Who I am…

Chapter 9

By: teal-lover

Summary: How Chris learned the cunning and duplicitous behavior we saw for over a year. Alternates between the past, unchanged future, and the changed future.

AN: I'm so happy that you guys are still reading, thank you so much. Now, here's the deal—since I started this thing July 16, 2005, I am going to attempt to finish it before it hits the 1 year mark—cross your fingers, please let me know how it's going (so I don't keep wondering how bad it was & make constant revisions)—and hold on to your seats—it's about to get really bumpy:)

Rating: T, PG-13

Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed or any of the characters or get any money from writing this fiction.

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No matter how hard she tried, for weeks to Bianca's dismay, Chris hadn't even attempted to speak again after Wyatt's impromptu visit to the underworld. Though she had noticed that he did seem more at ease around her, only tensing when Wyatt was near, which inevitably made the blonde witch angrier with each subsequent rejection.

She was positive that he drew on that anger to aid him in his rapid rise in the underworld. He had been gathering followers and crushing his opponents with lightening speed—really no surprise given that he was the son of a Charmed One.

It was nearly two months later when everything took a dramatic turn for the worse. Much of the time, silence reigned in the spacious apartment that the three now shared. Bianca's voice was often the only one heard as she tried to coax the younger Halliwell out of his shell.

Slowly, as he grew more accustomed to her presence, he began to relax around her, even smiling on occasion when he thought his brother wasn't looking. But Wyatt had noticed, and she feared that with his growing agitation, it wouldn't be long before the volatile situation blew up in their faces.

So it shouldn't have surprised the Phoenix witch after Wyatt stormed into the kitchen a few days later.

He lowered his ice blue eyes, settling on her with a dangerous intensity that made her blood run cold. "Bianca, I have a job for you."

"And I've been doing it."

"Well, now I'm giving you another one. I think it's time you get back to the profession you were born for." He handed her a slip of paper. On it described a higher-ranking demon named Arakon, who had been known to oppose the Twice-Blessed Witch simply because of his heritage.

Personally, she never liked Arakon and didn't mind the task even a little bit. She always believed in a quick and merciful kill; none of that lingering torture that demons like him seemed to be fond of. Ridding the world of him would be a pleasure she thought, at least until she remembered how well guarded he was.

This assignment wasn't going to be easy, and it would take her far longer than Wyatt ever remained in the apartment. Chris would be alone. She protested lightly and tried to make him understand that. "This is not going to be quick and easy with all of his guards. This is going to take me at least a week. And with you being in the underworld much of the time, Chris will be left here unprotected."

He glared at her stonily, "Then you'd better get started."

"But Chris—"

"—Will be fine. He is your assignment only when I tell you that he is. This is not a democracy, Bianca. You will follow my orders, or you will die. And as of right now, your assignment is to eliminate Arakon. Do you understand?"

Bianca pursed her lips tightly and stared at the taller man, answering with a crisp, "Yes, sir." He was obviously plotting something and she knew immediately that it had to do with his younger brother. She had to at least warn him.

Spinning on her heels, she headed down the hallway just as Wyatt grabbed her arm, pulling her back quickly. "I have to get a few things."

"No you don't," he growled menacingly. "Everything you need is in your apartment, I checked. Now get out. I don't want to see you back here until the job is complete."

She had no time to protest as he flicked his wrist carelessly, orbing her out of his sight and far from whatever he had planned.

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Checking his watch, Wyatt cursed under his breath as he stalked down the hall. He had wasted too much time dealing with the Phoenix, and now had very little time to ensure that Chris followed orders. They would be here in just under five minutes, and if he couldn't prove by then that he was in control of the situation—and his brother—there would be hell to pay. And Tem'al would make sure that both Halliwell brothers were the one's to pay it.

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Wyatt stormed into the bedroom where his younger brother had been housed for the past several months since their return from Valhalla. "Get up. Now."

Chris visibly tensed at Wyatt's demand, but continued to stare at the floor unmoving.

"Look at me when I'm talking to you!" When he still didn't respond, Wyatt forcibly lifted his head to look into his glassy eyes. "Have you learned--NOTHING! After everything, you STILL refuse to do as you are told! Well you are--out--of--time, Christopher. No more games. You have about--", glancing down at his watch, "--four minutes to learn to do as I tell you. Yes, I can see by the look in your eyes that you know what I mean. That's right--they're coming. And this time--you may not survive. DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?"

As Wyatt held Chris' chin to look into his eyes, he silently thanked whatever being that graced him with powers, had not seen fit to include empathy. The flurry of emotions that emanated from the crystal blue depths before him--Anger. Betrayal. Pain. Fear, would have all simply been too much for even the Twice-Blessed Son to take. As it was, the single tear that pooled from them was nearly enough to undo his resolve. He leaned in and whispered into his ear, "Just do as I tell you. And I promise--that won't happen again. I won't let them hurt you. But if you don't--they will either kill you, or--Just do it, Ok?" He stepped back and pulled on his shirt to coax him off the bed.

Chris started to follow until he heard the sounds of someone shimmering in the living room. A lot of someone's by the sounds of it. He paused trying to decide if he should try to make a run for it, or trust Wyatt. 'No', he thought, 'There's no way I'd make it past all of them and Wyatt. What choice do I have?' He was interrupted from his musings when Wyatt tugged on his shirt again like he used to do when they were kids.

Walking out into the spacious living room, Wyatt paused as he scanned the room and quickly counted off nearly two-dozen of Tem'al's minions.

Chris tensed as the demon responsible for the most horrific night of his life; a night that he still couldn't bring himself to think about, stood a mere two feet away in the confines of his new home. Tem'al sauntered over to them, "Wyatt? So nice to see you again..."

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Journal entry #3. March 5, 2003

… I still can't believe he let them come back! And to take a risk like that? Wyatt's always lived on the edge. I guess that's why it was so easy for him to fall off. That afternoon, I guess I just lost it. He had no right to make a bargain like that. For months, Bianca had been telling me that I needed to stand up for myself; to stand up against Wyatt. All I did was look at her. I felt the anger bubbling up inside me, but couldn't speak. It just felt wrong somehow. Not for the first time, I wanted my mom and aunts. They always had a way of making things right. But I'm not going to dwell on that. I got to see them one last time. I said my goodbye's.

Anyway, just before that day, Bianca yelled at me. Well, maybe not yelled—but she definitely spoke louder. She said that Wyatt was doing nothing but pushing me around. She said that I needed to push back. Surprised the hell out of her when I actually did.

I had enough! I was SO done with taking Wyatt's crap and slowly going insane. She couldn't stop laughing when I told her what I was thinking when I looked at Wyatt that day. 'If I'm going insane you bastard, I'm taking you with me…'

TBC…

AN2: the large section in italics is from the first story & I wanted to blend the timeline. If you want more detail on what happened, you would need to read the end of chapter 1, & the beginning of chapter 2 of the original 4 part story.

Thank you for reading & reviewing!