The Manor was silent as Sam and Reese entered the front hall and listened for the usual sounds of chatter and laughing and the smell of cooking or potion concocting but the only noise that broke the stillness was the eerie ticking of the grandfather clock. Reese sighed heavily and walked further into the Halliwell manor, shivering when she came to the bottom of the stairs and remembered the battle that had been fought here. She turned abruptly when the sound of a door opening caught her attention and she saw Piper walking quickly out of the kitchen, her hair pulled back in a messy ponytail but when she saw Reese and Sam standing in the front room of the manor she froze, her face going pale and her eyes filling with tears.
"Reese?" Piper choked out, her voice quaking with emotion and confusion and her hands shaking wildly. It wasn't long before Reese felt herself being pulled into a tight embrace, felt the soft hands stroking her hair and let Piper's familiar scent wash over her as she closed her eyes and let tears slice lines down her dirty face.
"How?" Piper breathed against her shoulder, pulling her face back to look up into Reese's eyes, seeing the fear and sadness tearing her world apart.
"Kalais and a few other Elders. I don't know how." Reese explained, her words stammered as she fought to hide her emotions, to be the Reese Lawson that the Halliwell family knew and loved. To not be the undone mess standing before her but in her heart she knew that wouldn't work. She knew Piper would see through her facade of strength to her wilting core. She could see the damage in her eyes, the haunted look from spending too much time with her own thoughts, too much time away from life, saw the sadness ripping her soul apart even as she tried to mend over the scars already there, tried to pull herself together but Reese was tired and she didn't care to run any more. Piper instantly began fussing over her, remarking at her dirty clothes and the gashes across her knuckles, never considering why Reese was still in the same clothes she was buried in and why she was covered in dirt, nor the reason for the undeniable fear in her eyes. She led Reese to the couch in the front living area by the fire, its flames a hollow reminder of something in the recesses of her mind that she tried helplessly to forget. She stirred in her chair when Piper set down a warm mug of tea on the table by her feet but continued to stay quiet as she sat down by her side and tried to pull grass and chunks of earth from her hair, pleading with her to let Piper clean up her hands but Reese only refused and sunk further back in the couch, never once touching her tea until it went cold and unnoticed while Piper merely sat with her and stroked her hair, talking with Sam quietly about things that seemed meaningless to Reese. All she wanted was to see Chris' face, to know everything was going to be okay, to feel herself in his loving arms and feel the softness of his breath against her ear, whispering reassurances made only for her. Reese heard a deep voice calling out to Piper from the next room and her heart jumped in her chest at the sight of Wyatt moseying into the room, his eyes instantly falling to Reese's form, her hair matted and dirty and her clothes covered in smears of earth. His face was equally as shocked as Piper's had been and he didn't speak a word, only knelt in front of her position on the couch and caressed her face with his big warm hands, tears in his eyes and a relieved smile across his face. Reese felt all the emotions bottled up inside of her spill to the surface at the feel of Wyatt's reassuring hands against her face and the smile across her best friend's lips. She pulled his face toward her, making him rise and sink down on the couch beside her before he wrapped his arms around her shoulders protectively and kissed her hair as she placed her head comfortingly against his chest as soundless sobs racked her weary frame for what seemed like an eternity. Reese finally felt her emotions begin to steady and she wiped the tears from her eyes and looked up into Wyatt's concerned face as he asked, "Are you okay? What the hell happened to you?"
She bit her lip and furrowed her brows, trying to find the right words to explain this. To explain all of this. But a part of her didn't want to say the words. A part of her wanted to wallow in misery, hide somewhere warm and safe and never let this feeling ravage her again. She was too tired and sad to do this any more. Reese just wanted her life back.
"The Elder, Kalais. She said that my death was a great injustice that had to be righted. Herself and three other Elders combined their powers to bring me back." Reese explained but Wyatt knew she was holding something back at the haunted expression that crossed her face and the shiver that ran through her body.
"What else aren't you telling us?" Wyatt inquired in a low voice, his eyes concerned and his hold on her protective and comforting. The four of them were interrupted by the sound of the front door creaking open followed by two voices, one male and one female, both laughing happily and discussing something that Reese couldn't discern. When two faces appeared through the arch way leading from the hall, Reese felt a horrible pang in her chest and a hot sensation taking over her body as she let her lips part slightly and tried desperately to hold back her tears. Chris was standing looking straight at Reese, his expression a mixture of overwhelming shock, sadness and guilt. By his side stood a dark woman a few inches shorter than him, her hand clasped tightly in his. A note of shock and bewilderment flickered across her face before she looked between Reese and Chris in confusion and stepped closer toward him as an uncomfortable silence enveloped the room.
"Reese." Chris choked out, his jaw set stubbornly as he tried to hide his emotions but his eyes were glistening with tears. He watched as a look of sheer humiliation and heartache crossed her face, tears streaking her cheeks as she swallowed hard and got to her feet. Reese wrung her hands together tightly and for the first time he noticed her dirty clothes and the multitude of abrasions across her knuckles and he felt his stomach drop as worry and love for her filled his heart once more.
"I should go. Call me tomorrow?" The woman said in a small voice, looking up at Chris from behind her long lashes. Chris let a small smile cross his face before he nodded and squeezed her hand and watched until she disappeared down the hall and shut the door. He whirled back around, his expression angry and his lip trembling slightly.
"Is this some kind of joke!?" Chris spat, his voice loud and Reese flinched back at his words, obviously not expecting the steely gaze that fell upon her.
"Chris, what-" Reese began but he only shook his head violently and walked further into the room.
"Did they summon you? Why are you here?" Chris asked, his tone still furious and his voice shaking. He gestured to his Mom and brother and Reese's whitelighter Sam as if to suggest that they had summoned her spirit and that she, in fact, wasn't real.
"No, Chris, please-" Reese tried to speak but he grabbed her shoulders forcefully and shook her as tears fell from her eyes onto her cheeks and her lip trembled as she suddenly became overwhelmed with grief and sadness. She had lost the one thing that meant everything to her, lost the only love that kept her going. Her heart was ripping into pieces at the thought of Chris being with anyone else but her. It had always been Reese and Chris, even before they became lovers. Even before he asked her to be his wife. They had been as close as friends could get, they had shared everything and more, they had been through so much. Reese had been through so much. And now after all the pain, after all the sadness and death, she had been sent back only to have her heart torn from her chest by the only man she had ever loved. Those who would bear witness to her soul unravelling would know soon enough just how much she truly hurt inside. It wasn't a physical pain but it was agony in her chest as the fear of being left alone churned inside of her and her eyes grew distant and fearful as Chris' steely gaze struck her down.
"Tell me the truth!" Chris snarled, shaking her shoulders again and Reese tried to shrink away, tried to pull back but he held her in place and stared at her, wanting an answer. She became overwhelmed with a sudden anger, the throb inside of her unbearable and she couldn't keep her secrets in any longer.
"The truth? I was never at peace, I was never in heaven. Barbas destroyed my world and sent me to hell to suffer eternally. Kalais freed me and brought me back to life, to my grave. I had to dig my way out of there! And all the while I thought of you and only you." Reese saw the shock wash over Chris' face, saw his skin go pale and his eyes fill with pity and sadness and regret. Her voice stammered as tears soaked her face and her heart broke entirely before she whispered, "And now I don't know why I bothered." She left the room, left the comfort and warmth of the manor, knowing nothing would ever be the same and that nothing could ever repair her.
She's back!! I'm sorry all these chapters have been so depressing but soon you'll find out the plot thickens again. I really like Chris but writing this chapter made me want to punch him a little! hehe. Anyway, please review and let me know what you think, I really appreciate all the support as always! Even if it's just something small :)
alae-megallen