Chapter 14

"Why are you doing this to me?" Chris cried in a hoarse voice.

"This is beyond my control…"

"I-I c-can't do this… please… haven't they taken enough from me?"

"Christopher… they can not stop what is coming, only foresee it. The rest lies upon your shoulders…"

"I'm not strong enough…"

"The power is within you… your mind is the only barrier that stops you from unleashing it. You can do this… I know you can. This is the reason you were born."

Chris awoke with a low groan. Immediately he felt the aches of his tender muscles as he attempted to shift his legs. His head was slightly healed but still had

the faint trace of a migraine.

The bed that he lay upon felt unfamiliar and stiff which caused a shudder of panic to run through his spine. With his eyes still shut, he strained to recall his last memories.

'Bills. Family. Bianca. Fight. Passing out.'

With another groan, he immediately regretted ever trudging up those memories. He attempted to lift his arm but felt a sharp pain pull against his wrist. Upon opening his eyes, he discovered the IV needle that was embedded into his wrist.

'A hospital?'

At this, he immediately sat up despite his protesting body. The room was small and dimly lit. The only source of light available was the lamp by his bed that was casting eerie shadows across the walls.

Glancing across the room, Chris found a faint smile play on his lips as he saw his family sprayed out across the room dead asleep. His dad on the chair, head drooping to the side. His mom and Aunt Paige leaning upon each other over on the couch. What surprised him the most was his Aunt Phoebe with Bianca's head in her lap.

'Perhaps there's hope after all…"

At his bedside, he was surprised to find both his brothers fast asleep in awkward positions that would leave them sore in the morning.

Trying his best to remain silent, he cautiously moved his legs over the side of the bed. He found that even the slightest movements caused his body to ache and his head to pound. Ignoring his body's warnings, Chris lifted himself off the bed and onto his wobbly legs. He had made it halfway across the room before his unstable legs gave out from beneath him and he fell toppling over a chair on his way down.

The clattering noise awoke the others and before he knew it, he was squinting into the bright light that flooded the room and up into the faces of his anxious family members.

"Chris, when did you wake up? Are you alright?" Came the panicked voice of Piper as she kneeled at his side.

"Let's get you off the floor, first," Wyatt suggested. Before Chris even let out a word of protest, Wyatt had thrown an arm under his knees and lifted him onto his bed.

"I'm not crippled you know," Chris remarked as his Aunt Phoebe began to straighten out his covers.

"What were you thinking getting out of bed?" Leo asked with his brows creased in concern.

"I just wanted some water," Chris quietly gestured towards the fridge that was across the room, "My throat was scratchy."

"Oh," a sheepish Leo replied as Bianca scurried over to retrieve the water for him.

As Chris gratefully received the water from his fiancée and nourished his parched throat, the rest of the occupants shifted uncomfortably in the following awkward silence.

Beginning to feel nervous with everyone's attention drawn onto him, he attempted to break the ice, "So what exactly happened last night?"

Grateful for a release, Wyatt jumped in with a reply, "I'm not really sure. One minute we're all arguing, and the next you're on the floor knocked out and Aunt Paige is dialing 911."

Shocked Chris turned to his aunt and asked with disbelief, "You called 911?"

Looking abashed, she shrugged, "Okay, okay! Maybe I panicked a little! It's not every day my nephew drops unconscious to the floor!"

Trying to hide the smile that was tugging at his lips, Chris began to fiddle with the blanket.

Before another word could be uttered, an elderly looking man with a white lab coat strutted in staring down upon a clipboard. Looking up, he noticed the family's curious glances toward his abrupt appearance.

"I'm sorry, am I interrupting anything?"

Piper replied quickly, "Uh, no doctor. You're alright."

Smiling the man approached Chris's bedside, "Christopher Halliwell, I presume?"

Feeling slightly uncomfortable, Chris nodded, "Yeah, but you can call me Chris."

"Well Chris, it's nice to see you awake. I'm Dr. Erickson and I'll be looking after your case while you're here. I just have a few questions before I run some standard tests on you. Is that alright?"

"Uhm, yeah… sure…"

"The past few weeks, have you been experiencing any sharps pains to the chest region?" Dr. Erickson questioned as he made small notes onto his board.

"Uh… no... but-" Chris made a quick nervous glance towards his family before speaking again, "I've been getting a lot of sharp pains to my abdomen…"

"Chris! I'm your fiancée and you didn't think it was important enough to tell me this!" Bianca exclaimed with her arms crossed against her chest.

Ignoring her outbreak, the doctor continued his interrogation, "How long has this been going on?"

Chris hesitated but before he could answer, Wyatt interrupted, "He's been complaining about stomach pains for a couple of years now. When he was little, he used to get sick all the time."

Dr. Erickson noticed that Chris cringed when Wyatt mentioned this.

"Why was I not informed of this?" Piper questioned with an annoyed glance towards her two older sons.

"Or me?" Leo responded.

Finally noticing his patient's uneasiness, Dr. Erickson spoke up, "I think it would be best if we finished up here with everyone else gone."

"But we're his parents."

"I understand but it would be in the patient's better interest if the rest of the questions and the tests were done in privacy."

Begrudgingly, the rest of the occupants left the room.

Smiling down at the young boy's apparent relief, he asked, "Better?"

Chris immediately showed his gratitude, "Thank you."

"My only concern is for my patient's comfort, not his family's. So has there been any incessant vomiting? Coughing up blood?"

"It comes and goes…. I don't cough up blood, but sometimes it appears in my vomit."

"I see…"

Taking in a breath, Chris stared out the window, his heart thumping with unease, "D-Do you know what's wrong with me?"

Carefully tilting down his glasses, Dr. Erickson stared into the eyes of the young boy that sat before him. His eyes. Saddened by grief, afraid of life's harsh changes. Should he be honest and tell him what his symptoms were really indicating towards? Confirm his fears of the world's harsh nature? Or lie and wait till his diagnosis was positive… stall the pain….

Making up his mind, the doctor gave the boy a reassuring smile, "I can't be positive, but I'm sure you'll be fine. Let's just run a quick blood test and then let you're family back in. Alright?"

Just as the doctor was finishing up the blood test, his Aunt Phoebe's head popped out from the doorway, plastered with a wide grin across her face, "Hi, hate to be a bother but are we allowed back in yet? 'Cause we're all dying out here!"

Smiling, the doctor nodded, "I was just about to come get you guys."

As his family flooded back into the room, Chris resumed to picking the lint off his hospital blanket and forced himself from looking into the faces of any of his family members. He knew the question was coming, and he was afraid of the argument that was sure to follow…

"So we've finished up the tests and Chris here seems to be okay for now. I'll prescribe some medicine for his stomach pains and then you guys are all free to go. I just need someone to pay the bill at the front and the address where I can send the test results."

"Thanks a lot Dr. Erickson," Chris mumbled with a shy smile as he watched the older man leave.

Once again, the tension in the air quickly thickened.

"I think I'll go and pay the hospital bill, now," Leo quickly responded.

Feeling his stomach drop and his face flush with embarrassment, Chris muttered, "Thanks, dad. I-I promise I'll pay you back once I get out."

Leo felt like he had been punched in the gut when his son's words hit him. Leaning over across the bed, Leo placed a soft kiss across his son's forehead, "Don't ever feel like you owe us Chris. I'm you're father, its part of my job." With one last look at his son, Leo left.

"Look, Chris… I know I have no right to tell you what to do with your life… I mean, you're eighteen, but… I really wish you would consider coming back home… things will be different…" Piper begged as she stroked her son's hair.

Chris remained silent as he forced back a sob. 'You have no idea how bad I want to come home. I can't do this anymore… I don't want to be an adult anymore… just make everything okay, again… please, mom… for once… make everything okay…'. However, a glance towards Bianca and her swollen belly caused Chris to bite his tongue. He wasn't allowed to be a selfish anymore… he had more lives to consider now.

"Chris, we can make this work I promise… You, Bianca, and the baby can have my room. I'll share with, Ry. Just give us a chance, Chris… Give me a chance… I promise I can make it up to you. Whatever you want… just come home…" Wyatt pleaded with a hoarse voice.

"I-I know why you're hesitating, Chris. It's because of me and the baby isn't it? I-I know… it may be… rough for the first few weeks… even awkward. But I'm willing to make this work... if you really want this. I mean, when we get married, legally they're gonna become my family too. And I'm sure I can speak for the family when I say this but I want you to be happy. Not just putting up a mask to keep us from worrying… but really happy… I'm tired of seeing you hurt all the time, Chris! To always be the martyr… stop trying to protect everyone around you when you're the one in need! Chris… for once… do something for yourself… do this… let's go back home..." Bianca whispered in tears as she leaned her head onto Chris's shoulder.

"Alright…" Chris's choked voice whispered as he too leaned into the hug.

Wiping the tears from her face, Phoebe exclaimed in a grin, "Alright then, I'll go tell Leo the good news and give them our address."

"I'll go with you, I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm starved," Paige replied in an attempt to lighten the mood, as she held onto her stomach for emphasis, "Anyone else want to join me for some exquisite cafeteria food?"

"I think I'm going to stay here with Chris," Piper replied as she began to straighten out his blankets.

Before any of the others could reply, Chris cut in, "I think you guys should go eat. I mean, you guys probably haven't eaten since last night, am I right?"

"Yeah, but we're really fi-" Wyatt began but was cut short.

"I'll be fine by myself for 20 minutes, I'm a big boy... remember?" Chris teased.

Rolling their eyes, the rest of his family members stood up to leave under his request. But before they left, Chris stopped them, "Uhm… Ry? Can I talk to you for a bit? Please?"

Looking back at the doorway, he hesitated before closing it behind him and returning to his brother's bedside and taking a seat, "Yeah?"

Chris began to feel nervous once again, and stared down upon the blanket as he spoke, some habits are hard to break, "A-are you… mad at me?"

Ryan looked warily at his brother before closing his eyes and putting his head in his hands, "No."

"I'm sorry, Ry… what you said yesterday… you were right… I was selfish…" Chris choked out as he felt his eyes water.

Abruptly, Ryan stood up and grabbed Chris's water bottle before hurling it at the wall causing Chris to jump.

Whirling around at his brother, Ryan grabbed onto his shoulder before shaking him roughly, "What the hell is wrong with you! Tell me cause I sure as hell can't figure you out!"

Growing up with Ryan, Chris had always thought of his baby brother as the pacifist, always one for avoiding conflict and making people laugh. To find his brother transformed into the seething young man in front of him, full of pain and rage… well, it was a little alarming.

Despite the pain from his brother's harsh grip against his already sore arms, Chris bit back a cry, "Ryan… please… I'm sorry…"

"Stop it! Would you just fucking stop saying your sorry! Stop!" Ryan cried out as he continued to shake his brother's frail form.

"I love you, Ry… I didn't mean to hurt you..." Chris choked out with a sob.

He couldn't take it anymore, blinded by his rage… his own faltering guilt; Ryan slammed his fist into brother's face with all his weight.

"Stop it!" Ryan shrieked as he straddled his brother's form and slammed another fist into brother's face.

"Stop saying that!"

As Chris felt his brother's fist smash into his face and pain ripple throughout his frail form, he bit back a yelp and took it… knowing it was the only way to relieve his baby brother from his pent up grief.

He knew how it felt… to feel like your own pain, anger was tearing you up inside. To yearn for relief as you slowly began to die from your own anguish. Wanting to scream, kick, yell…. He only wished that someone was there for him then, to free him from his own hell.

When his arm began to tire, and the rain of fists slowly began to cease, Ryan gave out and fell into his bother's shoulders with sobs wracking over his body.

Feeling his brother's tears soak into his shoulder, Chris restrained his own shuddering sob as he stroked Ryan's hair, "I l-love you so much, Ry."

"Don't do this to me, Chris…" Ryan's muffled voice came through, "Don't… stop saying you love me…"

"Ryan, you're my baby brother…" Chris paused as tears began to stream down his face, gripping his brother in a steady hold, he continued with a choked voice "I'll always love you… always..."

"It's all m-my fault… how can you love me after everything that happened? I-I was an idiot… I was so selfish… I never meant to hurt you, Chris…

please b-believe me… I never wanted to h-hurt you…" Ryan sobbed as his shuddering breath caused his whole body to shake.

"Shh… I know…"

"How can you always be so calm? Hold everything in? Why didn't you ever tell me? I… I thought you trusted me…" Ryan murmured as he rested his head on his older brother's shoulder, too tired to move… or maybe too content.

"I would trust you with my life… You know that…"

"That's the whole point… I thought I knew everything about you! I thought we told each other everything! I guess I was being ignorant all along…"

"Ry, do you trust me?"

"Yeah…"

"Then trust me when I say, everything I do… is for you… I would never do anything that would intentionally hurt you. I love you… I didn't want you to worry…"

"Chris… if you really love me…don't ever do that again. For someone as smart as you, that was a pretty dumb thing to do…" Ryan remarked as his eyes slowly began to droop.

Chris had to smirk at his brother, "Well, love makes you do crazy things…"

"Are we okay, then?"

"Definitely."

"…. Chris?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm sorry I kicked your ass…"

Chris let out a chuckle, "You know I could've taken you if I wanted, little bro."

"Whatever… Does your face hurt? It looks like it hurts…"

"I'll live… i'll live…"

"I'll babysit for a month, okay?"

"I'm sure Bianca will appreciate that."

"So whose gonna be your best man for the wedding?"

"I'm not getting into that."

"You know you're gonna pick me."

"I'm not sure Wy will like that."

"I'm sure Bianca will be looking for a brides mate…"

"If Wy ever hears you refer to him as a girl, he'll orb you back into that lake."

"Are you nervous?"

"About what?"

"Becoming a father… getting married…"

"Yeah."

"You know we're here to help you out."

"I know."

"Chris?"

"Yeah?"

"Are you gonna tell mom and dad I beat you up?"

"No. I'll tell them I ran into the wall… a classic excuse… Besides, Wy will never let me live it down if he found out I got my ass kicked by our little brother."

"True."

"Chris?"

"What now?"

"I just wanted to say, I love you."

"I love you too, Ry…. I love you too."

And as the two brothers slept in each other's embrace, they became ignorant once again to the onward fate the older of the two would be forced to endure. The journey had yet to begin. But with the support of each other and everyone around you, he could survive anything… right?

TBC…

This chapter is dedicated to Jeff3. I'm sorry it took me so long to write this chapter… but I ran into a dead end! Writer's block just sucks… I know it's not the greatest chapter in the world… but it's long! Right? Ne ways… you're turn!

What to expect in future chapters:

I feel so bad that it took me so long to write this chapter, so here's a look at what's to come…

-'What's wrong with Chris's health?' you all ask? Don't worry… it'll be revealed in chapter 16!

-'What's the deal with Chris and his eerie dreams? And whose the other voice in the dream?' Well… you can say his dreams are a little foreshadowing. Expect to see those conversations again in future chapters! The other voice… well… let's just say destiny wants a word with Chris…

-Chris's health and the dreams are sorta intertwined…

-Expect the baby to be born in the next couple of chapters… but not before a major tragedy! It's gonna suck to write this part, but it needs to happen for this story to work.

-Don't let this chapter fool you! I would say things start to go into a downward spiral for Chris after this chapter. So don't be blinded by the happiness and the mushy affections.

-This story is gonna end with a very bitter-sweet ending… Depends on how you look at it. It's a tragedy for some, happiness and freedom for others. To tell you the truth, I'm not really sure how most of you will react to it…. But, on a good note, this story won't end for a very long time… this is only the beginning to the main plot!

-For the next chapter… expect some reuniting to happen with Bianca, Chris and the rest of the family… Maybe some fighting… but it will mostly be about understanding each other and coming to a mutual agreement.

-Well, can't give away too much!

-I have another story in mind… of course Chris centered… but im not sure if I want to start it yet… I think I might just concentrate on finishing this one first… although that may be a while… This new story is gonna be FULL of drama and angst! I think it might be a little over the top… I'm not even sure if I want to post it… hmm… any opinions?