Post by StoryGirl83 on Sept 30, 2008 23:33:04 GMT -5
Chapter Twenty-Three – The Strength to Give Up
As to Wyatt, he had plans to make. He knew Chris was in the house, and he knew Chris would try to stop him. He had also sensed the interesting absence of his mom and her two sisters. The only other person remaining in the house appeared to be his father. They were up to something, but he could handle his father, and there would be no need to resort to violence.
He paced the nearly empty sidewalk across the street from the manor, carrying little Wyatt in his arms. His father’s presence, he decided, had the added bonus of keeping away the good Wyatt that had asserted itself when he was alone in the lair, something else he was going to have to deal with once he had the Book. There had to be a permanent way to deal with that annoyance otherwise he was never going to be able to be alone. That would be plain annoying. He watched the lights in the manor, noting that despite only two people present, and one of those invisible to the other, their were lights on in most of the rooms. He waited until he saw his father’s silhouette head toward the attic door. Though he could put his father and brother’s presence to use at keeping the good Wyatt at bay, he had no wish to deal with them if he could avoid it. He waited a few minutes more as a man walked down the street passed him. He put his little version down to stand on the sidewalk next to him. He scrunched down next to him. Then, making sure no one was looking, he orbed off the sidewalk, his dark orbs absorbed into the night.
The attic had been picked up, Leo apparently having plenty of time on his hands while he waited for his son to show. The lights were on and the Book of Shadows placed safely on its podium. Then dark orbs began to form into the shapes of the two Wyatts only a few feet away. Little Wyatt still had Wuvey firmly in his grasp.
Wyatt turned his head to face little Wyatt, “You see that book over there?” he whispered for little Wyatt’s ears only. “I want you to bring it to me. Understand?”
Little Wyatt nodded his little head, so little that it might have been an accident, but he started walking toward the book, so Wyatt took this as compliance. Strange that he expected compliance, when the person he was dealing with was, in essence, himself.
As little Wyatt toddled toward the Book, Leo stepped out of the shadows to his right.
“Come on, Dad,” Wyatt said amused as he noticed his father. Why didn’t he just stay down stairs? “You don’t even have any powers.”
Little Wyatt stopped and looked up at Leo.
“That’s right,” Leo agreed easily, a little amusement in his own voice, his happier amusement thought. “I don’t.”
“So what are you gonna do?” Wyatt asked with disdain as he stood. “Take away my car keys?”
Leo made a shrugging face and shook his head slightly. “I don’t need to do anything. You’re gonna stop yourself.”
Wyatt had to smile at that one. “That’s what I always loved about you, dad. You’re such a boundless optimist.”
“I know you,” Leo informed his son. “I’m your father. And I know you still have good in your heart.”
Wow. That’s pathetic. Get some reality, Dad, Wyatt thought as he listened to his father speak, his face becoming a mask of seriousness as he stared at him disbelieving. “Now your optimism just sounds pathetic.”
Leo smiled and chuckled, annoying Wyatt only more.
Why can no one take me serious? I am evil and evil I shall remain.
“You know how I know that?” Leo asked him. “Because this child,” he continued causing Wyatt to look down at the sleepy little boy who was a younger him, “right here still has good in his soul.” Leo leaned down to little Wyatt’s level. “Isn’t that right, Wyatt?”
Before little Wyatt could respond, evil Wyatt snapped a command at him. “Get the Book, Wyatt. Now.”
Little Wyatt hugged Wuvey close and looked over the top of him at evil Wyatt.
Leo got down on knees in front of little Wyatt and in a comforting voice told him, “Okay, you don’t have to Wyatt. You can come over here to me if you want.”
“Dad, seriously,” Wyatt said straight faced, his voice laced with emotion, causing Leo to look up at him. “I don’t want to have to hurt you, but if you get in my way. . .”
And to this Chris came in, having decided he would be of no use to his dad downstairs. His breath stopped and held as he waited in the doorway for Leo’s reply.
It wasn’t long in coming as Leo said with a smile on his face, “I don’t believe that.” Then, he turned away from evil Wyatt to look at his little son. He stood and walked without hesitation, still stooped over, speaking to little Wyatt as he did. “You mind if I come over there for a second, Wyatt?”
“Stay away from him,” Wyatt ordered, but Leo just ignored him, so Wyatt decided to address the new person in the room. Chris. Why aren’t you speaking, trying to talk me out of this? I know you’re there and it’s very unlike you to be silent.
“Is this your Wuvey?” Leo asked his little son.
Little Wyatt glanced up at evil Wyatt wondering what he was looking at by the door. He looked back at Leo as Leo spoke some more.
“Could I see him, please?”
“Get away from him now, or I’ll kill you,” Wyatt said desperately. Chris! Wyatt didn’t like the silence on the part of his little brother. It was making him nervous.
Little Wyatt looked up at his older counter part, worry on his face as if he understood the words said.
Leo turned his head and spoke as he stood. “I don’t think you will.”
Chris stood motionless by the door, not sure if he should help and if any actions by him would cause more trouble than help. He knew then, he had to trust his father.
“I told you to stop,” Wyatt repeated.
“I was there when you were born, Wyatt. I gave up my powers for you. I tried to change the world for you . . . and I would do it again in a heartbeat. You know why? Because I’m your father.”
“Stop it,” Wyatt demanded, emotions just at the edge of his voice, his eyes shining just a little.
“You want to kill me?” Leo asked his older son.
Across the room every instinct in Chris yelled at him to do something, but one look at Wyatt and he knew their dad was getting to him.
“Go ahead,” Leo told Wyatt calmly, more calm than either of the adult versions of his sons were. “I gave up my life for you before.”
“Dad, please,” Wyatt begged, not wanting to hurt his father, not wanting Leo to turn him back to good either. Make him stop, Chris. He’s crazy.
Chris remained silent, feeling as if he should just walk away, knowing now he could trust not just his dad, but his brother as well.
“Look, I love you,” Leo told his son as Wyatt warred within himself. “Do you understand what that means?”
Evil Wyatt closed his eyes and swallowed hard. Why don’t you say anything?
Leo turned his attention back to little Wyatt. He crouched down in front of him. “Wyatt, can I see Wuvey just for one second? I promise I’ll give him back to you. You can trust me.”
Now, is not my turn to speak, Chris told his older brother as he watched Leo. This is not my place to interfere.
Wyatt swallowed, again, and opened his eyes. He does nothing as he watches Leo, knowing what is about to happen, allowing it to happen, because he can’t hurt his father.
Little Wyatt moves closer to Leo and slowly hands over Wuvey. Once in Leo’s hands the bear glows gold.
“Thank you.” As both of his sons watched Leo handed Wuvey back to little Wyatt.
Chris sighed in relief.
Wyatt tried to keep tears at bay.
“Here you go.”
The same gold glow passed throw little Wyatt as Leo turned to look at his adult son. Before his eyes, Wyatt’s hair grew shorter, his facial hair disappeared and his black clothes turned back into the lighter clothes he was wearing earlier.
Leo stood as Wyatt stared at him, confused and unsure.
Chris smiled and walked slowly across the attic toward his dad and the two versions of his brother. His own baby version opened his eyes and looked up at Chris, silent.
“Dad?” Wyatt said in an uncertain voice.
A smile grew on Leo’s face as he looked at his son.
Wyatt tried to make sense of the situation, only having the vaguest of recollections of what had happened. “What did you . . . what happened?”
Leo closed the space between him as his confused son, pulling him into a hug.
Chris stopped next to little Wyatt as they both looked across the room at Leo hugging Wyatt close.
They stood hugging for more than a minute, Leo not wanting to let go of the tangible proof that his son was once more good, Wyatt not wanting to let go of his dad with the realization that his evil version had actually threatened to kill Leo.
Finally, they let go. Wyatt looked across the room to where Chris stood invisible next to little Wyatt. Chris, is that you?
Chris grinned. Of course it’s me. Who else would be able to hear what you thought.
How exactly did you do that anyway?
Just reworked that spell you wrote. You do remember that don’t you?
Wyatt nodded causing Leo to look at him curiously. As I recall I was the only one who did remember. When you get into trouble you sure do get into trouble, little brother.
Not my idea, Chris thought with a slight laugh. Baby Chris looked up at him in silence. Man, I am so quiet. Why am I so quiet?
What about me? They called me here in the first place because I hadn’t talked to anyone in weeks.
Chris laughed, again. Okay, so we are evenly matched. Both too quiet as babies.
Wyatt wrinkled his nose. Not a baby.
“Wyatt, is something the matter?” Leo asked, concerned.
Wyatt shook his head. “No, Dad, I’m fine. Just an unpleasant thought. That’s all.”
“Would it be okay if I called your mom and her sisters to let them know it’s okay to come home?”
Wyatt nodded. “Yeah, that would be just great. I need to make some apologies.”
“They know it wasn’t you.”
Wyatt shook his head. “No, it was me. Just because it was an evil me, doesn’t mean it was any less me.”
Wyatt, look at me.
Wyatt rolled his eyes and looked in the general direction of his little self. This is as good as you are going to get unless you decide to turn visible.
Fine. You are not evil. They know that. You know that. You are good and they would have still forgiven you even if you had been evil, because they love you. Go ahead and apologize, but don’t try to make that you. You had no control.
Wyatt smiled. He turned to Leo. “Yeah, call them. I need to give some hugs, too.”
“Everything okay in your time?” Leo asked suddenly concerned.
Wyatt! Chris exclaimed in warning without thought.
Wyatt smiled. Really, Chris.
Chris rolled his eyes. I heard you earlier.
Wyatt looked at Leo with a smile. “Sorry, Dad. No, future knowledge. To quote stories of my youth, ‘Future consequences’.”
Leo’s smile was one of sad remembrance. “All right, no more questions for now.”
“Thanks.” Wyatt grinned at him. “Now, call Mom so we can let her know I’m all right.”