CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

Paige nodded. "It dawned on me, too, even though I knew it couldn't dawn on Prue. By getting Leo to save Chris, we'd actually be dooming Chris! Then I got an idea and told Chris to hang in there, and orbed out."

"What did you do?" I eagerly wanted to know.

She grinned, obviously proud of herself. "Went hunting for another whitelighter!"

"Sam!" I cried.

She nodded. "Yep, but by the time I found him and talked him into it--I didn't tell him Chris' secret--and we got back, Chris was already healed."

"What?! Who?"

"Leo. Phoebs, Chris couldn't talk Prue out of it. She didn't want to have to watch him die. She went back downstairs and got Leo, who came upstairs and healed Chris."

"I know more of that story, Paige," I told her.

"You do?"

I nodded. "Leo told me. He was really upset when he came to get me, so I insisted he tell me before we went back. I didn't totally get what he was saying, and I wanted to see Prue, so I just told him I understood, but I understand a lot better now."

"Well, then tell me what Leo told you?"

I grinned. "Leo admitted to me that just about the time that Prue must've come running down the stairs, screaming for him, that he and Piper were all set to really start getting hot and heavy--my words, not his!--when they heard Prue's screaming. Leo said he quickly yanked his clothes on and then to spare Piper some serious embarrassment, he left the room, and closed the door behind him, giving Piper an opportunity to put her clothes back on."

"Aw, that was sweet of him! He really does still love her, doesn't he?"

"Oh, yes. No matter what he ever says, I don't think he's ever stopped, and I don't think he ever will. Just like I don't think Piper will ever stop loving him no matter what she says."

She nodded. "But what happened?"

"Well, he said Valkyrie Prue didn't even seem to notice the condition of his attire so what Mist said about their reaction towards sex must be right. She simply explained the situation, that when you guys went upstairs, there was a darklighter with his bow pointed at Wyatt!"

"Oh, Leo must've panicked!" cried Paige. "I didn't know she told him that."

I nodded. "He said he freaked, but Prue assured him that he was okay, but that Chris was hurt during the battle. Paige, he admitted that he told Prue that he'd go heal Chris, but added 'I guess,' and looked very regretfully at the door."

"Oh, poor Leo! He really wanted to be with Piper, didn't he?"

"Oh, yes, he did! That's one of the things he was so upset about. I wonder what he would've done if he knew that Chris would've preferred if he'd stayed with Piper, too!" Paige smirked, but agreed. "Well, Leo said his attitude upset Prue. She told him that it was weird, that Chris didn't want her to get his help and now she was beginning to see why."

"Huh? What did she mean by that?"

"That's what Leo wanted to know. So he said she screamed at him that it was his attitude--he didn't even want to help Chris, and that didn't sound anything like the Leo she remembered and what the hell had happened to change him!"

"No, it's just that Piper and he were about to get busy for the first time in how long!" cried Paige.

"Yeah, I know that and you know that, but Prue didn't, and although Leo must feel comfortable about telling me such things," and I preened, proud of the way I've been his confidante since he became an Elder, "he didn't feel comfortable in telling Prue, even if she is a Valkyrie now."

"Did he tell you anything else?"

"Yeah, typical Leo, he got all sheepish and muttered that while he was healing Chris, he actually apologized to him!"

"You are kidding!?! You mean a real, live apology?"

"Yep. He said he told him, 'Listen, Chris, sorry about our argument earlier today. I just completely misunderstood the situation.'"

"Way to go, Leo!"

"Yup. And, way to go, Chris. He actually told Leo that it was okay."

"All right!"

"Then Leo told me that he reminded Chris that he's supposed to tell us when he's in trouble, that just because they have a little spat doesn't mean he won't help him."

Paige snickered. "Some little spat."

I grinned back. "Yep, that's what I was thinking, but I didn't say anything."

Paige grinned. "Smart girl. What happened next?"

"Well, Leo said Chris thanked him, but didn't sound particularly sincere, not the way he did the previous time after he introduced you and Prue."

"Well, of course," Paige put in. "He was too busy thinking how much trouble he'd be in if Piper and Leo don't get back together soon."

I nodded. "But he obviously wouldn't tell Leo that, much as I wish he would've."

Paige nodded. "What did he say instead?"

"Leo said Chris insisted that he was fine and that Leo should go back to what he was doing, but Leo insisted that he was no longer in the mood, and he was sure Piper wouldn't be either."

"Oh, poor Leo! And poor Piper! And poor Chris! And you know Chris--when he's upset, he strikes back."

I nodded. "Well, I wish I could tell you if he did--that's all that Leo told me. At that point, he glanced at the clock and said we had to get back."

"Well, that explains plenty to me. It must've been right before my father and I orbed in, because Chris was smiling, nodding knowingly, saying, 'Oh, so you and Piper were--'."

"He didn't!" I cried, shocked.

Paige nodded with a sigh. "He did. But Leo interrupted him. Phoebs, Leo told him that he was about to make a big mistake! And to make it worse, he added that besides being against the rules, what if she got pregnant. He shook his head, declaring what a disaster that would've been!"

"Omigod! No! Poor Chris!" Paige nodded, smiling sympathetically. "But Leo never would've said something like that if he knew who Chris really is!" I stomped my foot. "We've got to tell Leo!"

"Phoebe, we can't! That's Chris' call, not ours!"

"But if he doesn't tell him, Leo's going to keep saying stuff like that and Chris is going to keep getting upset at Leo and saying stuff at him that will just make Leo say stuff that will hurt Chris! Chris is just setting himself up for more heartache if he doesn't tell Leo and Piper both!"

Paige rolled her eyes. "I know, Phoebe, I know, but we still can't. We both promised him that we wouldn't. He'd never forgive us if we did!" and as much as I hated it, I had to admit that she was right.

"But what about Chris?" I demanded. "He must still be feeling miserable! He's no longer physically hurt, but he has to be mentally hurt. We've got to do something about that!"