A/N: Yay! You like me, you really like me. Once again, thanks for the reviews. They let me know that you guys are still reading.
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Piper was now stroking Paige's hair as Paige's head lied in her lap. Her free hand held used the remote control to flick through the various TV channels. Piper had stayed with Paige since they had gotten her out of the basement, though had been very reluctant in speaking still. Leo had left for the Elder to see if they knew anything that could be of use, while Phoebe was in the kitchen researching the demon. Piper spotted Paige shiver a little and pulled a blanket on top of her. Just then, Leo orbed in but he was not alone; there was a woman to his side. She had bleached, light blonde hair though her brunette roots were beginning to show through, and she wore thin-framed glasses that nicely complimented her face. She was dressed in a plain, white blouse and light khaki slacks.
"Piper, could we talk for a minute?" Leo asked.
"Sure…" Piper responded, glancing at the unknown woman. She slowly got up, as she lifted Paige off her and placed a pillow under her head. "We'll be right back." Piper informed Paige before she then followed Leo and the woman into the kitchen, where Phoebe was already sitting.
"Piper, Phoebe, this is Brooke. The Elders believe that she can help Paige." Leo introduced the woman.
"And what is it that you do?" Phoebe asked, giving her attention to Brooke; interested how she could help.
"I'm, what you could say, a supernatural doctor. I specialize in those who can't really be analyzed by an everyday doctor." Brooke replied.
"The Elders think that Paige needs a psychiatrist?" Piper mused, holding herself back from laughing. This was the Elder's grand plan? To send down a psych? Ha! "Do they think she's going crazy?"
"Yes and no. It's obvious that something happened to her. She's blocking herself off from the world."
"Yes, we've realized that, but if she won't talk to us, why would she talk to a stranger?" Piper was actually becoming anger that the Elders believed that couldn't handle Paige, although she tried not to show it.
"That's another difference between me and other doctors. I'm able to recall memories of people, more or less. It's my power; It's kind of mix between past premonitions and telepathy. To know what the patient is feeling and what exactly had happened is a big help. Plus, normal doctors would believe Paige to be crazy if she began talking about the demons she encounters."
"Oh… she hasn't really let anyone that she doesn't know by her." Phoebe commented, considering the idea though picking up on the glares Piper was evidently sending to her.
"Well, I've been watching her since she returned and I believe the…" Brooke began to talk, but was then cut off by Piper.
"Wait, you've been watching her?" Piper asked, wondering just how long the Elders were thinking about this.
"Yes, the Elders sensed that something might be wrong and asked me to watch her until they were sure." Brooke explained.
"Wow, talk about Big Brother." Piper muttered, receiving a look from Leo.
"What would you need?" Phoebe asked.
"To talk to her first, to see how she is." Brooke replied. She noticed the exchanged glances between Piper and Phoebe. "Piper, you don't have to worry about me hurting Paige in any way. I'm only here to help."
"I never said that, and who said I was worried?" Piper said. Brooke pointed to her head and gave her an obvious look. "You read my mind? Am I under surveillance too?!" Piper was now a little ticked off.
"Piper, you're not being watched and Brook is here to help. I think we should just let her do her job." Leo explained, dissolving the oncoming argument.
"Fine." Piper said dryly, walking out of the kitchen. Phoebe gave Brooke an apologetic look.
"It's ok. I can imagine how she feels about now." Brooke said. Phoebe glanced at Brooke, wondering if she meant that she literally knew how Piper really felt.
"Just kidding; it was just a psych joke. I'm not here to analyze you guys, just Paige." Brooke smiled. Phoebe let out a little laugh before a loud shout was heard from the living room.
"Paige!" Leo, Phoebe, and Brooke all looked at each before rushing into the living room to Piper's voice.
"Piper, what's wrong?"
"I left Paige on the couch, and now she's gone." Piper explained, lifting up the blanket she had wrapped Paige in. Everyone glanced around as they stood in their spots.
"She's her room." Phoebe said, noticing the bedroom door open and the light on. Piper then sighed a breath of relief.
"If you guys don't mind, I'd like to go talk to her now." Brooke suggested. Leo and Phoebe looked Piper to see her opinion on the matter. Piper just shrugged.
"Sure, go ahead." Phoebe answered cheerfully.
"Thanks…" Brooke smiled, and headed up the stairs. Once she was in Paige's room, Leo turned to Piper.
"What was that all about?" He asked.
"What was what all about?" Piper replied, pretending if she didn't know.
"What just happened? Brooke is here to help, and you went Nancy Drew on her."
"I did not, and why can't I be suspicions of people? Especially when the Elders are involved? You heard her; She's been watching us."
"Piper…" Leo sighed.
"Fine, I'll back off. That doesn't mean I agree with Them." Piper huffed, seating herself on the couch. "Brooke had said she was watching Paige, so that means the Elders were too. So, why didn't they tell us something was up with Paige?"
"I don't know…"
"Was it too much trouble to say 'hey, you're sister is currently being traumatize; you might want to go help.'" Leo shrugged, shaking his head in defeat.
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"Paige…" Brooke said, trying to get her attention. "Paige?" Brooke said again, with a little more urgency to her voice. Paige then glanced up at her, but just before Brooke could say anything, Paige diverted her attention back to her drawing. Brooke smiled to herself, knowing full well that Paige was at least, somewhat listening and that she could hear her.
"Well, my name is Brooke. I came to talk to you." Brooke paused, to see if Paige would respond. When she didn't, Brooke decided to watch her instead. Paige continued to draw and moments later, she started to roughly shade in her picture leading to the inevitable of her pencil lead breaking. Going into a fitful rage, she threw the pencil against the wall. She picked up the book she was drawing in and angrily tossed it at a nearby lamp, causing the lamp to shatter upon impact to the floor. Jumping off her bed, she grabbed the nearest book and chucked it at her mirror. By now, everyone has heard the commotion and rushed upstairs to see what was happening up there.
"What is going on up here?!" Piper shouts upon entering the room, though Paige continues on her rampage. She sweeps her arm across her dresser, knocking over all the perfume bottles and make-up onto the floor.
"She doesn't look too happy." Phoebe commented, standing beside Leo.
"She was drawing and when her pencil broke, she got mad." Brooke explained. "She is trying to express herself, though making a mess too."
"You call this 'expressing herself'? Well, she's going to hurt herself in a minute." Piper said. Sure enough, Paige was soon shaking her bookshelf and books were falling on her, but the real danger was the small statue on top of the bookshelf that was inches from falling with every tremor. Foreseeing the danger, Piper decided to take action. She grabbed Paige's arms and pulled her away from the shelf. Piper then pinned Paige against the wall before she could break loose of her hold.
"Paige, you're going to have to calm down. You're going to hurt yourself." Piper said, still holding on. Paige continued to thrash about for 30seconds before stopping. "Are you ok now?" Piper asked, letting go of Paige. Finally calming down, Paige leaned against her bedroom wall and slid down into a crouched position, hugging her knees tightly. Brooke then slowly and quietly approached her so not to frighten her. She stooped down to Paige's eye level.
"Paige, I know how you feel. Alone, scared, confused, but I can help you if you want." Brooke said calmly, brushing Paige's hair back. When Paige didn't flinch, Brooke knew that she trusted her. She looked at Brooke with pleading eyes that Brooke had seen many times before; on the many people she had helped before. The wordless request for help, for relief from their problem. "Shh, don't be afraid." She touched Paige's temple and both of them were pulled back into recesses of Paige's mind.
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A/N: I'd like to take this opportunity to do this. *evil laughter* That was for you, Falcon. The next chapter will actually explain what had happened to Paige. Oooooh, sounds interesting, no? I think you know what to do. *hint* review! *hint, hint*