HALLIWELL 2024

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Just wanted to clarify, because there was some question about it… Chris is only 20 years old in this story. Bryan, is the oldest. He is 24. I guess the way I wrote it, it was a little confusing. Anyway, on with the story…

Sheila wasted no time making her way to the office and Bryan was right on her heels. Someone had to take the blame for her being there and he figured, it might as well be him. Chris would be angry. He knew that. But he could take it. He knew Chris needed help.

Sheila swung the office door open and quickly rushed inside. The room was dimly lit with candles, the only light source since electricity to the club had been cut off years ago, but she could still see. And what she saw stopped her dead in her tracks. Chris was laying on the beat up couch on the far side of the room, and appeared to be sleeping. The side of his face that she could see, was swollen, bruised and covered with dried blood. She immediately ran to him.

"Chris!" she cried out as she dropped to her knees in front of him and began stroking his hair. "What happened?" she said angrily, turning her attention to Bryan.

Before he could respond, Chris opened his eyes.

"Sheila?" he said groggily, brushing her hand away. "What are you doing here?" Then, noticing Bryan standing there he added, "What is she doing here Bryan?"

"I didn't bring her here. She just showed up!" Bryan replied defensively.

"Oh man!" Chris cried and tried to turn away from his visitor, "You shouldn't be here. Go home Sheila."

"On no." she replied, grabbing his arm and forcing him to continue facing her, "I'm not going anywhere. What happened?"

"He wouldn't tell me anything." Bryan said, crouching down beside her..

"That's because it's none of your damn business! Chris hollered at him, and then winced in pain. "Just get the hell out of here – both of you! Before you get hurt too!"

"Chris, sweety, just calm down and tell me what happened." Sheila said softly, trying to remain calm. "Did Wyatt do this to you?"

Chris let out a manic, albeit weak, laugh.

"Wyatt? Hell no! Wyatt would never hurt me. He'd kill for me…but he'd never hurt me. It's my curse!"

Sheila exchanged a confused look with Bryan.

"What?"

"See, that about as much information as I've been able to get out him," Bryan explained. "He's not making a whole lotta sense."

"That's because he's hurt, "she said, turning her attention back to Chris. "That gash needs stitches. Are you hurt anywhere else honey?"

"No!" Chris responded, pushing her hand away defiantly.

"He's lying," Brian said, reaching forward and raising Chris' shirt to reveal a large bruise extending down his left side.

Sheila gasped.

"OK, that's it! We have to get him to hospital. Chris, can you orb?"

"Um…I think if he had the strength to orb, he would've orbed out of here a long time ago." Bryan said dryly.

"Good point." Sheila agreed.

"It doesn't matter." Chris spoke up weakly. "I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Oh yes you are." Sheila said sternly. "Come on Bryan. Help me get him to my car."

As Bryan and Sheila started to get up, a voice from behind caught their attention…

"That won't be necessary. He's coming with me."

Sheila and Bryan spun around to find Jeremy, who had just shimmered in behind them.

"Jeremy." Sheila said, almost sounding relieved.

"Mrs. Morris," Jeremy replied politely. "It's good to see you again. I just wish it didn't have to be under these circumstances."

"If you don't like the circumstances, perhaps you should tell you boss to leave his brother alone then." Sheila spat angrily.

"Wyatt didn't do this." Jeremy said, defending his friend. "In fact, if it weren't for Wyatt, Chris would be dead right now."

"I find that hard to believe." Sheila replied.

"It's the truth!" Jeremy insisted.

"It doesn't matter, I'm not letting you take him."

"Don't be ridiculous Sheila. Wyatt can heal him." Jeremy said, taking a step closer.

Sheila immediately stepped between Jeremy and Chris.

"I said…you're not taking him!"

"Really?" Jeremy chuckled. "And whose going to stop me? Certainly not you."

"How about me then?" a voice from behind asked.

Jeremy turned and saw Daryll standing in the open doorway of the office. He flicked his tongue at him threateningly.

Daryll scoffed.

"Put it away Jeremy. It doesn't scare me." Daryll said, brushing by him to join his mother on the opposite side of the room.

"Daryll." Sheila said, surprised to see him. "What are you doing here?"

"I was about to ask you the same thing." Daryll responded, giving his mother a disapproving look.

"Yeah…we'll talk about it later. OK?"

"Oh, we certainly will." Daryll informed her, before turning his attention to Chris. "Can you get up?" he asked him.

Chris looked up for a moment at his old friend, who was now staring down at him sympathetically and then turned his head away. He couldn't believe that after all Daryll had gone through because of him, he was still willing to help him.

"OK buddy," Daryll reassured him, "I got ya."

Daryll reached down, and effortlessly lifted the frail boy into his arms. Exhausted, Chris decided not to fight anymore and rested his head on Daryll's shoulder.

"Mom, grab his jacket." Daryll instructed as he moved toward the door. But before he could get there, Jeremy stepped in front of him, blocking the way.

"You're not taking him! Put him down now!"

"Get out of the way! Daryll yelled back.

"I don't want to hurt you Daryll." Jeremy said honestly. "Don't make me do something we'll both regret."

Daryll looked down at Chris who was now passed out in his arms and shook his head.

"No one can make you do anything you don't want to do Jeremy." Daryll said, raising his head to look Jeremy in the eyes. "Or haven't you figured that out yet."

Jeremy just stared blankly at Daryll-the truth of his words sinking in. And as Sheila and Bryan quickly followed Daryll out of the office, Jeremy remained behind – satisfied with his decision to let them go, but wondering how he would explain this to Wyatt.

To be continued