The Second First Born

N.B.I hope you're in it for the long haul! Please R&R! Also, disclaimer. I don't own Charmed, the show or any of the original characters.

Paige's mind was focused. She glanced at the book.
'Crystals…' she called, and in a flash of little blue lights, they dropped into her waiting palms. She gave Leo a fleeting glance, half expecting him to give her a lecture on 'personal gain'…but he said nothing.

Good. Paige liked the quiet; it gave her time to think, and to get her head around what she was about to do…
Last time she did this, Phoebe was with her, and now she was alone – facing the most powerful demons they had ever encountered as the last witch standing.

She arranged the crystals in a circular formation around the rug that was laid out in the foyer, and placed three lit candles around them.
She then picked up a piece of paper and tucked it into her jeans pocket inconspicuously. She gave a thoughtful sigh as she regarded her handiwork, and picked up the book.

Kneeling in the centre of the crystals, she placed the book on her knee and looked at Leo, expectantly, 'Ready?'
Leo frowned a little, before saying, 'I'm, not a witch Paige…I can't cast spells…'
Paige said, 'But…Leo I can't do this alone. When you do things alone, you fail – that's a little something I've learned over the years.'

Leo said, 'Piper can't do this with you; there's no one else left. Paige, listen to me. You can do this…I know it. For your family, okay?'
Slightly reassured, Paige nodded, taking a deep breath. She felt sick with nerves, not knowing what to expect.
'Leo…' she said, finally.
'Yeah…?'

'Promise me, the second I say this spell, you'll go back to Piper, 'she reasoned.
Leo nodded, 'I'll tell her not to worry when she wakes up…'
Paige said, 'Don't tell her anything! At all, understood?'
Leo said, 'Understood. So, who's mind are you going to first?'
Paige said, without any doubt, 'Phoebe. She's been infected the longest, and she needs me now.'

Leo looked at Paige with an almost pitying look on his face.. She shouldn't have to do this alone…
Paige cleared her throat and started to chant:

Life to life and mind to mind,
Our spirits now will intertwine;
I mould my soul and journey to,
The one whose thoughts I wish I knew.

White lights encompassed her body, and she fell limp onto the ground. Leo took a breath and said, 'Good Luck…' before orbing out of the room.

The orbs trailed into a small, dark room, and Leo appeared. He turned the handle on the door and slipped out, anxious for no one to see him.

'Mr Wyatt?' a voice said, just to the side of him.
Leo cringed slightly, before turning around, 'Dr Johnson…' he said.
Dr Johnson was a tall, no nonsense figure, who was now looking at Leo with a mixture of disdain and confusion, 'Mr Wyatt, what were you doing in the Janitor's Closet?'

Leo, thinking fast, said, 'I was, uh, looking for the bathroom…'
Dr Johnson raised his eyebrows, 'Of course you were…' he said, before turning to walk down the corridor.
'Dr Johnson, wait!' Leo called out, jogging after him.
The doctor stopped and faced him, looking at Leo questioningly.
'How is Piper?' he asked, urgently.

The doctor looked at his clipboard, running his finger down a list of names, 'Halliwell…Halliwe…here we are,' his eyes scanned the information. 'Well, sir, her blood test results are back, and I'm glad to say that it's not Toxaemia.'
Leo leaned against the wall, weakly; relishing the relief those words brought him, 'It's not?'

The doctor shook his head, 'No, I think we caught her just in time. The fainting was a symptom that occurred mainly because of shock – what happened?'
Leo nodded, 'Her sister…' before he trailed off, not knowing how to explain.
When Leo didn't continue, the doctor concluded that he wouldn't find out anymore, 'Then that's probably it. I was letting her rest for a while, before I quizzed her, so I thought it would be best if I asked you.'

Leo snapped his head upright, 'She's awake?'
Dr Johnson nodded, 'Yes, she woke up about 20 minutes ago…asking for you.'
Leo let this sink in for a moment, 'So…does this mean she can come home?'
Doctor Johnson frowned in thought, 'Ideally, I would like to keep her in overnight, just for observation, but of course, it's up to how she feels.'

Leo smiled slightly, 'Thank you Doctor.'
The Doctor nodded and walked by, his white coat sweeping past Leo.
Leo walked slowly along the corridor, the white on the walls reflecting a false image of cheer and light. He read the numbers on the doors, until he came to the right one, and peered through the small window set into the doors surface.

She lay on the clinical white sheets, her hair fanned out on the pillow behind her head, her eyes staring unblinkingly up at the ceiling. He gave another relived sigh, and pushed open the door. Piper's head turned towards the movement and her mouth turned upwards in a slight smile.

'Hey,' he said, gently, 'How are you?'
Piper sat up, patting down the covers of the bed, 'I'm okay…I mean I feel a little…woozy, but I'm pretty much back on track.'
Leo pulled out a chair that was set next to the wall and sat down on it next to the bed, 'Well, that's good news at least…'

Piper looked behind him, as if expecting someone.
Leo noticed this, 'What's the matter?' Piper sighed, 'Nothing…I was just hoping, that you guys had sorted that little…problem…'
Leo sighed heavily, looking down at his hands, that he was wringing in self-awareness. Piper looked at him, slightly concerned, 'Leo? Leo, what's happened?'

Leo looked up, 'Nothing,' he said, trying to keep his voice at a plausible tone.
Piper leaned back and folded her arms, 'Leo, you've always been a bad liar…spill.'
Leo pressed his lips together, willing himself to meet her eyes.

She reached over and grasped one of his hands gently, before speaking, 'Leo, I have a right to know if something's happened to my family.'
Leo looked up, 'I understand how you feel, but I can't say anything…I won't risk you. I won't risk Chris's life because I can't keep my mouth shut.' He sounded almost angry, and Piper's brow was knitted in concern.

She let go of his hand and leaned back heavily on the bed, taking slow, deep breaths. Leo said, 'Are you okay?'
Piper said, 'Yeah…I'm fine…' her face screwed up as a flash of pain bandied across her abdomen and she clutched the bedclothes for support, and then it slowly faded into nothing.

Leo jumped up, 'I'm going to get someone…'
Piper said, 'No…no I'm fine. It was nothing, really.'
Leo didn't look convinced, but sat back down. Pier, undeterred, shifted herself into a more comfortable position, 'So…about this problem…'
Leo said, 'All I can say is that…Paige is dealing with it, so don't worry, okay?'
Piper nodded, 'Laura's helping too, right?'

Leo said, after a thought, 'Yeah, Laura too…'