Divine Source

Disclaimer: I don't own X-men or Charmed in any way, shape, or form. I own only the plot.

Chapter 24

Eric didn't scream. He didn't speak. He just stared at Taylor intensely as the flames engulfed him, burning his newly formed flesh and destroying him.

"I love you," he whispered once more to her as his death brought on a sudden explosion that sent the X-men flying across the room.

Chris and Taylor stood, clutching one another. They were used to these explosions so it didn't affect them more than shoving them a few inches towards the wall. Without warning, Taylor broke down. Her legs gave way and she began to slide to the ground.

Chris, not wanting her to get hurt, held her tightly and followed suit. Before long, the two were clutching each other as Taylor buried her face into Chris' shoulder, trying to fight her tears.

The X-men, by that time, were picking themselves up. Logan, as soon as he got his bearings back, began to walk towards Taylor and Chris.

"Taylor," Chris whispered as he caught Logan's eye. The other man was looking at Chris with something bordering jealously and the intent to kill. Taylor didn't respond to Chris' voice, she continued to just stand there.

"Taylor," this time it was Logan. He kneeled down to Taylor's level with his hand out as though to pat the young girl on the shoulder. He stopped, however, when Taylor orbed away, leaving Chris standing behind just as stunned as the others.

Professor Xavier rubbed his temples as the X-men and Chris filed into his office. It had been two weeks since the Woogy had been vanquished. Magneto had slowly, but surely gained most of his strength back. He was still in the hospital wing recovering and was expected to be in top shape in another week. Mystique and Pyro, however, had disappeared. There was no trace of them at all.

Taylor had orbed back after the Woogy's death and locked herself in her room. No one could go in, including Rogue, and Chris wasn't even able to orb in. No one had seen her since their return.

"She's been in there for two weeks," Chris mumbled to Professor Xavier once everyone in the room was settled. "I can't get in and she won't come out."

Xavier looked up at Chris. The newly found witch had become just as scraggly as Logan. The both of them hadn't shaved in almost two weeks, they'd barely eaten themselves, and they were both pretty obsessed with getting Taylor out of her room.

"I am aware of this Chris, but there is nothing I can do," Xavier said sympathetically. "She's not ready to face the world yet and I understand. She has been through a lot."

"Okay, I understand that too," Logan said suddenly as he ran his hands through his hair. "But she can't shut herself off from the world. I mean, she's gotta let us know she's okay, right?" The Professor shrugged.

"I honestly don't know Logan." There was silence before the Professor, on a sudden thought, turned his attention back to Chris. "Chris, you know what love potion was used on Taylor right?"

"From the side effects of it and how it was activated I can come up with a pretty accurate guess," Chris shrugged. "Why?"

"Because," Xavier explained. "If we know what was used on Taylor then perhaps we can figure out the side effects that occur when the spell is broken. Perhaps her melancholy is just a side affect." Chris brightened a bit at that thought and nodded in agreement before practically running out of Xavier's office.

Logan stood outside of Taylor's door wearily. He had been there for the past hour, trying to convince her to speak, come out, or eat. Anything that would let him know she was okay.

Needless to say that, after waiting for such a long time, Logan was in a horrible mood. He growled constantly under his breath and sighed heavily every chance he got. His hair was permanently ruffled in the spots he'd run his fingers through and his hands were turning red from all the banging he'd been doing on her door. (The damn thing had to have been magical because he couldn't rip through it in any way.)

It did not improve Logan's mood when he smelled Chris coming his way. On instinct he unsheathed his claws before realizing what he was doing and putting them away again. By that time, however, Chris had reached him.

"Logan," Chris said civilly.

"Chris," Logan returned in the same manner. This punk got on his nerves. The nerve of him to just show back up and expect to be integrated into Taylor's life.

"What are you doing here?" Logan raised an eyebrow.

"The same thing you're doing here I suppose," he answered. Losing all patience with the witch/whitelighter, Logan let go. "Be honest Chris, what do you want?" Chris' eyebrows knitted in confusion.

"Want?"

"Yeah. What's the point of you being here? You know nothing about Taylor. I don't even really think you care. You just feel guilt for turning chicken on your brother and getting him killed." Chris' jaw set.

"Shut up. I'm here for Taylor. She has no one to help her with these powers and I am more than happy to do the job. As for not knowing her, I think I've gotten to know her pretty well." Logan frowned.

"Oh really," he asked sarcastically. "Did you know that when she's angry her eyes darken? Did you know that when something bugs her she chews her lip?" Chris didn't answer.

"What about you Logan? Do you know that before she fights demons her whole world slows down? Did you know that she fakes that sarcastic exterior during demon fighting to hide what she's feeling?"

"Don't you ask me a thing about what she's feeling," Logan said, his voice rising in anger. "You are just going to build her up and leave again and she can't take that! It'd be best if you left now…before she becomes anymore attached than she already is." Chris smiled slowly.

"So that's what all this is about. You like Taylor. Well I'm not going anywhere Logan."

"Yea you are."

"No I'm not."

"Yes, you are!" Logan's voice rose again in agitation.

"No!" Chris shouted back. "She needs me."

"She doesn't need a damn thing you have to offer!" Logan seethed. "You haven't been here and she's been fine, so why bother now? Oh, that's right…you're making up for killing Wyatt." Chris blanched and opened his mouth to respond with Taylor's door was yanked open.

"Shut up!" she screamed with tears streaming down her face. She was wearing sweat pants and a wife-beater, her hair still plastered to her skull. "This is not about you," she pointed at Logan. "Or you," she pointed at Chris. "Wyatt is not a reason to stay and he's not something to use against me or Chris. I loved him. I still do but by you fighting and using him as an excuse, you're just destroying his memory. Just shut up."

Logan and Chris stood in the hall in shock. Seeing Taylor, however hopeful they may have been, hadn't seemed like such a possibility.

"Taylor," Chris called out to her softly. He moved towards her but stopped when she shut her door.

"Shut up," he heard her respond softly. "Just shut up."