Post by StoryGirl83 on Apr 17, 2009 21:51:35 GMT -5
Chapter Eighteen – Family Emergency
...................................................................................................
as.....................as...............................................................................................
as.....................as...............................................................................................
Things had slowed down quite a bit at Centennial. Jody was straightening things up. David was helping a customer get a purchase out to her car. Leo was ringing up a rather large purchase.
Leo felt a hand rest on his shoulder. He started to turn his head, but the customer glared at him. It was enough to see Rose standing there with a phone.
“Chris, I’ll take over for you,” Rose offered. “You need to take this call.”
Not sure what else to do, Leo stepped out of the way and took the phone. “Hello?”
“Thank goodness,” Nathan said on the other end. “I’ve been trying to reach any member of your family, but no one seems to be about.”
Leo frowned as he walked away from the register. He wasn’t even sure whom he was talking to, so he figured he start with that. “I’m sorry. Who is this?”
“Sorry. I told the girl who answered. My name is Nathan. I work with your brother.”
Chris, Leo realized. “Is something wrong with him?”
“I found him collapsed in the hallway,” Nathan informed him. “He woke fairly easily, but I don’t think he can stand.”
“What happened?” Leo asked, concerned for his son.
“I don’t know and he won’t let me call an ambulance or a doctor of any sort. Can you talk to him?”
“Yes,” Leo agreed without hesitation. “Put him on.”
On the other end Nathan the phone down to Chris who was still sitting on the ground in the hall leaning against the wall. Chris reached up and grabbed the phone. “Nathan, would mind letting me talk to him in private?” It’s going to be weird enough hearing my own voice without an audience.
Nathan frowned and nodded.
As Nathan walked away Chris put the phone to his ear and forced himself to imagine the voice he was about to hear was the calming voice of his dad. “Dad?”
Leo nodded as he walked farther away from the register. “Yes, son. What happened?”
“I was on my way back to Wyatt’s office when a demon attacked.”
“Another demon,” Leo groaned. “Or could it be the same one?”
“I don’t know,” Chris sighed. “I can’t stay here any longer, Dad. I think my leg’s broken. I can’t let a doctor look at it, because I’d be stuck with a cast for weeks . . . or rather Wyatt would be. And what happens if another attack happens and an innocent is in the way. I was lucky this time. No one was there, but what about next time?”
Leo nodded. “You’re right. We can’t risk innocents. I’ll find a way to get out of here and pick you up. Your mom and brother should both be at Paige’s house by now and I think it’s time we joined them.”
“Aunt Paige’s?” It didn’t feel good to be out of the loop.
“Yeah,” Leo agreed with a smile. “That’s where I was planning on being today. I’ve been teaching Hank. Wyatt should be there by now, too.”
“What did he do today?”
“I’ll tell you what I can after I pick you up. For now how do I get an okay to leave?”
Chris was silent for several seconds. “Talk to David.”
“I thought you didn’t trust him.”
Chris sighed. “I’m not sure what to think. Last year we were friends, but after everything that happened since this year began I’ve changed. “I admit part of it’s my fault. I’ve let what’s going on at home distract me and he’s noticed. He’s caught me more than once focused on something demon related rather than Centennial related. He threatened to go to the boss with it. I don’t know if he was serious or not.”
“If you aren’t doing your job,” Leo offered.
“I know, I know. It’s just I don’t know if I can trust him about magic and unless I can . . .” he sighed. “Unless I can things will be really strained and eventually something is going to happen. I don’t really want that to be on a day I can’t handle it personally because I’m in my brother’s body.”
Leo laughed. “I see what you mean. All right I’ll explain that my ‘brother’ has been injured and can’t drive and I have to pick him up to pick him up. Be careful.”
“I will. Bye, Dad.”
“Bye, Chris,” Leo said before hanging up. He wasn’t sure where the phone went so he carried it with him as he headed toward the door from which David had just reentered. When he reached David he stopped. “David, I just got a call from the Museum of Natural History where Wyatt works.”
David stopped walking and glanced around. After several seconds he asked. “You got a call from the museum? Not from Wyatt?”
Definitely not from Wyatt. “I talked to him, but no, the call wasn’t from him.”
“Is everything all right?”
“No. He’s injured and refuses to see a doctor, so I need to get him home.”
David sighed. “Go. Your brother needs you. Go. We’ll be fine here, so just go and I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Leo smiled his thanks. “I’m sorry.”
David shook his head. “No. Don’t be. This is your family. Work will be here when you get back. Just go. If something ever happens to my brother, I’d expect the same.” He chuckled. “And knowing my little brother, eventually something will. I just hope when it does it isn’t too serious.”
“I hope not,” Leo agreed before he turned around and headed toward the break room after his son’s car keys. The museum wasn’t that far and it was better not to raise suspicion.