Chapter 5

A/N: Ok I'm not even going to try and explain myself because you guys have waited far too long for this update. Yes, my life has been busy but I have also neglected this story and I hope to focus more on it soon. Just know I will never give up on it, I'm not a quitter but I'm not going to promise speedy updates cos I always let you guys down. I promise to TRY to update better though.

Three weeks had passed and things had not improved in Halliwell manor. Paige had good days and bad days. On good days she could be persuaded to rise out of bed but she always stayed around the house and still wasn't speaking much. Neither Piper nor Phoebe could find a way to help her as although they offered every day to listen to her Paige just thanked them but declined.

It was a wet, miserable, cold Thursday morning and Paige was in bed as was the norm by now.

"This is ridiculous, it can't go on – she's not eating, she's not talking and she's becoming more withdrawn than ever", Piper huffed as for the fourth time that week she walked downstairs with Paige's breakfast on a tray.

"Doesn't want it?" Phoebe asked seeing the frustrated expression on Piper's face.

"Doesn't even want to wake up properly", Piper sighed. She walked over to the bin about to throw it out when Cole suddenly appeared causing her to pause momentarily.

"What, are you crazy? Some of us are starving", Cole exclaimed on seeing the plate full of food Piper was about to throw out.

"Well, it's yours if you want it", Piper rolled her eyes handing the plate to Cole before heading over to the stove she proceeded to carry the items that needed washing up over to the sink.

"Piper, I've missed your cooking", Cole told her appreciatively with his mouth full.

"Yeah, well don't get used to it. At least not til Paige finds out about you not being dead and all" Piper warned though she looked happier now that her food had not gone to waste.

"A-hem, hem," Phoebe cleared her throat loudly indicating that Piper's food wasn't the main issue at this moment in time.

"Yeah, sorry Phoebe", Piper offered an apologetic smile before turning back to Cole. "Any word on Brody?"

"No the Elders are getting pissed though, they can't focus because they feel too much of Paige's pain and they refuse to budge on the issue", Cole informed them, still eating hungrily.

"Well", Phoebe scoffed "I know the Elders are useless at the best of times but I never thought they were stupid on top of it all. If they don't want to feel Paige's pain anymore THEY NEED TO SEND KYLE BACK TO HER" she raised her voice at the end, hoping they'd get the message.

"Not gonna happen Phoebe. Trust me, I've been trying to strike up a deal with them for almost a month now" Cole shook his head.

"I wouldn't trust you as far as I could throw you", Phoebe muttered too low for Cole to catch what she had said. She sighed "Well it worked for Piper and Leo, it was worth a shot" she shrugged.

"We'll get him back Phoebe. If they want to end their pain and that of Paige and if they value their precious power of three they will give him back", Piper replied determined.

"We keep saying that Piper, but nothing seems to work. They don't want to make a deal, they refuse to send Kyle back even though it's not only affecting them but also Paige and the power of three. I can't help feeling discouraged", Phoebe sighed.

"That's not an option Phoebe. I will help Paige if it's the last thing I do" Piper swore.

"I think, for now the best way to help her is to get her to a doctor or even a... a psych. If she won't talk to us maybe she'll talk to a stranger", Phoebe suggested.

"And if she doesn't?" Piper asked raising an eyebrow.

"Well then, hopefully she will see that it's easier to talk to her sisters. It's got to be worth a shot", Phoebe pointed out.

"You've been thinking about this for a while haven't you?" Piper asked.

"A day or two, yeah. I think we need to get Paige to open up and right now it's not working".

"Um, ladies, not to rain on your little parade here", began Cole who had devoured the food by now "but your younger sister can be a small bit, um, stubborn. How do you propose to get her to see whoever it is?"

"The man has a point", Piper admitted gesturing towards Cole.

"Well, we'll both drag her if we have to. Let's face it she's not as strong as usual at the moment, not as argumentative either. She might just give in and come", Phoebe elaborated.

The sound of running feet is heard upstairs, followed by the slamming of the bathroom door.

"Hold that thought Phoebs, it's my turn to go this time", Piper sighed. She quickly filled a glass with water and walked upstairs leaving Phoebe and Cole together.

"Look, Phoebe. I know, in the past I may have been a little...", Cole began but never got to finish his sentence.

"Save it Cole. I don't want you here, I don't need you here but I can accept that you were sent here for a reason. Now get back Up There and work on getting Brody back for Paige and I might consider listening", Phoebe snapped.

"Phoebe, please..."

"Cole, I'm going to ring the doctor, now go. Please."

Paige groaned and pulled the covers on her bed tighter around her. She wished it was Kyle's arms but right now any comfort would help. "Phoebe. Get away" she grumbled as her older sister grabbed the bottom of her quilt in an attempt to pull them off.

"Rise and shine Missy Paige", Piper chimed in cheerfully as she drew back the curtains and the blind rose.

"Piper – I already told you. I'm not getting up today now will you too quit it and leave me alone?" Paige growled.

"Nuh – uh. You, missy are coming with us today. We have plans and they include you", Phoebe told her. "Now, come on. You need to go shower", she added taking Paige by the hand and pulling her out of bed.

"I'm not going..." Paige began.

"Yeah, yeah, we heard you the first hundred times", Piper cut across her grabbing some clean clothes for Paige.

"Now hurry. You have twenty minutes and then we'll be back", Phoebe added as she guided a pale looking Paige to the bathroom.

Paige sighed as she locked the bathroom door behind her. She turned on the water in the cold tap and waited a few seconds before splashing some water on her face. "C'mon Paige, you're stronger than this. It'll be ok...somehow", she whispered to her reflection.

She turned the water on in the shower and slowly removed her bathrobe before stepping in, letting the warm water beat against her skin, wishing she could wash away her thoughts just as easily as she could wash her body.

Everything she did reminded her in some way of him. As she dried herself she thought of the way he used to massage her soft skin when they were alone, when he wanted to wake her up in the morning. When she ate she was reminded of the time she tried to cook for him, how he had bravely eaten every last morsel insisting he loved it...

Taking a deep breath she grabbed the stuff for washing and opened the door to make her way downstairs to her sisters.

"You're taking me where?" Paige asked shaking her head. She was sitting in the back seat of the car while Piper drove and Phoebe kept her company in the back seat.

"To see the doctor, honey. We're worried about you", Phoebe touched her younger sister's arm reassuringly.

"No I'm fine. Honestly, it's just this whole Kyle thing but I'm feeling better now. I'm even thinking of going back to work this week", Paige fibbed.

"Sweetie, you threw up this morning. You're not fine – now come on. Don't be a baby", Piper urged pulling into the driveway of the doctor's surgery.

"Piper, I don't need the doctor. I don't want to go to the doctor. You can't make me go", Paige tried to calmly inform her sister.

"Want to try me?" Piper raised an eyebrow

"Honestly, Paige, if you're fine then there's nothing to worry about. Please, just do this to put our minds at rest", Phoebe pleaded looking her sister in the eye.

"Fine", Paige pouted and rolled her eyes, knowing she'd never hear the end of it if she refused.

Piper entered first and went to speak to the receptionist while Phoebe found three seats together and guided Paige over to them.

"Want us to come with you sweetie?" she asked.

"No Phoebe I'm twenty... No thank you Phoebe. I'll be ok but thanks for the offer", Paige replied offering her sister a weak smile. She didn't know why she felt so angry at her sisters at the moment. They were both going out of their way to help her and all she did was snap at them or cry.

"You're next on the list Paige", Piper told her as she came to sit with them.

Sitting between her two older sisters Paige felt slightly better. She hated doctors, she had hoped that now they had a whitelighter she wouldn't need to see one again for a long time. Why go pay a doctor when Leo could heal her within a couple of seconds and without any sharp instruments. She hoped she wouldn't need an injection, she had a fear of needles ever since...

"Matthews, Paige?" a young nurse called, breaking her out of her thoughts.

"Here" Paige replied standing up. She felt Phoebe give her hand a reassuring squeeze before following the nurse into the surgery.

"Ok, just a few more questions about your symptoms before we finish up Paige" the doctor smiles encouragingly as Paige put her top back on. Paige nodded.

"Alright, so how often have you been throwing up?"

"Not too often, I think I had the flu and I've been stressed for a while but it's getting better", Paige rambled, trying to answer the question as honestly as possible without making it sound like something more serious than a bug.

"And any dizziness? Light headedness?"

"A bit – but I haven't been eating very much, wanted to let the bug pass", Paige explained.

"Ok and finally – at what stage in your cycle are you?"

Paige blushed, she didn't see what this had to do with anything. She thought for a minute. How long had it been since...

"Um, let me think... I finished my last period...um..." she trailed off as she realised she was late.

"Alright Paige. Well it could be a number of things. It could be as you thought – a bug or the flu. Your symptoms are also consistent with those of a pregnant lady, however so I would like to do a test if you don't mind?" the doctor explained, looking at Paige through round glasses.

"Paige? Is everything alright?" she asked again when Paige didn't answer.

Paige was in a daze. How could she be? How did she not even think that she could be... what if she was? What was she going to do? Oh my God, she was going to be a single mother... the baby would grow up with no dad – how could she have been so stupid? How could he have been so stupid? Was she going to keep it – what could she do? Adoption? Patty had put her up for adoption, could she do the same? Paige's heart raced as all these unanswered questions popped into her head, none of them easy to answer.

She blinked when she realised the doctor was looking at her in concern. "I'm sorry Doctor, could you repeat that?"

"Sure, Paige, I realise this may come as a shock to you. I was just asking if you wouldn't mind if I do a test?"

"Yes, I mean no I wouldn't mind. I mean, I need to know...right?" she smiled weakly and winced when she saw the doctor take out a syringe.

She squeezed her eyes shut as she felt it prick her skin and willed herself to be strong.

"Alright, Paige. That's it for today. I'll give you a call in a few days with the test results. In the meantime I would advise you to rest up, stress isn't ever good, especially if you are expecting. It would also be advisable to eat more, start off slow and work up to what you are used to eating each day.

"Thanks Doctor", Paige stood unsteadily, trying not to let it show and was almost out the door when the doctor spoke once more.

"Oh and Paige. Would you mind asking one of your sisters to come in to see me for a minute? I'd just like to reassure them, Phoebe sounded very worried on the phone earlier and I want to make sure you are well worked after"

Paige froze and shut the door again.

"You cannot tell my sisters", she answered fiercely. "There's no need to worry them and I'm entitled to Doctor – Patient confidentiality", she reminded the doctor.

"Paige, there is no need to worry, I won't speak of anything we discussed here today. I would like to stress the fact that you are not to do anything stressful between now and our next appointment", the doctor smiled.

"Fine, thank you for your help", Paige nodded suspiciously. She walked into the waiting room where Piper and Phoebe were waiting. They stood up when they saw Paige approaching them.

"How'd it go sweetie?" Piper asked holding Paige's coat out for her.

"Fine, there's nothing to worry about. It's probably just a bug but I need to take it easy for a while", Paige tried to look relaxed as she slid her arms into the coat Piper held for her.

"That's good sweetie. We'll make sure you take it easy", Phoebe smiled.

"She wants to see one of you too, just to tell you what I basically have", Paige rolled her eyes.

"In that case I'll be right back", Phoebe replied and knocked on the doctor's door. She walked out two minutes later, joined her older and younger sister and together they walked back to the car.

"Alright missy, it's a DVD day for us three today. I'll work on my column later when you're taking a rest and Piper can call her manager for P3. So go grab one of the DVDs from your room and meet you here in five", Phoebe stated cheerfully as soon as they had their coats taken off.

"Yes boss", Paige quipped as she headed for the stairs. The last thing she wanted to do was watch a DVD but at least she could think in peace knowing her sisters were distracted by the DVD.

"Ok, Phoebe, what did the doctor say to you?" Piper asked as soon as Paige was out of earshot.

"She couldn't tell me anymore than Paige did but she did say not to worry too much. She advised that we go ahead and try and book Paige an appointment with a psych though" Phoebe quickly filled her sister in.

"Ok we need to do that soon then and to keep an eye on her for the next while. I have the feeling things are far from over", Piper sighed.

"Back – it looks like it's going to be Fantastic Four. I love Julian McMahon and it's about time some other people had a chance to save the world", Paige quipped before flopping down on the couch.

Half an hour later, anyone looking at the scene in Halliwell Manor would think everything was perfect. There three sisters sat, enjoying a DVD during the day. There was no shortage of popcorn, sweets and drinks and the sisters were clearly close. The youngest lay her head on the shoulder of the oldest and the middle sister had her arm around the youngest charmed one. To the outside world everything looked cosy. Little did anyone know that the world in which the youngest sister screaming silently or that her world felt as though it was falling apart. Her troubles may be just beginning and she had no idea what lay ahead. None of the sisters did...

A/N: Ok a bit of a longer chapter for you. I know what I'm doing for the next two chapters at least (have ideas for more but two are definitely planned, nothing will be changed) just need to type them. I'm sorry I'm so evil but please please review, let me know what you thought and if there's anything you want to have happen.