Disclaimer: Nothing in the Charmed world belongs to me and no copyright infringement is intended
A/N: Yes, I know. I updated. I know it's been a couple of months and I realize that it is horrible and unforgivable. What excuse can I give? None really. But I have not abandoned this fic. I promise. And to prove it I come bearing the next chapter. I hope everyone enjoys and I promise unless all hell breaks loose in my life, I will not go this long without updating again.
Chapter 15 You Didn't Leave Me
Late that night after Dark Chris had went to sleep Chris found himself unable to rest whatsoever. He had learned so much and faced even more that day. His father was alive, but a broken man. Broken by the darker Chris and what he had been forced to do to protect a son that could care less for him. His feelings of guilt and self-loathing were so hard to take but he knew he'd have to face them and get past them if he was ever to save his father and the rest of the world he loved.
And Zankou, my god! He was the strongest Demon imaginable. Not even the power of the Charmed Ones had managed to destroy him. And he somehow expected Wyatt to do it. The Wyatt he had known from his other timeline, yes, without a doubt Chris knew he could have done it. He could have ripped Zankou to shreds without even thinking twice. But this Wyatt was different, so very different. Chris had noticed the uncertainty in this Wyatt. It was almost as if he lacked confidence in himself. Was that it? Had Chris not being there somehow affected Wyatt, stopped him from being the assertive older brother that Chris remembered? Possibly.
But what else could he do? He had to have faith in his family. They were all he had and he knew they wouldn't give up until he was safe again.
After he was positive that his darker self slept soundly he once again created a projection of himself possessing the form and shimmered his way into the Halliwell Manor. It was very late and the entire house was quiet, until he shimmered in and the demonic alarm system went off imprisoning him in a crystal cage and sending out a warning to the home's occupants.
Chris waited patiently for his mother and brother to come find him. At least the newer version of the alarm system only trapped him. There was once a time when that same system would have sensed him shimmer in and tried to destroy him. He had to guess that they had made the change in case his darker self decided to pay them a visit.
Wyatt orbed his mother into the attic and both of them froze at the sight of Chris just standing with his arms crossed waiting for them. "Do you mind deactivating this?" he asked casually seeing that they were too stunned to react quickly. "That is if you want to know what I learned."
"Sorry, Chris," Wyatt said walking over to the window and removing the crystal on the sill as he deactivated it's power.
With the alarm system dismantled, the cage disappeared and Piper stepped up to him. "After you left last night we weren't sure what to expect, or when you'd be back," she said nervously wanting so desperately to touch her youngest son, but not sure if he'd let her do so.
Chris nodded in understanding. "I'm sorry about last night. I know I seemed cold to you," Chris tried to explain.
"It's okay, baby. You were dealing with something pretty major. I don't blame you," Piper attempted to assure him reaching her hand out but stopping short of actually touching him.
Chris looked down to the hand that wavered in front of him. His mother had not deserved the cold attitude he had given her the night before. She only wanted to shield him from pain, as she always did. How could any son blame his mother for that? He reached out taking his mother's hand and squeezed it tight as he focused his eyes upon hers. "I blame myself for a lot, Mom. But that's just something I'll have to learn to live with. But for now I just want to try to fix some of it, and I think I can."
Wyatt had joined them where they stood. "Do you have news?" he asked worried about what Chris would have to say.
Chris knew that Wyatt was speaking of a lot more than just the name of the demon, which turned him. Whether he showed it or not, he was just as concerned for his father as Chris was. But he needed to tell them about Zankou first worried that he'd have to leave before he got the chance. There was no telling when his darker self would wake and notice him gone.
"The demon that took mini-me was Zankou," he stated knowing it would shock his mother to hear the name.
"What, no! We vanquished him," Piper said her eyes flashing in anger.
"Apparently that's what he wanted you to think," Chris explained hastily. "Look I don't know how much time I have with you. Wyatt, you have to go back to the past and warn them. Dad will know who Zankou is even if Mom and the Aunts haven't faced him yet."
Wyatt nodded understanding what he needed to do. He didn't know much about Zankou but he did realize that the demon was not just a pushover if he had managed to face the Charmed Ones and live to tell about it. But then he couldn't help asking. "What about Dad, Chris?"
Chris knew that Wyatt was speaking of their father from this timeline. It was obvious by the sadness he saw in his brother's eyes. "I saw him," Chris said his eyes gleaming with both pain and hope.
Piper could hardly believe her ears. "Your father?"
Chris nodded looking away for a moment. When he looked back tears shown in his eyes. "He's a prisoner."
Wyatt could see there had to be so much more to it than just that. "Is he okay?"
Chris shook his head and looked away guiltily. "No, no, he's not. Oh he's physically okay, but after what he's been through, mentally…"
"What happened, Chris?" Wyatt asked knowing he couldn't just ignore the pain his father was in.
"They were gonna kill the other me, the Elders that is. Dad had no choice. He killed one of them." Chris knew they'd understand what doing that must have done to his father. "He doesn't speak at all anymore."
"Oh god!" Piper cried covering her mouth as a sob threatened to leave her. "He must be devastated."
Chris turned away from them pulling his hand from his mother's. He didn't want to pull away from her again but he was already in enough pain concerning his father's fate and he just couldn't bear to look in her eyes as she thought of the man she loved being so tortured.
Piper looked at her youngest son's shoulders as they slumped in despair. "Chris, I'm sorry. I know this hurts you," she called stepping forward and wrapping her arms around his waist pulling him back to her wanting so much to take the guilt he felt away from him.
Chris didn't pull away from her letting himself feel the comfort she offered. "I'm gonna save him," he whispered the vow to the quiet room.
"We know you will, Chris. As soon as we figure out how to vanquish Zankou everything will be just fine. I have…" Piper began to say that she had faith in him but Chris cut her off turning around shaking his head.
"No, I'm not waiting that long. I can't stand to leave him there like that," Chris said the look on his face daring them to deny his idea.
Worry flashed through Piper's eyes as she saw the determination in her son's. "Chris, what are you saying?"
Chris knew it was irrational. That if they changed his past his father would never be put in that position but he couldn't just sit back and wait for them to fix every thing as he did nothing. And he couldn't leave his father in the horrible state he was in. He had to somehow let him know that everything he suffered wasn't for nothing. "I can't leave him where he is?"
"Chris, are you nuts? What if the other you finds out? What will he do?" Wyatt asked in fear that Chris was gonna blow everything right when they were closest to fixing it all.
"Well, most likely, he'll try to find some way to exorcise me or something, but that's a risk I'm willing to take," Chris answered knowing full well just how much his brother would go for that.
"Oh, is that all. Just a little exorcism among family is all," Wyatt bit out sarcastically. Chris just shrugged causing his brother to go on. "Chris, it shouldn't take us long to figure out how to fix this once I get back to the past. And once it's fixed everything will change. Dad will be safe and you will be good. All you have to do is sit back and wait for the change. You won't even remember ever being evil. Just like I don't remember it from your former timeline."
Chris swallowed hard. He knew what his brother said was true but he also knew one other thing. "Wyatt, I have faith in you and in the rest of the family. I know you will do everything possible to save me, but I also have to consider what happens if you somehow fail. I can't live with myself if I knowingly left Dad in that dungeon rotting, hating himself for any longer than I have to."
"Chris, honey, this is just too dangerous. I want to see your father again as much as anyone, more even! I miss my husband, but I can't risk you like this," Piper tried to plead with Chris through her own tears. She had moved forward and was gripping the front of his shirt unconsciously as if she could hold him back and keep him from leaving.
Chris looked down to her hands knotted in his shirt and sighed heavily. He reached out grasping them in his own and pulled them away from where they were. "Mom, I'm not a child anymore. I have to face up to what I've done."
Piper gave him an incredulous look. "Chris, you didn't do anything wrong."
"Didn't I? The changes I made in the past are what created this future and now everyone I love has to suffer for it." Chris knew that none of them would ever blame him for what he had become. They all loved him too much for that. But he did blame himself and would never try to back down from that.
Wyatt knew how his brother felt and could understand why he did but still... "Chris, was it any better before, in your original timeline?"
Chris shook his head fiercely. "No, no it was worse," he answered remembering the deaths of his mother and aunts. At least this time around they were alive.
"So, you made it better. We just aren't done with the job yet and none of us will give up until we are all happily living in this time and are all on the side of good. So don't beat yourself up over this so much." Wyatt hated to see his brother so wrapped up in guilt but he also understood how useless Chris must feel. While Wyatt returned to the past and he and the rest of the family worked to save him, Chris couldn't do anything and that thought had to be driving him crazy.
Chris knew that they both would do anything to take away all the pain and guilt he felt but it just wasn't that easy, but he'd have to at least let them believe that he would be safe as they tried to save him. "Fine. I'll try not to get myself killed. Does that make you two happy?" It wasn't a complete lie. He wasn't gonna purposely do anything to anger his other self. But he couldn't help it if something he did put him in harms way.
Piper stared up to him and wondered just how honest he was being. Even though she had forgiven him a long time before for the lies he told them, she still knew he was a very clever liar when he wanted to be, but he was right about one thing. He was a grown man and she'd have to let him go. "Just be careful," she whispered leaning up and placing a kiss on his cheek.
"I will, Mom," Chris answered hugging her tight to him.
"Well, I guess I better get ready for a trip," Wyatt said once his brother and mother had pulled apart.
"Good luck, Wy," Chris said giving his brother a confident look.
"You too, Chris," Wyatt answered back just before his brother shimmered away.
Instead of heading back to his underground lair Chris shimmered into the dungeon where his darker self had led him earlier that day. The cells were still all empty except for the very last one. He could see his father sitting in the same position he had been in when he had seen him earlier that day. Sitting on the cavern floor leaning back against the bars of his cell staring at the blank wall before him.
Chris knew that if his father had kept any of his mental faculties at all he'd realize that Chris was there. He wasn't exactly sure how to go about approaching the Elder. He knew that his father would not have any of his Elder powers left. His darker self would have made sure to find a way to bind those before he ever stepped into a room alone with him. But how much of a shock would it be for Leo if Chris suddenly started calling him Dad after a year of making him suffer like he had.
So he made a decision that he hoped would not be the wrong one. He shimmered into the cell and kneeled rather slowly in front of the despondent Elder. He did not touch him yet, not at all sure how he would react to that. Had his darker version tortured him? Would he balk at the touch of his hand? Chris had no way of knowing. "Leo," he called hating the sound of that name in his ears. He had spent so many months in the past calling his father by his given name and now it hurt so much not to be able to call him Dad. "Can you hear me?"
There was no response from the man and Chris couldn't help but fear that he might never be able to get through to him again. "I know you can hear me. Please, just let me know you are still in there."
The sound of his voice did more to catch Leo's attention than his words. He hadn't heard his son's voice sound like that in twenty some odd years. His head rose and he stared into beautiful green eyes, that he knew the day before had been black as night. He blinked a few times in confusion and gave Chris a questioning look.
"Listen, I don't know what has happened to you in the last year, but please tell me you remember what happened twenty three years ago," Chris pleaded reaching out hesitantly and placed one hand on his father's knee, not able to stop himself from wanting some kind of physical contact with the man he had accepted as his father.
Leo flinched slightly but didn't pull back from the touch. His eyes squinted unsure of what he was seeing. "Chris?" his voice came out rough and quiet from disuse.
"Yes, Dad, it's me," he said sadly seeing how his father couldn't even dare to imagine he was real. "You were right about how time travel works."
Leo's eyes widened remembering the conversation he had had with his son so many years before on top of the Golden Gate Bridge. It only took him one second to grab out and pull his son into his arms as he desperately clung to the one thing he had wanted to see for so many years now, the one thing that had kept him going during the past year. After several seconds of holding onto his son Leo let him pull back and he stared into those eyes again. He couldn't believe how wonderful seeing all the love and adoration his son felt shining through those brilliant eyes, made him feel. He could also see the tears that had started to fall from his son's eyes and knew they were tears for him and the compassion that showed made his heart break. "Chris, I can't believe it's really you. I had hope that I'd see you again, but still… to have you here."
Chris could see how much his father still loved him and he couldn't help the tears that had started to poor from his eyes, but he knew he had many things to tell his father. "Well, I'm afraid this is only temporary for now. This isn't actually my body," he began to explain.
Leo frowned at that. "What's going on Chris? Earlier today, you were here and your were so hateful."
"Yeah that was the other version of me. I was there too inside his mind but I couldn't say anything to you. This is his astral projection," he said motioning to the body he now resided in.
A look of understanding flitted across Leo's face. "Oh, I see. But since when do you Astral Project?"
"Since this timeline, I guess. My powers must have progressed faster this time around. But I've figured out how to get away from my darker self for some time. It comes in handy, even though it's hard to merge back with him when it comes time." Chris was still very worried about the fact that the evil had nearly swamped him the last time he had returned to his body.
"So your other self is..?" Leo asked in concern.
"Asleep. I just left Mom and Wyatt. They know who turned me at least now. Wyatt's heading back in time as we speak," Chris explained hoping the news would give his father some hope.
"Zankou, I know," Leo said nodding.
"You know?" Chris asked in surprise.
"Your other self likes to talk a lot. He spends quite a lot of time down here bragging to me about his conquests over good," Leo answered remembering all the times he had stared into his son's black eyes and felt his soul becoming cold because of it.
"Dad, why didn't you tell him who he was?" Chris couldn't understand why his father would keep something so important to himself.
Leo looked away from Chris feeling guilty himself over his failure to help him. "I wanted to at first. But then he showed me what he was truly like. The monster he had become."
"What did he do to you?" Chris asked feeling a pain clutching his heart, imagining all the horrors his darker self could have visited on his father.
Leo didn't want to tell Chris what had happened but he knew his son would not just let it go. "He didn't do anything to me, Chris. But the things I saw him do. I'm sorry, I just couldn't tell him."
Chris sat back putting a few inches between he and his father. He understood exactly what his father was getting at and it hurt to hear it but he couldn't blame him. "You couldn't accept him as your son," he whispered quietly feeling the rejection almost as if it was his own.
Leo heard the pain those words accompanied in his son's voice and it brought his face up to look at him. "Chris, I'm sorry. I love you dearly. The you that I see before my eyes right now. But after everything I've seen in the past year, I just can't see that other dark creature as you."
"I understand, Dad. I don't blame you. Anyhow, let's get you out of here before he realizes I'm gone," Chris suggested reaching up and wiping the tears from his eyes as he stood.
Leo stayed where he was though and stared up to his son. "I can't leave."
"What?" Chris asked staring at his father as if he'd grown another head.
"If I disappear he'll become more suspicious. I can't risk him thinking you've done something to help me." Leo wasn't ready to risk his newly regained son even to save himself.
"Dad, I can't say what he might do to you in the near future. He wants to use you against Wyatt. I don't want to just leave you here," Chris tried to reason with him.
"Believe me, Chris. I don't want to be here but to keep your cover I have to stay." Leo tried to give his son an encouraging smile so he wouldn't worry about him.
Chris stared at him and shook his head. "You didn't leave me," he finally said remembering the day in the past when Leo had come for him in jail.
Leo was about to retort when they both felt a dark presence nearing and a form shimmered into the dungeons on the other side of the bars. "Well, well, what do we have here?"
Chris swallowed hard as he glanced at his darker self facing him on the other side of the bars.
The darker version of himself had a suspicious look plastered on his face as he walked closer to the bars. "Imagine my surprise when I woke to find my new subconscious no longer in my mind and out roaming about in my astral projection."
"I couldn't sleep," Chris said hoping the excuse didn't sound as lame as it really was. Truthfully he hadn't slept in nearly three days and was more tired than he could imagine, but that information would not have helped him at all.
"You know, I could have just pulled you back to my body, but I wondered just what you were up to. And what a strange sight this is. I find my other self commiserating with my most prized prisoner, who by the way has not spoken in a year, but now suddenly feels the urge to speak to you. Why exactly is that?" Dark Chris asked his voice adopting a very dangerous tone as he did.
A/N: Okay, yes, yes, yes. I know that was the cliffhanger from hell, but sorry, you'll just have to deal with it. So how exactly will Chris get them out of this mess?