Leo's orbs reformed next to Wyatt. "Chris, is panicking your mother really your goal?"
Chris just stared up in amazement. He was often amazed at how easily everything he did got interpreted as "destructive" instead of literally how he meant it or better still as nothing that complicated at all. "Leo, you're the one that said you'd be back with information before zipping out mid-conversation this morning. I'm just trying to move this forward… for all of our sakes. I didn't mean to upset mom at all. Do I need to go and apologize?"
Wyatt just continued to smirk and coughed out, "kiss ass" under his breath.
"Nice," Chris directed is comment and glare toward is golden haired "nemesis".
"What?" Leo said.
Being a pace or two behind his sons was quite normal and amused Bianca as she took in the scene from the kitchen doorway. She decided that whatever was about to be said would only be her business if Chris decided to tell her. That was the unspoken agreement they'd had since she abandoned use of her powers and Phoenix ways years ago. She kept her contact with magic confined to her relationship with Chris and stayed clear of the rest unless absolutely necessary. She walked behind Chris and placed the coffee in front of him then kissed him on neck, "I'll leave you guys to work this out."
"Nothing dad," Wyatt clapped the man on the back and slouched down in the chair across from his brother.
"Your mom is in the shower getting ready for some fancy tasting she's been invited to this evening. She doesn't know I'm gone yet, but I pop out enough for charges if she knows I'm coming home she'll automatically worry and I don't want that. Oh, and no Chris an apology isn't necessary." Leo was being sincere. He never wanted any harshness between him and Chris and was quick to squelch any tension perceived or real.
"So, I could've kept my date with Kayla? Thanks again Chris."
Chris just rolled is his eyes up toward the ceiling and ran his hands through his hair. He figured with as many times a day as he did that he'd be bald on the sides by thirty.
"Look, Chris, I know you want to get on with this as quickly as possible but some details are being worked out. Now I really need to get back, your mom is calling me. I think she needs a towel…"
"Eeewww… say no more," Wyatt said and he and Chris both threw there hands up to keep Leo from completing any part of that thought.
"Wyatt stick around I'll be back at 3:30 your time. Your mother should be in a pretty deep sleep by then. Time zones and all, I'll tell you everything I can then."
Leo orbed out just as quickly as he had dropped in only moments before. Leaving both his sons wondering just what was coming next. It wasn't that the Charmed Sons weren't as diligent as their predecessors, but Chris, like Piper craved a normal life. He had seen enough magic and consequences of magic for two lifetimes… literally. Wyatt craved all the excitement of magic and demon battles, but never got caught up in the fall out or emotional overtones of it all. He seamlessly moved from battle to battle without a backward glance. As long as every Halliwell came out alive and well it was a success to be charted in his eyes and logged for all posterity in the Book of Shadows. One would forever be seen as the free spirited warrior and the other a very neurotic whitelighter.
"Hey lets go down to Quake for some lunch. You could stand to unwind. And since my afternoon with Kayla isn't going to happen I guess I could spend some time with you." Wyatt loved messing with his little brother. He had no idea why it was so easy, but he couldn't seem to stop himself. He loved Chris, more then he ever let on, he just felt they were so different. And often exploited those differences, humorously (he thought), of course. He could do it, but others dared not tread. It was, however, his life's mission to get Chris into at least a little mischief everyday.
"Did you hear anything dad said? He'll be back in a few hours and I don't think us several beers in and shooting pool is what he's looking to find when he does. Besides in case you haven't noticed I'm working here. I need to get this paper finished. I would actually like to get my degree."
"Why? Why the hell do you bother? Why do you always have your nose stuffed in a book or in that damn computer? If you studied at Magic School half as much or trained with me…"
Chris cut him off, "don't! My degree is important to me even if it is taking an extra year because of all the demon-hunting-time-off I've had to take."
"I'm just saying a business degree isn't going to make you any better at running the club solo in a few years when mom seriously retires. And the demon-hunting and charge watching is always going to take precedence in this family, no matter what you really want to do." Wyatt seemed to get all reflective and quiet in that moment. Like there was so much more he really wanted to say, but had just decided it wasn't worth it. And as quick as it came it was gone… that deep reflective stare became wistful and light again and he pushed himself up and away from the table.
"Hold it Halliwell, what's this really about? You sorry you dropped out of med school?"
"What? Yeah, right, 'cause all nighters that don't involve sex is exactly what I had in mind for my twenties."
"You can be glib all you want, but being a doctor like dad was all you talked about for years. Then one day you miss and exam and it's 'screw the make-up and med school'. I don't know why the hell mom and dad bought that load of crap or let it go, but I never did."
"Probably because you have no life of your own and focusing on mine is far more exciting. Now I'm starving, since your girlfriend couldn't produce a decent breakfast this morning, you coming with or what?"
Chris too loved his brother a great deal and knew that, even if unspoken Wyatt didn't just want but needed his company right now. So once again he put off his 'stuff' to do exactly what he was being accused of doing… focusing on Wyatt's life. He made sure to save his work, even-though his progress was limited and closed his laptop.
"Let me grab my keys." Chris walked toward the kitchen around the backside of the dinning room table.
"Let's orb dude. Do you seriously want to look for street parking in downtown San Francisco at lunch time?"
"No, I don't, but I also don't want to expose magic in downtown San Francisco at lunchtime."
Wyatt just sighed and followed his brother into the kitchen. They would always be different he guessed and even when it drove him absolutely nuts in his heart he figured that was what made them an amazing team of kick-ass witch-lighters.
"Oh I almost forgot Bianca…" Chris orbed out and reappeared in his room where Bianca was at the desk engrossed in her own work.
She looked up as she heard his orbs reform. "Is everything cool baby?"
"Yeah, Leo will be back later. And I've decided to temporarily put off obsessing until I know what I need to obsess about. Wy and I are gonna grab at bite at Quake and then shoot some pool. You interested?"
"The only thing I can be interested in right now is passing my certification exam or I won't be getting a teaching job anywhere come the fall. But could you bring me back something… I really hate messing around in your mother's kitchen."
Chris bent down to kiss her in a similar manner to what she'd done when she exited the dinning room a while earlier. "Sure thing B, but you really need to get past your obsession with keeping this house Piperesque. She's gone for a month and if she didn't trust you she wouldn't have suggested you stay. She knew you needed out of your apartment and away from your roommate to really study believe me she wouldn't want you spending your spare time being a scullery maid or being afraid of the kitchen."
He walked out and headed toward the stairs and heard her yell after him… "Fine, forget it! I'll make a sandwich."
When he got to the landing he orbed instead of taking the steps two at a time as was his habit. "See bro… I can orb for personal gain too." He stated as he formed in front of his brother.
"Oh yeah upstairs… you're a real COYOTE! Let's go before I decide its way too un-cool to be seen driving in your raggedy car."