"Please tell me you're joking." Chris said quietly as he looked back and forth between his parents in disbelief.
Piper had called the entire family- and their two guests- into the living room so that Leo could share his unfortunate news. Everyone was now sitting in stunned silence as they tried to absorb what they had been told. The glimmers of hope and happiness that had returned since they had been reunited were gone, and the feelings of doubt and fear had returned….
They still didn't know who had caused this mess…and now, they only had eight hours left to figure it out…
The situation had officially gone from bad to worse.
"I'm not joking, Chris." Leo replied, looking sadly down at the wooden floor. "I wish I was…"
The room fell silent once again.
No one knew what to do. No one knew what to say.
Eight hours.
They only had eight hours left to set everything right…
Chris' mind swam with a thousand worried thoughts as he contemplated the current situation. There was a good chance that he could be stuck this way for the rest of his life. It had been bad enough growing up with the knowledge that he was different, but now his differences had become even more apparent…he knew that if they couldn't reverse the spell, he would never be able to leave the manor again.
He couldn't have even a partially normal life…
Neither could Mel, Jenny or Wyatt…
It was a horrible thought.
"Did they give you any more information…a hint maybe?" Phoebe asked quietly from across the room as she clutched onto Cole's strong arm for support.
Chris had never seen her look so pale and worried.
Leo sighed. "No." he stated, surveying his family members sympathetically. "They have no idea who did it. All they know is that it was a demon, and that the spell was cast from somewhere in the underworld at exactly eight o'clock last night. They also think that the reason the spell worked so well is because of the magically enhanced nature of all hallows eve… that's why we need to reverse it by eight o'clock tonight…since it could only be successfully cast within this twenty four hour period, it can only be successfully reversed within this twenty four hour period…"
"Stupid magical technicalities." Paige muttered bitterly from her place on the couch. It was clear that any amusement she had felt about this bizarre situation was now completely gone. Having wings was fun for a few hours, but she certainly didn't want to have them for the rest of her life. "Why does everything always have to be so complicated? Why do these things always happen to us?"
"Come on Paige," Leo began again, looking over at his youngest sister in law. "We can't afford to waste time complaining…we need to keep thinking positively. Eight hours is still enough time to solve this if we all get back to work."
His words were met with various disheartened mumbles.
"That's right." Piper agreed. "We've dealt with worse…"
Wyatt gave a loud scoff and folded his arms across his chest. "We have?" he asked apprehensively. "I'd say this is pretty up there on the 'horrible situations' scale. Don't you remember what Darryl and DJ just told us?"
"Darryl was here?" Phoebe questioned, looking between her nephew and sister. "When? What did he say?"
The oldest charmed one gave a heavy sigh and grabbed onto Leo's hand for support. It was taking every ounce of strength she had to keep from bursting out into tears of defeat. She knew she had to stay optimistic for her sons and her family…but in truth, she felt just as lost as everyone else.
First Darryl's news, now the deadline…
She didn't know how things could possibly turn out okay.
"Yes, he was just here." She replied quietly, her stomach feeling suddenly ill. "He and DJ said that the exposed demons have been causing havoc all night. It's too much for them to cover up for much longer…" she trailed off but a supportive squeeze from Leo encouraged her to keep going. "They also dropped off some video footage someone captured of Chris and Wyatt last night…and they're worried that someone may testify against Mel. They went back to the station to see what they could do…but the sooner we find a way out of this mess the better; they can't keep things under wraps for long."
Phoebe gave a slight gasp and Chris' green eyes grew even wider. "Footage?" he asked, his worry evident. "What footage? When?"
"Someone was filming when you orbed outside to 'rescue' me." Wyatt replied with a roll of his eyes. "But don't freak out, DJ brought the disk here so we could destroy it. As long as this is the only copy we'll be fine."
The younger brother gave a loud sigh of relief as he glanced over at the small round object on the coffee table. He didn't want to know what would have happened if the media or tabloids had gotten a hold of it before the Morris'…undeniable evidence of teenage angels walking around San Francisco would probably be front page news…
So was evidence of a teenage demon destroying a school dance…
"What about Mel?" Chris asked, his heart beating with worry once again. "Was someone taping that too?"
Piper shook her head. "No, there isn't a tape…just a lot of people who saw what happened. No one has testified yet, but DJ thinks that one of the students might be about to…"
"Who?" Chris inquired before his mother could finish. "Do they know who it is? Because if so I will totally kick his…"
"Don't worry about it." Wyatt cut in quietly, glancing quickly at Mel who had not made so much as a peep since Leo had told them of the elder's findings. "Yes, they know who it is, and DJ has already offered to do the ass kicking for us if he speaks."
The younger brother relaxed slightly, satisfied that he, Wyatt, and his cousin were not in immediate danger of being publicly exposed.
Piper's eyes lingered on her boys for a brief second before she forced a wide smile and clapped her hands together loudly, causing all present to turn their attention to her. "Alright then…no need to stall any longer…" she began cheerfully "Everyone get back to what you were doing. We're going to get through this; we always do."
"We had better." Wyatt replied moodily as he reached out to grab for the pen and paper he had been using earlier. "I have concert tickets for next Saturday and there is no way I can go looking like this."
Chris rolled his eyes. "Yeah Wy, that's really important."
"Hey, I paid $150 dollars for those thickets and…"
"Boys!" Piper cut in before Wyatt could continue with his sentence. "Can we please try to focus here. There is no need to worry about any of that; we'll have this fixed in no time."
Chris and Wyatt exchanged a quick glance. They recognised the worry in their mother's voice and they could not help but feel even more worried themselves.
There was no conviction behind Piper's words…
"Now," the woman continued. "There is an entry I wanted to check in the Book of Shadows, Paige why don't you stay down here and help Phoebe with the potions. Chris, you stay and help your brother with the spell, and Leo you come with me."
With that, the Halliwell's began to move off to continue their various tasks. There was a strong sense of seriousness and urgency in the air now…they were all tense and they were all worried…
There was still some hope that the spell could be reversed, but as the seconds continued to tick by their apprehension grew…
They could be stuck like this forever…
All of the years of secrecy and sacrifice may have been for nothing…
The Halliwell secret might finally be revealed…
"We'll have it fixed in no time." Piper muttered to herself as she began the trek up towards the attic. "No time at all…"
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
DJ Morris stood nervously outside one of the police stations interrogation rooms. He and his father had rushed back here from the Halliwell manor, hoping that there was still enough time to deal with Jake McDermott before he officially confirmed Melinda to be the 'demon' which had threatened students at the high school last night.
He glanced down at his watch uneasily.
He had been waiting in the hallway for almost fifteen minutes now. He knew that Jake was just inside the room, but another cop had informed him that the boy was still in a slight state of shock and did not want any more officers to talk to him for the time being.
It was growing more and more difficult to resist the urge to knock down the door and strangle his cowardly neck…
DJ wasn't an aggressive person by nature, but when friends and family were involved he could be fiercely protective. And Mel in particular had always been important to him…for as long as he could remember he had been infatuated with her shining brown hair and her luminous blue eyes…she was so strong and beautiful and perfect, that he spent at least some portion of everyday filled with thoughts of her.
Even in her current state his adoration had not subdued in the least. Sure, it had been a bit strange to see her looking like a demon, but she was still Mel…his Mel…the same girl who had stolen his heart long ago.
It was just unfortunate that she had never given him a second glance…and that she preferred to date 'insensitive assholes' (as Wyatt liked to call them). But even if they were never meant to be together, DJ was determined to protect her from this particular 'insensitive asshole' at all costs.
Mel wasn't a demon. She didn't harm the innocent, she protected them. There was no way he was going to stand by and watch her be unjustly punished for actions which were not truly her own.
The young man jumped slightly as the door beside him began to open. Inspector Jameson stepped out seconds later, looking intently down at the note pad in his hand.
"Can I speak with the witness now?" DJ asked, trying to suppress the anger and annoyance in his voice.
The tall balding man looked up from his papers and smiled. "Ah, yes, of course." He replied. "Sorry to keep you waiting, I…" but before the inspector could finish, DJ pushed his way through the door way.
He was much too nervous to stand around and talk.
He hoped it wasn't already to late…he hoped the snivelling jerk hadn't summoned up the courage to open his mouth…
Heart beating rapidly, he approached the small table where Jake was now sitting. He gave the boy a quick glance before pulling up a chair and seating himself across from him.
He had no idea what Mel had possibly seen in this guy…he was a fairly skinny kid with overly styled brown hair and a small cruel looking mouth. DJ instantly knew the type…rich, stuck up, smooth talking, superficial…and, for some inexplicable reason, the guy that every girl at school was probably swooning for.
But, he observed with satisfaction, Jake's arrogant exterior was faltering greatly as he sat nervously in the interrogation room. He was shaking slightly, his skin was unnaturally pale, and it was clear from the dark circles around his eyes that he hadn't spelt all night…
Evidently the mere sight of a demon was enough to send this guy over the edge.
"Hello Jake." DJ began, his teeth slightly clenched as he attempted to hide his contempt for the boy.
He still didn't quite know what he wanted to say…but he hoped some mild intimidation would be enough to keep him from squealing.
Glancing quickly across the room, he confirmed that the door was shut before continuing.
"You don't look so well…" he said, a slight smirk playing across his lips.
"You wouldn't look so good either if you'd been through what I've been through!" the boy retorted as haughtily as he could.
DJ raised an eyebrow- the kid was a little more alert then he had first thought. "Okay…would you mind telling me what exactly you went through last night?"
"Again?" Jake asked with an annoyed roll of his eyes. "How many cops am I going to have to tell this too?" he paused. "Fine…if you must know, I was a the Halloween dance when this strange grey stuff flooded into the gym and knocked my girlfriend unconscious…but, when she woke up again she had gone all freaky…she was a monster- literally- and then she started throwing fire all around the room. She even blew some kid up- except he didn't die, he just exploded into blue lights and reformed…I think it might have even been her cousin." He paused again and glanced down at his shaking hands. "It was horrible- everyone was screaming and no one could stop her- but, thankfully she disappeared soon after. She must be a demon- like the ones on the news last night- it's the only explanation. She was certainly evil, and she seemed to possess powers…"
The boy trailed off and DJ forced a weak smile. "That's a good story." He replied, trying to look unconvinced. "but it was, after all, Halloween- it very easily could have been a big hoax."
"Hardly." Jake retorted, folding his arms stubbornly across his chest. "I know what I saw; and I know who she was…"
DJ felt himself grow tense. He could tell from his tone that he really did know…that he had seen Mel change.
It was up to him to convince Jake to keep his mouth shut.
"Well…" he began again. "Even if it did happen, what's the use in giving out any names? I mean…"
But Jake cut him off before he could continue with his weak argument. "What's the point?" The boy exclaimed, his watery grey eyes wide with disbelief. "The point is the girl I've been dating for the past month is a monster who needs to be brought to justice! I can't let her roam free…she needs to be captured." He paused. "…maybe even put to death…"
As soon as the last comment left Jake's mouth DJ jumped angrily to his feet, hardly noticing as his chair toppled noisily to the floor.
How dare he threaten Mel like that? How could he so easily betray a girl he had assumedly cared for? It made no sense…
Could anyone really be that self centered and cowardly?
"You have NO idea what you're talking about." DJ hissed, his body now shaking with suppressed rage. He leaned towards Jake until their faces were only inches apart and flexed his arm muscles threateningly. "If you have any respect for your so called girl friend then you will get the hell out of this police station before you spill more then you already have."
Instead of looking afraid, Jake's eyes narrowed at the young cop who had suddenly grown very defensive. "Are you trying to intimidate me?" he asked disdainfully. "Because my father is a lawyer and he will sue you for every cent you're worth if you so much as lay a finger on me."
DJ did not flinch. "I don't care if you do." He replied, his voice low and steady. "Some things are more important then money…sometimes we have to sacrifice ourselves to protect those we love."
"Love?" Jake scoffed. "Why the hell would you care about some psychotic freak of nature? How could anyone love a hideous monster?"
DJ felt his lost ounce of self control snap. "MELINDA IS NOT A MONSTER!" he roared, his brown eyes flashing with the hate and anger he felt towards this insufferable boy.
Jake had gone to far…he had pushed every possible button and now DJ was unable to stop himself from doing what he so deeply desired.
Pulling back a powerful fist, DJ delivered a swift punch straight into the boy's nose.
Jake cried out in pain and clutched his now bleeding face. His grey eyes were watering terribly and it took several seconds for him to muster enough strength to look back up at his attacker.
"You bastard." He choked as he wiped some of the blood away from his mouth. "You'll pay for that…you'll pay…"
Feeling both relieved and shocked, DJ looked slowly down at his shaking hand. He had never lashed out like that at anyone before, and he knew that Jake was right; his actions would have consequences. He would be kicked off the force; his parents would be so disappointed in him…
But, somehow none of that really mattered…he had done it for Mel…he had done it for love…
The boy deserved every second of pain he got.
"Get out of here." DJ said coolly as he looked down at the pathetic excuse for a human being. "I don't care what the hell you do to me, just get out NOW."
Quivering from a combination of pain and anger, Jake slowly got to his feet and began to step cautiously for the door. He was about to reach out for the door handle when he stopped himself and turned back to face the enraged cop. "You do know her." He whispered. "You know the freak…you want to protect her…you love her."
"I said get out." DJ repeated, not wanting to listen to any more of the boy's infuriating words.
"Just so you know," Jake continued, a slight smirk forming on his mangled face. "You're already too late. I told Inspector Jameson everything just before you came in…I told him the freak was named Melinda Turner…I told him that she lived at 1329 Prescott Street. He's probably preparing to head over there as we speak. The monster is going to pay and now, so are you…"
Instead of reacting with more anger, DJ felt himself grow suddenly weak and he latched onto the table for support.
He was too late…
He had failed Mel…
The cops had a name and address now, and there was no doubt that they would go straight to her…he had to stall them…he and his dad had to buy the Halliwell's more time so that they could reverse this whole mess…
That was their only hope.
"Expect a call from my attorney next week." Jake stated, his tone arrogant, as he reached for the door knob. "Maybe if you're lucky you and your precious monster will be locked in adjacent jail cells…"
And with that, the boy walked through the threshold, slamming the heavy metal door behind him. The noise echoed off the walls of the tiny room before DJ was enveloped in complete silence.
'Mel' his head screamed as he drew several deep breaths in an attempt to regain some composure 'Save Mel'
Heart beating rapidly, DJ made a sudden dash for the other door…he had to find his father…he had to stop the inspector from leaving the station…
He had to protect the girl he loved at all costs…
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
An hour after Leo had returned with his news from the elders, little progress had been made in the Halliwell household.
The worry and fear on everyone's minds had done nothing but create tension as they drudged ahead with the day.
As the old grandfather clock chimed to mark the passing time, Wyatt, Chris, Jenny and Mel sat around the living room unsuccessfully trying to come up with incantations to both vanquish the demon and reverse the spell. None were feeling particularly creative, and all were wrapped up in their own troubled thoughts.
Needless to say, they had made very little progress...
"Does gone rhyme with wrong?" Chris asked as he scratched something down onto a note pad. "I need a word that does…"
Wyatt sighed and stared down at his on blank page. "No it doesn't." he replied, his tone not masking his current frustration. "But thong rhymes with wrong…"
The younger brother rolled his eyes. "Yeah, thanks Wy, that really helps." he replied, his voice thick with sarcasm.
"Well, it rhymes better then gone!" Wyatt protested, throwing his notepad down hard on the table groaning in aggravation. His head was throbbing in pain and his stomach was churning uncomfortably. He just wanted to wake up from this horrible nightmare…
"I give up." He stated, flopping back against the couch. "I can't come up with anything…I guess we'll just have to come to terms with the fact that these wings are here to stay."
Chris scoffed. "Speak for yourself. I'm not stopping until this is fixed."
"What if it can't be fixed?" Wyatt retorted, folding his arms across his chest. He knew that he was being unnecessarily moody, but he didn't care. The past two days had sucked and he couldn't force himself to think positively anymore.
"Everything can be fixed…we just can't give up hope." Chris replied with determination. He too was worried, but unlike Wyatt he had not quite reached his breaking point…he wasn't ready to throw in the towel just yet.
Wyatt snorted. "You sound like dad." He muttered as he face formed a slight pout. "And you're both wrong, it's hopeless. It's time to face reality Christopher…you're an angel, deal with it."
"Wyatt, maybe you just need a bit of a break." Jenny suggested rather light-heartedly from her spot across the table. "Getting some fresh air always helps me when I'm stressed out."
The boy's blue eyes narrowed and he looked over at the female witch-whitelighter. "I don't need your advice." He stated through clenched teeth. "Mind your own business."
"Hey!" Chris cut in, turning angrily to face his brother. He would not allow anyone to speak to Jenny in such an insulting way. "Don't talk to her like that! She was just trying to help!"
Wyatt scowled, all of his anger and frustration suddenly bubbling to the surface.
His head still pounded.
His emotions were too much to control…
He couldn't do it anymore...he couldn't keep it all in…
"Don't get mad at me Chris." Wyatt began heatedly, wanting to pick a fight. "She's the one that insulted Mel yesterday! Or were you too blinded by love to notice?" he paused "I have every right to be angry at her after the things she said…"
"She already apologized for that!" Chris shot back, getting to his feet and glaring at his big brother. "You're just being immature because you're mad that you can't come up with a decent spell."
Wyatt stood up and looked Chris straight in the eye. "Look whose talking! What kind of idiot tries to rhyme gone with wrong?"
"You're the idiot Wyatt!" Chris retorted, becoming just as carried away as his bother. "You didn't even…"
But before the younger boy could finish his sentence, Wyatt flicked his hands ever so slightly and blew his brother up into a shower of glowing blue orbs. It took several seconds for Chris to reform, and when he did he was clearly not amused.
"Don't do that!" he exclaimed, clutching his head in pain. "You know how much it hurts!"
"So? You deserved it for choosing some girl over me and Mel!"
Chris drew his hand back and prepared to send Wyatt hurtling into the wall, but a loud voice caused them both to stop in mid battle…
"THAT'S ENOUGH!"
The sound echoed through the room and the two boys turned to see that their cousin had stood up from her seat and was glaring angrily at them both. "I've had it with you two!" she exclaimed, glad that she had stunned them both into silence. "We have a serious problem on our hands and you waste what little time we have bickering over stupid, childish things."
"Mel, we're sorry, we know this is serious…" Chris said gently as he took a step towards her.
The girl drew further away and folded her arms across her chest. "Do you?" she asked. "Because I really don't think you get it."
Wyatt sighed, already feeling stupid for loosing his temper so abruptly. "We do get it…"
Silence hung in the air as Mel looked back and forth between her two cousins. She felt torn between braking down into tears and blowing them both up…
The situation affected them too, but no matter what they said she knew they didn't truly understand…
They couldn't.
"Look…" she began again, he voice quieter and calmer then it had been. "We just can't give up so easily. I know you guys have been having a rough time too- and I can understand the tension- but it unacceptable to just stop trying." She paused and looked down at the floor. "If we don't reverse the spell, it won't be that serious for you…sure, it will cause complications, but you guys are angels…nobody hates angels…you're good."
Chris and Wyatt exchanged a sheepish glance. It was clear that their little cousin was hurting…this spell had put her through more then it had put them through…and they had been to absorbed in their own frustrations to really notice that she needed their support…that she needed them to stay strong…
"Mel, we shouldn't have been so stupid." Chris whispered, noticing that her eyes had clouded over with tears. "We'll get back to work. We'll find a way to set things right…"
The girl sniffled. "We had better." She stated as she slowly lowered herself back to her chair. "I'm sick of this…I'm sick of being a freak. I scare myself, and I can only imagine what others would do at the sight of me. If we don't reverse this I will be hunted down for the rest of my life…let's face it, this is a superficial world, and no one is going to believe that someone who looks like me could possibly be good. I don't even believe it sometimes…"
"I believe it Mel." Wyatt cut it as he moved to his cousin's side and placed his hand supportively on top of hers. "I know what good you're capable of. I know that you could ever be evil…"
"I know it too." Chris whispered, smiling weakly at his cousin.
He felt Jenny stand up behind him and take a few steps towards the young demon that yesterday, she had feared. "So do I." she said firmly. "And I'm sorry that I ever thought otherwise."
Mel could not suppress a smile of her own as she stared at the three whitelighters around her. They all believed in her- they all saw the good that was masked by her imposing exterior…
All of the doubt that she had experienced in these past few days began to dissipate.
They saw who she truly was- and so did she.
She felt accepted…safe…content…
The spell had brought out her worst part, but she had overcome it…she had lost herself…but she had found it again, and now she was stronger then ever before.
"Alright." Mel said, wiping a stray tear from her eye. "Lets get back to the spells…and I expect you boys to behave…don't make me tell your mommy on you."
They both laughed and returned to the table, determined once again to set things right.
Little did they know that much danger lurked outside these walls…
Mel wouldn't stay safe for long…
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
A/N Phew it's late. I want to respond to the reviews but I really do need sleep. I hope this was okay…I've been studying so writing has not been a priority these past few days. Sigh. Please tell me what you think! People seemed to like DJ, so I decided to explore his character a bit more…hope that part wasn't over the top, lol.
More about the adults next time…we'll see how they're progressing…don't worry, somebody (I won't say who) is going to figure it out really soon . This just might be a happily ever after, lol :)
I'm mad that I didn't reach my goal of finishing the story before the 150th episode aired. If you've seen it you'll know that this fic is now officially AU as far was Leo's character is concerned (if you haven't seen it- don't worry, he's not dead…lol…it's something far less major then that) Oh well, what can you do :)
Tata
Leigh
P.S. Somebody asked, and as far as I know, Darryl's son is named "Darryl Jr." (And therefore DJ) I can't recall the episode that confirms this, but that seems to be the general consensus.