Chapter 2
The second he formed his heart skipped a beat and his body froze with shock and horror as he arrived to find himself standing on top of the Golden Gate Bridge with his feet planted in pool of blood in the very spot where he had sensed the presence of his youngest child. He looked at the dark substance in a state of shock, panic and disbelief.
This couldn't be happening.
This wasn't possible.
He couldn't be losing his son. Not now. Not before he got the chance to beg the boy's forgiveness for hurting him, for accusing him of being anything les then noble. He had to tell him how terribly sorry he was and that he was willing to do anything, anything to gain his trust, to make up for his past mistake and to earn his love. God he would give his life if meant that Chris was safe, but what if he wasn't. What if in his hesitation to comfort his son, to seek him out and let him now that he wasn't ashamed of him, that he was proud to be the father of such a heroic boy, that he believed every word of his heartfelt admission had led to the boy's demise?
Damn it why hadn't he come sooner!
Couldn't he feel his child's pain and suffering? If not was this little fact proof that he wasn't such a great father after all.
He shook his head from right to left several times trying to rid himself of the all the pain and guilt he was feeling right now, but it wasn't working. Nothing was and nothing would until he held his son in his arms again. Hell right now he would give anything to feel the cold chill of one of his son's hateful glares then to accept the realization that he may be lost to him forever before he was ever really found.
He had to snap out of this.
He had to find his son and stop wallowing in his own self pity.
He had to be stronger then this, for him.
His eyes instantly began to scan the area around him searching for his youngest child as his mind was forced to envision all sorts of different scenarios with none of them ending happily.
"CHRIS!" the father called out in desperation as large rain drops started to pour down from the angry sky above soaking him almost instantly.
Thunder sounded loudly in the background, shaking the earth violently from the top of the largest building right down to its very core, including the beam that held one very distraught Elder, causing the man to instantly look down at his feet as he tried to steady himself from both the emotional and physical blow.
And that's when something caught his eye.
At first he had to blink a few times not only to see the small object but to focus through the heavy down pour of water that impaired his vision.
Just a few more blinks.
He could almost see it. It was small but it was becoming more visible with each and every flutter of his eyes.
Just one more time and he could get a clear shot.
"NOOO!" he yelled as every muscle in his body contracted, frozen like water in a cup as he watched his son become smaller and smaller as his body neared the hardened ground below. His heart was racing and almost beating through his skin as the heavy rain continued to flow, faster and harder then he had ever seen in his life.
It was loud.
Almost as loud as his heart beat.
He could hear the water splashing down to the earth and shatter hard against concrete below. Just like his son would in a matter of seconds.
A voice inside his head screamed at him, to orb, scream out in fear, to do something, anything, but he couldn't. Fear, shock and confusion held a firm, paralyzing grip on him and showed no signs of letting go.
Come on Leo fight this. Don't let the shock and pain of the situation get to you. Chris needs you.
Your son needs you.
He said these things over and over again hoping that it would sink in, hoping that these words held the key to moving his limbs, to unfreezing his body.
What about Piper?
How would you break the news to her?
What happens if all the pain destroys her too?
Better yet how would you ever face your son again?
How would you even bare to hold the baby that you knew you had failed in every way as a man? That you allowed him to die?
At this Leo could feel the blood in his veins began to move allowing his fingers, arms and legs to come back to life. Now with full use of his body Leo orbed out as fast as he could not wasting another second thinking about what could happen as a direct result of his hesitancy.
There he was racing to catch up. Racing to get to his boy's side as the rain around him seemed to be gaining on him. Spattering against the ground, mocking him, reminding him of what would happen to his child if he failed.
He was getting closer.
The body of his son was now a little larger. He could see his blood soaked clothing more clearly. He could see that he was unconscious and was completely unaware of the danger that he was in. Oblivious to the fact that in just a few short moments his life would be over, that he would die at such a young and tender age.
But he wouldn't let that happen.
He wasn't going to lose his son, not today. Not ever.
Just a few more inches and he could grab him and all would be well.
He reached out his hand as the ground became more visible.
God they were less then a hundred feet away and gaining on the pavement fast, with each passing second as the sound of the wet weather hitting the ground became deafening.
He tried to take hold of the boy's shirt. Knowing that he was still too far away, but he had to try.
He almost had hold of it.
His finger tips could feel the light cotton of the shirt attached to his son's body. He launched forward to take hold.
Yes he had it.
But soon that sweet taste of victory was replaced with the bitter foulness of defeat as the boy slipped from his father's grasp.
"CHRIS" the man shouted losing hope as the ground was now a mere 50 feet away.
But this wouldn't stop Leo.
He would save his son, or damn it he would die with him…if only for a few seconds.
This time he orbed out of his space a few feet above the boy and tired to get underneath him, and he did.
But this time he had misjudged the distance and almost hit the ground but he quickly orbed out again.
He only had one more chance left.
One more opportunity to save to his son.
He close.
So close he could feel the boy's fingers tickling his face but the dark stone was now only 15 feet away.
He reached up.
High up and took hold of something.
He had no idea what it was and he wouldn't until he reformed back at P3.
Had he done it?
He wasn't sure but whatever it was he had orbed it onto the couch and was kneeling beside it as his drenched body caused a small wet puddle to form around him.
He tried to get his breathing to return to normal before he opened his eyes, before he would see his victory or painful defeat.
Then slowly, ever so slowly Leo opened his eyes and took in the sight of…
Across town Piper Halliwell woke up with a start as her heart pounded and her eyes streamed hot tears over her flawless features.
Someone she loved was hurt. She suddenly felt the need to be somewhere, to be with the injured party to help and comfort in any way she could.
Jumping up out of her bed she frantically checked every room in the house only to be confronted with the soft and quiet breathing of her son and her sisters.
She relieved to see that they were safe but the feeling didn't go away. It was as if a powerful force had taken hold of her senses, telling her that everything was not as okay as they appeared to be.
Her mind reeled but then she knew of two people who were missing.
One very important, the other one she could take or leave.
Oh if she only knew.
Going into her bedroom and closing the door she took a deep breath and called out the only two names that made sense to her at that moment.
"LEO! CHRIS!"
You guys are amazing! Thanks so much for all of your reviews. I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter and please make sure to review.