How could you throw us away?

By: Piper Chris Melinda Halliwell

Chapter 1: It was probably not their fault in the first place

Phoebe san in P3 after hours at the bar. She had no idea what she was drinking by now, her thought processes nearly consumed by the beverage she began sipping, but soon found herself draining easily. She'd just told the bartender to leave the bottle—which had started out full but now only had about a quarter left—as he cleaned up. Normally, he wouldn't leave a bottle with a customer, but since she co-owned the club, she could tell him to do whatever the hell she wanted him to and he'd do it.

She filled the glass again, noticing the absence of any ice. Had she really been sitting there that long, she wondered.

The girls were sleeping peacefully in their beds, thankfully. They didn't need to be involved in this now. Not that the fact that they didn't know made her situation any easier.

The girls' lives would be in turmoil for sure—everyone's would be, but the girls' definitely. The ring on her finger felt heavy. Like it was mocking her by saying that she wasn't home enough and that was why this happened. The jewelry wasn't wrong though and that made her stomach churn and her head ache. Wait, that could be a hangover, she thought nonchalantly.

She saw the lights dim and the bartender walked out. "You closin' up, Phoebe?" he asked, wiping of the remnant of spilt drinks in front of her.

She felt lost with nowhere to run to and no one to turn to. No matter how bad things got between her and Coop neither sister would understand, much less believe what had happened and she knew it. She looked up from her drink with somber eyes, grabbing the glass with a shaky hand, and nodded seeing him put his jacket on.

She finished what was in her glass and went to tip the bottle up, but he grabbed it from her. She pulled, but he pulled back harder. "Phoebe, give it to me!" he yelled, yanking it back with all his might, causing Phoebe to hit the bar with a thud.

"Wh—why do you c—care how m-much I have to dr—drink?" she asked, her words slurred horribly from the amount of alcohol she'd just consumed.

"Look, I don't care how late you stay out—"

"That was—wasn't what I as—asked!"

"I promised your sister that you'd never drink yourself into oblivion with me around," he said, pouring the last of it down the drain.

Phoebe stood and made to walk out, but stumbled and fell, hearing a loud crack before white hot pain filled her vision and she passed out.

A sterile smell filled her nose as she opened her eyes to find herself in a hospital bed with an IV in her right hand and a cast on her left leg.

"Ah, you're awake," a voice said to the right of her. She turned her head to see Piper. "That was some stunt you pulled last night."

"Last night?" she asked as she felt a pounding headache settling into her temples.

"Yes, if you weren't in a hospital with a broken leg, I'd smack you," she said, looking at her sister.

"A broken leg?"

"Yeah, Lance called me last night after you tripped and passed out. Leo and I got there, but once we realized what a spectacle it would make if he just healed you, we called the ambulance. Leo went back home and I rode with you."

"Oh," she said, remembering the pain she felt before passing out. "Did I come to and say anything?"

"Well, kinda," she said, standing up and closing the door, then she walked back over. "You said 'He drove me to this. Him and that blonde bitch!' then you fell unconscious again." She sighed, taking down a bedrail and sitting beside her. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," she said quickly, hoping to avoid the conversation, but knowing she couldn't. "Look Piper, can we talk about it later? Please?"

"Phoebe, tell me."

"No. I won't! It's my problem, not yours!"

"Must be some problem, especially if you won't talk to me." She sighed. "Must not be too bad then. Maybe I overreacted."

Phoebe's eyes met hers, seeing agony contorted in her beautiful features. "No, you didn't. I just—I don't wanna talk about it."

Piper wrapped her arm around her. "But nobody else is here. I know you're really hurt, please talk to me."

She nodded, turning on her side, hugging her tight. "L-last week, after our project, I had to pick something up, so I went to the store. I must've been gone a lot longer than I'd planned because when I got home…" she was crying too much to talk any more.

"Someone else was there with him?"

She nodded.

"You're sure it wasn't the girls?"

She nodded again. "The girls aren't that tall and they're not blonde. They don't wear leather or revealing clothing!"

Piper nodded. "Yeah, but has he been distant or demanding lately?"

Phoebe looked up, eyes wide. "You're blaming me?"

"No, no, no, never! Just a question. I swear." Piper said. Okay, mental note, in times of crisis make sure you say exactly what you mean. "I just wondered if he wanted more than what you'd give, but if he did—now I'm not saying he would—it wouldn't be your fault."

"No, he never has. I doubt he ever will." She looked down at her ring, noticing a worried feeling from it. "Piper?"

"Yeah?"

"What about Sirens?"

"Like the one who was after Leo?" Phoebe nodded. "I think they're gone."

"But that doesn't rule out demons."

"And they would be more than happy to break up one of our families to bring our defenses down." She sighed. "What did you see? Maybe it was a misunderstanding."

Phoebe sighed.

She parked her car in the driveway, turning off the ignition and stepping out, then she grabbed the grocery bags in the back seat. She closed the door and walked up the steps. being careful of the ice that coated the side walk.

She noticed lights were on in the living room. It wasn't unusual for him to wait up for her after the girls were in bed. She placed a hand on the knob and made to turn it, but stopped abruptly and pulled her hand away, hearing a woman's laugher. She didn't recognize it, but it could be one of his charges for all she knew.

She stood there for a minute and listened.

"Here, have another glass," she urged, sitting on the couch beside him. The more he drank the easier it would be.

"No, I can't," he said. "Phoebe'll be home soon." The way this woman looked made him uneasy to say the least. She was about 5'2" with long blonde hair that trailed down her back. She wore a black t-shirt under a leather jacket and skirt with knee-high boots to match. In her own way, she was attractive, but not in the way his wife was.

The drink in his hand kept fizzing like soda pop, but he knew it wasn't, though whatever was in it was sure making him more comfortable and judging from how she was acting, that was dangerous.

"You said that two hours ago and she still isn't here," she said, scooting closer to him. "Why don't you just forget about—" she took the drink from his hand, sitting in his lap, "Phoebe for a bit," she whispered.

"N—No, I think you'd—" he didn't get a chance to answer as her lips made contact with his forcefully, yet not forcefully, as she wrapped her arms around his neck. She knew she wouldn't have to force him, not with the spiked drink he'd consumed.

The door opened. Coop, coming to what little sense he still had, tried to push him off her, but it only made her more aggressive.

Glass shattered. Plastic scattered. Shocked, she just stood there, tears coursing down her cheeks.

Coop pushed the woman to the floor and stood up. "Phoebe, I didn't want—"

The woman stood up, wrapping her arms around his waist. "Oh, come on, you can tell her the truth," Phoebe's eyes flashed with agony, hate, resentment, and just pure pain. "She can't give you what I can."

Coop Hearted away from her. "Phoebe, she—she just came in and—" he tried to explain, grabbing her wrist, but she wrenched it away.

"Oh, and you poured her a friendly drink to warm her up?" she asked angrily. "Why? Just tell me, please! What am I doing wrong?"

"Nothing, I swear, I—" he tried to say but the woman stood between them. Phoebe shoved her to the ground.

"Obviously, he needs more than you can give," she said with a smirk, standing again.

"Fine!" she said irritated. "You two have fun!" she stormed out.

Coop Hearted to the door."Phoebe!" he shouted. "It wasn't me!"

"Really?" she asked rhetorically, turning on her heel to face him. "You sure didn't act like you weren't enjoying it before I came in!"

He couldn't deny he just sat there, but she didn't understand that he had no choice. "I couldn't move!"

"Couldn't or didn't want to?" she asked, but as she got no response, she got in her car and drove off.

"I drove until I saw the lights of P3's sign," Phoebe said. "And before you start, yes I know it was immature, but I just wanted that image out of my head," she said, rubbing her temples.

"Yes it was, but I do understand how you must've felt. Surprised, betrayed, shocked, hurt…" Piper said. It sunk in more and more. She thought for a moment. "Phoebe, to you, how did she seem?"

"What do you mean?"

"Was she trying to have sex with him or just trying to piss you off? Like maybe feeding off of him?"

Phoebe thought for a second. "I-I don't remember. She could've I guess, but… What are you getting at?"

"Not what. Who. Remember when you were connected to that Succubus?"

"A demon in female form said to have sexual intercourse with men in their sleep? Yeah, I remember, but she looked more like a human hooker, than a demon. And he wasn't asleep."

"Doesn't mean anything," Piper said. "Maybe that's why he was trying to explain it. Phoebe, he loves you."

"I know, but he—he could've fought harder!" she said. "Plus, I am away more than I used to be. I always see the girls in the morning, but rarely see him."

"It isn't your fault, Phoebe. He loves you more than his own life."

She choked. "Yes, but—" she turned away

"No, Phoebe, look at me," Piper cupped her chin. "Listen to me. Maybe he was feeling vulnerable, but I truly believe this wasn't his fault."

"You weren't there. You didn't see them."

"You need to talk to him, Phoebe. You know he loves you and he should have the chance to explain."

Phoebe nodded, sighing. "Yes, but seeing him is just gonna be hard. And someone needs to stay with the girls."

Piper nodded. "I can do that."

"Okay," she took a breath. "Coop!"

"Leo!" Piper called. He formed in seconds.

"What is it?" Leo asked.

"Take me to Phoebe's. I said I'd watch the girls while they talked."

Leo bit his lip, "Yeah, that's gonna be hard to do,"

Phoebe sat up suddenly. "The girls…are they okay?"

"Yeah, they're fine, but . . . Coop isn't. Paige is with him."

"What the hell happened? I leave and try to drown in alcohol and he can't even have the decency to watch the girls?" Phoebe said angrily.

"Well, he was except I guess after you left the "being" whatever she was, continued to influence him. So much that . . ."

"That he cheated on me? Thanks Leo, that really helps," she said sarcastically.

"Wait, why is Paige with him then?" Piper had the sense to ask.

Leo hesitated. He hated recounting this. "Leo, what happened? Is he all right?" Phoebe asked.

"No Phoebe, once he came to, he tried to—Phoebe, once he realized what he'd done, how his lust took hold of him with another woman, he tried to take his own life."

Author's Note: Well, this is definately a dliffy! What do you think?

Please R & R! Probably going to be a two or three-shot.

Next chapter: Chapter 2: It's okay. I still love you. We'll get through this.

Piper Chris Melinda Halliwell