Chapter 6

He stood in a dim corner just a few short feet away from them as he watched on with curious eyes, waiting for the mortal to render the verdict on his brother's life. This mere human was going to tell his parents whether or not his brother shall live or die. Whether the young man was going to continue to draw breath or be deprived of it. The tension in the air was thick and neither he, nor his family was prepared to hear the life altering words that would shatter them all and leave the trio in agony and despair for years to come.

With just a few short words, their lives could be ruined forever.

The newly found child, Piper and Leo's second son, Wyatt's brother who held secrets of their childhood, his best friend yet mortal enemy, the person who held the only key available to his heart would be stolen from their lives or by the grace of God live in it for one more day.

Wyatt cursed softly as he thought about the power that this creature possessed over himself, his family, his sibling and needless to say he didn't like it. The thought of someone being able to shatter his world with only a few words made him grind his teeth together in distain and envy, driving him even more insane then he already was. No one ever had this much control over him, EVER. He felt like a caged animal pacing the floor of his confined surrounds just waiting for the opportunity to escapes and pounce on his captors who had been mocking and taunting him with their freedom and supremacy. He wanted to teach this so called healer a lesson that he would never forget. That Wyatt Halliwell was the only one with absolute power and authority and neither he nor his incompetent colleagues would ever take control of a situation from him again.

After all he was the ruler of the world, heir to Excalibur, the twice blessed son, the prophesized one; nothing was supposed to get to him. Nothing was ever supposed to concern him, cause him to lose his cool and succumb to pathetic human emotions. It wasn't presumed to be possible, but yet here he was.

And it was all because of him, his baby brother.

The boy who was nothing more then a spoiled little brat who had to have everything go his way. The boy who would fight him tooth and nail, holding on to the naïve notion of good and evil, right and wrong that his mother and aunts and instilled in them both. The only difference was that he wasn't blinded by undying loyalty; no he was strong and smart enough to see the truth and did the only thing that felt right. The only thing that made since to him and that was to take over both sides, giving him the ultimate power and keeping the only person he had left safe. Too bad Christopher never quite grasped that particular concept.

Damn it.

If he wasn't so damn stubborn like their mother and father then he wouldn't be in this mess. He would have been right by his side and then he would have been able to heal him, unlike their useless father. His brother would have been safe if he hadn't embarked on this ridiculous quest to "save" him from some imaginary evil that turned him. Wyatt had to snicker to himself at the thought of the absurd idea, but that was his baby brother, always having to make things more difficult then what they actually were.

In reality no one had turned him. Life and lost had done it. Nothing more, nothing less. Just facing the harsh truth that choosing sides and pinning the so called good guys against the bad guys only got his family killed in the end and never had any actual winners, only losers with someone occasionally gaining the upper hand. Now with him in control there would be no more lost. Except those who opposed him. Then they would have to pay a very heavy price. But in the end he was happy with his life. No one now wielded the power to rip his remaining family from him, well at least that's what he thought.

Lifting his eyes once again and retuning his hearing to the voice of the doctor before him Wyatt listened in on the conversation that would change his life as he knew it forever.

"Mr. and Mrs. Wyatt" He began as Piper felt her breath become lodged in her chest. He then spoke the seven words no parent ever wants to hear when one is speaking of their child.

"I'm afraid I have some bad news" the doctor continued as he looked between the rather young parents. He could see the pain and anticipation in their eyes, sprinkled with just a bit of hope, in which he would have to take away. He always hated giving families bad new and today, for some reason he felt even worse. In that moment he could feel his features start to tingle and tears well up in his eyes but he had to hold it all in, after all giving bad news was part of his job.

"Yes doctor" Leo found his voice as he held a wavering Piper in his arms. The man tightened his grip on the woman and had it not been for his strong arms securing her within them the young mother would have surely hit the floor. It was taking everything Leo had not to fall apart again as he eagerly awaiting the information that he had already known was coming. And he dreaded it.

After all Leo Wyatt was a very well known doctor in his time before he had headed off to war and knew the symptoms that his child had could only mean one thing but he couldn't say it. Not until the doctors were sure. He couldn't break Piper's heart like that and shatter her already fragile mind, it would be too much for her to bare. Hell it would have been too much for him to comprehend as well. But now the hour was upon them as they looked at the teary eyed doctor, holding on tightly to each other as they held their breaths waiting to hear the words that both had dreaded since their arrival at SFM.

"I'm afraid your son has a brain tumor" he said now looking down to the floor slightly angry with himself for not possessing the skills or the nonexistent medicine to save the boy. He could now hear the heavy sobbing and screams of the boy's mother as she collapsed down to the floor suddenly unable to support her own weight.

He didn't want to continue. He didn't want to say the last few words that would probably send the woman into a state of catatonia, but he had too. Just a few more words and he will be able to run off to the lounge and release tears of his own.

"And I" he paused for a moment to take a deep breath as neither Piper nor Leo bothered to look up, both too lost in their own grief and despair. "And I'm sorry to say that he's not breathing own his own right now" he said as the water escaped his eyes and made their way down his reddened cheeks. "Umm, he's hooked up to a respirator and a few ivies with medication to help ease the pain" he paused once again as the boy's mother continued to sob into her husbands chest as the man shifted his gaze to look up at him.

"How much longer does he have?" Leo spoke in a low voice almost as if he already knew the answer to the question.

The young doctor voice seemed to fade away at the sound of the question and the pained look in the father's eyes.

How was he supposed to say this?

How was he supposed to hand down this unfair and unjust verdict?

How was he supposed to get through this and tell the seemingly loving parents that their son didn't have more then a week to live?

Images of his own son flashed through his head as he suddenly felt the need to call him and his wife to make sure that they were safe and well. Part of him felt horribly selfish for his train of thought but he was only human and taking in the scene before him made him realize just how turn that statement was.

"Christopher only has three days to live" he said before quickly adding "He's in room 204 I advise you to visit him this very second. My earlier estimate was a generous one" he finished abruptly before he headed off through the double doors and out of sight.

"Piper" a heartbroken Leo spoke as he pulled both himself and his ex-wife to their feet. "We have to go see him" he barely chocked out as he began to lead both he and his wife to their destination.

Down through the quieter section of the hospital Piper and Leo slowly made their way to down the corridor of the bare halls, holding their breath the whole way while trying to prepare themselves for what they were going to see.

They were now passing room 200 where a mother and son pair were crying over what they assumed was their husband and father as the nurses covered the man with a white sheet right before the woman passed out while her son stood motionless, staring down at the body of his father.

Across the hall in room 201 the scene was no better as mother and father sat on either side of their unconscious little girl while reading her a bedtime story holding each other close, trying not to cry and alert their child to their pain.

Next to them in suite 203 was an elderly man sitting by his wife's bed side willing her to awaken while telling her about how much he needs her and how his life held no meaning without her in it. Removing their eyesight from the painful scene the couple came to a stop when they took in the room number across the hall.

They were here.

Standing outside the closed door of room 204 Piper and Leo looked at each other for a short moment before walking over to the door and turning the knob.

When they opened the door all they could see was machines.

Lots and lots of machines all hooked up to their little boy who laid static in the center of it all with white bandages wrapped around his head. Leo had to steady himself as he took in the sight of his helpless little boy who had given up so much for his family only to end up in his current state. The man couldn't help but wonder how long the tumor had been around or if it was treatable at first while making a promise to himself to stay on top of his son's heath as he grew up to ensure that this scene never takes place again. Slowly he walked up behind his wife who the second she felt his presence turned around and buried her face in his chest to block out the horrible image before her.

They were both so focused on Chris that the presence of the tall blond man holding a trembling set of hands over the boy with a golden light illuminating from them didn't concern the couple. But as Leo looked at the teary eyed male all the features his face held instantly reminded him of his own. His hazel-green eyes, the messy blond hair, the strong jaw line, everything resembled both he and the younger version of his eldest son.

"Wyatt" the man questioned as he led his wife over their his son's bed side.

"LEAVE ME ALONE I HAVE TO CONCENTRATE!" the man yelled as closed his eyes and focused so hard you could see the veins popping out of forehead.

"Wyatt?" a puzzled Piper looked as a glimmer of hope appeared in her eyes. "He's here to save Chris" she smiled slightly to Leo who only gave her and their son a sympathetic look.

"It's not going to work son" he spoke with a tone of pain and heartbreak.

"YES IT WILL! I'M WYATT HALLIWELL DAMN IT I CAN DO WHATEVER THE HELL I WANT" he screamed forcing Leo to close the door to keep the affairs of his family private.

"He's right Leo. He can save Chris so just be quiet and let him concentrate. Let him safe his brother" warned Piper who rang her hands together as she expected her son to open his eyes at any moment.

Leo didn't have the heart to tell both mother and son that their efforts and raised hopes were in vein so he pulled his wife into a set next to his son's bed and sat down beside her and waited for his son to tire himself out and realize that nothing he could do would save his brother. And when this information came to pass he would have to prepare himself for all hell to break loose.

Thanks for all the amazing reviews and yes in this story magic can not heal mortal aliments. But it could still turn out ok, maybe. (Incert Evil laughter here)