I had hoped to have this up a little sooner, unfortunately my family had other plans. If they aren't hogging the computer, they're harassing me so that I can't get to it. Luckily I wrote it all out on paper first, I just had the problem of getting to the computer and having time to type. Thanks go to everyone who reviewed the last chapter, again replies at the bottom! Whoops! I altered a few mistakes, thanks to Koriaena for pointing out the telepathy/telekinesis one.

I do not and never will own Charmed, the program or characters.


The Square Root Of Trouble

Chapter Three

The club was crowded to the brim, bodies mingling together in dance, and arms and legs wrapped around lovers. Wyatt pushed his way through the throng, his eyes stretching over the surrounding bodies to try to get a glimpse of his brother.

A couple shoved into him, paying no heed and backing him up into a young woman. The woman turned around, a scowl on her features until she came face to face with Wyatt. Immediately she smiled perkily, her arm tracing its way up his arm to land on his chest. At any other time Wyatt was sure he would take her up on her offer, but right now he had no patience. Carefully he pried her hand off, the scowl reappearing just as fast as it had left. Wyatt smiled apologetically and moved on quickly.

"Wyatt! Hey, Wyatt!" The blond teenager turned and headed to the bar where the voice was calling from. It was Helen, one of P3's full time staff. She was a pretty woman in her early twenties, blonde hair in a rushed up do that somehow seemed to hold its place. "Hey are you looking for Piper?" Wyatt hesitated, unsure on how to answer, he wasn't supposed to be here and neither was Chris. It was no matter as Helen carried on regardless. "She's not here - her night off." Wyatt nodded; he knew full well that it was his Mom's night off. "I'd try home if I were you, wanna use the phone?" She gestured behind her to Piper's office.

"Thanks, I'll go ring."

"Alright, hey it isn't anything important?" She brushed back a strand of her hair. Wyatt grimaced, now he remembered why his Mom always worked opposite shifts to Helen, or at least wherever possible. However, a good and competent worker the girl didn't shut up and was far too perky for her own good.

Seeing a way out Wyatt seized it. "Oh, Helen a customer's waiting." He pointed down the bar a little to a guy waiting to order.

Helen's cheeks blushed. "Right, hey don't tell your Mom I'm slacking."

Wyatt agreed, as long as she didn't mention he was here. He turned back to scan the crowds, moving away from the bar in case Helen cornered him again. He had at least learned that none of the staff had seen Chris, if they had Helen would have known So if Wyatt could just find him and get his ass back home no one would need to know.


Melinda stood next to the door, her foot lightly tapping on the floor as she always did when she was nervous. What was she supposed to do now? She could hardly pretend that she was having a conversation if her Mom or Aunts came calling. When they did come, she would also be partly blamed if the boys weren't back. She should have wrangled more money out of Wyatt. Frustrated she sighed. Sometimes having cousins wasn't all it was made out to be.

She gazed around the room for something to occupy her time; it was a typical boy's room, much to her disgust, though it was relatively clean, due to her Aunt Piper's tidiness she figured rather than Chris himself. She wondered whether Chris kept any hidden secrets in his room that she could use as dirt against him later. Under the bed seemed the best place to start, that was where she kept her own diary and perhaps her cousin kept something similar. She set about to rooting through his belongings.


"So there's nothing in the book?" Phoebe flopped down on the couch in defeat.

"Well did you really expect there to be?" Paige questioned.

"Paige." Piper warned, coming to sit down next to her sister. "Have you tried talking to her?" She sensitively asked. "You know, maybe this is one of those oh so great learning experiences." She brushed aside one of Phoebe's locks. "Not Mother to child, but adult to adult, she's growing up Pheeb's, she wants to be treated differently."

"Talking to her. Are we sure Paige's power of three theory won't work?" Phoebe asked hopefully.

Both sisters looked at her sternly, yet lovingly. "Right talk. I can do this. She's growing up, I just have to realise that. I can do it." The look on her face grew despondent.

"Yes you can!" Paige pitched in, her arm rising up in triumph, trying to raise her sister's spirits.

"She's your niece, Paige, not a demon to be vanquished." Piper admonished.


Wyatt had spotted Chris walking in to one of the private booths with a woman who looked to be in her very early twenties. His plan had been to grab Chris and haul him home, he hadn't expected to walk in and find his baby brother practically attached to the woman's lips, or said woman's hands tangled in his hair, or Chris' hands roaming lower down her back. It was moments like this that Wyatt wished he had inherited his Mom's power to freeze. He would have to do this the old-fashioned way, much to the embarrassment of Chris.

Wyatt coughed, hoping that at least one of the pair would pull up for air. Surprisingly they didn't seem to need it. "Chris." No answer and he was now getting agitated and a little freaked out.

"Christopher Perry Hal-" Chris and the so far unnamed woman shot apart. Chris' eyes were wide open, his hand clasped to his chest in an effort to calm himself. "Wy? I thought you were Dad."

Wyatt crossed his arms over his chest. "No, he doesn't know, yet." Chris rolled his eyes at the threat. Wyatt clenched his jaw, "We're going, now."

"Em, excuse me." Both teens turned to the woman. "What's going on here?" Wyatt grabbed a hold of Chris and dragged him out the booth, the woman protesting at the fact that that was her date he was stealing.

"Wyatt!" Chris moaned. He tried to pull his arm free but Wyatt's grip was too strong and there were too many people to orb.

"You are lucky I didn't tell her how old you are, I'm sure you didn't." Chris turned silent and allowed Wyatt to lead him outside the club.

As soon as the two had left the doors and crowd behind Wyatt spun Chris around to face him. "What are you playing at?" His voice was tense and beyond agitated.

Chris' eyes narrowed. "I'm trying to have fun, besides they won't even know that I've left. Orb back and they're none the wiser." He smartly answered.

Wyatt pushed back his hair, "So you never intended them to find out?" His eyes grew questioning as he waited for Chris to fumble up an answer.

"No, of course not." Chris' eyes never left the grit on the floor.

"You didn't?" Wyatt bit back. "So that is why you chose Mom's club, where everyone who works there knows that you are Piper Halliwell's son, yes I see. Great idea if you don't want them to find out."

"Oh, I'm sorry, should I have gone to the nearest demon hangout?"

Wyatt opened his mouth to retort back; instead of words, he released an angry sigh. "Have you swallowed a stupid potion, cast a spell?" Chris' brow furrowed. "So what's the actual problem?

"Behind you."

Wyatt's face wrinkled in confusion, "What?" Chris swung his arm out and telekinetically threw his brother to the side. Wyatt landed on a pile of cardboard boxes, no doubt left out earlier by one of the staff of P3. He looked up, prepared to shout to only watch as his brother orbed out and reappear next to him, a bolt of lightning shooting through the air where they had both been stood a second ago.

"Thanks." Wyatt muttered, standing up to face the demon that was attacking them. "I'm guessing this is Klork."

Chris scoffed. "How did you figure that one out, was it the lightning or the fact that he's trying to kill you?"

"Very good Chris, try throwing some sarcasm his way, maybe it'll leave a scratch."

The demon stalked up, his eyes wary of both teens and watchful of their movements. "Halliwell." He breathed out. His arm shot out, sparks sizzling around his hand; charging together and shooting out at the boys.

Wyatt pushed the two of them apart, the attack flying past them to harmlessly puff out on the floor. In retaliation, Wyatt struck out with one of his own energy balls. In a move almost too fast to see, the demon leapt out of the way. Chris tried to use his power to slam the demon against a wall but he was moving to fast for him to pinpoint a target.

"Orb out!" Wyatt shouted the demon almost upon them.

Chris nodded, focusing his energy. He began to orb; lights flowing around him serenely, an overwhelming pain struck his middle, forcing Chris to reappear, his body skidding across the floor at the force of the impact. His palms scraped and cut as he managed to bring himself to an aching stop.

He was lying on his back in the same alley Wyatt had confronted him, his stomach throbbing in pain. Slowly he forced his body into an upright position, his body screaming in protest as he stretched the tender muscles. The shirt he was wearing singed at his stomach, the skin there burnt and bleeding. Tentatively he brought his hand up to touch the sensitive skin, wincing as raw pain shot through him.

A hollow laugh sounded off to his left. "Chris?" Wyatt was still here? "Christopher?" Wyatt's voice sounded worried.

"I'm here." Chris had rolled all the way to the edge of the alley opening, Wyatt was further down and the demon planted squarely in the middle of the two.

"Thank God." Wyatt hissed, he had tried to orb out himself, but the demon had struck him down too. The blast had struck his left shoulder, uncomfortably; parts of his clothes were stuck to the charred skin. Wyatt threw up his shield.

The demon Klork turned towards the blue glow, expecting Wyatt to try to orb out once more. At the sight of his shield, he growled, throwing a bolt to test its strength. Thankfully, it dissipated on contact; Wyatt allowed himself a small smile of triumph. He could at least beat the demon in one way, unless he turned towards, "Chris!" Wyatt dropped his shield and aimed another energy ball at Klork. It caught him on the arm, the force causing him to stumble and buying at least one of them a little time.

"Chris, get help." Wyatt commanded throwing up his shield as the demon retaliated. Chris hesitated for a second, unwilling to leave his brother alone, but what could he really do? Clutching his stomach, he orbed out to the manor.


Paige twisted the door handle, a clicking sound signalling it was locked. "It's locked, why would it be locked?" Paige asked, stupefied. Piper and Phoebe looked at one another both confused.

Suspicious Piper knocked once and asked, "Chris, you in there?"

"Er, yeah, we're all in here." Melinda answered from behind the door.

At the sound of her daughter, Phoebe took over. "Can you open the door; we can try the spell again."

On the other side of the door, Melinda paused, unsure of what to do. It had been at least an hour since Wyatt had left and she had expected him back by now, she had never thought up of a good excuse as to why the pair was missing. "Can you not just do it there?" She feebly tried.

Phoebe's suspicions grew. "Melinda."

"Em, yeah just a minute." Shuffling noises came from her side of the door.

"What do you think they're doing in there?" Paige questioned. Both her siblings shrugged in response, their heads filled with all the crazy ideas of what their children could be up to. None of it good.

The door clicked, the handle turning and Melinda now appearing at the open door, she popped her body through smiling angelically at her Mom and Aunts.

"Where are the boys?" Piper questioned, not trusting her niece's innocent nature for a second. She grabbed the door before Melinda could close it, her eyes searching the suspiciously empty room. Piper turned her head back to her niece.

"I think they went to the kitchen." Piper's eyes narrowed.

At the look on her sister's face Phoebe held up a hand. "Melinda." Her daughter looked up at her uneasily, in her nine- year- old body reminding Phoebe of how easy it had all been back then. "You're as bad as me at lying." Melinda's head dropped. "Look, I know we're having problems, you've a little bit too much me in you." She gently took a hold of her daughter's chin, lifting it up to face her. "If you know something. If they're downstairs fine, but the boys could be in trouble."

Big brown eyes stared back at Phoebe. "Why?"

At the simple question Phoebe looked away, she caught Paige's eyes who raised her eyebrows and mouthed the words 'not a baby'.

"Uh, okay." Phoebe placed her hands on her daughter's shoulders. "There's a demon after Wyatt, they could get hurt and they aren't supposed to be out. Now do you know where they are?"

Melinda seemed to be unsure whether to answer or not. "Will you be mad?"

"No." Phoebe instantly answered. Piper cleared her throat. "Probably, yes, but we'll talk about that later." This time she spoke honestly.

Melinda bit her lip, in a quiet voice she answered. "Chris left the house and Wyatt left to find him. I was to stay here and watch out for you."

Piper's face screwed up. "Leo."

Ignoring her loud sister Phoebe carried on. "Is that all you know? Do you know where they are?" Melinda's head shook. "Alright, I believe you." The truth was that she did as well; it had been a while since the two of them had spoken so honestly without degrading down to a shouting match.

Melinda blinked. "I'm sorry."

Phoebe nodded, her hand moving to stroke her daughter's hair. "I'm sorry too."

"What for?"

Phoebe knelt down and pulled her child into her lap. "I'm sorry for not listening more, you're growing up way too fast and I guess you're not my baby anymore."

Melinda smiled, "I am growing up," She looked down at her nine- year- old body, "Well I should be, but I'm still your baby, I hope."

Phoebe grinned and kissed her on the cheek. "Always."

An extra face interrupted the moment; it was Paige. "I'd try the spell if I were you."

"It doesn't work though." Melinda answered, having already tried the spell too many times to count.

Paige's index finger landed on her chin. "I have a feeling whatever was blocking it has gone now."

Phoebe nodded, releasing Melinda and taking the spell from Paige to recite it. Together Mother and daughter read the spell.

Hear these words

Hear my plea

Help me to return to me

Rightful age and rightful time

As a witch, I've done no crime

Swirls of sparkling yellow lights whirled their way around Melinda. The lights joining up and connecting together to form a giant, eye piercing glow. Once the light had dimmed and eyes had readjusted Melinda glimpsed a sight of her normal aged body, fully reverted back to teenager.

Piper turned around to see her now normal aged and sized niece. "Well that's one problem sorted." She turned back to Leo who had orbed in during the spell. "Can you sense them?" Her voice was a mixture of worry and fury, though she was trying to remain calm. Calm just was not an option in this family, the luxury was never available.

Leo nodded, "Chris is-" A jingle followed by familiar blue lights appeared before them. "here."

Chris' body came into view; he grimaced with hurt as his back hit the floor, pain vibrating through him at the landing. He grit his teeth, "Wyatt's in trouble, a demon, Klork." A hiss. "He's too fast."

Piper hovered over her youngest, aching at the sight of him clouded with pain, and the thought of what state her eldest was in tearing her apart. "Leo heal him, where is he?"

"An alley… outside P3." Piper set to work, the knowledge of why either of her sons were near her club safely stored away for a later, more appropriate time. Wyatt was the most important thing right now, and from the look on he husband's face he felt the same way.

"I'll stay here with the kids," He knelt down next to Chris, his hands already glowing over the teen's stomach. "You three go help Wyatt."

The three charmed ones nodded, Piper and Phoebe taking a hold of Paige.

"I can help." Melinda stressed, she wanted desperately to make up for lying, especially as the two were now hurt, and she would be no help to either Leo or Chris.

"Okay." Phoebe answered, much to the surprise of her sisters. "Go look up Klork in the book of shadows; let us know what it says." With that said, the three orbed out to Wyatt.


On arrival Piper scanned the scene, there was little destruction and luckily Wyatt's shield was still holding up, but from the look on his weary face it wouldn't be for much longer, The demon was barraging the force field with a multitude of slashes and lightning bolts.

"My God." Phoebe gasped the demon's attention turning at the sound.

"So much for the element of surprise." Paige chided.

"Sorry." Phoebe winced.

"You back away from my son." Piper warned - her hands rose and the demon fell back as she tried to explode him.

"Why didn't it work?" Phoebe questioned, eyes darting between her two sisters for an answer.

"He's too strong." Wyatt shouted his shield still up as his last defence.

"Well have to wait for Mel." Phoebe answered. "In the meantime, Paige do you think you can get to Wyatt?" He's going to collapse any minute." The demon shot a bolt at the distracted girls, Piper's hands rising just in time to freeze the attack. Phoebe rolled out of harms way, attempting to kick Klork in the face but only succeeding in kicking empty air. She tried once again, this time trying to connect with his chest. Once again, in a move too fast to see the demon sidestepped her attack, bringing his hand up to strike at her stomach, she skidded across the floor at the force of the attack.

In the meantime Paige had orbed next to her nephew, much to the relief of Piper, at the sight of his Aunt, Wyatt lowered his shield; glad for the reprieve. "Chris okay?" He checked.

"Better than you - lightning bolt." She orbed the demon's attack back at him, but he had already moved out of the way.

Piper attacked once again, the demon to close to her son and sister for comfort. "Phoebe? Phoebe are you okay?"

"I think so, but God he's fast. I couldn't get a hit in edgeways."

"Do you think you could tap into his powers?"

"I'll try, if he would just keep still, ah!" She rolled out of the way, just in time of another bolt. A red figure appeared in her vision, coming into focus and revealing her daughter.

"I've read the book, Klork demon; he uses the energy and power of lightning in both movement and power."

"Very nice sweetie, how do we defeat him?" Piper tried to freeze him, but he was back to normal speed in a few seconds.

Melinda smiled as if the answer was obvious. "You use water."

"Lightning and water, of course. We just need water." Paige uttered, already checking around for a source.

"You have to time it right, at the time he calls for lightning to attack." Melinda finished, satisfied that she had been able to help.

"Right - get your astral ass outta here." Paige commanded. "Ah, guys I don't see any water." Wyatt's shield flew up as the demon thought they had let their guard down.

Piper's eyes wandered around the alley, searching for any sign of water, there were no puddles on the floor, no split drinks, nothing. She glanced up at the building next to her, her eyes lighting on "Drains."

Klork's eyes widened, turning his attack from Paige and Wyatt to Piper. She timed her attack, the bolt shooting out from his hand, and her power exploding the drain, water raining down onto the demon from above. The lightning and water mixing together, electrocuting Klork in front of their eyes, his body disappearing in a puff of angry black smoke.

"Everybody alright?"


Chris found himself once again in his room, Piper and Leo had just left, neither impressed at the fact that he had disobeyed them, been responsible for the fact that Melinda had lied, if not directly, and of course he had put both himself and Wyatt in danger. Thanks to all of the above, he had been rewarded another two weeks on top of the two he already had, which gave him a whole month of boredom. He supposed he did deserve it, but they had at least gotten rid of the assassin after Wyatt, there was at least that to be grateful for.

A quiet knock rapped on his door, without waiting for an answer Wyatt crept through the door. "Hey." Chris voiced.

"So you're talking to me this time."

Chris smiled; he knew what his family often thought of his silent bouts. "You're alright?" Chris asked, concerned. He had already been sent to his room when his brother and family returned home. His Aunts and cousin had soon returned home themselves and Wyatt had been sent upstairs with the promise of talk later.

"Fine, I'm now officially banned from using the car though."

"You are, but I thought the all-great Wyatt was above punishment?"

Wyatt's face wrinkled. "The all-great Wyatt, as you put it, isn't. Especially not when what little trust and responsibility I had gained goes puff when I disappear after my baby brother without informing them and instead persuade my even more corruptible little cousin into lying for me."

"I'm sorry." Chris admitted, "I shouldn't have left, I wish I hadn't." he collapsed back into his bed, his head sinking into the fluffy pillows. "I'm here for a whole month now."

Wyatt laughed, his body casually leaning against the doorframe. "Didn't I tell you, you had a lot more groundings ahead?" He grinned as the door closed telekinetically, shutting him out.

The End.


That's a wrap! I really hope you enjoyed this, whoever is reading and if so, or not, please be kind enough to leave your thoughts in a tiny lonely box at the bottom, it doesn't take too long. Review!

trina-k - I'm glad you see them as I do and so happy you like all the interaction. I worried about some characters. Yes he has a muscular back, it was nice to imagine as I wrote!

YoshimiWolfspaw - No not kidnapped, just a typical rebellious teenager I'm afraid.

IcantthinkofaFnick - Well I hope you liked the was that everything worked out. I'm really glad that you liked the way I handled the conversation, it went through a few re-writes and I still wasn't 100 happy. Sorry that it ended, it was never going to be very long, just what it is - though I hope you'll read my new ones when they show up.

Simone1 - I'm pleased you liked - wow you really do like Chris, me too, which is why I want repeats of series six, I missed a lot.

Dani - I'm happy you loved it - thanks so much for the review.

Alyssa Halliwell - Again, I'm soooo happy that you liked the conversation with Wyatt and his parents. By the sound of it you like Melinda too, good! I worried about her character a lot. Hope you like the way that it all turned out!

So thanks again to everyone. I'm working on three fics right now, one is a oneshot and the other two are unknown, could be this size could be longer. I also have another major one in the pipeline, but it's mainly ideas floating in my head, I really need to see series six fully before I start to write it down. I'm a bit of a cannon freak sometimes I'm afraid! Review!