Chapter 3

The room was dark and silent something she would usually welcome in contrast to her hectic and chaotic life but today was different. This particular silence held a mystery to it that caused worry and wonder to dominate the woman's senses, begging her to solve it and bring the truth to light. But she couldn't. Not yet. Not until the two whitelighters were standing before her in a state of good health.

Well Leo anyway.

A howling wind arose as a severe streak of lightning illuminated the sky jolting the woman from her thoughts as the howling winds whistled outside her bedroom window followed by light rain drops that intensified almost instantly signaling that yet another powerful storm had begun. Piper eyes darted around the room confusing the blue force of electricity with the familiar blue orbs of her ex-husband but when the search turned up empty she let go a heavy frustrated sigh. Every second that passed felt like an eternity as the eldest charmed one paced back and forth over the hardwood floors of her bedroom. She then added the wringing of her hands to thee equation as she grew more anxious and fretful each and every time her calls to the two men went unanswered. She wanted to believe that she was just being her usual overly concerned self but the constant nagging feeling in the back of her mind told her other wise.

Suddenly a sharp pain formed in her head and chest forcing the woman to ease herself down onto the bed and stop any and all movement. At that precise moment another lightning bolt made it's way down from the heavens bring along with it a deafening clap of thunder, catching the woman off guard resulting in a loud gasp as she could feel the floor beneath her shake.

"Leo! Chris!" she called out again in a more panicked tone. Her eyes started to tear and her body gave way to tremors it's own as the wave of pain doubled in her head and heart causing them both to pound erratically. She was now sliding off of the bed while clenching the pained body parts, hoping to ease the throbbing just a little bit and restore her back to a level of comfort. The agony she was in was crippling to the point where she could only lay on the floor with her knees curled into her chest while hot tears that were blue from the chaos taking place outside streamed down her face. Bead of sweat formed on her brow, making her run hot with a fever which there was no medical reasoning for and all the while she couldn't help but think about him.

Was she having sympathy pains for the man she loved?

Was Leo laying somewhere in pain, shot down by a darklighters arrow?

She hoped and prayed that her senses were out of wack and that maybe, just maybe she was dreaming, or better yet having a horrible nightmare, one that she would soon wake up from while crying and laughing at the same time happy that it was just a dream and crying because it felt so real. Although she wanted to believe in her little fantasy the pain that was pulsating through her body increased, telling her that this was no dream. No, she was wide awake and suffering right along with someone she loved and if she didn't find the source of her worry and fear soon, then she too shall parish right along with him.

"CHRIS!" she screamed hoping that her whitelighter could be of some use to her for once and bring her to Leo, the man she thought was in so much pain.

Then something odd occurred.

It was if she had spoken some magic word or somehow found an answer or solution to her problems because the pain, the pain that had brought the woman to her knees just a few short moments ago had stopped. Just as suddenly as the pain began it had vanished. Taking full advantage of this opportunity Piper dressed quickly with her mind set on finding Leo. She had already lost him to the Elders once she wasn't about to lose him again to death as well. After she was fully clothed the woman placed her oldest child in his basinet and laid him down gently in the bedroom of his youngest aunt before grabbing her car keys and heading out the door with destination one already in mind.

P3.

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 something red. It was very deeply stained with the color only it was a little darker, almost crimson. His heart nearly dropped to his chest when he noticed that it was the once white tee shirt his son had worn after the boy had orbed out of his arms and into the danger that awaited him at the top of the Golden Gate Bridge.

God why did he let him go?

Why didn't he tighten his hold on the boy and keep his safe, there with him, like any loving father would have?

Curse words filled the once pacifist head as he thought about all of the un Elderly like thing he was going to do to the demon responsible for his son's condition or death? He didn't have what it took to follow the tee shirt down and see if there was anything attached to it, but he knew he had to. If he had saved his son he knew the clock was ticking and there was only a few minutes left to restore him back to his full health.

Come on Leo. Look down. Just look down a little more and you'll know. You'll know for sure if you saved him or if you allowed your son, your little boy, Wyatt's brother to die. Just look. It will only take a second. One glance and you'll know the truth. You'll know if you succeed or failed.

Just.

Look.

Down.

The voice in his head sent the command but now it was up to the rest of him to obey. First things first he had to open his eyes. Not merely crack them but open them, fully, exposing the hazel-green beauty that he knew his son would inherit.

He was doing it.

His eyes were almost open.

Just a little more and he would be able to see everything.

He could now see the lower part of his eyes lids roll up exposing his full sense of sight.

He allowed his eyes to leave the blood soaked shirt and roam down along the cushions of the couch in search of his child, hoping that the force of the drop had somehow pushed the shirt over his sons head almost to the point of falling off.

He searched some more and found something that made his heart sink to his stomach and drain the color from his face, freezing his limbs again as he cried out seeing nothing but the cushions of the sofa covered with the blankets his son once used to warm himself against the cool San Francisco night.

"NOO!" he screamed into the quiet around him as the sound of his voice echoed through out the club.

He failed.

He failed his youngest son. He had let the boy die thinking that he didn't love him. That he didn't care.

He never had the chance to say he was sorry.

Never had the opportunity to make things right and make up for the hurt and pain that his ignorance had created in the life of his son.

A brave boy.

A strong boy.

Someone who deserved love, admiration and praise for the heroic way he sacrificed his life for to save his brothers, to save his family.

My God what was he going to tell Piper?

How was he going to give her the precious gift of discovering a child and yank it all away from her by announcing that same child's death all in the same sentence?

Tears were pouring down the man's face as his left hand was squeezing something hard as he tried to transfer the pain and sadness he was feeling boiling over inside him to this inanimate object.

Wait.

What the hell was in his other hand?

Had he reached up and taken hold of something else and had forgotten about it during the chaos that had taken place during the fight to save his sons life?

Looking down Leo cries immediately halted as he saw a belt buckle resting in his and attached to it was a dark pair of jeans that was once light blue but had changed colors due to the drenching rain that was taking place outside.

He laughed before bursting into tears once more as he saw something far more precious attached to those very same jeans.

His youngest son Christopher.

Knowing that he needed to heal his little boy forced the man to take hold of his senses and place his shaking hands over his son's body. He had new hope. Hope that everything was going to be ok.

Hope that his son would open his eyes and throw himself into his father's arms and together they would work through all of their problems. Everything that had separated them and then they would tell Piper.

She would be so happy to find out about him.

To know that he was her son, a son that they would have to create together, a thought that only increased the man's smile.

But then that smile suddenly faded as he realized that his son was not awakening.

No, he's just been unconscious for a long time, that's why he's not coming around just yet.

The man told himself so he wouldn't fall off the handle.

Yeah Chris will be just fine. He's strong, he's a survivor, just like you, just like his mother.

But with each passing minute the man's faith began to falter. Positive thinking gave way to more logic as his son's condition only managed to get somewhat better. At this he was confused. There didn't seem to be any marks which could mean that this had nothing to do with a demon that this was more of a human problem then a supernatural one.

The blood on the shirt.

The blood trail leading from his son's nose made the years of medical training rush to the forefronts of his mind. Deep down Leo knew exactly what was wrong but he wouldn't dare say it. He couldn't. If he did he knew that his son only had a few hours, a week at best to live.

"Come on son, don't give up on me. Not now. Chris please you have to fight" he sobbed not knowing what else to do.

His powers weren't working any more and he could feel it. He just wouldn't, couldn't give up. Not when he son needed him so bad.

"Damn it Chris wake up! Open your eyes son, please!" he shouted as the sound of a muffled scream filled the air.

He didn't have to turn around to know who it was nor did he even care about the million questions that he knew the woman would. He needed to help his son any way he could. Even if he knew his efforts would be in vein.

"Piper" he said as his sore arms to wrap around his sons body, lifting him off of the cold ground before walking over to his once wife.

"Did you just say son?" she said in voice that lingered between shock and fear.

"Yes Piper Chris is our son but I can't explain right now, we have to get him to a hospital and fast" he said leaning up again the woman and orbing out before she had a chance to speak.

He then signaled for her to open the door to the backseat where he laid down the eerily still body of the couple's son. Grabbing the car keys out of the woman's hand he spoke hastily "Piper get in the car we don't have any time to waste. Chris is dying and we need to get him to the doctor. Do you understand?" he asked now concerned for the mental stability of his ex-wife who was staring into the backseat of the car.

The words seemed to bring her back to reality as opened the door and took a seat in the back with her child. She then put his head on her lap as tears rolled down her cheeks and the engine of the jeep purred.

"Everything's going to be ok sweetie" Leo could hear her whisper over and over again to the unconscious form as he speed through the dark, quiet streets of the down town area hoping that they weren't already too late.

Thanks again for the great reviews guys! I hope you all enjoyed the new chapter :)