CHARMED
"The Human Touch"
(Sequel to the story "Return Of The Prodigal Father")
By J. B. Tilton a.k.a. Centexmale and Teri Thibeault a.k.a. K
Disclaimer: "Charmed" and all related characters and events are the property of the WB television network, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.
(Authors note: This story takes place between season 5 episodes "Centennial Charmed" and "House Call".)
When Peter Coleson discovers that his father has been vanquished for the second time, he pays a visit on Phoebe to learn the answer to questions that still plague him.
ONE
Peter dropped his bag on the bed in his room. He was exhausted. The past couple of weeks had been grueling. Oh, the deposition he had taken went smoothly enough. It had taken a little longer than he had anticipated. But he had been able to deal with it professionally as he always had.
No, it wasn't the deposition that had been so grueling. It had been his reunion with Cherise Young. Without realizing it he had found himself trying to make up for the mistakes he had made with her before. Mistakes, which, to his surprise, she had all ready forgiven.
They were getting closer than he had ever let himself get to another human being. He knew he would eventually have to tell her his secret. He wasn't sure how she was going to take it. But he would go slowly. With any luck she'd understand that he wasn't the demon he was descended from.
His mind immediately went to Cole. He had not spoken to his father since they had met more than two weeks ago. He still hadn't decided exactly how he felt about the man. The demon he hated. That was a given. But the man was much more complicated than he had originally believed.
Peter had learned as much as he needed to know about Belthazor. He had been a very efficient demon. He had demonstrated loyalty and honor that was rare even for humans, let alone a demon. And he knew that since Belthazor was a part of Cole those qualities applied to the human as well.
But about Cole the human being he knew almost nothing. He knew that, from one perspective, being a demon was not unlike Cole's occupation. And like many occupations what happened there and in someone's personal life often had nothing to do with each other.
Peter could understand that. As an attorney he often had to do things for his clients that he normally wouldn't ever have dreamed of doing. But he had to zealously defend his clients, which meant doing things that he often found distasteful.
He wondered how much of that would apply to his father. How much of what Cole did was the demon and how much was the human? Until he understood that his picture of his father was incomplete. And with an incomplete picture his feelings about him would remain in turmoil forever.
Peter looked at his watch. It was getting late. And he was exhausted from his trip. He decided to get a good nights' sleep and visit Cole the next morning. He wasn't sure what he would find. He had been pretty sure he had turned his father around. Brought him out of his suicidal slump he had found him in. With a little luck he'd find the same Cole Turner he had met that first time at Phoebe's house.
Peter shimmered into Cole's apartment. At first glance it appeared much different from the last time he had been here. There was the faint scent of vanilla in the air. Some form of air freshener no doubt. There was also new furniture sitting in the living room. And no empty pill or alcohol bottles strewn about.
He wasn't sure if Cole was in at the time. Presumably, if he had come out of his suicidal slump he'd be at work. Perhaps he should have gone by his office first? As he was debating whether to go to Cole's office he heard a sound from the bedroom.
Cautiously Peter moved to the partially open bedroom door. He didn't know why but he somehow felt that it wasn't Cole in the bedroom. He peered into the room and saw a woman bent over the nightstand next to the bed. As he watched, the woman stood up holding something in her hand.
"Find what you were looking for?" Peter asked pushing the door open completely.
The woman spun to face him, her hands raised in an offensive manner. Her long blonde hair was tied back to keep it out of her face. When she saw Peter standing in the doorway her hands dropped to her sides. She smiled at him.
"Well, surprise seeing you here," she said.
"Angelique? What are you doing here?"
"Just collecting a small memento of your father," she said holding up a small pendant.
Peter looked at the pendant. It was diamond shaped and appeared to the letter "A" enclosed in Lucite. But the "A" seemed to be formed from feathers.
"What is that?" he asked.
"I took the feathers from one of my bolts and had this made for Cole. It was a little present for his successful completion of his initiation into the Brotherhood of the Thorn. I thought I'd just get it back. It's about all that's left now. I just wanted something to remember him by."
"Remember him? What are you talking about?"
"You don't know? It's the talk of the underworld. A few days ago your father was vanquished. The shudder of that much power suddenly being dispersed could be felt everywhere. And there's no question it was him. Baldasor consulted a seer. She was able to confirm he had been vanquished although she couldn't say who had done it."
Peter just stared at Angelique in shocked dismay. Cole was dead? But he had just seen him two weeks ago. Other than the suicidal slump he had been in he was fine. In fact, he had all but admitted he couldn't be vanquished. So how could he be dead now?
"Any idea how this happened? I was under the impression he couldn't be vanquished."
"So were we all. But trust me. He's gone. And for some reason I don't think he's coming back this time. That sort of miracle only happens once."
"I don't understand. If he was invulnerable who would even try to go after him?"
"Perhaps a rival demon. Maybe someone wanting to make a name for themselves. Maybe he even did it himself, who knows? I'm going to miss him. He was more than a friend."
Angelique didn't say anything else. She simply took pendant and disappeared from the bedroom. It didn't take Peter long to decide who was most likely to vanquish Cole. Only one person had the power necessary to destroy a demon of Cole's status.
Well, three people, actually. Only the Charmed Ones had the necessary power to vanquish the unvanquishable. But that didn't make any sense either. Why vanquish him after all this time? He knew there was only one place he would get the answers to his questions. And maybe he would also find the answer to the other questions that were still plaguing him.