Disclaimer: The Charmed Characters are the property of Aaron Spelling and Constance Burge. I just borrow them for your enjoyment and my writing addiction

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"Morning Prue."

"Morning Piper." Prue answered without looking up form the morning paper.

"Phoebe still in bed?"

"Yeah I think she had a visitor last night."

"Oh." Piper said raising her eyebrows.

"Yeah Oh." Prue said with a smile. "I just hope she doesn't get hurt."

"Prue, Cole loves her. He would not hurt her."

"I don't doubt his love for her Piper. I just hope that nothing ever happens to him and she has to go through the same thing that I did when…" Prue stopped unable to continue. The loss of Andy still stung her heart.

Piper sensing her big sisters thoughts just rested her hand on her shoulder. "She'll be fine Prue."

"I know. So what are we going to so today?"

"What do you mean we? I have to go to P3 to help the band set up. I thought you had a shoot today?"

"Nope it got cancelled. To bad Phoebe has classes today we could have had a sister day."

"Sister day? When?" Phoebe said, as she entered the kitchen looking quite tired.

Handing her sisters a cup of coffee, "Today we could have but you have classes." Piper told her

"Well that wouldn't have worked anyway. I'm having lunch with Cole today."

"Oh. You didn't see enough of him last night." Prue laughed.

Smacking her sister playfully, "Yes I did. But that doesn't mean that we can't have lunch together." Phoebe replied.

"Ok then why don't we all meet at P3 tonight then?" Piper suggested before things got out of hand.

"Done I'll mention it to Cole. Hopefully he can stay long enough this time for one dance." Phoebe said as she headed for the door. "Love you two. See you tonight."

"Love you to Pheebs." They replied

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The day went by uneventful for all three Halliwell's. Phoebe had met Cole for lunch as they had planned

"So are you coming tonight?" Phoebe asked hesitant at the answer

"I hope so." Cole answered her catching himself falling into her eyes.

"What's wrong?" Phoebe could tell something was bothering him instantly.

"I don't know. It's just a feeling that I have." Cole looked around before looking back at her

"A bad feeling?"

"Yeah. Like the Source is up to something big. You be careful you hear me. If anything was to happen to you I don't think I could go on. Let alone the fact that your sisters, especially Prue would kick my ass."

"No they wouldn't." Reaching up and kissing him passionately. "They would vanquish your sorry ass." She finished with a smile."

"Haha. Look you better get going or your gonna be late. I'll pick you up at 3:00pm ok. If I'm not here by 3:30, I had to leave ok?"

"Ok. Be careful. I Love you."

"Love you too." He said as he shimmered out.

--

Watching from across the way a demon took in the scene before him in disgust.

"Belthazor what happen to you? Falling in Love with a witch. The Source told me of this but I did not believe it. Yet here you are. But that could make my plan easier and get you back to where you belong." He said as he watched Phoebe walk back across the parking lot to school. "Yes she will be perfect. And she won't even now what hit her." He said and then shimmered out to report his idea to the Source.

"Master I believe I have found a way to get Belthazor back to us."

"Really?"

"Yes. He is in love after all correct. All we have to do is to get her to doubt that love. To make her think that he was just using her."

"And how do you intend on doing that?"

"Easy. We get him to turn on her." He said with a smirk.

"I think I see your plan and I think it may work. Go. But if you fail."

"No need to explain Master. I will not. And after I am done with her she will be so devastated that she will be no good to her sisters either and then together Belthazor and I can take out the Charmed Ones."

"Let it be done."

He shimmered back to the school and waited. He had a plan and that would involve calling in some favours. Shimmering out he shimmered back into what would be the equivalent to an underworld bar.

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Looking around he saw who he was looking for.

"What do you want?"

"I need a favour."

"Oh really. What this time?"

"I need you to go after Belthazor."

"Are you nuts. Last time I saw him he nearly killed me."

"Yeah well I don't want you to get that close. Just keep him busy for a few hours this afternoon."

Looking into the demons eyes he could see that he had a plan formulated in his head. "What's in this for me?"

"I'll let you in on the killing of the Charmed Ones."

"Well that is reason enough if they don't kick our asses first."

"Won't happen. Not with what I have in mind."

"If you say so. But with this you will owe me one. I'll get few of the guys to help me out. How long do you need him distracted for?"

"Just a few hours this afternoon. And maybe again later."

"Ok consider it done."

"Good soon the Charmed ones will no longer be a thorn in my fathers side." He said as he once again shimmered out.

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"Piper were does this go?" Prue called out to her sister across P3.

"That would depend at what you have in your hand Prue." Piper said with a laugh

"Haha. This." Prue holds up the object in her hand.

"Oh that." Piper realized what Prue was holding before going back to her work

"Yeah what is this thing? It looks like a paper mache penguin."

"That's because it is." Piper answered non-chalantly.

Prue looked at Piper like she was nuts. "You bought a paper mache penguin? Why?"

"He's cute and I thought he could go in our alcove."

"No that thing is not going in there." Prue argued as she made her way towards Piper

"Excuse me do you own this place or do I?" Piper looked up at Prue daring her to challenge her

"Part owner." Prue looked at Piper almost daring her back.

"Silent owner. Now that is where it is going."

"Augh fine." Prue replied with defeat.

Prue and Piper had been helping get P3 ready for the big Friday night that was soon coming. They were having a repeat performance by the Barenaked Ladies. They had such a good time last time they were there they asked if they could return. And of course Piper said yes.

As they were almost done they were interrupted by the sound of the phone.

"P3 Prue speaking." Prue stood there almost in a daze as the conversation went to the other person.

"WHAT! WHEN!"

Prue now had Pipers full attention and made her way over to the bar where Prue was on the phone.

"Where? OK we'll be there in ten minutes. And thanx Darryl we really appreciated this."

Hanging up the phone Prue looked over at Piper who was waiting patiently for her big sister to say something.

"What did Darryl want? What happen?" she asked

"Um Phoebe was attacked."

"WHAT!"

"Yeah she was found not that far from the school. Um, some students found her she was pretty beaten up and unconscious when they found her. They called 911 and she is now at SFMH."

"Oh God. Come on." Piper said as she grabbed Prue's hand and they headed up the stairs to get to their sister.

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Arriving at the hospital they ran down the corridor ignoring all the people that were looking at them. Running up to the desk Prue practically tackled the nurse behind the counter.

"Phoebe Halliwell. Where is she?"

"One moment please."

"Prue, Piper."

Turning they looked at Darryl. "Oh God Darryl where is she?" Piper asked almost hysterical

"Come on I'll take you to her."

Leading them down the corridor he took them up two floors in the elevator. You could hear a pin drop the whole time as both sisters were afraid of what had happened to their baby sister.

Stopping outside a door Darryl stopped them.

"She's pretty bad guys. And she has not woken up yet."

"Darryl what are you saying? That she could die?" Prue asked

"No, the doctors say that she will heal. It will just take time. Look do me a favour, when she wakes up try and find out who did this to her. I want this guy just as much as you two do."

"No Darryl you don't." Prue said through angry eyes as she turned and entered the hospital room. Pulling Piper behind her. Upon seeing their baby sister they both felt the hot tears running down their faces. Pulling the chairs closer to the bed they both sat and took up a vigil beside her.

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After several hours of waiting Prue went out to get some coffee. Leaving Piper with their sister.

"Mmmph."

"Phoebe? Oh sweetie I'm right here. I'll get the doctor."

"P-P-Piper?"

"I'm right here Pheebs. It's ok." Piper said as she ran her hand over the top of Phoebes head.

"P-Prue?"

"She's here too. She just stepped out to get some coffee." Piper told her sister so to not worry her. "Phoebe did you see who did this?"

Phoebe was silent she couldn't look at Piper. She couldn't believe what had happened to her.

"Ok sweetie if you don't want to talk about this I understand."

Prue came back in the room carrying two cups of coffee when she noticed Piper talking to Phoebe.

"Phoebe?"

"She woke up about ten minutes ago. She was asking for you." Piper told her

Coming up to the bed Prue just sat gently on the side. Bending down she placed a soft kiss on her baby sisters' forehead.

"Oh Phoebe thank God you're ok."

"Prue?"

"Yeah honey I'm right here. Get some rest, I'm not going anywhere"

Prue looked at Piper concerned. "Have you asked her yet?"

"Yeah she doesn't want to talk about it."

"Piper we have to get her to open up. This could tear her apart."

Looking down at Phoebe, Piper stood up and pulled at Prue to follow her. "Phoebe we'll be right back honey. Ok? We're going to find a doctor."

Exiting the room Piper turned on Prue. "Prue I asked her and she turned away from me. I don't think we should push this."

"Piper I understand what you're saying. But if she doesn't talk about it then she will just close herself off. She needs to talk."

"Ok Prue but not now. Later, once she is home. Please." Piper practically begged her sister

"Ok Piper, but when we get her home."

"Ok."

For several days as Phoebe lay in her hospital bed she thought back to that afternoon. Cole had come to pick her up from school and they were walking hand in hand across the parking lot. As they passed by an alley something happened and she was still not sure what. It all happened so fast. Every now and then she thought she saw a flash of red but she was not certain. The next thing she knew she was looking up into the concerned eyes of her older sister.

Her sisters would want to know what happened that day and she wasn't sure herself. What did happen that day?