Post by StoryGirl83 on Sept 30, 2008 23:38:33 GMT -5
Chapter Twenty-Four – Adventures of the Squeaky Board
A few minutes later Wyatt felt himself engulfed in his mother’s arms. Phoebe and Paige stood a few feet away, both smiling. Leo held little Wyatt in his arms, with Wuvey dangling by his foot from little Wyatt’s tight grasp.
Still invisible, Chris stood by the Book of Shadows. While everyone’s back was turned he waved his hand and flipped a page. He wasn’t sure what he was looking for, but he figured he might as well use his time to see if the demon they were hunting was in the book, seeing as they hadn’t checked earlier, or later as the case really was. He looked up for a moment at the now closed door.
Piper pulled away from Wyatt, her hands resting on his shoulders. “No more of that, you hear.”
Wyatt grinned. “I have no intention of letting that happen, again.”
“Are you all better?” Phoebe asked cautiously.
Wyatt chuckled a little. “You don’t always have to be suspicious. I’m fine, Aunt Phoebe. I promise I won’t be trying to kill you, again.”
“That was just a distraction tactic earlier?” Paige asked worried. “Wasn’t it?”
Wyatt turned to look at her. As he did he saw a page in the book flip itself and he smiled. He focused on his Aunt Paige and her words. They sobered him. He sighed. “I don’t know, Aunt Paige. It was all rather difficult to follow. Most of the time it was as if I was watching from a distance and I was never privy to his thoughts.”
“His thoughts?” Phoebe queried softly.
His thoughts? Chris echoed wearily.
“The evil me,” Wyatt replied. “It was like there were two of us, but he was stronger, most of the time, except for that one time when I was alone, just me . . . and me. Then, he had no control.”
You had control for a while? Chris asked stunned.
We’ll talk about that later, Wyatt informed him.
They’ll ask.
“You were in control?” Leo asked as he hugged his little son.
Wyatt nodded. “Just for a little bit. Then, a demon showed up and he regained control.” Wyatt shrugged. “A very strange experience, but then the whole thing was. At least it’s over.”
“Yes, over,” Piper repeated slowly and thankfully. “I’d better go get Chris.”
Wyatt’s attention was instantly on Piper. A few feet away an invisible Chris’ head snapped to attention, looking at Piper.
“Is something wrong, Wyatt?” Piper asked confused by the worried look on Wyatt’s face.
Wyatt shook his head quickly. “No, Mom. Everything’s fine. I’ll go get Chris if you’d like.” Chris, get downstairs.
Piper shook her head. “No, I want to get him.”
“I’ll come with you then.” Chris?
I’m trying, Wy. Chris slowly made his way across the attic toward the door. Unfortunately the door it’s self was closed and Chris couldn’t open it without causing suspicion.
A floor board creaked under his foot and Chris gulped.
Chris?
“What was that?” Phoebe asked looking in the direction of the creaky floor board.
Yeah. That was me, Chris told him as he stood completely still. Maybe I should orb out of here.
Too risky. They’d see you. Are you sure you don’t want to just let them know you are here?
I’m sure. One of us here is enough.
“I’m not sure,” Piper admitted walking over to the section of floor where Chris was. Chris backed up slowly, hoping he wouldn’t hit another squeaky board.
I thought they fixed that.
Fixed what? The board? Did they even know about it?
Piper turned to look at Wyatt. “Do you see anyone, anyone we don’t see?”
Wyatt shook his head. “There’s nothing to worry about.”
“That’s what you said about Vicus,” Piper reminded him.
“Trust me, nothing evil is there.”
“But you see something?”
Wyatt shook his head, again. “I see nothing there.”
Chris tried not to laugh as he watched his older brother squirm under their mother’s scrutiny. Really, Wy, even when you tell the truth you look like you are lying. To answer your question, they did know about the board. Ask me later if you really want to know. It saved my life once.
Prior to this?
Yes, now would you please find a way to get that door open without arousing suspicion?
Wyatt nodded and looked at Piper. “Sorry, to get you worried, Mom. Everything is fine. No secret demons, or strangers of any kind.”
Piper eyed him silently, finally sighing. “Fine. I’m going to go get your brother.”
“But . . .” Wyatt started.
“If you want to come with me that is fine, but I am getting Chris.” Piper looked over at little Wyatt who had found his way into Phoebe’s arms. She was tickling him, causing the little boy to laugh. “Do you think you can convince your little version to talk to me so I can find out if everything was okay with Chris while we were gone?”
“Why wouldn’t it be okay? And who is little me suppose to talk to?”
“The elf nanny.”
Wyatt stared at her wide eyed for a second. The elf nanny? The elf nanny was watching you? No wonder you took on the task. She may be good as a baby-sitter, but as a protector? Forget it. What were they thinking?
You’ll have to ask them. The door, Wyatt.
“Fine,” Wyatt said forcing his voice to sound easy. “I’ll come with you.” Wyatt walked over to the door and opened it. He stood waiting for his mother as Chris silently made his way toward the door. Piper exited the attic and started down the stair. Out yet?
Nope. Can you just leave the door open?
Wyatt rolled his eyes. Are you joking me? That’s some sort of killing offense.
“Wyatt , is something the matter?” Leo asked watching him.
“Nope,” Wyatt replied. “Just got lost in thought.”
So easy, Wy. That is so easy. Chris slipped through the door and onto the stairs. I’m through.
Wyatt grinned at his dad and exited the attic closing the door behind him. Wyatt watched, bemused as he saw orb lights disappear and then reappear with no one visible in them. What’s wrong?
Mom’s already in the nursery.
Better let her know.
“Leo!” Piper called worried from down below in the nursery.
Wyatt sighed and ran down the stairs. He could hear a second set of footsteps telling him that his brother was doing the same. He also heard the door to the attic open, letting him know that his father, and possibly his aunts were coming.
Both brothers reached the door to the nursery at almost the same time, Chris a few steps ahead of Wyatt. Chris waved his hand turning the knob of the door and opening it. He stepped in followed by Wyatt.
Piper looked up at the sound of the door. “Wyatt, your brother is gone!”
Chris walked around his mother and over to the crib. He took baby Chris out of the carrier as he reached it.
“Gone?” Wyatt asked. Sure you don’t want to explain?
Chris lay baby Chris in the bed. Tell her, I’m in bed.
That is so very weird. Wyatt walked over to the crib. He looked down at his baby brother.
Leo, holding little Wyatt, entered the room followed by Paige and then Phoebe. “Piper, what happened?” Leo put little Wyatt down, letting his son toddle over to the crib and his mother’s side.
Piper picked little Wyatt up.
Wyatt picked up Chris out of the crib. Really, Chris. This is becoming ridiculous. If you don’t tell them, I will. “Everything is okay, now, Dad.”
Piper turned around, confused. “What?” She saw the baby in Wyatt’s arms and frowned. “He was not there a minute ago.”
“Chris was missing?!” Paige exclaimed startled.
“Did the Elf Nanny take him somewhere?” Leo asked concerned looking down at his baby son. He walked over to Wyatt and held out his arms.
Wyatt shook his head as he hand baby Chris over to Leo. Chris. I’m not lying for you.
Chris sighed. As if you could.
“Elf Nanny?” Phoebe asked looking around. “Well, she’s not here now. I don’t see her anywhere.”
Piper sighed. “Actually, you wouldn’t be able to. When we were here earlier, she was invisible to all but Wyatt.” She turned to look at Wyatt. “What do you know about were your brother was?”
“He was safe,” Wyatt hedged.
“And?”
Chris took the baby harness back off and put it down.
Paige’s eyes grew wide as she watched it appear on the changing table. “Guys, I think the Elf Nanny is still here,” Paige told them hesitantly.
Piper, Phoebe, and Leo looked in the direction Paige was looking.
“Was that there before?” Piper asked as she moved to pick up the baby carrier.
Paige shook her head. “I saw it just appear.”
Congratulations, Chris. Now you have them thinking you are the Elf Nanny, Wyatt though as he stood off by his childhood bed, watching.
Better than realizing it’s me. They can’t know, Wyatt.
If you say so. Wyatt walked over to his the small group. “Is everything okay?” he asked his mother.
Piper nodded. “Yeah. I thought . . .” Piper shook her head as if trying to clear it of said though. “Never mind.” She smiled at her older son. “Let’s get you something to eat.”
“I should probably be getting back,” Wyatt told her.
Piper shook her head. “No, you are staying a little longer, so we can enjoy it. No talk about the future, just talk.”
Wyatt looked around the room, wondering where Chris was.
Bad idea, Wy.
Wyatt grinned mischievously. Prefect. I’ll do it, then.
Wyatt!
Just talk. Our family is so spread out. I haven’t seen Aunt Phoebe is months. Aunt Paige is busy with everything going on lately. It would be nice to just talk.
“Wyatt?” Piper’s voice was a question.
Wyatt smiled. “Sure, Mom. I’ll stay a little bit longer. I can’t possibly mess things up any more than they already have been.”
Famous last words.
Wyatt chuckled at the words only he heard. “What can I do to help?”
Piper regarded her son with a fond smile. “Can you cook?”