Chris- The Wake-Up Call;
Piper stared down at the small figure in the bed. Thin as she was, it looked like she was being swallowed by the bed sheets, and her long hair and huge pale eyes made her look far younger than her years. Chris sat next to her, holding a hand he hadn't relinquished since they'd gotten back.
"She's so small!" She exclaimed, gripping Leo's hand. "What are we going to do with her?"
"Well, we're going to heal her physically, and then see what we can do about mentally." Piper roller her eyes, nudging him in the ribs, and he smiled ruefully. She hated it when he stated the obvious. "She needs one hell of a lot of healing though."
Chris looked up, uncertain. "Want me to try now?" He asked, and they both nodded.
He gripped her hand in both of his, a faint frown on his face. The air grew warmer, and a golden glow surrounded the two figures by the bed. Slowly, gently, Chris ran his hands down her tiny frame, easing blotches and healing over broken bones that would take weeks to heal. Leo watched with pride as his son did his work, fixing cuts and bruises as if they were never there. Finally, not a scratch was left, but still she did not stir.
"Why isn't she waking up?" Chris asked, looking at his father in confusion. "I healed her head wound. Did I do it wrong?"
Leo pursed his lips, thinking. "I think she may be hiding."
"In her own head?" Piper asked.
"Why not? It's been done before." He moved to the head of the bed, taking Chris' hands in his. Placing them on her temples, he began to massage them gently through Chris' hands.
"Focus on her thoughts, Chris. See them, hear them. Look for her in them. Find where she's hiding."
"What are you doing?" Piper asked.
"Teaching him to mind heal."
"Doesn't that take months to learn?" Piper asked, knowing she should have learned more about healing.
Leo sighed. "Piper, it took me three months to figure out how to heal a broken bone. It took Chris about ten minutes. Ask the healing teacher at magic school, he's got a talent like none of us have ever seen. He can figure this out" He looked down, worried at the vacant expression on his sons face, but refusing to let Piper see. She had enough to deal with. "Piper, can you go downstairs and stop Prue coming up here? I don't want her to see Chris like this, she'll get worried." As Piper disappeared down the stairs, he leaned in closer to his son.
"Chris, can you hear me?"
But he was already gone. Moving through her mind like thin smoke, drifting everywhere. Memories flickered in his head. The earth, hell, elders, charges, demons all came and went in a flash. But most predominantly was a woman, tall and almost inhumanly beautiful, wearing the robes of an elder. Long blonde hair fell in gentle curls down her back, framing an alabaster face with piercing grey eyes, she stood bathed in sunshine outside a tiny thatched cottage, and a little girl ran to her out of the garden, no older than five but already perfectly formed, with the same blonde hair and marble features. The woman bent down, pulling her to her in a hug, twirling round so their long hair mixed together and fanned out like a comet's tail. He could even hear her speaking, soft and full of laughter in the girl's ear.
"How's my little cricket? Did you have fun while I was in heaven?"
The little girl smiled, but looked a little sad too. "Mommy, when can I go to heaven with you?"
"Not yet, little love. Soon." Her eyes were sad now, as if they held great secrets. "They can't see you yet."
"Are you ashamed of me mommy?"The girl asked, eyes suddenly brimming with tears.
"No!" The denial was sharp. "Never! How could you ever think that?"
The girl swallowed, her voice wobbly. "You hide me away. You never show me to anyone."
"I don't show you to anyone because I want you all to myself. You're my little cricket, my very own treasure, and I'm not sharing you with anyone." She hugged the girl tighter, tracing her wobbly mouth with a finger till she smiled, but the child wasn't finished.
"Mommy, do I have a daddy?" The elder flinched, but the girl didn't seem to notice. So the elder answered.
"Yes sweetie, you do. But he's gone, I told you that."
"Is that why you go to heaven? To see him?" the girl asked, innocence shining in her face.
"Something like that." The elder sighed, ruffling her hair. "Something like that. Now you, my little cricket, have a room to tidy up, and I imagine Mrs Torres has made some lemonade for when you're done." The girl groaned but jumped down, rushing inside the house.
Then another image. The same woman, in the same place, but her eyes open and blank, a large scorch mark on her chest. The same girl, but older now, around his age, was kneeling over her, her perfect features marred by sobbing as if her heart was breaking, as the two male demons they had seen in the Underworld grabbed her from behind. The girl struggled, screaming for help, but they took her in a sheet of flames.
Lily wasn't here. She wasn't among her memories and she didn't seem to be having any surface thoughts He kept searching, and finally, after what seemed like forever, he found her hiding in a corner of her mind. She was barely there, hanging onto her mind by a tiny thread, huddled in the deepest darkest pit her imagination could conjure, not feeling anything. She hadn't even noticed the healing.
Lilly? Please hear me.
She barely stirred. Please leave me alone. You're a demon aren't you?
No, my name is Chris Halliwell, and I'm here to help you.
Halliwell? Her voice was still despondent, but he detected a glimmer of interest. I know that name. Mom mentioned one of her friends marrying a Halliwell. Leo Wyatt. Do you know him?
I do. He's my father. Did you know him?
No I didn't know anyone but mom. And she's gone. He was losing her again, her voice becoming fainter.
You can know us, if you want.
I don't want to come back. I don't want to feel it all, I'm safe here. It's quiet.
You're not really living.
So? Now she sounded defensive, which was good. Anything was better than apathy.
He sighed. Lily, I didn't go through all the trouble of rescuing you to lose you now. Please come back with me.
Why do you care? I don't know you, I don't trust you. For all I know you could be enthralled to that demon already, and you're trying to use me again.
What will it take for you to trust me?
A mind merge. A full one. Tell me when you're ready to answer. Her voice was decisive, challenging, and she withdrew sharply, waiting for his answer as he was forced out of her head and back into the real world. He looked up at his father, confused.
"Any luck?" Leo asked.
"She wants me to mind merge with her. What's a mind merge?" Leo blanched, worrying him. "Is it bad?"
"Not bad, no, but... you share minds. No lies, no illusions, nothing but who you really are. She'll know everything about you, your thoughts, memories, dreams, intentions. You'll read hers as well, but... its a lot to ask. She must really be desperate to be asking it of you." That may be a problem, Chris thought. Were his intentions really that good? Would she trust him afterwards? He couldn't lose her, but in doing this he may be driving her away forever. Leo crouched by his chair, looking in his eyes as the turmoil rolled through him. "Chris, I think she wants to trust you, I really do. But she's desperate for some reassurance, and this may be the only way to give it to her. But it is your call, if you don't want to do it, we won't force you."
Taking her hand again, he stared down at her features, as familiar as his own. What it really came down to was, how much did he want to save her? Well, the answer to that was easy.
"Tell me how."
Lily was waiting for him to come back, tucked away in her little corner. She couldn't feel her body anymore, but it was okay. Once he came back and told her he wouldn't meld, she could let go, but he had been so gentle, so warm, she had to at least give him the chance to refuse. Chris Halliwell, her saviour. She almost felt bad for leaving him after everything he'd been through for her, but it really wasn't worth staying, even for him. Mom was gone, home was gone, and she finally knew who her father was. Oh, god, her daddy, the lovely man she'd imagined all her life, was a demon who had raped her mother. And she was their child. She'd never even been told she had powers, but she'd seen her mother perform acts of magic on a daily basis. And then she'd read what the demon had showed her, how she would become evil as she grew. That man who come with her rescuer, who was so like him and yet so unlike him- she'd attacked him when he'd tried to help because the demon had told her to. Her own limbs had betrayed her, shooting fire and lightning down on him. She'd nearly killed him. Never again, she swore to herself. She refused, to ever, ever be like that again. Never, even if she had to destroy herself.
She felt his mind enter hers again, that soft, comforting thought, being so careful not to intrude, and she felt with a pang of sadness. She really ought to apologise to him before leaving. He'd been so good to her, and she was deserting him. So she'd explain, and then he'd let her go, with his forgiveness and blessing. For some reason she didn't understand, she needed it.
Lily? His voice was smooth and calm, like a lake of polished glass, and she felt the comfort wash over her, like he understood everything she had been through. It was nice.
Yeah? You decided? She waited for him to politely decline.
Do you want to do this now?
What? No! You can't!... She exclaimed. No, there was no way he was considering... she'd chosen a meld deliberately so he'd refuse and let he go! He was ruining everything!
I thought you wanted me to meld with you? Now he sounded confused, hurt even, and completely inexplicably, she suddenly felt bad! How was he doing this to her, making her feel guilty that he was ruining her perfect plan? He refuses to meld, and then lets her go with his blessing so she didn't have to feel the pain any more, the plan was simple, but no, he agrees to meld with her and leaves her feeling bad that she didn't want him to!
Ah! Came the knowing thought. His thought. You wanted me to refuse and let you go right? She froze. How on earth did he know that? Never going to happen. I am not going to lose you now.
Who are you? How do you know me?
She felt his mental shrug, felt him bemusement, and she smiled. Somehow, he made her smile. I have no idea. But I will meld with you, because I'm not going to let you give up.
I hate you. She thought desperately, but he smiled at her, and even though she'd never seen his face, she knew he was outrageously cute. Totally handsome, but why did she care all of a sudden? Why did she want to see him? She had no idea.
Chris refused to intrude as she thought furiously, but he knew without looking that she was desperately looking for a way out. He knew she wanted to let go, but had promised to stay if he melded with her, and he was willing, leaving her trying frantically to find a loophole. He fought the smile forming and lost.
You won't find a loophole you know. You promised.
Don't read my thoughts, it's rude.
He chucked, eyes crinkling at the corners. I'm in your head, Lily, and you're in mine. How do you think we're talking, e-mail?
She smiled again. Twice now he'd made her smile. There was a strange joy bubbling up in his chest. If he could make her laugh, then maybe she wouldn't let go. He sat in her mind, waiting for her to stop struggling.
Finally, he heard a mental sigh of defeat. Fine. I'll meld with you. But if you're lying to me, I will find a way to make you pay. I swear it.
In her mind's eye, she could see him crouch down before her, face serious. Never. I would not lie to you.
He didn't move, wanting her to be first, to be totally comfortable with it. Slowly, timidly, she began to move past his mental barriers, which he let fall the instant she reached him. He felt it when she reached his memories, felt her hesitate on the edge of his mind, and stood stock still, trembling.
Lily stood on the precipice of his mind, unsure what to do. He was trusting her with his sanity, and if she put one foot wrong, she'd drive him mad. Below, like at the bottom of some abyss, his memories waited, but dare she put her foot over the edge and take the plunge into his mind. She could almost see him next to her, motioning for her to continue.
You sure? I can still let go. She told him, giving him one last chance to draw back.
Go. You wanted this. He urged. And so she let go, freefalling into his memories.
Instantly colours swamped her. The underworld had nothing, only greys and browns, but here, bright golds, silvers, pinks, whites, greens, oranges, yellows. The sun in the morning, the moon and the stars, family picnic, parents, hugs, the first day of school where he lost his lunchbox. His second birthday, where he'd accidentally orbed his presents across the room in front of twenty people. His father holding him, his mother at his baseball games. Playing with his brother on the back lawn of the manor, the birth of his little sister. Laughing, running even fighting with his siblings, his cousins. His first kiss, his first touch of his power. Everything that made him who he was, all his hopes and dreams swirled through her mind like she stood in a freshly-shaken snow globe. But wait... there was a curtain in his mind, with another set of memories behind it, hidden slightly behind a veil. But that was impossible!
Pulling it back, she felt a second life pull her in. This was the opposite of his other one, a dark, lonely childhood, an absent father, a mother constantly tending his brother. Darkness growing within Wyatt till it was undeniable. The only bright spots in this life were his aunts, but when he was only 18, they had been taken from him, along with his mother. His brother, the other rescuer, had taken over, ruling the world with an iron fist, till he had made a drastic decision. To come back and change it. Meeting his parents again, all the mistrust and pain, the death of his fiancée till finally they had known the truth. Then he had felt the light, the love so evident in the life he had lived now. Saving his brother.
His death at the hands of an elder.
But the curtain swung shut as if to keep her out, and she didn't look again. Standing within his memories, she felt the affection for him begin to grown in her chest, with every beat of her heart. She couldn't understand it, but there it was nonetheless, the respect for someone who had done so much for a total stranger, and for the entire world.
Chris felt her withdraw from his mind, and searched for her again in the silence of her imagination. He didn't look into her feelings or thoughts, just waited till she was willing to talk, praying and hoping she would agree to come back to the living with him.
Chris? Her thoughts were tentative, as if she were forcing herself to do something she was very much afraid of.
Yes Lily?
There was a pause. Then I'd like to come back with you, if that's all right. I'd love to meet the people you care about so much.
I would be honoured. Exultations echoed through him head, bouncing off his thoughts. Yes! He'd reached her!
Withdrawing from her mind and into the physical plane, he rocked back on his chair, neck aching. Leo said something to him, but he scarcely heard it. Staring at her face, he waited for some small flicker of movement. Something... there! Her cheeks twitched, and her eyes opened slowly blinking rapidly in the strong summer sunlight.
"Hello." She said.