Charmed: The Return
Disclaimer: See Chapter One.
Summary: After their parents' deaths, the Charmed Children moved on with their lives. Now they return home to where it all started and to the world they turned their backs on.
Author's Note: The year for this fiction is 2032. That means, the Halliwells died in 2027. Long paragraphs or sentences that are in italics are flashbacks, and any words that are in italics are just like that to show emphasis. There is mild language and violence in this chapter.
Also: Italics are flashbacks.
Chapter Fourteen: As Deep as the Ocean
And he said, What as thou done? The voice of thy
brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground.
Genesis 4:10
Chris Halliwell was sitting at his desk. The day's work piling up as he found himself endlessly distracted. Two active cases pending his review and the identity of his Basement Bones still unknown. In the corner of his desk was a stack of quizzes from his Introduction to Physical Anthropology course, the blue booklets untouched. Chris wasn't the typical professor, he insisted on grading the papers himself, it kept in more in touch with the individual needs of the students.
He opened a case file and started to review the facts of the case when his phone rang. He put down his pen and reached and picked up the black phone. "Chris Halliwell." he stated professionally.
"Hey, it's Rachel. Have you talked to Wyatt?"
"No, not since last night. I was gone before he was up, why?" Chris asked as he cradled the headset between his head and shoulder and picked up his pen and started to read the file again.
"Well, I'm home early and I called him at the office to see if he wanted to catch lunch and his secretary said he left around 9:30 this morning saying he was going home, so I called him on the cell phone and no answer."
"He's probably just driving around somewhere." Chris said, putting down his pen again, unable to talk on the phone and write at the same time.
"That's what I thought, and I drove down to the office and his car was still there."
"Maybe he orbed?" Chris suggested.
"What if he didn't?"
"Rachel, stop being so paranoid. He's probably just out somewhere, no need to worry. If I hear from him, I'll call you."
"Thanks, Chris. Are you free for lunch?" Rachel asked, hopeful.
"Let me check." Chris said as he opened his date book and flipped to that day. "Yeah, but I have a conference call at two. So if you want to come by and we'll go the deli down the street, that's fine."
"Sure, what time? It's eleven fifteen now."
"How about twelve thirty. I just have to get through a case review first."
"Okay, so it's a date. I'll see you then. Love you." she said as she hung up abruptly.
"You too, cuz." Chris said as he placed the phone on the hook, and started to review a case.
Chris was typing out an anthropology case report on his computer when Jada appeared in the doorway. She wore a pair of green scrubs with her white lab coat on over it. Her black hair pulled into a tight ponytail. Her face devoid of makeup and the such. In her hand was a manila folder.
"We got the toxicology report on Ali back." she said, leaning against the door frame.
"And?" Chris asked, his typing complete and he motioned for her to join the room and sit.
"She was clean. No drugs or alcohol in her system, but that's not why I am here. I came to warn you. As you know, Alex ruled this a homicide, and gave a copy of this to the police investigating her death. But I thought you should know what the DNA report pulled up."
"What?" Chris asked incredulous.
"Her blood had a triple helix." her face etched with confusion.
"A triple helix? As in her DNA helixes?" Chris asked. His face masked with a facade of confusion. His mind racing with paranoia. He knew what that meant, but the question is did anyone else?
"Yes. You know that DNA is shaped like a ladder, but there was a helix running right through the rungs of the ladder. It was like someone drew the DNA double helix then drew another vertical line through the middle. Alex was stumped and so is everyone else here. Marc called in everyone to see, as if to verify that he wasn't making this up."
Marc Bell was the DNA forensic scientist.
"I'm as confused as everyone else. And everyone saw the same thing?"
"Yeah. The director of Public Health wants a copy of the autopsy, toxicology and DNA reports sent to the CDC and the FBI."
"He can't do that."
"He can and he already has." Jada said.
"Can I see the report?" Chris asked. And Jada handed him the folder and he started to read the information in the pages. He knew what the triple helix represented. The third helix was only found in the blood of witches. The normal two DNA helixes contain all the genetic codes of life such as hair and eye color, height, certain illnesses. Chris relied on DNA in many of his cases. The third helix contained the genetics of magic. Powers and abilities are passed on through the blood and stored in the helix. It can't be removed unless a witch strips his or her powers.
"Where was the blood taken from?" Chris asked.
"The first sample was from the veins in her arm, but a second sample was taken from the marrow of her femur." Jada said.
"Why would we take blood from both places?"
" I don't know. Alex didn't specify."
"It makes it sound like he was checking for something else. No pathologist would take blood from a long bone without just cause. I'm calling him." Chris said, reaching for this phone.
"Don't. If he knows I told you, I will be reprimanded and written up." Jada said sternly.
"He doesn't know I know?"
"No, we, medical examiners, were told not to release the autopsy report or any lab results to you. It's a conflict of interest according to him."
"A conflict of interest? Isn't it California state law that all families be notified when autopsy reports are completed incase we want to read them?"
"It is, but you aren't immediate family. You're her cousin, so it makes it illegal. Not to mention you work here and you understand autopsy protocol. Alex clearly said no."
"This is bullshit, Jada. She is my cousin. She is my family. I should have access to these files. I can access the files of every other dead body we get, including those of my dead parents and aunts and uncles but not my cousin? There is something going on here and I don't like it."
"Chris, don't start accusing Alex of going behind your back."
"Jada, this is crap and you know it."
"I know that. Why do you think I risked my job to give these to you."
Chris suddenly felt bad for snapping at her. He understood the risk involved with going behind the Chief Medical Examiner's back, but he couldn't help but feel agitated that the lab found the third helix and everything that will bring about plus the impending homicide investigation that will once again probe the personal lives of the family. The last thing anyone in the family needed was their dirty laundry hanging out to dry for the public to see and read about.
"I'm sorry, Jada. I'm just frustrated." Chris apologized and he knew Jada accepted it, though she remained quiet.
"Is there anything else in the labs I should know about?"
"Yes. Her hormone levels were elevated."
"Meaning?" Chris asked.
"She was pregnant. Marc confirmed it with the blood work." Jada said quietly. Knowing the pain that would soon be entering Chris' heart.
"How did Alex not see that? There is no mention of a pregnancy in the autopsy report."
"He didn't check down there. There was no reason to. Any medical examiner would agree, myself included. You know we only check the vagina externally for trace, but will check internally rarely unless sexual assault or mutilation occurred."
"This can't be happening." Chris said, putting his head in his hands. Tears threatening to emerge from his eyes.
"I'm so sorry, Chris. Really, I am." she said, reaching across the desk and placing her hand on his.
"What am I going to tell Sam? He'll be crushed."
"Maybe it's best if you don't tell him. He's in enough pain."
"I can't hide something like this, Jada."
"I understand, but sometimes we have to lie in order to protect those we love from pain. God knows I lie to my children everyday."
"What about?" Chris asked.
"They think that I'm just a pathologist who works in a hospital. They don't know I perform autopsies on the dead, it would scare them."
Chris looked at her, death was nothing to knew to him and his family. Long before he became the doctor of the bones, he was acquainted with death, having murdered many demons in his life.
"Thank you for everything, Jada." Chris said gently as he placed his hand on hers and she nodded. With that she got up and walked out of the office.
Chris leaned back in his chair and let out a long sigh of frustration.
Rachel Dean walked out of her room and down the stairs into the living room. Her hair in a damp ponytail from her shower. She wore a pair of blue jeans with white pumps, a red tank top and a white blazer. She always looked stylish, it was her motto in life. Look good, feel good.
She looked up and saw a man in the sun room. Standing over the exact place where Ali had died. A man a little taller than she. He was in a black suit and on his pocket of his blazer was a badge.
"Mrs. Dean?" he asked.
"Who the hell are you?" She asked cautiously, tapping into her empathy to scan him.
"My name is Inspector James Gray, the officer investigating the murder of Alison Halliwell."
"Montana." Rachel said sternly.
"Excuse me?" he asked, his beady eyes shifting over her body.
"Montana. Her last name was Montana, not Halliwell."
"My mistake." he said.
"Funny. One would think a cop would know the proper name of the victim they are investigating. Now, what are you doing in my house and who the hell let you in?" her defensive nature taking over.
"The door was unlocked. I have a search warrant for these premises."
"Interesting. Let me see it then." her hand outstretched. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out the blue legal document. She took it and opened it and scanned it with her eyes.
"I'm afraid you're going to have to leave." she said, handing it back to him.
"I don't think you understand. I have the legal right to be here." he said sternly.
"And your warrant says that all members of the house must be present. I'm the only one home. You'll have to wait for my cousins and sister to come home."
"Most people don't actually read the document or even dare argue with a cop."
"I've had my run ins with the cops." she said.
"I know. Age twenty-two, arrested for battery and assault."
"I see you did your homework, and you would also know I was acquitted of the charges and my ex-husband was arrested for the attempted murder on my life." her eyes dark and scary.
"Yes, I did in fact see that. Curious case really, spending life in a psychiatric facility under the influence that he is a five year old boy. Amazing what lengths one goes to avoid being incarcerated in a maximum security prison."
"Isn't it?" Rachel said. Her empathy soaring through the room like an invisible eagle, taking in the emotions, feelings and thoughts of the man in front of her.
"I'll be back, Mrs. Dean." The cop said, heading towards the door.
"It's Miss." more venom in her voice. The door slammed.
Rachel retracted her empathy and walked over to the phone. She picked it up and dialed the first number that came into her mind.
"Yes, can I speak to Assistant District Attorney Darryl Morris." Darryl Morris Jr., the son of the cop who knew their family secret. Darryl and Sheila Morris trusted them and their magic enough to tell Darryl Jr the truth, a truth he so vitally accepted and was always willing to protect. And now he was needed most.
"Darryl, it's Rachel. We have a big problem." she said fearfully.
Chapter Fourteen! Read and Review! The drama will be ensuing as the witches struggle to keep their secrets buried and their magic a secret! REVIEW! Thanks!