Disclaimer: Nothing in the Charmed world belongs to me and no copyright infringement is intended.
A/N: Well a few days and a dentist appointment later and I am now ready to update. Sorry it took longer than usual. A toothache can seriously slow down the creative process. Wow, and look at that. The longest chapter I've ever written. Enjoy.
Chapter 16 : I Won't Accept That
"None of you are really strong enough to withstand Barbas' manipulations, you know that don't you?" the Seer asked pulling away from Paige and walking casually to her seeing pool. "Well, none of you besides for maybe Chris that is."
"What does that mean?" Paige asked angrily following the demoness until she was standing next to the pool also.
"The minute you think you've got him where you want him, he turns it around on you and the next thing you know you are a puddle on the floor. You saw that, Leo," she answered realizing by the haunted look in his eyes that Barbas had already won a victory over the Elder.
Paige glanced at Leo and saw the flash of pain slide through his eyes before he looked away. "Leo, what happened?" she asked in concern for her brother-in-law.
Leo shook his head trying to shake away the image of his son nearly falling to his death. "That doesn't matter right now. Chris does."
Paige stared at him for a long moment knowing that whatever it was would probably haunt him for a long time to come but that would have to wait so she looked back to the Seer. "You said Chris might be strong enough to withstand Barbas. Why?"
"Barbas feeds off of fear. Chris' greatest fear was that you all would find out who he was and reject him or his younger self because of everything he's been forced to do to save his brother," she began to explain.
Leo immediately realized what she was getting at. "We already know who Chris is and none of us are rejecting him. His greatest fear has been proven false. Barbas can't use it against him anymore."
"But Chris can't face Barbas. He can barely talk, much less face a demon." How ironic that the one person that they knew who could face Barbas was also the one person who might shortly die because of that very same demon.
"We'll just have to find a different way. Where has Barbas gone? Does your pool tell you that?" Leo asked joining them next to the basin of water.
The Seer sighed heavily and reached her hand out over the pool concentrating on the Demon of Fear. Once her hand drew back an image swirled through the water and both Paige and Leo were gripped in fear. "But that hasn't happened," Leo spoke up in complete fear at what the image revealed.
"That is because this is the future. It may be hours from now or it might only be a few minutes, but it has not happened yet. It can be changed though, but that is up to you," the Seer explained as the image faded away.
"Leo, what do we do?" Paige asked unsure of how they could stop that image from coming true.
Leo didn't hesitate as he thought of the family that needed him. "We go," he spoke up reaching out and grabbing the Seer's hand orbing them away with Paige following shortly behind.
Never in all of the time that Chris had spent in the past had he imagined that his family would ever accept him. It was an amazing occurrence, one that he wished did not have to end with him dying but he knew just how hard it would be for Leo to kill Barbas. The Charmed Ones may have bested the Demon of Fear once but he had learned from his mistakes and Chris knew just how clever the demon could be.
But still, he would have given almost anything to look at his mother's face and see the look that he was receiving right then. It was the same look that the mother from his own time used to give him whenever she was concerned over him, and it held more love than he thought could possibly exist. He knew he should differentiate between the Piper in this timeline and his Mom from his own but at the moment that was just not something he either could or for that matter wanted to do.
Piper saw the longing look in her youngest son's eyes and knew that he had to be remembering her from his own time. She could only hope and pray that she would be able to live up to the memories he held of that woman. She reached out and tenderly stroked his cheek knowing instinctively that the action would comfort him and when he turned his hand into her cheek accepting the action it nearly broke her heart to see how much he truly did need her comfort.
Wyatt had been constantly using the small amount of healing he possessed to keep Chris from sinking any further into the pain that the curse was ravaging his body with but even with that he could feel how much weaker Chris was becoming. Time was drawing short for his brother and there was nothing he could do. He noticed as Chris' eyes drifted closed for a moment and even though he could feel his brother's heart beating where his hand rested on his chest, an intense fear gripped his heart. "Hey, Chris, stay with us okay," he called slightly shaking his brother's frame.
Chris' eyes slowly opened back up and he sighed which caused another coughing fit. This one was far worse than any he had had so far and Chris could feel the blood that was beginning to cut off his breathing clogging his windpipe.
Chris didn't want his mother to see the blood he knew would cover the palm of his hand once he withdrew it from his mouth, so he pulled it down grasping his hand closed tightly hoping to hide the sight. But there was no hiding the splotches of blood that ended up on his shirt as his hand grazed it.
Piper's eyes widened and Phoebe gasped. She reached out grasping his hand and he didn't have the strength to stop her from opening it, letting them all see that it was covered with a fair amount of bright red blood. She looked to Piper and then to Wyatt who just closed his eyes remembering the painful and bloody death that he had witnessed when he was eight years old. She gave Chris a half-hearted smile and squeezed his hand. "It's okay, Sweetie. This isn't over yet."
Chris returned the smile silently thanking his aunt for her words of encouragement even though he knew his time was becoming short.
Piper though felt fear threaten to completely overcome her and wondered just how much more her son could take.
But just as she was beginning to lose all hope the sound of tinkling orbs pulled her away from the morbid thoughts of her son and they all turned to see Leo and Paige forming with one other person between them.
Piper felt excitement bubble up in her chest wondering if her husband had been successful in killing the demon that had tried to destroy her son. Needless to say she was rather surprised to see the third person form between them. "What is she doing here?"
"Helping us," Paige said stepping forward so she could see how Chris was doing. His pasty complexion and the dark circles that had formed around his eyes told everything though.
Phoebe glanced at the Seer tapping into her emotions and could tell that she did want to help them defeat Barbas, so she just nodded towards Piper who had glanced at her questioning the demoness' motives. Piper sighed slightly accepting any help they could get to save her son.
She turned back to Leo giving him a questioning glance and asked what she wanted to know most. "And Barbas?"
"Will be here shortly," Leo answered also moving forward. His thoughts had been preoccupied with his son ever since he had left them before but now that he was in the same room as him, he felt almost hesitant to draw near. The image that Barbas had given him was still so fresh in his mind and the words that the demon had spoken still rang in his ears. Did Chris truly hate him? He couldn't blame him if he did. But he had to push those thoughts from his mind for the time being as he faced his fears and kneeled in front of his son. He didn't dare to touch the youth for fear of upsetting him, but he still had to see how bad off he was. "Hey, Chris, you still holding in there?" he asked softly as the young man eyed him warily.
Chris swallowed hard as Leo approached him. Piper had said that she was sure that Leo knew who he was and if that was true, how would he react? Phoebe and Piper had both moved back so Leo could have a moment with Chris, which made the young man slightly uncomfortable. They had accepted him and both had been his protectors in his version of the future, and all of a sudden when faced with someone he had always been partially afraid of it was as if they had abandoned him and he just wasn't sure how to react. But Leo had asked him a question and he knew he should answer so he nodded slowly wondering what reaction the man would have.
"I'm sorry, Chris. I haven't been able to vanquish him yet. I wish this was over and Barbas was dead. I know you are in a lot of pain, right now, Son. But I promise you, whatever I have to do, I'll fix this," Leo said wanting so badly to assure Chris that he wouldn't let him down again, not in this or anything else.
Son, he had called him Son. Not Chris, or brat or any of the other hate-filled names that he had used in Chris' timeline. Never once had Leo ever acknowledged the fact that Chris was his son in the future and it was something that had always cut so deep during the lonely times he had spent while growing up. But he had to remind himself that that wasn't this Leo. This Leo was different. He had proved that on many occasions but Chris hadn't ever wanted to believe it before. But maybe this once, he could let himself believe. He knew that if he weren't lying there dying that his outlook on the situation would probably be very different. He knew how the old resentments and bitterness would creep up and he would have been outraged to hear Leo call him that, but not right at this moment. Couldn't he just pretend for a few moments that Leo did care and that he could have a real father, who wanted to save him? It was only for a little while, just until the end came. Didn't he deserve it after everything he'd gone through?
So with that he tentatively reached out and laid one trembling hand on Leo's hoping that the man wouldn't pull back or flinch away breaking the fantasy that Chris was desperately grasping for.
Leo looked down to where Chris' hand rested on top of his own and he could see the blood staining the pale skin and his heart constricted at the sight but he didn't pull away. Instead he placed his other hand over Chris' and squeezed tightly as new tears formed in his eyes at the sign of acceptance.
"Bravo, bravo, what an absolutely beautiful performance," came a disembodied voice through the air. "Too bad, it's just that, a performance." They all heard it and Leo spun around looking for the creature, which had voiced those words. He stood reluctantly letting go of Chris' hand and took a protective stance in front of his sons.
"Show yourself, coward," he yelled still unable to tell where the voice had come from.
"So you can kill me. I think not, Elder," the voice called seeming to be in front of and behind him all at the same time.
"Piper, come over here," Leo called out seeing that she was out in the open by herself. Not a good place to be when a demon was about.
Piper gave him a questioning look but started to walk towards him when she suddenly felt a hand grasp her throat and a body press up against her from behind. "Now, now, it won't be as much fun that way," he whispered in her ear as another hand came up and she could feel the Athame blade touch her throat.
Several shouts of both "Piper" and "Mom" could be heard throughout the attic as the demon completely took form.
Leo moved forward wanting to save his wife but Barbas gave him a devilish look and shook his head. "Uh, uh… Not any closer, Elder. Not unless you want to leave your sons motherless."
Leo immediately stopped moving but continued to glare menacingly at the Demon of Fear. "Always hiding behind women and children, I see. Doesn't say much for you, now does it?" he called out bitterly.
Barbas just smiled at that statement not feeling any compunction to defend himself whatsoever. "Demons shall be demons, now won't they?" he answered then looked around the room. He spied the Seer and made a mental note to torture her for the rest of her days as a demon. Then noticed something was missing. "Ah, but the children. Where are they?"
"Leave them out of this," Piper spat out in rage pulling at the demon's arm desperate to keep her children from the monster's grasp.
"Ah, but that is just not possible. And considering the fact that at least one of them is probably listening in on this conversation through the link with his older self, I'm sure they are both terrified of losing their mother right about now," he explained happily. "Oh, boys, I think you should join us right about now."
Wyatt's eyes widened as he immediately closed down the link with his younger self. He hadn't thought to do so earlier but now regretted it. He knew exactly how foolhardy his own younger self could be at that age and knew exactly what his reaction would be. But it was just too late.
The younger version of Wyatt orbed into the room landing just a few feet from where Barbas held his mother. To the demon's surprise though the moment he materialized a shield swallowed him and he was alone. "Let her go," young Wyatt demanded.
"Ah, ever the hero, he comes to save his mother, just as his older self traveled here to save his little brother. You do realize that you'll never be able to save them both, don't you?" Barbas questioned discarding the thought of the younger boy, who in his mind was inconsequential.
"Wyatt, go back to your room," Leo called out, fear for his son rippling from him.
Barbas could feel the fear in the room and it was such delicious fare for him. He hadn't enjoyed this much of the intoxicating emotion in such a long time.
Even through the pain he felt Chris couldn't just sit back and watch as the demon that he was beginning to consider his own personal tormentor dismantled his family one by one. So he braced himself for the pain he was soon to feel as he reached out and used the back of the couch to pull himself up. Wyatt was shocked by the action and tried to hold his brother back but Chris wasn't having any of that. "Chris, stop. You're not in any kind of shape for this."
All eyes flew to the couch where the young Witchlighter had managed to pull himself completely upright and was glaring at the demon through eyes filled both with pain and with anger. "Barbas, leave my family alone," he bit out through clenched teeth as he wrapped one arm around his stomach and attempted to stand.
"Chris, no," several voices called throughout the room and Leo immediately moved towards him, trying to stop his forward movement.
"Oh, such bravery. Such devotion. It is quite touching to see how the castoff from the future is so willing to save the family that never really wanted him," Barbas crowed in glee feeling the fear go up yet another notch among those around him.
"Shut up," Leo, Piper, Paige, and Phoebe all yelled at once. They were all fed up with the demon's penchant for singling Chris out as a target.
"My, my. Rather touchy, aren't they?" Barbas joked knowing he was pushing just the right buttons with each of them.
Chris smirked slightly at that. Barbas had a point there. Things had certainly changed among the members of his family when it concerned him and they were very touchy about the subject. He knew he shouldn't be pleased by the fact but part of him enjoyed the notion that they cared enough for the demon's words to really affect them. At least he was no longer the outcast among them and to think all it took to bring about such a change was him sacrificing his own life. He should have thought about that sooner, he mused silently. But those thoughts would have to wait. Things were not exactly falling in his family's favor at that moment. "You know that's not the best of ideas," he pointed out still breathing very raggedly.
Barbas looked at him slightly perplexed and Chris let a small smirk play upon his lips as he gathered the strength he needed to speak his mind and also reopened the mental link he shared with his younger self, sending out a silent message. "No matter how this goes, you'll end up dead in the end. It would have been a lot smarter to take off when you had the opportunity. You would have at least lived a few more years. But now you've threatened Piper. Big mistake there."
Barbas wasn't quite sure where the strength and determination the young Witchlighter was showing was coming from. He thought that he had broken the young man, or at least came very close to doing so. Oh well, there were always more knives to twist into his soul. "I wouldn't talk so brave it I were you, young one. I still know your fears."
Chris only just barely had the strength left to stand and truly did not have the strength enough to speak so he waited patiently letting Barbas' love of his own voice give him the time he needed for his younger self to follow the instructions he had mentally given him.
"Your fears of rejection might not be as prevalent on your mind right now, but what about the fear of losing your mother? Does she get to die in your arms again this time around?" The words produced the affect in all of them that Barbas had wanted. Paige and Phoebe gasped and Leo blanched as white as snow. He had heard hints of that occurrence in the vision that Barbas had showed him but nothing had prepared him to hear that she had died in her son's arms.
Wyatt had moved in close behind his brother laying a supporting hand on his shoulder and spoke words that he hoped would assure them all. "I'm afraid to bust your bubble there, Demon, but in the new future Mom very much gets to live a long life and we will not let you kill her today either."
Barbas gave them a feral grin and shook his head at the absurdity of the witch's warning. "What you think will happen in the future means nothing if I change the events of today, you know that."
Chris saw exactly what he had been waiting for in the briefest glimpse of color next to the attic door. Leo had crossed to stand slightly in front of he and Wyatt still hoping to protect them from the demon and Chris knew that Barbas could not see his hands and was grateful for the fact as he ever so slowly began to close one fist concentrating his telekinetic energy on grasping the hand that held the Athame to his mother's throat. Just as he knew he had a good telekinetic grip on it he nodded slightly sending out the silent message again. With that he yanked his hand down and to everyone's amazement Barbas' hand that was holding the Athame flew forward with the blade flying loose across the room. At the same moment it felt as if a large hand grasped him from behind and yanked him away from Piper and the demon flew backwards and to floor.
Older Wyatt seeing his opportunity and not wanting to pass it by called out to the open air. "Excalibur," and a whoosh of air flew threw the attic as the sword which had been hidden in the corner under a blanket pulled free from it's stone and flew to it's rightful master. Within seconds the Twice Blessed son had the legendary blade pressed against the demon's throat.
The younger Wyatt along with Phoebe and Paige had immediately rushed to Piper enveloping her in a hug and the youngster threw his shield up to keep them all safe from harm.
Leo had wanted to immediately rush forward to dispatch the demon but he caught the sight of Chris collapsing to his knees and instead turned to grab him. "Whoa, Chris, it's okay buddy. Just hold on. I got ya," he said lifting his son and carrying him back to the couch.
Piper had seen Chris collapse and turned quickly to her other son from the future. "Wyatt, kill that bastard."
Wyatt was only too happy to do just as his mother suggested as he lifted Excalibur ready to drive it down into the demon, which had been tormenting his family.
"Oh, but then who will save your little brother?" Barbas called stalling Wyatt's movements.
"You stupid, demon. If I kill you Dad can heal him," Wyatt said in disbelief that the demon of fear was trying something so pathetic.
Barbas held his hand up and pointed behind him towards the attic door, "Ah, but you forget that there are two versions of your brother in this timeline." They all glanced to the door and Wyatt's hand froze as he saw the younger version of his brother being shoved into the room by a Darklighter holding a crossbow to his back. "Remember, if he dies, they both die."
Older Chris who had only barely been able to keep conscious during the events that had just transpired peered around Leo who was kneeling dumbstruck before him. His younger self looked up to him with glistening eyes. "Sorry… I tried," he called out.
Chris couldn't blame his younger self. The kid had done the best he could. "It's okay, Kid. At least you saved Mom," he called back his voice sounding even weaker after the effort.
None of them had realized that it had been the small child who had yanked Barbas away from his mother telekinetically. At first he had been worried that he wouldn't be able to do it but the fear he felt for his mother and the urging from his older self had given him the courage to try and he had been very pleased when it worked. Well at least pleased until the Darklighter black orbed in behind him. That hadn't been part of the plan at all.
Older Wyatt, realizing just how helpless his younger brother's situation was removed Excalibur from the demon's throat and backed away until he stood before the couch again partway shielding the older version of Chris as he held the sword ever ready at his side.
Barbas picked himself up off the floor and strode over to where the Darklighter was holding the small child and reached down taking the boy's chin in his hand pulling his face up so he could look him in the eye. "That was… unexpected, young one," he said smiling appreciatively at the power the small child had just exhibited. "I might have use for you yet."
"Don't touch my son," Leo growled standing and started moving forward. Wyatt had enough sense to grasp his father's shoulder and hold him back fearing what the demon would do.
Barbas turned again to face the adults and nodded a few times as a new plan formed in his head. He casually walked a few feet forward his head bowed in thought and then a small chuckle left his mouth. "This could work out a lot better than I originally planned," he said almost half to himself but all of them had heard him and the statement made each of them cringe. "I'm assuming that you all wish that both of the children remain alive and safe."
"Now what gave you that idea?" Paige quipped in sarcasm.
Barbas ignored the statement and went on speaking. "Well I can assure you all of their safety under one condition."
Piper glared at the demon and remarked, "Oh I bet you can."
"If you allow me to leave this home with both of the younger versions of your sons I can assure you that they both will live very long and healthy lives," he stated happily imagining grooming both of the children in his evil image.
The words "No way," "Never," and "Over my dead body," streaked through the attic as the entire family as a whole rejected the idea.
Barbas did not allow this to deter him though as he added a few quite words to the conversation. "If I leave here without them, I leave behind two dead bodies belonging to the same person." Those words silenced the entire room as the Darklighter pushed even harder against little Chris' back.
Chris shared a look with his younger self that said volumes and the small boy sniffled slightly and took a deep breath knowing what was expected of him. He knew that his older self was too weak to continue the fight and it was up to him to do so. "Wyatt, take Mommy and the Aunts and orb 'up there'," he called in such a small voice that was attempting to be stronger than it sounded.
The entire family blinked at the youngster's words and both versions of Wyatt shook their heads vehemently. "No!" they said at the same time.
The young child looked again at his older version sensing his thoughts and nodded. "This has got to end." He motioned to his older self and continued. "We are both tired and just want it to be over without anyone else getting hurt."
Older Wyatt stared back to his brother who was lying silently on the couch and realized that he child's words were coming from his heart. "No, Chris. I won't let you sacrifice yourself again for me."
The young voice spoke up again behind him. "He can't talk to you anymore, Wyatt. He's too weak. But he wants you to know how much it means to him for you to come here and be with him, but he still thinks you are a fool for doing it."
Wyatt's eyes did not leave those of his dying brother as he saw all the regret there mixed with the pain of everything he had suffered through his life.
A sob left Piper's mouth as she realized that time had finally run out for them. They were at a standstill and no matter how much they loved Chris; they couldn't send both of their boys away to become evil. But what else could they do?
"I'll tell you what. I'll make the decision easier for you," Barbas said making up his mind on something that he had been debating for several long minutes as they spoke. "As a sign of good faith, to prove that I don't want to harm your children, I'll even save your son." With those words the Demon of Fear waved his hand through the air and the Athame that had earlier flown from his hand came flying back to him. He then whispered a few quiet words in a language they did not understand and the Athame burst into flames and within seconds had disintegrated into mere ash.
After several seconds of staring in awe at the sight Leo turned back to Chris kneeling quickly and placed his hands above his chest letting his healing powers flow into his son. At first he wasn't sure it would work but then he felt the tide turn and Chris suddenly took a deep breath that wasn't choked with his own blood. After just a few more seconds he sat up quickly grasping his chest as his eyes widened in wonder. The pain and most of the weakness was gone. He still felt shaky from the long painful hours he had spent but he knew without a doubt that he would certainly live.
"Chris?" Leo asked softly still worried that his son would still somehow die before his eyes.
Chris looked to him and nodded silently assuring him that he would indeed make it.
"See, I can be benevolent at times. You now have both of your sons alive and well. But if you want to keep the youngest that way, you shall send them with me," Barbas demanded knowing they could not deny him. "I will not wait forever for your decision."
Chris stood still shaking slightly. Leo and Wyatt both reached out steadying him as he stepped between them and out in front to face the demon, who had been tormenting him for weeks. "No deal," he called in a voice that was much stronger than he felt.
"Chris, no!" Piper called shaking her head in fear that his rash words would get he and his younger self killed.
The younger version of Wyatt glanced up at his mom and saw the fear clearly written across her face then he looked to his little brother who just stood still staring up at his older self. He couldn't just sit back and watch his little brother die. He could never accept that in a million years. So with one last glance at his mother he moved forward and his shield dropped.
Piper's first reaction was to grab her son and stop what he was doing but his older-self called out to her. "Don't, Mom."
Chris' eyes widened in fear as he saw what the younger Wyatt was doing and he immediately moved forward to stop him. But he felt strong arms grasp him from behind as Wyatt tried to hold him back. "What the hell are you doing? Wyatt shield," he yelled hoping the boys instincts would kick in as they had when he was a baby, but they didn't and he didn't even glance at him as he walked by towards the demon holding his brother.
"Chris, just let him go," Wyatt tried to calm his brother pulling him backwards holding both his arms to his sides and speaking softly into his ear.
Chris turned his face and could see the sad acceptance in his brother's eyes then he turned to Leo who was only a few inches from him. "Leo, stop him," he yelled hoping the Elder would have enough good sense to end this, but when he saw him look down almost in shame he couldn't believe his eyes. "Dad, please!" he begged him trying the one thing he thought would get through to the man, using the term of affection he knew would touch the man's heart.
Leo looked up at that and tears sprung from his eyes. "I can't, Chris. I can't lose you," he whispered.
Chris' heart constricted at the words and he suddenly had the urge to collapse in tears but he knew he couldn't let the sentiment deter him from saving his brother. "He'll turn them both evil," his voice came out as a half sob realizing he had no chance of stopping what was happening.
Piper had turned away from the scene with her face buried in her youngest sister's shoulder. She could see just what Leo and Wyatt were doing and she understood it was necessary but it still hurt like hell to watch her sons being taken away by the demon. Phoebe though was concentrating on the argument before her. "Chris, don't you see? If he takes them, there will still be a chance to get them back, to save them. He doesn't want them dead. But if he kills little you, that's it. That's final and we can't fix that. At least this way there is still a chance." She didn't care that Barbas heard her words. It was obvious that they would try to find the children, so there was nothing to hide, but she had to convince her nephew that he meant too much to risk again.
Chris looked to each of them and knew that they all agreed. They would not risk his life again, no matter what position that placed the children in. How had things changed so much, he wondered? How had they gone from hating him one day to being willing to risk everything to save him the next? He knew that the thought should please him. It should have made him the happiest person alive but the only thing he felt was utter failure. He had failed again, and made things even worse this time around.
He stopped struggling against his brother's grip and leaned back into the comfort of his embrace as he watched little Wyatt step up next to Barbas who had backed away next to little Chris. The demon laid a hand on each of the children's shoulders and shimmered out leaving the Darklighter behind. They heard the demon's parting words ring throughout the attic with one passing comment. "Just to keep you busy for a little bit." With that the Darklighter pulled the trigger on the crossbow and a black fletched arrow sailed through the air and embedded itself in Leo's chest. Piper had swung at the words and only seconds too late threw her hands up blowing the Darklighter into millions of pieces.
Wyatt let go of Chris and both young men grabbed Leo as he began to sink to the floor staring down at the arrow that had ripped through his body and now was sending deadly poison into the tissue surrounding his heart. They managed to get him onto the couch and Wyatt was about to rip the arrow from his chest when Piper stilled his hand. "You can't touch that. Let me."
Wyatt had almost forgotten in his fear that he being half Whitelighter was just as susceptible as his father was to the poison. He nodded and waited as Piper attempted to pull the arrow free.
Chris was staring slightly in shock at the blood pouring from the chest wound. In all of his days he had never actually seen Leo wounded so seriously. There had been a few times in his original timeline when a Darklighter arrow had pierced his arm or a leg but never so close to his heart before, and for the first time he could remember, he feared the idea of the man actually dying.
Paige turned angrily and spotted the Seer basically hiding in a corner trying not to draw attention to herself. "You said we could change this."
None of them turned at her words but they all heard them and the Seer's answer. "Yes you could have, if Leo had chosen not to come here tonight."
Phoebe turned at that and her face wore a mask of confusion. "What are you two talking about?"
Piper could hear the words but she was trying to block them out as she worked desperately to remove the arrow, which seemed to be stuck on something. She could see the pain she was causing her husband with the attempt to remove it but her heart began to race in fear as she realized that it wasn't coming out. "I can't get it out," she cried still desperately tugging on the shaft.
The Seer ignored Piper's words. She already knew they were coming. "Leo knew this would be the outcome if he came here tonight. It was his decision."
Piper whirled around at those words. "What do you mean?" She couldn't mean that… No Leo couldn't…
"Piper, hon," Paige started as tears came to her eyes and spilled down her cheeks, "In the vision we saw we couldn't get the arrow out. Leo didn't make it."
Piper's eyes widened in disbelief and her mouth dropped. She whirled back around and saw her husband's sorrowful expression. He knew. He knew he was gonna die. "No, you can't."
Wyatt reached out his trembling hands letting the healing touch flow into his father. He knew with the arrow still embedded in his chest that the healing would only extend his life for a short time. It couldn't save him.
Chris couldn't move. This couldn't be real. There was no way that Leo had just sacrificed himself for… oh god, for him. He had come back to the attic so he could try to save him. He knew he would die if he did, but he still came. Earlier he had thought he was only fooling himself into believing that Leo cared for him but now, how could he deny it?
He was kneeling on the floor next to Leo's knee and he reached out taking the man's hand grasping it tightly as tears began to form in the corners of his eyes. "Why?" he whispered gaining the Elder's attention.
Leo turned his head to face Chris and felt the hand gripping his own. He had heard the soft question and there were so many reasons he could have given but two came to the forefront of his mind immediately. "I love my son, Chris, and I couldn't let you down again," he whispered remembering the vision of Chris plummeting from the bridge. "Not like he did."
Chris was confused by what 'he' Leo was referring to and the questioning look he gave him urged Leo to continue. "Not like the man who should have been your father in the future. I won't be that man. I won't let anger destroy someone I should have loved all along."
Chris' face blanched white with that and the tears he had been holding back broke free. He let his head sink down to rest on top of his father's knee as all of the pent up emotions concerning the man broke free and his body began to shake from the silent sobs he couldn't hold back. Never a day had gone by in his timeline that he didn't want to hear those words from Leo. He would never had admitted it to anyone else and especially not to Leo himself but he had wanted Leo to be his father. Every time he watched Leo with Wyatt he had longed to be able to feel like he belonged to someone like the father and son belonged to each other, but he had always felt as if it was just a dream. He couldn't ever belong. He had always been on the outside looking in, but not anymore. Leo wanted him to be his son. He wanted to care for Chris. No he did care for Chris already, and he was about to lose that. Within moments he will have lost the one thing he always wanted more than anything else in the world.
Leo pulled his hand from Chris' grasp and rested it on top of his head running his fingers through his hair wanting so much to hold his son, but knowing he'd never be able to. "Chris, I'm sorry I can't be there for you," he said as his voice became even weaker.
Piper had backed away from them and had turned her head into Phoebe's shoulder not wanting to see her husband slowly slip away. Paige had also sought comfort from her sisters as she wrapped her arms around them both and cried right along with them. She couldn't watch this happen again. She had seen it in the vision but had been confident that Leo knew how to change it. Nothing had prepared her for the fact that he might not even try.
Chris pulled his head up and his father could see the red-rimmed eyes shining with such longing but also with a very strong determination that surprised him. "I won't accept that," he whispered reaching his hand palm up in front of him and whispering one single word. "Arrow."
Blue and white orbs surrounded the projectile as it simple disappeared from Leo's chest and then reformed in Chris' hand. Chris flung the sharp object away and winced as the sharp point scraped across his skin. He knew he'd have to be healed but that didn't matter right then. "Heal him," he demanded of his brother who was staring in awe at what his brother had just done.
"Why didn't I think of that?" Wyatt asked as his hands sought the wound and began to glow brightly as it closed and he felt the poison receding from his father's body ever so slowly.
It took several moments to complete the healing in which time Chris' hand had started to become numb and he could feel cold chills from the deadly poison shooting up his arm. This had been a particularly strong Darklighter poison that was meant to paralyze the victim before killing him. It would not have been an easy death for his father.
The moment Leo was completely healed he reached out and grasped Chris' hand fearing that his contact with the arrow had harmed him also. When he felt the warm healing glow flow from his fingers he was not at all surprised. "That was a very dangerous stunt," he bit out more in fear than anger at his youngest son.
Chris just gave him a small smile as the healing glow faded away. He didn't pull away from Leo's grasp and Leo didn't let go for several long seconds. He finally reached up with his other hand and placed it on Chris' shoulder squeezing slightly. "Thank you, Son."
Chris nodded again and stood clearing his voice. He knew he needed some space if he was ever to regain his composure. "We have work to do."
A/N: Alrighty then. I do realize that there are probably a couple of you who are screaming at me for not letting Leo die. Sorry. I couldn't give him to Chris and then just take him away like that. I am not even that cruel. I had originally planned on having Piper make some sort of sacrifice for her son but since she and Chris are already on decent terms I decided to give that honor to Leo. It just felt better. So are the family forgiven yet? You guys tell me.