CHAPTER FOUR

"No!!" screamed Bosk as smoke swirled from the bottle, obscuring everything around it, including Chris and me, and for awhile I couldn't see anything. After a moment, Jinny must've stepped through the smoke, free…only I know now that she was now dressed like an Arabian warrior, with a sinister look to match, "Well, it's about time," and she probably spun on Bosk to glare at him; I could sure hear it in her voice, "Who's the master now?" I could hear the sounds of a fiery vanquish, but had no idea who had vanquished whom, because I still couldn't see anything.

"Wait," I heard a shocked Chris cry out. "She's a demon?"

I heard Piper call out to Chris and later found out that as Jinny reached for the bottle, Chris gestured it back into his hand, then Piper gestured and blasted something behind Jinny, who dove onto her stomach on the still-hovering carpet and flew out the window.

Then I heard Chris' worried voice. "Where's Phoebe?"

Well, FINALLY! "Here --" I cried out.

"Where?" asked Piper as they must've been awful confused when they looked around and couldn't find me.

So, hating to admit it, I called out, "IN here--"

And looking up, I could see a giant eye, an eye that could only be Chris' as he must've looked at the bottle in his hand and then held it up to his eye to see --

ME! I was sitting inside that frickin' frackin' bottle, now changed into a genie, complete with the turquoise genie getup, blond ponytail, the whole nine yards! Man, I looked just like Jeannie from the old I Dream of Jeannie show! Man, this is so embarrassing to even talk about! At any rate, I jumped up and down, waving up at Chris.

He looked down at me, shocked. "Hello --" I cried. Then, although I sure I didn't want to, I couldn't stop myself from adding, "Master." Yep. I was now the frickin' frackin' genie, and of all people, Chris--my very own nephew from the future--was now my master! How embarrassing can you get??

To top it off, the next eyeball to replace Chris' was Piper's. Her voice echoed through the bottle, "Will you get out of there, please, Phoebe?"

I shrugged. "I don't know how. Try commanding me."

That was easy. "Okay--get the hell out!"

But I stayed put. I knew what I had to tell her and absolutely hated it, but again, I was forced. "Not you--my master."

After a bit, Piper's giant eyeball moved away and Chris' took its place. "You mean me?"

I shrugged. "You picked up the bottle."

He shrugged back. "Um, okay--get out of the bottle; I command you!"

I immediately turned into turquoise smoke and soon I reformed full-sized into Genie Phoebe, standing beside Piper and Chris in the attic..

Piper shook her head, trying not to laugh. "You look ridiculous."

I hunched my shoulders. "I feel ridiculous."

"How am I supposed to make it back to Greg now before his shift starts?" she whined.

I glared at her, now knowing where her son got his self-centeredness, since it sure wasn't from Leo! "Is that all you can think about?" I demanded. "Look at me, I'm trapped in pantaloons. Why am I always the one who has to wear the stupid costumes?" And I'll admit I whined just like she had!

Piper shook her head, muttering, "Trust me, you're not," Then she called out, "Leo!"

"Have you ever noticed how Leo's the first one you turn to in time of need?" Chris asked.

Both Piper and I glared at him, me muttering. "Pushing, Master! Pushing!"

Leo orbed in and spotted me. "Uh-oh."

I nodded. "You can say that again."

Now Piper was getting mad. "I still can't believe you made a wish with a genie! You know better!"

"Gimme a break," I pleaded. "I thought she was an innocent. How was I supposed to know I'd unleash a demon?"

Leo was examining the bottle, "Says so right here."

"The genie bottle has a warning label?" I asked in surprise.

He nodded. "Yeah. An ancient sorcerer cursed a demon into it for not marrying him. Anyone ever tried to free her, they'd have to trade places with her." He handed the bottle to Chris, shaking at his head at him in disappointment. "You missed a big one here, bud."

Chris stared at him in shock. "You want to pin this on me?"

"Easy, Leo," I warned. "This is my fault, not his. She totally played me. The innocent genie act, the letter…I'll even bet that premonition was planted."

"Why didn't your empath power give her away?" Piper wanted to know.

I shook my head. "All I could feel was her desperation to get out of that bottle."

Chris shoved it all aside with a hand gesture. "Okay, well, let's just figure out how to fix this."

Leo shrugged. "Only way to fix this is by getting the demon to wish Phoebe free. Reverse the magic."

I nodded. "Fine, so we'll capture her, coerce her, torture her, whatever it takes."

"I'll call Paige," Piper decided as she headed for the door.

I nodded. "Good. The element of surprise is vital here."

Chris, watching her go, asked me, "You sure? I mean, we could also take our time with this plan. You know, keep Piper around a little longer?"

I nodded and against my will said, "Yes, Master."

He grinned. "I'm glad you agree."

I glared. "I don't agree. I want--I want--This sucks! How am I supposed to take charge and take orders at the same time?"

Leo shrugged. "You don't have to. Chris is coming with me. The Elders agreed to send him back to his time."

Both Chris and I looked at him as if he was nuts.

"What!?!" screamed Chris.

"Leo!" I cried. "You don't know what you're doing."

Leo declared firmly, "He doesn't belong here--and as your whitelighter, he's doing more harm than good."

I'll admit right now that thinking back, I can see Leo's point, but right then, I was feeling bad for Chris, who absolutely lost it. "You're so full of it! This isn't about me being a bad whitelighter--it's about you feeling like I've let you down. Whatever you got against me, I wish you'd just get over it already!"

Remembering what Jinny had done when I'd said the word "I wish", I fought against myself as hard as I could, but I couldn't help it. Without meaning to or wanting to, I pressed my hands together, blinked my eyes and nodded my head.

Immediately Leo's facial expression changed from one of anger and determination to pleasure and serenity.

"Leo?" Chris asked cautiously.

Leo slapped his future son on the back. "Of course I forgive you, man!" he cried jovially. "All you had to do was ask."

Chris stared at him in disbelief. "I did?"

"Sure!" he replied, happily. "In fact, don't worry about that back to the future business. I'll talk the Elders out of it. Now, come here. Gimme a hug." and Leo good-naturedly embraced Chris. Chris, startled and confused, looked questioningly at me. All I could do was sheepishly shrug. After all, he's the one who made the wish!