Disclaimer: I don't own any characters of Charmed, simply the plot of my story. And Jordan--he is mine.

My Dear Readers,

So sorry to have left you in the dark for so long. I wanted to perfect this chapter for you, but my muse left me for a while, as did my motivation. I have since regained both, and hopefully this update will give you reason to forgive my delay, or at the very least, lift your spirits.

I am still working on those others (many others) to post, both chapters of this story and new things you haven't seen before. I hope to post many of them soon, but University academia has been hectic. I shall try my best to do better for all of you, though.

I hope you enjoy this chapter, and reviews are always welcome, even if you have a bone to pick with me. : )

Have fun.

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Chapter Eight of On the Edge:

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"She's alive, Chris," Jordan murmured, looking into his friend's eyes. This news was big—life altering in the strangest and most wonderful way possible. Someone once thought dead risen like Lazarus?

"Oh," the half-witch breathed, a dazed look coming over him as his mind retreated to think over this new information, and possibly reprimand himself for not knowing this when he left the future last, Wyatt's attack singeing the cloth on his back. He'd left her there, thinking her gone. "Oh, God," he swallowed convulsively, mouth suddenly dry as he realized the true extent of what had transpired in his ignorant absence.

"No!" Jordan growled suddenly. He shook his friend hard, completely ignoring Piper's raised hackles, despite the fact that he knew she could blow him to pieces anytime. "Don't you do that to yourself, Chris, you had no idea! For all you knew, she was dead. Wyatt's a bastard, we know that, but the Resistance forgets sometimes how two-faced he can be. Who knew the guy would heal her after you left?"

Chris's eyes were glassy, tears gathering in the corners as he appeared to crush his hopes of ever forgiving himself. His pained expression was a pang through Sheila's heart, and her hand rose to cover her mouth, eyes starting to sting as she watched the scene in the shadows. She didn't know who they were speaking of, what had happened, or who was involved, but she knew Chris was hurting, and as a mother, that hurt her, too.

The brunette's eyes were on the floor, his head pressing into Jordan's chest as though he could push all the bad thoughts away with the man's help, and a gasp, closer to a sob, reluctantly escaped his lips. He squeezed his eyes, a tear slipping to the floor. He seemed to be only with Jordan—no indication of the sisters' presence, nor Sheila's, passed across his pained face.

Jordan sighed sadly, releasing Chris's shoulders, and drawing the boy to him in a hug, "We don't know whether she's being kept in the past or the future, but Wyatt's not so vindictive as to taunt you with false bait. He wants to really hurt you," he said, wincing at the words. He lowered his voice so only Chris would hear and spoke, "But you're still his brother, his blood, and he knows that."

Jordan's words lingered in the silence of the attic for a few moments, Chris's small sniffling sounds muffled in the demon's shirt. The two stood hugging, the younger curled in the comforting embrace of the other.

"Chris—" Piper's hesitant words were cut off by the dark glare Jordan sent her way. He was warning her, protecting him. She bristled, but otherwise stayed silent. She reluctantly acknowledged that she was growing a bit of a soft spot for the young misguided whitelighter, and she realized now was not a good time to reprimand him for not telling her and her sister' about the events in the future a few weeks ago.

"Piper?"

The eldest Halliwell sister turned at the sound of Sheila's voice, catching the eyes of her two sisters on the way. She saw Chris and Jordan separate out of the corner of her eye, the former's green eyes looking slightly red.

"Sheila, I'm so sorry you had to see that. I know you don't—"

The ex-chef was cut off when Sheila stepped closer to her, laying a hand on her arm to forestall and explanation.

"Piper, I know, but that's not what I'm talking about," The detective's wife looked worried, but dutiful, as if she knew she had to do or say whatever it was she had on her mind. She glanced at Phoebe and Paige, and her eyes even swept over the two boys behind the oldest sister, before she met her gaze with a teary sort of apology. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, but I have no idea where Wyatt is."

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"WHAT?!"

Darryl was so startled by the loud, screeching out burst from upstairs that he nearly dropped his youngest son just as he picked him up to settle the boy on his hip. He should have realized that his boys would be clingy after seeing Wyatt orb. It was weird enough when he first saw Leo do it, but a baby? That would mess with anyone's mind.

Michael's eyes rose to the ceiling, as though if he looked, he might be able to see through it and know what was happening upstairs.

The detective felt a tug on his pants, and looked to down to meet the gaze of his older son.

"Dad," DJ asked, looking slightly wary. He'd seen a few things today that definitely made things about the Halliwell's seem crazy and confusing, but strangely more clear. "What happened up there?"

"I don't know, son," Darryl replied, walking towards the stairs. He placed his free hand on DJ's head and gave him a comforting smile. "Let's go find mom, okay? She'll want to know you two are safe."

They went up the two flights of stairs, DJ seeming to need prompting every few steps, and heard muffled shouting as they ascended. Only when they got closer to the attic door did it become clear to Darryl what was happening.

"…stay clam, Phoebe?! My baby is out there who-knows-where, there are demons on the loose, and Leo's not answering! How can I possibly stay calm?!"

Piper's angry voice dropped suddenly, her rage and worry ringing in every ear.

"Piper, it's possible he sensed danger and orbed away without being told to," Chris said with reason, most likely hoping to placate the irate mother.

Sheila already looked like she would break down from the witch's words, even after hugging her boys tightly as her husband brought them over. She questioned both of them, making sure they were okay, kissing them both, and now keeping them in the circle of her arms as she focused back on the happenings in the room.

Darryl kept his hand on the small of his wife's back, hoping to bring a little comfort to her.

"Chris, I don't need to hear this from you. I still don't trust you or that friend of yours. I need to find my son—"

"And you will, Piper," Chris raised his hands in a soothing gesture, wincing only a little at the pull of his shoulder wound. "He might come if you call him, to let him know it's safe."

Piper seemed to consider this for a moment, before she raised her eyes to the ceiling, calling, "Wyatt, sweetie, Mommy's really starting to worry. It's safe now, honey, so you need to come home now, okay?"

There was a pregnant pause, as everyone waited for something happen.

Nothing. No orbs, no jingles. Nothing.

Piper sighed and turned away to look at the floor when a sudden blue glow washed over the faces of everyone present. Phoebe and Paige were expectant, Piper suddenly hopeful, Darryl and Sheila wary, Michael and DJ wide-eyed, while Chris and Jordan remained unaffected, if not slightly resentful.

The blue orbs grew to a size larger than a toddler, momentarily alarming, before Leo materialized in his golden Elder robes, a slight frown on his face, and blue-eyed blonde toddler nestled in his arms.

"Wyatt!" Piper immediately snatched her baby boy from his father, hugging him close and smoothing his hair. "Sweetie, Mommy was so worried about you. Oh, please don't ever do that again."

Leo looked confused as he took in the Morris's, flicked his gaze over Chris and Jordan's slightly battered forms, and finally rested his gaze on the his former charges in front of him, pinning special attention on his ex-wife.

"Piper, what is going on?"

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The large group had moved to the first floor, congregating in the living room. Piper, while Wyatt was being played with by his two loving aunts, made some snacks, including some peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for DJ and Michael, and some juice for her toddler. She kept a suspicious eye on the two future boys who were huddled off to one side of the group, sitting on the floor, obviously not particularly welcome by the Leo or the sisters.

After thirsts had been quenched, and sandwiches eaten, the children dozed against their parents, too tired to be worried about what they had seen just yet, while the adults tried to figure out exactly what had happened.

"I let him stay up there with me for a while," Leo said as he looked briefly at his son before returning his attention to the sisters. "I thought you told him to orb up there to get away from danger. And when I didn't hear you calling for me to bring him back, I decided to spend some time with him while I could."

Leo's features were pinched with an accepting sadness, but he reined it in quite well. "I was just about to bring him back down when he orbed us both back down to the attic."

"Why didn't you come down sooner?" Paige asked, looking up from where she was stroking Wyatt's blonde curls. "We needed you a while ago."

"You didn't call me," Leo said, raising an eyebrow.

"But we did call you, Leo," Phoebe pressed, leaning forward to rest her elbows on her knees.

"Several times," Piper added softly.

The angel looked utterly perplexed that he hadn't heard his charge's call at all.

"There's got be a reason for that," Chris suddenly spoke up, getting to his feet to pace. "There has to be something we're missing about all this."

Jordan looked up from his brooding to gaze at the group, fixing Leo with a frown. "It takes a lot of power to block a whitelighter, especially an Elder, from hearing their charge's call. That's the reason it's difficult to hear summons when the sisters are in the Underworld, and you're up here. Too much demonic energy. It's like a preventive cloud of resistance."

"How do you know about that, kid?" Paige asked shrewdly, glancing his way with a sharp look.

Jordan didn't seem to take offense, and merely shrugged noncommittally, "History books and experience, witch."

The youngest Charmed One ordinarily would have balked at that tone and title, but her experience in Social Work had honed her skills of observation and insight, and she didn't sense any malice behind the word. If anything, there was a hint of affection. He was simply calling her by what she was, what she wanted to be. She supposed she was okay with that.

Piper, however, was offended enough for the both of them. "What your mouth, demon, or I'll blow you back to the future without your family jewels."

The fire wielding demon seemed to be more amused than anything, but simply tipped his head in acquiescence.

"Jo," Chris intoned softly, garnering the others' attention as he stopped pacing to face them. "Even that barrier is comprised of the demonic energies of all the demons in the Underworld at any given time. It's only strong because of the sheer number of demons and warlocks gathered in one area. So what would be powerful enough to single-handedly block the bond between Whitelighter and Charge?"

Jordan looked a little wary as he spoke after a moment of silence, "Or who?" He seemed to be stating rather than speculating.

"What?" Chris snapped his head to his friend on the floor. "You—" he licked his suddenly dry lips. "You think he's here? In the past?"

Jordan shook his head, noting that the young whitelighter barely relaxed, if at all, to the supposed reassurance. "No, last time I saw him he was still being his evil, bastard self in our time."

"Hey," Piper interjected sharply, raising her one hand in a gesture of potential explosion. "Watch what you say about my son, demon."

"If only you knew, Piper," Jordan sighed, a sad but contrite air around him.

Before the oldest sister could growl, Chris spoke again, agitation clear in his voice.

"That demon that attacked us in the attic couldn't have been the one. He didn't seem powerful enough—I didn't sense that kind of strength from him."

"Uh-uh," the other resident demon stood, albeit with a slight wince as Leo had seen fit to leave their wounds alone for the time being, not particularly trusting of either at the moment. "He didn't. Wasn't him. I didn't recognize him anyway, so I know he can't be a high up. There's go to be something we're missing."

There was a distinct length of time in which the sisters thought, Leo meditated, Darryl and his family spoke quietly, and the other two boys stared off into space.

Chris interrupted the silence.

"You think he sent Cole?"

A glance. A beat.

"Cole?!"

Jordan looked down for a moment, worrying his lips. His slightly bright eyes met Chris's suspiciously wet ones as a spoke, "Chris, he must have. Cole's the only one with that kind of power who Wyatt could even partially trust. But, he's not, I mean, he can't be—"

"Evil, he's evil!" Piper nearly shouted, a vicious quality to her voice. "That son of a bitch has double-crossed us at every turn, and he works with my son in the future? How do we know Cole isn't the one that turned him?"

"No!" Chris barked, a defiance in his tone and a clear trust in his eyes. "Cole is not like that anymore. He doesn't have any allegiance to the source or to Wyatt—he's our inside man, and he'd never betray us."

"How can you put such blind faith in him, Chris?" Phoebe asked, getting up from her seat, a look of confusing and wariness on her pretty face. "He twists everything, goes behind your back, puts people in danger," she paused slightly, realizing her voice was too loud.

"No, you're the ones who don't understand," Jordan said with a tired sigh, and rising anger in his eyes. "Cole has never been completely evil—he and Belthezar were two completely separate beings, only brought together by his consciousness. And he never wanted to be the Source. Never. He saved you all by what he did back then with the hollow and you just condemned him as being power hungry. You don't understand what that kind of power does to you. It hardens you, and breaks you at the same time until you bend to its will. He knew that and tried to fight it, but before he could win, you fucking banished him to a world in Limbo." Jordan was breathing heavily now, fists clenched by his side, and sisters were wondering if there was some sort of connection between their past demon and this one to get such a reaction.

"He's saved our lives more than I can count," the young demon continued, as Chris glanced over at him. "And I'll be damned if you tarnish his good name in front of me, Charmed Ones."

"Jo," Chris intoned softly, and Jordan looked at him before following his friend's line of sight, and extinguishing the flames rising from his hands. He ran a hand through his hair and quietly excused himself, leaving the room with heavy steps.

"You guys really shouldn't have said that," Chris said softly, looking after his friend's disappearing form till he could no longer see him. He returned his gaze to the room to meet a myriad of shocked, angry, and confused looks. He sighed, one slightly hitched as he sat slowly onto the floor again.

"What the hell are you talking about, Chris? How can we take anything you say anymore as truth if you know and trust Cole in the future?" Paige asked, hands crossed in front of her chest.

"You were never much for believing me in the first place, if I remember correctly," he replied, looking up at her with an unreadable expression in his tired eyes.

Paige had to admit the truth to that statement, and couldn't quite hide the quirk of her lips. Chris didn't see it though, as his gaze lowered back to the wooden floor.

"Tell us now, then, Chris," Leo prompted, voice soft and encouraging. He may not trust the young whitelighter who was friends with a demon, but he knew they all needed to hear some answers. They had more trust for him before this all happened, and if they could clear the air, maybe things would fix themselves and fall back into place. "Why did Jordan react like that?"

Chris hesitated for a good few moments, seeming to have an inner conflict with himself about how much he should reveal, if any at all. He clenched his fist, the one resting across one of his knees as he sat Indian style, and looked up at the faces around him, trying to block out the distrust he saw, and worse, the disgust.

"Jordan," he began, closing his eyes and opening again as he seems to make his decision. "He's like Cole's son in a way, I suppose."

If the girls were expecting something else, they were thoroughly shocked by this new revelation. Phoebe even sat down again, all the breath leaving her.

"What?"

"When Jordan was younger, he was in with a bad crowd, part of Wyatt's forces. The group was slightly eccentric and usually overdid the orders they were given. Instead of just killing their targets, they slaughtered them." Chris grimaced again, a flash of pain streaking across his face before it was gone just as quickly and the neutral visage was replaced. "Jordan wasn't really one to participate, but at the same time, he tried not to draw attention to himself, so he…he always made the deaths quick and painless for the victims."

"He's a killer? It's bad enough you let a demon into my house, but a trained murderer?!" Piper seemed livid, but didn't shake off the hand Leo placed on her shoulder.

"Just listen, would you?" Chris said, pinching the bridge of his nose. "This was back when The Resistance was just forming, and as many people we could get were being recruited. Cole found out about Jordan, since he'd been planted in Wyatt's territory from the beginning, and very carefully staged his death and brought him to me. Except staged might be the wrong word." The young whitelighter took a deep breath, and continued shakily. "Wyatt found out about Jordan betrayal, and tried to kill him, but I was in the way, and took the brunt of the attack. Cole tried to help us, but his undercover position prevented him from doing anything. God, it was awful—"

"How did you survive, then?" Darryl asked, leaning forward.

Chris sighed again, loath to reveal such delicate information to the Sisters just yet, but he didn't see a way out of it. He already told them there were very few Whitelighters in his time, anyway. "I did a spell to swap my powers with Jordan, so he could heal me."

"A spell? You did a spell?" Piper asked, slightly taken aback. "Whitelighters can't do spells."

Chris looker her in the eye, wishing more than anything he could tell her the whole truth. "I'm not exactly your typical whitelighter, Piper."

Jordan chose that moment to traipse back into the room, hands in his pockets. Chris didn't continue.

The demon made no indication that he's heard anything that Chris had just told the witches, but the young whitelighter knew Jordan suspected. He gave the fire-wielder a questioning glance, and the other tipped his head slightly, making everything okay.

"I still don't get something," Phoebe said, looking at the two. "Why would Cole give a random demon of the present something so meaningful to you," she pointed at Chris, "to hurt you like that if he's as good as you say he is? Why would he intentionally give you news like that, well, like that?"

Chris looked a little unsure as to the answer, as opened his mouth to speak.

"Because, I didn't."

The whole room seemed to freeze as the heads of witches, whitelighters, demons, and mortals turned to face the deep voice.

Cole, looking no older than he did years ago, spoke directly to Chris and Jordan without ceremony, and a great amount of familiarity.

"And we have a problem."

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TBC...

So, I hope you liked this, if not, that's alright, too. In the next chapter, I hope to tie up a few loose ends, but also unravel several more. Keep checking in.

Please Review. I like feedback.