Ok, I want to thank you all again for all the feed back. Since I'm sort of following the storyline that the show did, I wanted to let you guys know, that everything that happened on the show is basically happening in the story, with Buffy added in. So, The stuff between the sisters in the hospital and Leo and Barbas all happened but, I didn't put them in the last chapter because, it would take up to much time and space. As to how things will end for Buffy and Chris, you'll just have to wait and see. Also, the italicized stuff all belongs to the WB and people who own Charmed and was written by Jeannine Renshaw and Curtis Kheel meaning it's not mine.
Leo sat watching Chris as he lay in the center of the bed breathing slowly. Buffy stood silently in the corner of the room when he'd orbed in she had said it was all her fault and since then nothing.
"You need to get Wyatt." Chris demanded weakly.
"No, I'm not leaving you." Leo replied as he tried to heal him again.
"It's to late for me, but not for him." Chris demand he turned to Buffy. "It's not your fault, but you two need to go now, you need to get him away from Gideon."
"I"m going to go get Paige or Phoebe, you stay with Chris." Leo said orbing out.
"I'm so sorry." Buffy said moving toward the bed slowly.
"I told you, it's not your fault." Chris said struggling to sit up. Buffy rushed to help him. "Please, I need you to finish it for me." She nodded blinking back her tears. "Don't cry, I hate it when you cry." He said smiling softly as he cupped her face. "I love you Buffy." He said kissing her softly. "But you can't save me, you need to help Leo find Gideon and save Wyatt."
"How? I couldn't stop him last time." Buffy asked desperately.
"You'll figure it out, you're the strongest person I know, not because you're the slayer either, just because your you." Chris replied.
Hospital:
PHOEBE: Leo! (She looks around to make sure no one saw them.
PAIGE scrambles to her feet to stand next to PHOEBE.) Don't you think you should be more careful? I mean, you don't want to bring back the witch trials. (She gives him a big smile.)
LEO: Gideon got to Chris. He's hurt bad.
PAIGE: What? Now, why would Gideon want to hurt Chris?
LEO: To get to Wyatt, which he's done.
PHOEBE: Gideon is the paragon of all good. I told you that. Remember? Smile. (PHOEBE raises the camera and snaps a photo of LEO.)
LEO: But he -- he's not good. (LEO looks around the area to check that no one's listening.) He's trying to kill my sons ... your nephews. How can that be good under any circumstances? PHOEBE: Oh, I don't know, but there –
LEO: (interrupts) You don't understand. Chris is dying! (This stops both PHOEBE and PAIGE from smiling.)
PAIGE: What?
LEO: I have to find Gideon, but I can't leave Chris alone. Somebody has to be with him. Come on, I know deep down inside family matters to you more than this ... twisted sense of right and wrong. You love him. I know you do. And that's gotta trump everything, even this stupid spell that you're under. You have to help me save him. You have to help me save them both, please. (A soft golden glow washes over both PHOEBE and PAIGE as the spell is broken. PAIGE takes a deep breath.)
PAIGE: What just happened?
PHOEBE: I think we were under a spell and he took us out of it.
LEO: Ok. Come on, let's go.
PHOEBE: No. We can't all go. Uh, Piper's being prepped for surgery.
LEO: Surgery? What's the matter?
PAIGE: They're not saying. (LEO's suddenly faced with the possibility that they may lose CHRIS completely.)
PAIGE: Don't worry. We're not going to lose either Chris. (to PHOEBE) I'll go home; you stay here; (to LEO) and you ... (her voice turns to steel) ... you go find Gideon. (LEO orbs out of the hospital.)
"What was that?" Chris asked weakly as they both turned to the door hearing a crash come from downstairs.
Downstairs:
(PAIGE orbs into the manor at the base of the main stairs.)
PAIGE: Chris? (She looks around, listening for a response.) (Suddenly, armed SWAT members in black uniforms pour out from all around her -- the closet, the dining room and the stairs. PAIGE turns around and finds herself surrounded, the barrels of their guns pointed right at her. She raises her hands palms outward in surrender.)
PAIGE: Easy. Easy. (DARRYL and INSPECTOR SHERIDAN run out of the kitchen. They're both smiling and happy to have caught her.)
DARRYL: We got one of 'em. Stand by. (They stop in front of PAIGE.)
PAIGE: Darryl, what's going on?
SHERIDAN: Good day, Miss Matthews. Where's Chris?
PAIGE: Chris? Chris who?
SHERIDAN: Ooh-- DARRYL:
Paige, please. We've been waiting here to give you one last chance to turn him in ... for your sake.
PAIGE: Go to hell. (SHERIDAN viciously backhands PAIGE across the face. PAIGE falls to the ground.)
SHERIDAN: (smiling) Watch your tongue. (From her position on the floor, PAIGE looks up at SHERIDAN.)
Bedroom:
"It doesn't matter." Buffy replied stoking his face as he struggled to continue breathing. "I wish I could take your pain away." She said gazing down at him as he lay with his head resting in her lap.
"It doesn't hurt much." He lied wincing as the words came out. Then the door flew open and the cops stormed in weapons drawn and aimed at the two in the bed. Buffy turned glaring at them.
"Get out!' she demanded furiously.
"We're here to arrest." Daryl began pausing when he saw Chris's condition.
"I guess we're to late." Sheridan smirked.
"Don't." Chris said weakly placing his hand on her arm as she grabbed one of the officers. She released him turning back to Chris.
"Just go." Buffy said sadly her eyes trained on Chris's face watching as the life slowly seeped out of him. "GET OUT!" She screamed as they lingered in the room. She glanced over at Paige and shook her head sadly. Paige Turned walking into the hallway fighting back the tears.
PAIGE: Leo! Leo! (LEO orbs in next to PAIGE.)
LEO: Sorry. I was in the underworld looking for ... (He gets a good look at her face.) -- what's wrong? (The bedroom door opens and two members of the SWAT team emerge followed by SHERIDAN and DARRYL.)
LEO: What's going on? What the hell are you doing here?
SHERIDAN: Nothing. We didn't have to.
DARRYL: I'm sorry, Leo.
Leo rushed to Chris side
LEO: Chris. (CHRIS uses whatever strength he has left and turns his head toward the sound of LEO'S voice.)
CHRIS: (weakly) Hey. (LEO kneels down next to the bed. In the back, PAIGE lingers quietly in the doorway.)
LEO: Hey. I'm here now. You can ... hold on, ok? Hold on ... hold on. I'm here. (He lightly brushes the hair from CHRIS' forehead.) You can hold on, okay? (CHRIS nods.) Don't give up, okay? (CHRIS nods again.)
CHRIS: You, either.
Buffy continued to silently stroke his face, the tears she no longer could hold back rolled down her cheeks dripping down onto Chris.
"What...What did I say about crying." Chris said his breathing labored
"Please, don't leave me." She begged softly. "I can't lose you."
"I already told you, You could never lose me." Chris replied painfully lifting his arm and placing a hand on her cheek. She placed her hand over it holding him there. She bent down placing a gentle kiss on his forehead. "I love you." he said slowly as he took his last breath.
"Chris!' Buffy screamed as his eyes shut. "No, please god no." She begged as his head rolled lifelessly to the side. "Please open your eyes, I love you too, you have to hear me." She begged frantically gripping his hand as he faded into nothingness.
Leo buried his head in the comforter screaming in pain as Paige wept silently in the doorway. Buffy sat frozen staring down at where he'd just been moments before unable to move or look away.
Attic:
(Through the outside attic window, we see LEO standing in the attic. With an anguished cry, he powers up an energy ball and in his grief throws it at a piece of furniture, breaking it upon impact.) LEO: Aaaaaaah! (His grief is overwhelming. LEO continues to exhibit powers we never knew he had before. He smashes another energy ball into the furniture.) (Inside the attic, he turns, cries out and a lethal stream of electricity shoots out from his hands shattering the mirror on the side of the wall.) (He's out of control.) (Pulses of electricity continue to crackle around LEO as he turns to fire out another stream of energy out at the contents on the table.) (PAIGE hides behind the chair, taking cover as LEO continues his rage over CHRIS' death. He picks up the nearby table and throws it across the attic room.) (And he's not done yet.) (With a roar, he fires streams of electricity at the windows, shattering the stained glass raining shards on the floor.) (PAIGE has had enough. She has to get through to him. She gets up from her spot behind the couch, rushes toward him and grabs his wrists to stop him.)
PAIGE: (shouts) Leo, stop it! (He takes a step back from her, pulling away from her grip.)
PAIGE: What are you trying to do, kill us? This isn't going to bring him back.
LEO: (grief-stricken) I promised him I'd get him home safely.
"And I promised him I'd save his brother." Buffy said from the doorway. "So we need a plan."
LEO: Barbas. (He turns around, focusing on what needs to be done.)
PAIGE: Barbas? What's he got to do with this?
LEO: (panting) He's working with Gideon. That's how I think he got to Piper. That's ... how I think he got to me. (As he answers, LEO looks around the attic and the destruction around him.)
PAIGE: Gideon teamed up with a demon for that?
LEO: No. (thinking) An act of Great Evil in our world restores the balance. (shakes his head) That's what I think he was using Barbas for.
PAIGE: So, they're working together. (thinking) That means they must be in contact with each other, right? LEO: (not getting it) So?
PAIGE: So, that means maybe that's a way to find Gideon. The next time they try to contact each other, you just intercept it.
"You should get back to Piper," Buffy began turning to Leo. "We'll go commit an act of great evil. Save Wyatt and restore th balance." Paige nodded orbing out.
"I hope killing an elder is a great enough evil to fix the world." Leo began.
"Your not going to kill an elder." Buffy replied. She put up a hand before Leo could protest. "Do you have any idea what it's like to kill something good, something you loved?" She asked.
"I can't let you." Leo replied.
"And I can't risk losing you." Buffy countered. "If you kill Gideon then what, the guilt will eat away at you, no matter what you think now, it will, I know it. You've been given a second chance, not only to save one son but, to save them both, they need you Leo. They all do especially your sons."
"I can handle it." Leo demanded. "How would you know anyway?"
"Angle wasn't evil when I killed him." She replied. "A friend of mine, cast a spell to return his soul, hoping to stop him, save him for me. And it worked. We fought, I got the upper hand, finally worked up the nerve to kill him. I was about to stab him and he changed, he was the man I loved again, didn't remember anything. He was so confused, and in that moment I was so happy then I looked behind him and saw the portal open, I knew the world would be sucked into hell and I seriously considered letting it."
"I'm so." Leo began.
"Don't." She interrupted. "But, I couldn't. I knew what I had to do so, I told him I loved him. I was such a coward, I asked him to close his eyes and I killed him. None of it was his fault, he wasn't the monster that did all that evil but, I did what I had to."
"And now, I'm going to do what I have to do." Leo replied.
"No, you don't have to." She replied. "I'm going to kill Gideon."
"You'll never be able to kill an elder, especially him, he's to powerful." Leo began.
"I know, I told you I'm not going to kill an elder." She replied pulling an athame from her boot and holding it up. "I'm going to commit the greatest evil a slayer can, I'm going to kill a human being."
"Buffy I can't let you, do you even know what that could do to you?" He asked.
"It could make me evil." Buffy replied. "Which is why I'm counting on you to stop me if it does. So, you stab him" She said handing him the athame, and I'll handle the rest."
Underworld:
(Back in Barbas' cave, we hear LEO'S voice calling out to his son; its resonance echoing in the empty cave.)
LEO'S VOICE: Wyatt? Wyatt? (pause) Can you hear me? It's daddy. Wyatt? Wyatt, can you hear me? It's daddy. (WYATT orbs into the center of the cave.) (GIDEON silently steps out from the cavern doorway behind WYATT.) GIDEON (in LEO'S voice): (quietly) Hello, son. (WYATT turns around to look at GIDEON.) (Five crystals orb on the ground around WYATT, surrounding him. The crystals activate forming a white cage of impenetrable energy around the child.) (GIDEON steps out further into the main cavern.) GIDEON: (normal voice) So sorry to lure you like this. (loudly) Barbas ... where are you? (He slowly makes his way around WYATT.) GIDEON: Barbas! (At the opposite end of the cave,
"BARBAS" appears. He makes his way toward GIDEON.)
GIDEON: It's time. "BARBAS": Took you long enough. GIDEON: Your impatience is growing tiresome. (He holds up the athame.) I blessed it already. Now it's your turn. (WYATT looks from GIDEON to "BARBAS". "BARBAS" stares at the athame before finally reaching for it.) GIDEON: Is something wrong?
"BARBAS": As a matter of fact ... ("BARBAS" looks at the athame thoughtfully. He takes a couple of steps closer to the crystal cage ... a movement which also brings him in front of GIDEON.)
"BARBAS": ... there is. ("BARBAS" reaches forward and stabs GIDEON in the chest. GIDEON glances down at his chest in surprise. He staggers on his feet.)
GIDEON: Why? (There's a white orb flash and "BARBAS" changes back into LEO.)
LEO: (coldly) Because ... you murdered my son.
"What did you do to me?" Gideon demanded swaying unsteadily on his feet. Buffy stepped out of the shadows smirking.
"Sucks to be mortal doesn't it?" She asked.
"No please you must let me stop him." Gideon began staggering back away from her.
"You ready?" Buffy asked, Leo Nodded Calling for the mirror.
"It has to be done on this side only, to repair the balance." Leo explained to his reflection.
"I know, " Evil Leo replied where the Evil Gideon and Slayer stood. "You can't do anything else." he commanded as she slowly backed off turning to watch her counterpart.
"Make it hurt." Evil Buffy called. Buffy nodded turning Back to Gideon.
"This is for Wyatt." Buffy declared Kicking him across the cavern. She picked him roughly. "This for the sisters." She said throwing his to the other side.
"Please." Gideon begged painfully but she ignored his pleas walking over to him. She pulled him roughly to his feet forcing him to stand.
"This is for Leo." She said punching him in the face. Leo couldn't help but wince at the sound of bones breaking he watched as blood gushed from Gideon nose. "This is for Chris." She said Punching him again allowing him to collapse at her feet. He lay there whimpering in agony unable to move. She grabbed him by the throat raising him off the ground.
"And who is this for." Gideon choked out as she stared menacingly at him.
"This, this is for the greater good. Ok, let's be honest, this is for you." She replied snapping his neck and dropping him.
Hospital:
Paige and Phoebe glance nervously at the approaching security after Phoebe's outburst when the world suddenly goes into slow motion before shifting back to normal.
PAIGE: Phoebe, it's night. (Sure enough -- Outside the window, San Francisco city lights gleam in the darkness.)
PHOEBE: (to PAIGE) Everything's back to normal? (They both turn around to look at DR. ROBERTS. He blinks a couple of times.)
DR. ROBERTS: I'll do everything I can. I promise. (PAIGE nods.) Excuse me. (DR. ROBERTS turns and leaves.)
"I guess they did it." Paige said turning to Phoebe as they both waited anxiously for news on their family.
Underworld:
LEO: Our worlds can never cross over again.
EVIL LEO: Take care of your family.
LEO: You, too. (Both LEOs gesture at the mirror at the same time. It explodes, destroying it completely.) (LEO turns and heads back to WYATT. He finds WYATT standing alone and scared in the center of the cage. He knocks a crystal out of formation and deactivates the cage.) (LEO kneels down.)
LEO: Hi. (He picks WYATT up, holding him in his arms.)
LEO: I got you. You're safe now. (LEO closes his eyes and holds WYATT tightly to him.)
LEO: I have you. I have you
Leo watched as she stared transfixed by the blood on her hands as her gaze slowly moved to Gideon's body.
"Buffy." He began cautiously.
"I killed a person." Buffy replied unsurely.
"You saved my son." Leo replied.
"That doesn't give me the right, I shouldn't have." She rambled pausing.
"He wasn't a good person." Leo began.
"That doesn't matter." Buffy replied. "Is Wyatt ok?"
"He is, thanks to you." Leo said stepping closer praying she'd be ok. "How do you feel?"
"Guilty, but not evil." Buffy replied honestly. Leo let out a sigh of relief.
"Let's get him out of here." Buffy said smiling softly at Wyatt.
Hospital:
"Thank god!' Phoebe exclaimed as Buffy Leo and Wyatt came into view.
PHOEBE: (to WYATT) Hey.
PAIGE: Is he ok?
LEO: Yeah. He wasn't with Gideon long enough to do any damage.
PAIGE: What happened to Gideon?
Leo and Buffy shared a look before turning back to the sisters.
"Well talk about it later, we don't have to worry about Gideon anymore." Leo replied. "How's Piper?" He asked as the Doctor walked towards them.
DR. ROBERTS: She's resting comfortably.
PHOEBE: Is she okay?
DR. ROBERTS: We stopped the bleeding, obviously had to perform a c-section, but I think she's going to be ok.
LEO: And the baby ... is he all right?
DR. ROBERTS: You tell me. (DR. ROBERTS turns to the Recovery room doors and pushes the button on the wall. The double doors open. He steps aside to allow the family to look inside the room.) (In the back of the room, we see the orderlies wheeling PIPER'S bed into position. In the front, a maternity ward nurse carries BABY CHRIS wrapped in a blue blanket. She makes her way toward them to show them the baby.)
DR. ROBERTS: Congratulations. He's perfectly healthy. L
EO: Really? (The nurse puts BABY CHRIS in LEO'S arms.)
PHOEBE: Oh, look ... he's beautiful. Baby Christopher. (LEO looks down at his son in his arms and smiles with a new father's pride.)
PHOEBE: (to WYATT) That's your brother. (PAIGE'S eyes well up with tears as she reflects on CHRIS' sacrifice.)
PAIGE: Looks like we didn't lose him after all.
"No, but I did." Buffy said under her breath.
"Can we see Piper?" Paige asked.
"Ok, but only for a few minutes." the doctor replied. As they all began walking into the room Buffy put a hand on Leo's arm stopping him. She gazed down at the baby in his arms smiling softly.
"Can you do me a favor?" She asked quietly. Leo nodded. "Can you send me to the bridge, I just need to..." She trailed off. Leo nodded understanding as he glanced around making sure they were alone before waving his hand and orbing her away.
"Where's Buffy?" Piper asked as she smiled happily at her sons.
"She just needs some time." Leo replied Kissing her on the forehead.