CHARMED
"Anger Management 101"
By J. B. Tilton (a.k.a. NoAzMale) 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.
After Cole is fired from legal aid for attacking a slumlord, he's forced to take an anger management course.
ONE
Cole came into the kitchen and found everyone else all ready at the breakfast table.
"Hey sweetie," said Phoebe. "I thought I'd let you sleep in for a bit. You had a pretty rough day yesterday."
"Yeah, I'm sorry about that, Paige," said Cole. "I guess I just sort of lost my temper."
"Well, attacking Yates wasn't the best course of action," said Paige. "Cynthia was really upset about it."
"I hope it didn't cause you any problems," said Cole. "That was not my intention."
"No," sighed Paige, "thankfully Cynthia doesn't hold it against me. She did say, however, that you should do something about your temper."
"It was an anomaly," said Cole. "It's just taking some time getting used to being human is all. I can assure you it won't happen again."
"Yeah, well it's probably best if you stay out of Social Services for a while," said Paige. "Cynthia talked Yates out of filing a lawsuit against us but you're not exactly her favorite person right now."
"I guess I'll just have to find some other job," said Cole. "Something that I'm better suited for. Being an ADA you expect the defendants to be scumbags. And usually they're the ones causing the trouble and making the threats."
"I guess that's the difference between criminal law and civil law," said Phoebe.
"Well, whatever job you get it's probably not a good idea to go around punching out the people you work with," said Piper. "Most places of business kind of frown on stuff like that."
"The guy deserved it," Cole protested. "He's a slumlord who preys on the people who live in his buildings. Guys like that should be taken out and . . . ."
"As an attorney," Leo interrupted, "you should know there are legal remedies for things like that. If the guy really is a slumlord you should be able to find a legal way to deal with him."
"I know," said Cole. "It's just so frustrating, that's all. I'm not really used to dealing with things that way."
"Well, you have only been human about a month," said Phoebe. "It will just take some time to adjust, that's all. Give it time, sweetie. You'll adjust."
"I hope so," said Cole.
Just then there was a knock at the back door.
"Who could that be?" Piper asked. "And why would someone be knocking at the back door?"
"Well, why don't you answer it and find out," said Paige.
Piper opened the door to see a postal worker standing on the back porch. As she opened the door he looked up from his clipboard.
"Good morning," he said cheerfully. "I'm looking for a Cole Turner. I have a registered letter for him."
"Why did you come to the back door?" Piper asked.
"It just seemed the best way," said the postal worker. "Is Mr. Turner here?"
"Yes, I'm here," said Cole.
"Oh, good," said the postal worker. "If you could just sign here please. I require a signature before I can deliver the letter."
Cole signed the clipboard and the postal worker handed him the registered letter. The postal worker thanked him and then suddenly flamed out.
"What was that?" Piper asked. "Was that a demon? Was there just a demon on the back porch?"
"Since when do demons deliver the mail?" Phoebe asked.
"It's from the Other World Bureau of Licensing and Weights and Measures," said Cole reading the letter. "I've been suspended."
