was now unconscious. He swept his arms under her legs and lifted her into his arms. Chris looked at his mom and then at his father, his expression showing his fear. He heard his mom asking him what had happened, but it was almost like he couldn't answer her, the words dieing on his lips as soon as he looked Alonna's face again. He should have never let her go down there. It was too much stress…for her and the baby. God…she had just almost fainted yesterday afternoon.
"Chris…sweetie…what happened," Piper asked again, her own fear growing. She felt Leo come to stand beside her and she was instantly grateful for his presence. Sometimes she forgot how soothing it could be just for him to be near her. She instantly chided herself for thinking about that at a time like this…thinking of herself while her son seemed to be in a state of panic with his unconscious wife in his arms.
"Chris…son…just set Alonna down and tell us what happened," Leo said softly, placing a gentle hand on his son's shoulder. Chris nodded and moved to place Alonna on the couch, running his hand down her face as soon as she was lying down. He then swept a curl out of her face, looking down at her chest, relieved to see that she was breathing evenly. He knew she had just passed out, but he still couldn't help being scared.
"Chris…talk to us please," Leo pleaded. "What the hell happened down there? Is she all right? Are you all right?" Leo walked over to the couch and knelt next to his son to peer at Alonna's form. "Let me check her out okay."
Chris straightened and ran a hand hurriedly through his hair, moving out of the way so his dad could examine Alonna. "One question at a time dad," he said quietly, as he watched Leo check Alonna's pulse. "We ran into some trouble down there…as expected. As soon as they realized that we were witches and that I was part white lighter they attacked. They didn't even give us a chance." His voice got even quieter. "They didn't even give her a chance." He turned to look at his mom. "Even though she's part pheremone, they still attacked us. We fought them for a while, Alonna even vanquished some, but then I got hit with an energy ball. Then she black orbed us here."
Piper looked at her son closely, puzzled because she couldn't see any visible injuries. "You said you got hit…but I don't see anything," she replied, her eyebrows furrowed in confused. "I know Leo didn't heal you, because he was with me."
Chris gestured to Alonna. "She healed me," he said simply. Leo turned to look at him and then his eyes returned to his new daughter-in-law. He rose and came to stand beside Piper again. "There was this glow…and then…I don't know…the wound on my chest was gone…the blood disappeared too," Chris continued, his eyes taking on a slightly dazed look.
"Uum…okay…well she seems to have just fainted," Leo said, patting his son on the shoulder. "She'll be okay. She just needs to rest for a while." He paused for a moment, cocking his head to the side. "You say she healed you. Is that one of her demon abilities…being able to heal others," Leo continued on.
Chris shook his head. "Apparently no…it wasn't her per say that did it," he responded. "When I said she did it, I meant the baby…my daughter." He heard a soft note of pride in his voice. His daughter was so small…only a baby…a barely formed baby…and she could heal. Chris smiled fondly at his parents. "Can you believe that…my little baby did that," he said proudly.
Piper nodded. "I believe you," she said honestly. "Wyatt used to heal me when I was pregnant with him. The babie's powers become active pretty early it seems. I could never move things telekinetically and now I can because of you." Piper crossed the couple steps to the couch and perched on the edge. She swept a hand across Alonna's cheek, just like how a mother would do. "Leo are you sure she's okay," she asked, turning her head to look at him.
"Yeah I'm sure," Leo answered. "Are you sure you're okay," he questioned, looking closely at Chris's face.
Chris shrugged. "I guess…physically I mean," he said simply. "But I'm worried about her. Dad how could I have been so irresponsible?" He removed his eyes from his father and stared down at the floor, shoving his hands in his pockets. He felt hands holding him tenderly by the shoulders. He glanced up and met his father's worried eyes.
"I don't understand what you mean," Leo responded warily, even though he did, at least he thought he did. If his son was anything like him, then he was probably feeling a load of guilt right now.
"I shouldn't have let her go down there," Chris said sharply. He lowered his voice before he spoke again. "It's too stressful for her right now. Jesus…she's pregnant. She shouldn't be fighting and going up against demons. It's too dangerous. I knew this and yet I still allowed this to happen."
"Do you really think you could have stopped her," Leo smirked. "Your wife seems to be very stubborn, just like someone I know." He looked at Piper then. "The most important thing is that you guys are all right. Everyone is safe now. That's all that matters son. Don't beat yourself up over this."
"Okay…you're right, but still," Chris began, but then faltered. "She fainted because of what happened to me. You saw how she was when you guys came in here. She was practically hysterical! And it was because it scared her that I was hurt. I know she was blaming herself. I could see it in her eyes. I wouldn't have gotten hurt like that if I was stronger…if I had more powers!"
"She was scared because she loves you and she doesn't want to lose you," Piper chimed in. "Whether you had more powers or not is not the issue. You're still young. Your powers are probably still growing. Look at Phoebe. She just got her empathy power. Just give it time honey." Piper then glanced at Alonna again. "As for her, why don't you orb her upstairs to bed."
"Yeah…uuh…okay," Chris replied easily. He walked back to the chair and touched Alonna's hand. They both disappeared from the room. As soon as they were gone, Piper leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Leo sat next to her and he placed his arm around her. Piper leaned her head on his shoulder, releasing a small sigh.
"He'll be okay you know," Leo told her. "They'll both be okay." Piper nodded silently, but she couldn't help being worried. Maybe they should have gone down there with them. Maybe she shouldn't have let them go alone. Her mind was assaulted with various maybes. She sighed again and allowed the comfort her ex-husband was trying to provide ease the disquiet she was feeling.
Note: Finally an update! I'm sorry it took almost a month to get this out. I sort of lost my muse, especially since the show was off for a while. But I'm back now. Please, please, please review! Oh and please excuse me if there is an excessive amount of grammatical errors in this chapter.
