A/N: Wrote this entire chapter in two sittings listening to Ryan Adams so I apologize if the dialogue is a little twangy.
Thanks go to: Starry Sky 44, girl-with-the-green-eyes, Charmed Ravenclaw, mjp3, icantthinkofafnick and Sparkling Cherries. Thanks for sticking with me. I think my writer's block is finally starting to lift.
The End of All Things
Chapter 8
It was pouring.
The rain was coming down in thick sheets, instantly drenching the trio as they orbed just outside the gates to the city. Overhead, the grey overcast of the clouds filtered out any hope of sunlight, instead casting a depressing dreariness over the entire landscape.
The 'gateway' to New San Francisco stood imposingly in front of the three friends, the erected ironwork stretching a somewhat tall 20 feet above their heads.
Les looked at his companions to his left and then his right, "So…think someone is expecting us?"
Kyle shrugged while DJ sighed, clearly about as enthusiastic about being there as getting his teeth pulled, "Let's just get this over with."
Waving his hands trying to attract attention, Les yelled out, "Hey! Anyone there? Hello?"
A slight movement caught his eye as a head popped up and peered over the top of the gate. "Yeah? What do you want?"
"Friendly, aren't they?" Les muttered under his breath. Cupping his hands around his mouth, he responded loudly, "We're from the Resistance. Sheridan's expecting us."
Overhead, the man's head disappeared for a couple minutes before reappearing, "Where's your ID?"
"Oh for Christ's sakes," Les mumbled, thoroughly irritated. Fumbling in his pockets, he patted his pants pocket for his newly minted papers as his companions did the same. As his fingers latched onto the laminated card, he flipped it vaguely towards the border guard, wondering how the hell the man expected to see it from his vantage point to verify his identity.
"Well, I can't see it from down there," the guard pointed out, crabbily.
Well, duh…Les thought, struggling to hold onto his wafer thin temper. "What do you want me to do then?"A pause, and then, "Slide it under the gate."
Glancing back at DJ and Kyle in surprise, who shrugged back in response, the trio began to approach the gateway, coming to an abrupt halt as an arrow was fired at their feet, causing them to stumble back. Mad, Les stared up at the guard, "What the fuck! Are you retarded? You told us to slide our papers under the gate!"
The man spat to one side, "Only one of you needs to do it. Tell the other two to back off!"
Les' eyes widened slightly. This is ridiculous…if we didn't need to know what happened to Kate…Gathering his friends' cards, Les cautiously took a step forward, ready to approach the gate again. Reaching the massive portal, he carefully knelt down, shoving the cards beneath the iron fence. Straightening, he winced, noticing the thick layer of mud sticking to his knee. Shivering in the rain, he slowly moved back towards his two friends who were eyeing the border guard suspiciously. "Well? Can we at least wait inside?" Les wanted to know. "It's bloody wet out here, in case you didn't notice."
"Hold your bloody horses," the guard snorted, completely unsympathetic. "You'll get in soon enough."
Ten minutes later, they were still waiting.
Les glanced sideways at DJ. :This does not bode well: he thought telepathically, including both DJ and Kyle in his thoughts.
:They're just nervous: Kyle thought back reassuringly.
:Bloody bastards…what I want to know is what's taking them so long? It's just three pieces of paper for God's sakes: DJ glared angrily upwards, his hair completely matted against his head from the cold rain. He looked like a drowned rat, his clothes now plastered against his frame.
:I suspect they're making us wait just for the fun of it: Les replied grimly. He shivered again as the rain managed to find its way through every opening in his clothes. Glancing at Kyle, Les had to admit he took a strange sense of satisfaction seeing the normally pristine whitelighter's white robes dripping wet. At least he wasn't the only one who was miserable.
:But why: Kyle asked, bewildered.
:For sheer anal retentiveness: DJ grumbled, :That's why.:
Choking back on his laughter, Les ended up emitting a noise somewhere between a snort and a guffaw. Seeing DJ's disgusted look only made him laugh all the harder. He quickly swallowed his amusement as the gate began to creak open. The border guard gestured at them impatiently, motioning for them to come forward. The trio quickly approached the gate, slipping inside, grateful for the guard post's shelter from the unforgiving rain.
Inside, five guards were lounging around, eyeing the three Resistance members insolently. "Guess it's raining outside, eh?" one of them observed sardonically as the others laughed rather derisively.
Les ignored the unwelcoming feeling in the pit of his stomach, narrowing his gaze on the border guard they had been dealing with. He shot the guard an unreadable look, "Are we good?"
The guard shrugged rudely, "Everything checks out." He held out the ID cards, jerking his head in the vague direction of the city hall, "These are yours. Sheridan's expecting you."
"Thanks," Les replied, his tone barely civil. Asshole.
Retrieving their papers, the trio brushed past the guard, doing their best to ignore the man and his companions' rude behaviour. In front, the city streets were empty; the hard rain driving most sane people indoors. To their right, the scaffolding from a building under construction offered some meagre shelter from the rain. Choosing the sheltered path, even though it was the long way around, Les winced as he heard the undignified squelch of their shoes as they left puddles in their wake. He sighed, disheartened by the treatment they had just received. What the fuck is going on?
"What the fuck was that about?" DJ jerked his head back in the direction they had come from, voicing Les' thoughts exactly.
Kyle blinked stupidly, "What are you talking about?"
Les rolled his eyes. Did becoming a whitelighter automatically result in dropping twenty IQ points? If so, it certainly was something he hoped would never happen to him. "He's talking about the jackasses back there."
"We should have kicked their asses," DJ grumbled. "Uppity bastards."
"I didn't notice anything unusual," Kyle frowned.
"You wouldn't," Les muttered under his breath.
"What was that?" Kyle asked loudly over the fall of the rain.
"I said – ," Les started to repeat himself, as a movement caught his eye. Stopping abruptly, Les stared off in the distance, squinting into the rain.
"Les? What is it?" DJ looked in the direction Les was staring in. Not seeing anything, he repeated his query, "Les?"
"I thought I saw something…" Les replied, moving in the direction of his gaze and indirectly, out of the meagre shelter of the scaffolding overhead.
"Hey! I thought we were suppose to see Sheridan!" Kyle protested.
"Les," DJ placed his hand on Les' shoulder to stop him. "Kyle's right. She is expecting us. We should get going."
Les shrugged off DJ's hand, "You guys go on ahead. I'll catch up."
Trading glances with Kyle, DJ sighed resignedly, "All right. But be quick, okay?"
Already consumed by his curiosity, it was apparent that Les was only half-listening, "Yeah. Yeah, okay." He took the path to his left, quickly moving away from his friends as he dashed out into the pouring rain.
Giving Les' back one final look as he disappearing into the greyness of the landscape, DJ shook his head, meeting Kyle's expectant gaze, "Let's go."
Watching her sister from a few feet back, Piper turned to her other sister who was standing next to her, "So where did you go before?"
"So you're sure you don't remember her mentioning anything?" Paige was saying, standing a few feet away, her question directed at a wood nymph.
Shaking her blond hair, the wood nymph apologized, "I'm sorry I couldn't be more help."
"Hmmm?" Phoebe replied absently, not really hearing Piper's question, her eyes carefully watching the nymph's body language. "She's definitely telling the truth."
"Before," Piper said rather impatiently, turning away from the scene of Paige and the wood nymph to focus her brown eyes on her younger sister. "Back at base."
Phoebe shrugged, her eyes studiously avoiding Piper's as she pretended to be really interested in the scene unfolding in front of her. She wanted to keep the knowledge of her budding relationship with Les to herself for just a little while longer. "Nowhere, really." Besides, Phoebe could practically hear Piper's arguments – you're both from different times…how is it going to work…he's, like, ten years old in our time, Phoebe!
All good arguments, really, Phoebe sighed. So then why am I so happy?
Piper rolled her eyes, "Fine. If you don't want to tell me, you could just say so."
"Fine. I don't want to tell you," Phoebe grabbed at the excuse, replying quickly.
Piper's mouth dropped open in disbelief, "But you always tell me everything."
Phoebe rolled her eyes, "You just said…"
"I know what I just said!" Piper cut her sister off. "I just –,"
Paige nodded as the nymph took her leave, "Thanks anyways." Looking at her sisters, she walked over to where they were standing, "Well, that's zero for five hundred, or there about."
Piper groaned. The sisters had tracked down every magical contact they had ever had, trying to find out if anyone knew what had happened to the valkyrie before she went missing. Although they hadn't quite questioned five hundred beings, it certainly felt like they had. "This isn't getting us anywhere," Piper groused.
"No kidding," Phoebe agreed, "and my feet are killing me." She looked around and not finding anywhere to sit, abruptly plopped down on the ground. Massaging her foot, she glanced up at her sisters, "So what now?"
Paige shrugged, counting off on her fingers, "Well, we've asked all our contacts that we know of – leprechaun, fairies, nymphs and ogres. I can't imagine who else we could ask?"
"How about the woodland creatures?" Phoebe joked, as she rotated her ankle. "Owww. Owwww!"
"Stop doing that and it won't hurt," Piper admonished her sister automatically. Rubbing her forehead wearily, "So I guess we're done here?"
Paige nodded tiredly, "I think so. And all we have is a big, fat zero. Chris is not going to like this."
"Yeah, somehow I don't think he's the type of guy that takes the news of 'dead end' well," Phoebe rolled her eyes.
"Hey! That's my son you're talking about!" Piper exclaimed rather indignantly. At the looks her sisters shot her, she conceded, "Okay. Maybe a little. He is rather driven."
"So should we head back to base and wait for the others?" Paige asked, looking at her watch. "What the hell time is it anyways?"
Phoebe shook her head, getting up reluctantly, "Don't bother trying to figure it out. Time travel will always give you a headache."
Piper frowned, "I'd much rather go help Chris and Leo than sit on my hands, twiddling my thumbs waiting for those two to show up."
"Sounds like a plan," Phoebe gestured at Paige. "Think you can orb us to them?"
Closing her eyes, Paige reached out with her inner sense. Nodding affirmatively, she held out her hands to her sisters, "I think I've got a lock on Leo. Come on, let's go."
Stepping forward, Phoebe and Piper each took a hand so that Paige could orb them away to Piper's erstwhile son and husband.
And as they disappeared in a swirl of orbs, Piper's voice could be heard, as she repeated her question to Phoebe.
"So where exactly did you disappear to before?"
DJ and Kyle long forgotten, Les jogged down the street, doing his best to ignore the sharp sting of the icy rain. Stopping abruptly, he looked to his left and then his right. He shaded his eyes to try to keep the rain out, peering intently. The rain was coming down so hard now that he could barely see more than a couple of feet out in front of him.
The area was completely bereft of any activity.
I'm sure…I'm sure I saw…Had it been his imagination? He was sure he had seen the man standing right there, but then DJ had distracted him and when he had glanced back, the stranger was gone.
This is stupid…I'm out here, drenched to the bone in the freezing cold, chasing ghosts. And for what? Because my gut says I saw something?
Sighing, Les turned to head back the way he had come with the hopes of catching up to his friends before he was too far behind when his foot hit something. He glanced down.
The manhole cover was slightly off, not properly in place, causing Les to trip over it slightly. Reaching down to replace it before someone else tripped over it carelessly, he noticed something sticky as he gripped the sides.
Pulling his hand away, Les blinked stupidly at his hand, the red nappy substance sticking to his fingers even as the rain began to wash it away. What the fuck?
Looking at the manhole again, he flung the cover aside. He'd been in too many battles, seen too many friends die, to not know the substance for what it was.
Blood.
Wiping his hands on his pants, he ignored the red streaks and following his instincts, he quickly clambered down the ladder into the sewers. Dropping lightly the last couple of rungs, he winced as his feet landed with a splash. Good thing I'm already wet. His nose wrinkling from the putrid smell, Les yanked the collar of his shirt over his nose and began to breath through his mouth. The gas lighting of the tunnels gave off a low light, highlighting the shadowy darkness. At least I'm out of the rain…
"Hello?" Les called out. "Anyone down here?" The only response he received was his echo and grimacing, Les shrugged, and randomly picked a direction.
I guess I can always double back, Les sighed. Why do I always have to be so damn curious? Remembering the blood on his hand, he could only imagine that someone was in trouble and could seriously need his help.
Sheridan would have to wait.
Wading forward, Les touched a spot on the wall, his hand coming back with more blood. Grimly, he began to enter the tunnels, hoping that whoever he found was still alive.
He never noticed the gleaming pair of eyes that bore into his back.
"Do you even know what you're looking for?" Leo asked, sceptically.
Chris shot an annoyed glance at his father, "If I knew what I was looking for, I would know who killed Kate, wouldn't I?"
They were in the middle of the forest, on the outskirts of Valhalla. As promised, Leo had orbed himself, Chris and Michael to the valkyries home. Although not exactly happy to see them, the valkyries had reluctantly allowed Chris and his companions' unrestricted access to Valhalla, trusting in Chris' reassurances and their friendship with the young Halliwell. Leo had been impressed. The valkyries were notorious for distrusting any and all outside of their own. But Chris was accorded an acceptance by the warrior women that was rare and virtually unheard of; Leo didn't even know any Elders who had received that privilege.
Watching Chris move slowly through the forest, Leo wondered once again what they were doing in the wilderness. Michael had disappeared into the nearby village with Jack, the Resistance's liaison with the valkyries, who had come to meet them. Chris had assigned the two to question the valkyries in an effort to trace Kate's last steps before indicating that he was going to take a look around. As the pair took their leave, Leo had trailed after his son into the nearby forest, reluctant to allow him out of his sight.
"Do you think it was wise for Michael and Jack to be on their own?" Leo questioned, as Chris carefully knelt in the grass.
Reaching out with his hand, Chris picked up some dirt between his fingers, rubbing it between his index finger and thumb thoughtfully, replying, somewhat absentmindedly, "Huh?"
"Michael and Jack," Leo repeated again, patiently. "Shouldn't you have gone with them to question the valkyries? I mean, that's what we came here to do, right?"
"Hmmmm…" Chris ignored Leo, his concentration focused on the ground. Shifting forward, he tilted his head to the left and then to the right, seeing something only he could see.
"Chris!" Leo moved around his son to stand in front of him, clearly blocking his path. "What about Michael and Jack?"
Sighing reluctantly, Chris rose to his feet to face his father, "They'll be fine. Michael's got a cop's instinct. He was a rookie in the S.F.P.D. before everything went down. And Jack will back him up. They've worked together before. They know the routine. They don't need us." Edging around Leo, "Do you mind?"
Stepping to one side, Leo shook his head in confusion, "So if Michael and Jack can question the valkyries on their own, what are we doing here? Shouldn't you be getting some rest then?"
"Mmmmmm…" Chris reply was incoherent, his attention clearly focused elsewhere. He began to jog forward lightly, stopping every once and awhile to change his direction slightly. "Did you know Kate liked to walk these forests? She always said it helped clear her mind."
Trailing after his son, Leo watched Chris' antics puzzled. "Chris?"
Hearing the question in his father's voice, his concentration momentarily broken, Chris turned back to face Leo. "See that?" Chris pointed at a nearby bush, "The branches are broken. It means something or someone came through here."
Leo blinked. "You're tracking Kate?"
Chris shrugged nonchalantly, "I don't know that it's Kate, exactly." He motioned to Leo to come closer, pointing towards the ground, "But the size of the shoe prints match Kate's, and the depression seems to match what her weight and height would be." Sighing, he pointed out something else, "It's this second set of tracks that worry me."
Leo looked at his son in astonishment, "How do you know all these things?"
Chris' eyes slid away from Leo's, "Bianca taught me."
At the mention of his son's dead fiancé, the former assassin, Leo nodded knowingly. An assassin would have to know how to track her prey so it made sense that it was a skill the woman would have had. However, Leo wasn't sure how he felt that she had obviously taught Chris the skill. What other assassin skills would she have taught him?
"How to defend myself," Chris replied shortly.
"What? How did you know I was thinking…" Leo sputtered.
"It was clear by your expression," Chris said emotionlessly. "You were wondering what other nefarious skills Bianca taught me. Like how to kill. Right?"
Leo coughed uncomfortably, "I just…she…she was an assassin, Chris."
"I know what she was, Dad. It wasn't a secret or anything," Chris fingered the bark of a nearby tree, his hand slowly caressing it. "Someone came by here. Recently."
Trying to keep up with his son's jump in topics, "I just…I mean…I…" Leo stuttered, trying to voice his thoughts properly, "I understand you needed those skills. And I…appreciate that she was able to teach you…them. But…but I wish…I wish you didn't need to learn."
"Ostrich in the sand was never my forte," Chris ran his fingers along the ground, his entire being focused on the task at hand. He said, without rancour, "That was more yours, I believe."
Leo winced.
Chris sighed. "I'm sorry. That was uncalled for. It's not like you even know what I'm talking about."
"I would if you shared," Leo replied rather quickly.
Chris snorted, "You know my answer to that."
"Future consequences," Leo shook his head. "I have to admit, even I'm starting to find that excuse wearing thin." When Chris didn't answer him, Leo prompted, "Isn't there anything you could tell me?"
Chris' tone was guarded, "You know I can't."
"I'm not talking about something that could be impacted by future consequences, Chris!" Leo said, slightly exasperated. "I'm talking about you. Tell me something about you."
"There's nothing to tell," Chris responded, rather gruffly.
Leo tried to ignore the sharp pain in his heart at Chris' tone. He longed for a good relationship with his son, and while it appeared Chris had set aside his resentments, it was clear they were a long way from the father son relationship he somehow always pictured he would have with both of his sons.
Chris sighed, his conscience niggling at him. He knew Leo was trying and that it wasn't his fault. After all, this Leo could hardly be held responsible for all the pent up anger Chris had against his father. As far as this Leo was concerned, he was still a month old baby. Maybe it wouldn't hurt to share something of himself. He had been alone for so long, without Bianca, without his grandfather…He was so use to keeping everything bottled up inside, he'd forgotten how it helped sometimes just to…voice…things. Maybe it was time to remember.
Feeling his resolve weakening, Chris closed his eyes. He said quietly, "I miss the Manor…and I miss…I miss my family…"
"Chris…" Leo floundered at the unexpected revelation into his son's thoughts and feelings. Though short, there was no mistaking the longing in Chris' voice, and that tidbit spoke volumes to Leo as his heart ached to comfort him.
His eyes opening reluctantly, Chris shook his head, clearing it of the foggy memory his words invoked, "No. Forget it. Let's just concentrate on finding what happened to Kate, okay?"
Seeing Chris' emotionless mask drop back into place effectively shutting Leo off from Chris' thoughts, Leo knew the moment was gone and nodded reluctantly, "All right. But I want you to know…you have a family, right here, right now. And we love you very much."
Chris' green eyes met Leo's, and though his face remained stoic, his eyes were full of sorrow, "It's not the same."
Leo clapped his hand on Chris' shoulder in support, hurting because his son was hurting, "I know."
Chris nodded, hearing the truth in Leo's voice, his own response slightly hoarse, "But it helps. Thanks."
Leo nodded. Opening his mouth, he snapped it shut as the sound of orbs interrupted. "Piper?"
He had been careless.
Confident that no one suspected him. Confident that no one saw him.
As he trailed the Resistance fighter from behind, he cursed. Obviously, he wasn't as good as he thought he was.
He had been coming back from his meeting with his master, emerging from the sewers when he had noticed the three Resistance fighters. At first, he had thought they hadn't noticed him. He had managed to hide in the doorway of a nearby structure, thinking they'd be none the wiser. But then one began nosing around.
In his haste, he hadn't been able to cover his tracks properly. He had watched, as he held his breath, as the do-gooder tripped over his exit. He silently cursed as he watched the witch disappear into the tunnels.
He cursed his luck.
Oh well.
It wasn't like he hadn't spilt blood before.
Finally rounding the corner, something up ahead made his breath catch in his throat. Jesus…is that what I think it is…? Running as fast as he could, the water splashing against the tunnel walls rather noisily, he reached the object.Oh fuck…
Even from behind, Les could tell it was the body of a woman. Reaching out reluctantly, he grasped the hair of the unfortunate soul, lifting her head out of the water slightly and turned the bloated face towards him.
Elise…Stumbling back in shock, Les reached out blindly for support. Feeling the cold concrete against his hand, he continued to stumble back until his back hit the wall. Feeling his stomach contents rise up, he bent over abruptly, retching and spewing what was left of his lunch.
Oh God…oh fuck…Jesus…Elise…
Les shook his head. He couldn't stay here. It was clear someone had murdered his friend. Her expression had been frozen in terror – her throat cleanly sliced. He felt his bile rise up to threaten him again before he forced it back down. Turning away from the ghastly sight of his friend, Les began to run back towards the direction he came. He had to get back. Get back and tell someone.
And find out just what the fuck was going on.
The three sisters materialized in front of the male members of their family. Looking slightly sheepish, Paige offered an apologetic smile, "Hi. Need some help?"
Chris glared at the sisters, "I thought I told you to canvass the fairy population."
"And we did!" Phoebe hurried to reassure her sour looking nephew. "They didn't know anything. So instead of twiddling our thumbs, we decided…" Phoebe's voice trailed off as Chris' eyebrow rose sardonically.
"That we would come to help you and Leo," Piper finished firmly, choosing to ignore her son's irritancy with them.
About to retort, all that emerged was a loud cough. As Piper's face became alarmed, Chris stumbled away from his family, waving off their efforts to assist him. Doubled over, he heaved and coughed, weezing as the pain in his chest threatened to suffocate him. A strong arm grasped his upper arm, and once again, Chris could hear the gentle healing of his father's hands.
"It's okay, son. Just breathe slowly, that's it…" Leo murmured, as he tried to heal his son the best he could. He could feel the illness rejecting his efforts – allowing him to only alleviate the pressure in Chris' lungs so that the young man could breathe a touch easier. He murmured comfortingly, "You're okay, buddy. You're okay."
As the pressure in his chest began to lift, Chris straightened, waving off Piper's efforts to help. "It's okay. I'm okay, Mom. Just a momentary lapse…"
"We need to get you back to Lilah," Piper voiced worriedly. "Chris – you need to take it easy."
He shook his head, his brown hair falling forward and easily obscuring his eyes from his mother's. "No. Not yet. I think I'm onto something."
Paige traded glances with Phoebe before saying, "On to what?"
As Leo stepped back, done with healing Chris as much as he possibly could, Chris pointed with his finger, "There. The tracks lead there…"
"Tracks?" Phoebe said doubtfully, eyeing the lake Chris was pointing towards. "What tracks?"
Ignoring his aunts, Chris strode towards the embankment, and began to wade into the lake's edge.
"What are you doing?" Piper ran to the edge of the lake, flabbergasted. "Where are you going? Come back here!"
Leo joined his wife, asking his son, "Chris? What is it?"
Chris ignored his parents, wading deeper into the water. When he was about waist deep, he took a deep breath and plunged into its watery depths.
"Chris!" Piper shouted, suddenly terrified now that Chris was no longer in her sight. Grabbing onto her husband's arm, she pointed with her other hand in the direction where Chris had disappeared, "Don't just stand there, go after him!"
As Leo prepared to dive in after his wayward son, Chris' head popped above the water line. Catching sight of him, Piper cupped her hands around her mouth to shout, "You get your ass back here right now, young man! Before you catch a cold!"
As her sisters looked at her in varying shades of disbelief, Piper blushed, realizing how inane she sounded. Giving them an evil glare, she sniffed defensively, "When you have children, you'll understand."
Leo cracked a small grin, "I have children, and I don't understand."
Piper huffed as she turned her attention back to her son, who was slowly wading back towards the shore. Opening her mouth to scold him, she snapped it shut abruptly as she realized he was dragging something behind him. Feeling her stomach lurch, Piper turned away, unable to help herself.
Leo maintained his gaze on his son, hearing the sisters in the background murmur in shock and turn away from the sight of his son emerging from the water. Because it was clear from the shape of the object Chris was dragging behind him with his telekinesis was once human.
Dripping wet, Chris sludged his way up the bank, his breathing hard. Lurching unsteadily, he shot Leo a grateful glance as his father stepped forward to support him. Using his powers once again had taken its toll, exhaustion quickly settling in. He glanced behind him, his gaze sad as he stared at the body of his good friend.
"I'm sorry, Chris," Leo consoled his son. "I know she was your friend."
Chris nodded silently, his eyes carefully averted from Kate's face. "At least we found her." He looked over at the sisters, who were huddled together, clearly unused to seeing a dead body. Though he grieved for his friend, Chris felt a certain detachment born from the countless deaths he had witnessed during the war.
"What do you think killed her?" Piper cleared her throat, still careful to keep her distance. She really didn't need to get a good look.
Chris shrugged, "No idea. Maybe someone back at base can tell us."
Leaving his son's side, Leo closed the few feet between himself and Kate's body. Her skin was grey and her eyes were wide open, making him feel slightly uneasy. Kneeling down, he looked for obvious signs of trauma, and finding none, looked over at Chris who was still standing a few feet away, "Nothing that I can see. Do you mind?", indicating he wanted to turn the valkyrie onto her front.
"Knock yourself out," Chris replied dryly. "Do you know what you're looking for?"
"Well, I was a doctor before I became a whitelighter," Leo murmured mildly, not taking offence. Turning the body onto its front, he noted the large wound in her back. "But I don't need a medical degree to tell you what killed her."
Frowning, Chris approached his father, kneeling in the mud bank next to Leo. "What kind of wound is that?"
"My best guess?" Leo shrugged. "It's too large to be a bullet hole. I'd go with some sort of sharp object. Like a knife…"
"Or an arrow?" Chris surmised, his right eyebrow shooting up. "If we can prove Kate was killed by a darklighter…"
"Then the valkyries will have their proof!" Paige finished triumphantly.
Straightening, Chris looked over at the sisters, "We need to get…the body…back to base and find out if our suspicions are on the money."
"We –,"
Chris!Clutching his head, Chris stumbled backwards, nearly falling into the lake. Catching his son, Leo looked at him worriedly, "Son, what is it?"
Alarmed at her son's sudden pallor, Piper carefully skirted the valkyrie's body to come to Chris' side. "Chris? Chris, what is it?"
Chris shook his head. The telepathic call had sounded…"I don't…I think…"
Chris!Paige and Phoebe looked at each other anxiously, as Piper demanded, "Chris! Talk to us! Talk to me!"
Dropping his hands to his side, his startled eyes met his mother's. "Oh God." And without another word, he orbed out.
Chris!Emerging from the tunnels, his head still reeling from the shock of his discovery, Les stumbled into the open. Whatever dryness he had momentarily achieved in the tunnels was instantly lost as the torrent of rain drenched him to the bone within seconds.
Oh God…poor, poor Elise.
As Les tried to marshal his thoughts into some semblance of purpose, the sound of a loud click! disturbed his thoughts. He turned around slowly, his eyes widening at the sight that greeted his eyes.
He opened his mouth; to say what, he wasn't sure.
Because before any sound could emerge, his eyes registered the small flare…his ears the loud bang.
Pain exploded in his chest.
Shit!
He fell to his knees.
Summoning his rapidly depleting strength, he threw his thoughts out, knowing he had to tell someone…anyone…
Chris!
He collapsed completely against the cold, hard, wet ground.
As his laboured breathing slowed, he blinked stupidly. In his mind, he could picture her; soft and sweet, her voice demanding that he hang on.
Phoebe…
And the world went black.
To be continued…
