A/N:I do not own charmed or anything to do with it.

Note: To clear up the confusion-Kyle knows he is a whitelighter (reasons for which will be explained in the coming chapters-if anyone is still reading). The reason why he didn't notice the cut on his hand healing is that he was in shock over Paige's news, so didn't actually notice that the knife had nicked him in the first place.( I always thought that unless it was a dark lighter arrow, white lighters can' t feel physical pain because they are healed instantly-probably wrong but that's my crazy reasoning)

Chapter 8: A day they won't forget.

2 weeks later…

3 miles outside of the city limits of San Francisco, just off the old highway, there can be found a storage warehouse which used to belong to Nestlé. The warehouse has stood empty for the past 10 years, but should someone of cared to stop and look through the window, on this particular day, they would have been in for a surprise. For just after dawn on the 2nd of May 2005, a demon shimmered silently into the abandoned building, a body draped in his arms. He paused, scanned the room, and after ascertaining that it was well and truly empty, gently laid his precious cargo down onto the floor. The creature he had been carrying was in fact human, though appearences would have signalled otherwise, as they were clothed in leather trousers, and a brown tunic shirt, the unofficial uniform of demonic henchmen the world over. The Demon sighed as he observed the person on the floor in front of him, he would be sorry to leave them, but he knew it had to be done now, the human was stiring, a sign that it would regain consciousness at any moment. He bid a silent goodbye and with a look of sorrow in his eyes, the demon shimmered out.

The person in question slowly opened their eyes. Where am I? were the first thoughts to enter their head, I must have blacked out or something, because this isn't where I remember being.

They attempted to sit up, but the sudden movement was too much, and an over riding sense of dizziness prevailed.

I have to get out of here.

They didn't know where this place was, but they sensed it wasn't safe to remain there. Summoning all the effort they posseseed , they stood up, a brief glance at their watch face showed that the battery had stopped working

Great, I have no idea what time it is,or where I am, hell it could be Sunday for all I know.

Gingerly stepping forward, the person headed toward what appeared to be a fire escape, no easy feet when their head throbbed and their limbs felt like lead. The fire door opened without much effort, years worth of rust having corroded away most of the hinges. They stepped out into the fresh air, surveying the skyline trying to determine where exactly they should be.

This isn't right they thought, as their eyes squinted in the early morning light. Something has gone horribly wrong.

XXX

Chris lay in bed in the attic gazing up at the ceiling. The early morning sunlight was pouring through the gap in the blinds and causing the brightly coloured reflections of the stained glass to make weired patterns on the ceiling. He smiled to himself remembering how, in his and Wyatt's room, the street lamps and car headlights had caused the same effect, and when he and Wyatt were younger they used to try and scare each other by pretending they were demonic shadows, making up stories about how they would vanquish it…

For the first time since he had decided to stay in the past, he felt a fleeting pang of nostalgia- He and Wyatt would never have that same relationship. They had been so close, what with there being only 20 months age gap between them. Of course they would be great friends, in this timeline he reasoned, but a sixteen year gap, that was a different thing.

Before he could dwell on the matter any further, he was distracted by a clomping sound coming from downstairs.

"Phoebe" he muttered.

His aunt had been offered the chance guest present the Agony Aunt session on Good Morning San Francisco for the past week. It meant leaving the house early, and of course Phoebe had yet to succeed in getting herself and Ben ready without waking up every single member of the family.

"Thank you" He thought as eventually the front door slammed shut and Phoebe finally left. "although I don't know why I'm grumbling it's not as if I have anything to get up for."

And it was true, he didn't have anything to do persay. He had spent the past two weeks 'adjusting' as Piper put it. Doing building work on the extension, working in P3 by night.

Truth be told he felt a little lost, he'd spent all of his adult life having a cause to fight for, an ultimate goal, and now there was nothing, just ordinary life stretching out infront of him, and he wasn't sure if he liked it….

XXX

In the meanwhile our errant stranger had been making their way through the streets.

I need to head north,

That had been their goal, for heading north they were hoping to find a familiar land mark. It proved to be a wise choice , as now after an hour of hobbling , some of the buildings were starting to look recogniseable. Had it been any other city then the demonic garb may have drawn attention, but fortunately being San Francisco, hardly anyone battered an eyelid. Stopping at the cross roads to wait for the lights to change, they watched as the early morning traffic began to build, hundreds of commutors starting out on their way to work. A bus trundled by, a familiar advert on the side. 'Ask Phoebe:She has all the answers', blared out in bold red letters.

What? The stranger gasped, recognising the face. Ask Phoebe? Well, I might just do that! And they set off with more determination than ever.

XXX

Chris had finally dozed back to sleep , only to be awoken some 2 hours later by the sound of someone not too successfully trying to creep quietly across the room.

He opened one eye, his hair was across his face in the style of 'Cousin It' but he could see between the strands, his heart froze, a demonic minion was standing over him, fireball in hand.

"No you don't!" He roared tk-ing the fireball into the owner, who flew across the room, crashing into an old wardrobe before exploding into flames.

There followed a thundering sound, and the attic door flew open and Piper ran into the room

"are you alright? What happened?" .

"I'm fine" Chris assured her as he attempted to sit up." Just a little early morning demonic action"

"Demonic ?" Piper practically screamed " I don't believe it'

"Mom, it's not like it's something new" he told her

"why is there always something constantly after one of my sons?" she continued, working herself up into a frenzy, her hands at the ready as if she were about to blow up the room.

"Mom, it's okay I'm alright, I took him out, he might not have been after me, he might have been after the book". Chris was puzzled, Piper Halliwell, eldest charmed one and accepted 'level headed' member of the trio, did not generally have near nervous break downs over demonic attacks. Well, at least until recently she didn't.

"Did you ID him?" She asked as she began to pace the room.

"I haven't had time. Besides, it was a hitman, he could have been working for anyone"

"well we need to find out, and fast" she snapped.

Thinking it best not to argue with her while she was in this mood, he reached up and grabbed the book of shadows from its stand. He began to flip through the pages, his hair fell in his eyes, and he pushed it behind his ears.

"and I told you to cut your hair" she admonished as she began making his bed and folding his clothes. Tidying, tidying was good, she was in control of tidying…

"mom! My hair probably just saved my life!" Chris exclaimed

She shot him a look " but I'll get a trim later" he capitulated and continued to scan the pages.

"it's useless" he concluded after 2 minutes of flipping, "he was just a henchman .I guess we wait for the next one to attack and then freeze him, and find out who his master is"

"and be like sitting ducks?" she screeched.

"Do you have any better suggestions?" He was beginning to worry now, demonic action had been low to non-existent over the past few months but there was no need for his mother to overreact.

"No, and less of the cheek young man!"

"geez, I only said….look mom I really think you need to calm down"

"Calm? I am calm, who says I'm not calm?" She babbled. Then as if all the energy seemed to drain out of her, she flopped down on the bed. "you're right" she admitted, maybe I am a bit wound up"

"You think?"

"hmmm"

"mom, really, what's the matter?" he asked, coming to sit next to her.

"It's just.." she began, and for a split second it looked as if she was going to tell him, before she clammed up again. " Nothing, forget about it, I'm fine. You go back to bed" she pecked him on the cheek and stood up.

"but.."

"I mean it Chris, I think we all need to go back to bed and get a bit more rest."

"OK"

"Good" Piper waited until he had physically climbed back into bed. "do you want me to put you in a crystal cage?"

"what?"

"It's a joke" Piper said, only half lying. "I'll see you later" and she headed back to her own room.

Chris sighed. That's decided he thought as he pulled the covers back over him. My new cause, find out what the hell is wrong with mom.

XXX

At the foot of hill leading up to Prescott Street, the person paused. Nearly there, they reminded themselves, trying to block out the painful cramp in their side, and the unnerving sense of confusion and paranoia that was building inside their mind, contributing to the general nagging feeling that something didn't quite add up. Their paced quickened slightly, as the goal became nearer, the surroundings became blurred as every last ounce of effort was put into reaching their target. On arriving at the house in question, they stopped briefly and looked upwards. The lights on the front of the house were out, in fact one might have thought that the owners had already left for work, were it not for a small lamp burning in the living room window. They leapt up the front walk, taking the steps two at a time, a delirious smile on their face, grateful for having finally made it.

They can help me! They can help!

XXX

In the Living room of the Halliwell manor Paige sat alone in her thoughts, enjoying the peace and quiet of the early morning. She was far from being an early bird, but an upset stomach and a busy mind had prevented her from sleeping so she had decided to get up, and had been sat downstairs since Phoebe left. She was curled up on the sofa, the TV playing silently playing Good Morning San Francisco, Phoebe's face beaming out as they discussed some item of trivia. Jo had been waved off to school, Chris was in bed, Piper was upstairs changing the boys, and she herself should have been half way to work by now, but after her sleepless night she had decided to phone in sick. She drained the last of her coffee, and was debating whether to pour herself a second mug, when the front door flew open.

"PHOEBE, PIPER, ANYONE!" a voice was calling

Who on earth is that? Paige muttered, jumping to her feet immediately.She didn't have long to find out, no sooner had the words left her mouth, when the person rounded the corner.

Shit. The coffee cup fell to the floor, smashing into thousands of little pieces which spread out across the wooden boards. Paige barely noticed, her attention was drawn to the figure in front of her, for there in the doorway, dressed in demonic garb, hair unkempt, and a look of confusion on her face, stood the one and only Prue Halliwell.