Chapter 16 of 19
Dad
“Okay, hum- er- we got work to do- planning,” Chris said awkwardly. Leo rose slowly and didn’t see the looks being traded by the sisters.
“Yes,” Phoebe cried. “Planning. The book is a great help on planning. Let’s go take a look,” she said dragging Paige with her.
“Wyatt needs a nap, a little help Prue,” Piper said picking Wyatt up and disappearing with Prue.
Chris looked uncomfortable and Leo had a grin that could split his face in two. He came closer to Chris who had taken a keen interest on his shoes.
He put a hand on Chris’s shoulder and with the other lifted Chris’s chin. “Thank you son.”
Chris shrugged uncomfortable. Leo decided not to push and made to go away but Chris halted him, “You’re welcome…” he bit his lips nervously, “dad.”
Leo just smiled wider and pulled Chris into a hug, “Thank you,” he whispered into his son’s head. Chris said nothing; he hugged Leo desperately and hid his face on Leo’s broad chest as if he was afraid he’d disappear. He didn’t need to ask anymore why Chris fought for him in Valhalla. He knew his son loved him.
“Hey,” Chris entered Prue’s room cautiously and glared at his Aunt knowing smirk. “Where’s everyone?” he asked joining her on the bed.
“Wyatt is napping, Phoebe had to go to work and Paige and Piper decided to snoop in Gideon’s office. Paige never got an opportunity so Piper went to distract Gideon and let her know if he gets near the office.”
“How?”
“Oh, they’ve been practicing.” She said smirking, “Leo?”
“Had to go Up There,” Chris said vaguely and Prue nudged him on the shoulder with hers. “I wasn’t planning on calling him that,” Chris said. “I mean when I called mom, mom I was being deliberate. I had thought it through but this time I – that was an accident.”
“But a good one?” she asked.
“Don’t know,” he shrugged like a little boy. “He’s different. He’s like I always wanted him to be.”
“Then let him be and enjoy.” She said simply and Chris flopped backwards and stared at the ceiling. Could he just let go? Yes he could. He smiled.
Paige was almost giving up on her search of Gideon’s office. She had found absolutely nothing. But curiosity got the better of her and she decided to see what was behind that curtain on the wall. She knew there was no window there. She opened the curtain.
“Hum, that’s interesting,” both Paige’s said.
“I gather you’re here for the same reason I am?” evil Paige asked.
“Probably.” Paige answered.
“So, what happens with regular curriculum? How do they learn that?” Piper asked Gideon. She’d been grilling him in the pretense of being a concerned parent to give Paige time.
“Regular curriculum?” Gideon asked bewildered.
“Yes, so they can have a career, an income?”
“Uh, we don’t deal with mortal curriculum here,” he said flustered. “Piper, I understand your concerns but your sons are witches. They have a destiny to embrace.”
“They also need to buy food and pay for their roof,” she said flatly.
“Look, why don’t you look around. Watch some of the classes. I really need to go,” he said with a kind tone but Piper could detect the annoyance now that she knew to look for it.
She saw that she couldn’t stall him anymore so she smiled. “Of course.”
“Get out!” she thought frantically to Paige.
“Gotta go.” Paige said snapping up startled..
“Me too,” her reflection replied.
“They might be doing all the planning together,” Chris said as they read in the Book of Shadows all about the parallel world. “But why? What would they achieve?”
“Maybe they planned on having one of us cross to the other world and while we’re busy trying to get them back he’d attack. Doesn’t matter anyway because he won’t get to do that,” Paige said flatly. “Right now the evil Charmed Ones are planning the same we are and dealing with their Gideon we need to focus on our. We need that proof and then we need to corner Gideon.”
They all nodded.
“I’ll go right now buy some recording device. Has to be one of those small-“ Chris started saying but was interrupted by Phoebe.
“I know which,” she said and took a piece of paper from her pocket. “What?” she asked at the looks she got. “I asked one of my coworkers.”
“Okay, Phoebe and I will go,” Chris said. “She can pay”, he smirked.
Phoebe scowled at him, “What? I don’t have money!” he said innocently.
“Ouch!” Paige cried as she cut herself with a knife. She started jumping on the same spot and shaking her hand. Chris seeing this as he entered the kitchen decided to be more practical and orbed the first aid kit to himself. He put his bags down and went to her. “Here let me see?”
“No, chance you can just heal me,” she asked.
“No, sorry. What are you brewing?”
“Piper’s protection potion. She has to renew it every month.”
He nodded as he finished dressing her wound.
“If I could heal I could have just dealt with that in a second,” she huffed.
“No you couldn’t,” he smiled. “You can’t heal yourself remember. Besides. Unlike me healing is one of your powers.”
“Like I can control it,” she huffed.
“You’ll get the hang of healing eventually. Don’t worry,” Chris told Paige.
“Yeah, but when,” she huffed annoyed.
“In my time that happened after mum died. I guess the grief motivated you. You had always been shoddy at healing until then. Only having used your abilities twice or three times in your life. There was always dad or Aunt Prue or even Wyatt available so you never did have an incentive to develop your abilities. I guess when mum died you got angry because you thought that I would have thought of calling you if I’d been used to you healing. So you made Aunt Prue teach you and didn’t stop until you mastered the feeling and how to heal.”
“So I got complacent.” She nodded. “Well, I won’t again. Where’s that sister of mine?” she said firmly and Chris smiled. Future consequences be damned.
The next day Chris was getting frustrated. He had tried tapping the microphone wire three times already but every time he went to put the recorder on his pocket the wire stretched and unattached the tape.
“Great,” he huffed again peeling away the tape from his naked torso. He was in his room and all he had on were his jeans.
“Want a hand?” Piper asked from the hall.
“Please,” he begged.
She came close and looked at the recording device and the microphone.
“Where do you want the microphone?”
“I thought my wrist would be best, this way I can get it near Gideon. But every time I move the cord stretches.”
“Why didn’t you buy a cordless one?”
“We didn’t know if the magic around Magic school would interfere with the signal.”
“Here,” she said attaching the cord to the device. Maybe we should start putting the device in your back pocket and then see if we can keep the cord loose enough for your movements but not loose enough to show. I’ll tape first to your back and then follow your arm from your shoulder.” She started taping the cord to his back and couldn’t help herself. She traced one of his scars. He looked backwards.
“Mom, no, they’re ugly”
“They’re not. They’re a symbol of the love you have for your family,” She turned him around and started weaving the cord around his arm, “They show you never give up on any of us. And I’m immensely proud of that.” she finished looking into his eyes and he smiled blushing.
“Okay,” Leo told Chris as he was finishing getting ready. They had tested the equipment. Made sure nothing was showing and went through what Chris had to say to push Gideon into recruiting him.
“Be careful, if you feel he is on to you try to get away. If you think you can’t without arousing suspicion orb out immediately and call for us. We’ll meet here.”
Chris nodded but he had no intention of jeopardizing the mission. “I’m serious Chris. I’m not choosing between my sons,” he said firmly and made Chris look at him. Chris couldn’t help it. He was touched, very touched.
“Okay dad.”
Leo nodded. “Paige is already there in class. She’ll know where you are and will keep her ears open in case you need her.”
Chris nodded and orbed away.
“Gideon,” Chris called. “I need to talk to you.”
Gideon looked at Chris, the boy looked flustered. He quickly shut his office door and gestured for Chris to take a seat. Gideon sat on his chair and Chris leaned forward resting his arms completely on the desk.
“I’ve been thinking about what you said and I don’t think striping Wyatt’s powers is enough. He’ll be raised around power and he’ll want power. He might find a way to recover his powers,” he said worriedly.
Gideon smiled inwardly. Yes, Chris would help him. “What do you suggest?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” Chris said lost. “Do you?”
“I might,” Gideon said. “I agree. A power so big should not be allowed.”
“What should we do?” Chris asked eagerly.
“I’ll tell you when the time is right,” Gideon said and Chris nodded.
Chris sent the chair flying away with a raged scream. Phoebe ran into the living room and asked worriedly what was going on.
“He won’t say anything until it’s too late!” Chris cried. Piper who had been in the kitchen with Leo came as soon as she heard the crash.
“We’ll have to fend off an attack by then!” Chris cried frustrated.
“Then we go to the Elders with what we have now and we set a trap,” Piper said firmly. “This has to be on our terms.”