One More Time - Chapter 5

by shjohnso.

Summary: Future Chris risked his life to save his brother from a fate worse than death—evil. But did it work? Or will he have to do it all over again? This is my take on the events that followed his birth.

Rated PG

Disclaimer—I don't own charmed, or any of the characters from the show, so don't sue me because I get no money from this.

Leo was now frantic, "Where did he go? Damn, I can't sense him. I can't loose him again…"

Phoebe tried to sooth him, "Easy, Leo. We'll find him. He probably didn't go far. He's just scared."

Piper whispered, "But that thing is still out there. And he's unprotected by himself. Chris?"

Chris was already prepared, "I'm on it, Mom. I'm trying to sense for him now. It should be easy since he's so emotional right now. Everyone be quite!"

He closed his eyes in concentration, then opened them in surprise as he realized where the toddler was.

Piper was shifting on her feet anxiously, "Did you find him?"

Chris opened his mouth to speak, a little dumbfounded, "Yeah. He's at the Magic School."

Paige walked up cradling her bloody arm, "Why would he go there? I mean, that's where Gideon was, and after--you know. It just doesn't make sense."

Chris noticed her arm and went to heal it, "Let me get that for you."

Paige was glad to have him back and enjoyed the playful banter they used to share. She decided to start it all over again, "This seems to be becoming a habit. What is it, now that you can heal--every demon in the world is going to attack me? Just so that you can use your new little "healing touch"?"

Chris laughed, "Yeah, Paige. I purposely planned it that way. I have some global order out stating that every demon that attacks you--simply must do everything in their power to destroy this one particular arm."

Piper was also glad to have her family back together, but their childish and competitive banter was surely nothing she had missed. "Would you two knock it off. You're acting like children."

Chris pointed to the baby in her arms, "Well, in my defense, technically, I am a child."

Phoebe grinned and agreed, "He's got you there, Piper."

Piper sucked her teeth and pushed past them, "Oh, grow up."

"Well, technically I--"

Piper spun around and held her finger up to silence him, "Aah! Not another word, mister. Now get a move on, all of you! I've got to go and coax my son out of hiding." She called up from the bottom of the steps, "Sheila, thanks for watching the boys for me." Winking at the eight-year old, "Robbie, just call me when you want to come over to get that--comic book we talked about, ok?"

Robbie's eyes lit up and understood her secret code for the ice-cream, "Sure Aunt Piper. I can't wait!"

Piper smiled at him before she turned to her family again in frustration, "Move it people!"

Her husband looked around hesitantly, not wanting to be the one to point out her position, which was currently by the front door. But when no one else seemed willing to either test her patience by correcting her, he finally mumbled.

"Well, Piper. You're kind of blocking the exit."

Paige looked past her sister and glanced at the front door with disgust. The manor was several blocks away. She stared down at her high-heeled sandals, "Why don't we just orb?"

"Because we walked—well, ran—over here," Leo explained. "And if someone noticed all of us entering, then we have to be seen exiting."

Paige took Phoebe's hand cheerfully, "Not us. We orbed here."

Piper rolled her eyes as her sisters disappeared in sparkling blue and white lights. "Lazy."

Back at the Manor, Phoebe and Paige were already waiting on the landing by the Magic School door for the others.

Chris strolled into the house. As he passed Piper, he crinkled his nose, "What's that smell?"

Piper tilted her head and replied sweetly, "That would be you, dear." She held up his seven-month old self under his nose. "Here. Why don't you go and change your dirty diaper, while we go and get Wyatt." She handed him the baby and headed up the stairs, "And don't forget the powder!"

Leo grinned slyly at the disgusted look on his son's face. He borrowed one of his Chris' earlier lines when he left him to watch Wyatt, "Did you get that?"

Chris held the squirming child at arms length, "You have "got" to be kidding me."

Before they left, Paige couldn't resist ribbing him either, "Oh come on, Chris. I'm sure you've wiped your own behind before?"

Piper turned to give further instructions for her youngest son to baby-sit--well--her youngest son. "One more thing honey? When you change his diaper? Don't stand directly in front of him. Or you "will" be sorry. Good luck!"

Chris looked panicked, "Wait! Your not seriously gonna' leave me here alone with--" His voice fell off as the door shut behind them. "...him"

Orbing upstairs to the nursery, his disgusted voice could be heard echoing throughout the house, "OH MY…! WHAT IS MOM FEEDING ME!"

Leo scanned the Magic School foyer for Wyatt while he questioned his wife, "Do you think it was a good idea to leave those two alone together?"

Piper flicked her wrist assuredly, "Oh sure. Who better to watch Chris than Chris? If he screws up, he would be the one to feel it. So I know he'll take extra good care of him."

One of the teachers approached and greeted them, "Hello--Piper, Paige, Phoebe. Leo--I was so sorry to hear about your Elder status. We really miss having you around."

Leo uncharacteristically grew angry, "My Elder status? What about the fact that Gideon murdered my son? Not sorry to hear about that?"

Piper placed her hand on his arm to calm him, "Honey, remember why we're here…"

"Sorry. I didn't mean to lash out at you, Janette. I guess that's still a sore spot for me. Thank you for your concern, though."

Janette looked rather uncomfortable after his outburst, "Yes, well, uh. It's good to have you back. What can I do for you?"

"We're looking for our son. We know he's here. You see, he got scared by a demon and orbed here to hide."

Janette looked proud, "Well if he came here looking for a safe haven, then he came to the right place. Magic School is prided on being a safe and creative outlet for young magical creatures such as your son. We pride ourselves on keeping out any evil doers and dark magic that could harm or sway the children. I know that is a big concern for the Halliwell family…"

Phoebe whispered to Paige, "She sounds like a walking advertisement for boarding school."

"Yeah, and if we hadn't had our heads lopped off in this very room, I might actually believe her." the youngest witch retorted.

Piper grew impatient with the teacher's sales pitch, "That's nice. Now can you help us find Wyatt or do we have to storm every classroom?"

Janette bristled and responded in kind, "Well. I guess I could contact all of the teachers to have them be on the lookout for him." She stomped away irritably.

"Paige? Can you sense him?"

"I tried, but he keeps moving. It's like, every time I get a lock on him, he runs because he knows we're looking for him."

One of the other teachers came running up to them excitedly, "We found him! He's in with the older kids. But he may not stay for long, he's been on the move. Come on, it's right down this hall."

Everyone ran and skidded to a halt just outside of the classroom.

"Ok. Who does he feel the least threatened from?"

Paige and Phoebe seemed to agree, "Leo."

Paige clapped him on his back in encouragement. "Go for it, Dad."

Leo nodded and entered cautiously, "Wy? Are you in here?"

One of the teenagers pointed to a desk on the side of the room and whispered, "He's under there"

"Wy? It's Daddy. Will you come out for Daddy?"

Slowly and warily, Wyatt crawled out from under the desk, his chest heaving furiously, face in a pout.

Leo recognized that look. The look that told him that any minute, his son was about to let out a scream and start pouring on the tears. He scooped him up quickly and held the child to him tightly, hoping to head off his hysterical fit before it started. Because once it did, it was extremely difficult to bring it to an end. "Shhh. You're ok, buddy. Daddy's got you. You're safe now."

After awhile of rocking and talking softly to him, Leo asked, "Mommy's waiting for you. She loves you, you know? We all do. Your mom, Aunt Phoebe, Aunt Paige, and your little brother Chris. Even your big brother Chris loves you. Are you ready to come home with us now?"

Wyatt nodded against his chest as he held on tightly to his shirt with his tiny fingers.

Piper was in tears when she saw them emerge. She rushed over and kissed Wyatt on his head, "Wyatt, honey. I'm so sorry if Mommy scared you. I love you sweetie." She looked at Leo tenderly for "rescuing" their son. "Come on. Let's go home." She grabbed Wyatt's fingers and played with them during their entire walk back to the manor. She was surprised that he allowed her to hold him at all, even with Leo carrying him. But she was glad for the progress. She only hoped that he didn't bolt again when he saw Chris.

TBC...