Piper stayed by Prue as they talked quietly. Leo had gone off somewhere claiming he needed a drink, but in fact he wanted to give the sisters some time together.
"Prue?"
"Yeah."
"What happened? In the bank I mean."
Prue couldn't meet Pipers gaze. She knew what happen but could she say anything? Could she tell Piper that it was all her fault that Phoebe was in the O.R. fighting for her life because her own stupidity? Her own selfish pride.
"Excuse me I'm Dr. Black. I was the one operating on your sister, Phoebe." The voice broke through her thoughts and those of everyone else in the room.
"How is she?" the question came from two but was voiced as one.
"She sustained a bullet wound to her lower chest area. One of the pieces grazed her lung and we have her on a respiratory."
"Is she going to be ok?" Prue asked worried. What the Dr. was telling them did not sound very good.
"Right now it's hard to tell. We spent the majority of the night getting out the pieces of the bullet and stitching up any wounds both inside and out. She lost a great deal of blood at the scene. Right now our biggest worry is her lung. We have temporarily stitched it, but we are uncertain of the exact damage done. We may have to go in again to re stitch the wound. I'll tell you this much though." He continued as he saw the anguish on the twos faces before him, "She's a fighter. From what I heard they lost her once in the bus on the way here. And we did again on the table. I guess she has something to fight for." He paused a moment taking in each look on the women before him, "I think I know what it is." He finished gauging their response. "I'll have the nurse come and inform you when she is settled in the ICU."
"Thank you Dr.. For everything." Piper said as she met his eyes. Sending more thanx then mere words could say.
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She followed the light, as it seemed to beckon her. It was so warm and inviting. The feelings inside here were something that she would never be able to explain.
"Phoebe you need to go back. It's not your time yet."
"But this feels so right."
"I know it does but you can not come. Not yet. You and your sisters still have so much good to do. You can not stay."
"Why? Then I could be with all the ones I love."
"What about Prue and Piper? They love you. You know how upset they would be if you were to leave them. You know in your heart the right thing Phoebe. You have to go back."
"I love them," she almost cried, but for some reason she kept it inside.
"Then go back to them. One day we will all be together. But not today." The figure slowly faded.
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"We got a rhythm."
"Put her on an IV drip of saline. She's not out of the woods yet" the voices echoed through the OR.
With each passing moment they didn't know if she would stay with them or if they would lose her.
"I think she is stable Dr."
"Ok. Let's close and move her to ICU." He said as he took off his surgery gloves.
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She could sense the person she had been talking to but at a great distance. Her dreams were filled with events of the past. Her sisters death. The visit in the past with her mother, Prue dying at the hands of the dragon demon. Her not killing the love of her life and lying to her sisters. Dealing with consequences of her lie.
Seeing over and over the demons and warlocks that they had vanquished together over the years. The love they shared together now and would always share.
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Piper sat beside her baby sister as Prue sat in a wheelchair on the other side. Each sister holding their babies hand praying and hoping that what they said and passed to her would take hold and she would come back to them.
The minutes turned to hours and the hours turned to days. Phoebe lay on the bed as she had the day they had brought her out of surgery. Still. Motionless.
Prue and Piper sat with her almost everyday. No one had seen Cole since before this had all happened. Piper wondered where he was, knowing that no matter what Prue and her thought he would come for Phoebe.
Prue had gone home after a few days in the hospital. Her wound was not completely healed. But she insisted on going home. The Dr. was hesitant but Piper had promised to make sure she got plenty of rest. But for Prue that was not going to happen. She needed to find out who they were and help Darryl in anyway possible to capture them. Make them get justice for what they did.
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"Scott we cant just go in there and pull him out."
"Why not?"
"Why? Because he was hurt. And we have no idea what condition he is in." Sam reasoned.
"So what are you suggesting that we wait?"
"Actually yes. We wait until they are ready to move him to jail. Then we strike."
"You know little brother, for a little brother you have some pretty good ideas." Scott said as he rested his hand on Sam's shoulder.
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"Piper."
"Prue. No need to yell I'm right here." She told her sister as she sat beside her on the couch.
"I need to find them."
"Them?" Piper asked with curiosity
"Yes them. I need to help Darryl find those that shot at us."
"Prue you just got out the hospital you can't be over doing it."
"Piper I need to help find these guys."
"Prue you need to rest. I have one sister in the hospital and I have you at home. Please promise me that you will not do anything crazy and stupid." Piper looked at her sister and knew that no matter what she said she would do what she could to find who ever it was to bring those guys down. "Prue."
"Ok." Prue looked up at her younger sister knowing that she was right. So she lay back on the couch thinking of any possible way to fix what she had done.
"Ok. Do you need anything?"
"No I was just gonna read. You going out?" Prue asked seeing Piper with her coat on.
"I was gonna go down to the club and then stop by and see how Phoebe was doing on the way home. You want me to pick you up in a few hours? We can go together"
"Yeah that would be good." Prue answered though her mind was on other things entirely.
"OK." Piper stood up and kissed her oldest sister on the forehead. "Love you."
"Love you too."
Prue waited until she was sure that Piper was gone and there was no risk of her returning to the Manor. Getting up from the couch carefully she went to the phone and called Darryl.
"Inspector Morris."
"Darryl hi its Prue.
"Prue. How you doing?"
"I'm good. Look I need a favour."
"No way."
"Darryl you have to let me help you. I want these guys more then you do. And my 'special' talents may be able to help you catch them faster."
"No way Prue. Piper will kill me. Besides we haven't got a lot to go on."
"Darryl that guy shot my sister. She is lying in a hospital bed fighting for her life because of me. Now please let me help."
Darryl listened to Prues version of what happened that afternoon in the bank. Once again Prue was blaming herself for something she had no control of. But she thought she had.
"Ok Prue look I'll come by with some stuff. Maybe you can find something that we've missed. But dont you dare tell Piper I showed you."
"I won't tell if you don't." She said agreeing to the secret.
"You haven't told her?" Darryl was more then a bit surprised that Prue hadn't said anything. He was under the impression that the three had come close to losing everything because of a secret and they agreed to never keep things from each other again. Especially this big.
"I haven't found the right time Darryl I will don't worry."
"Ok Prue. But you better soon. Because you know she will eventually find out."
"I know. Thanx. See you in a few?"
"Yeah I'll be right over."
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"I'm just worried Leo."
"Piper Prue is probably one of the strongest people I know. She'll be fine. She's probably just worried about Phoebe."
"No that's not it. I just get the feeling that she is hiding something from me. I just can't"
Leo pulled her into his warm embrace. "She'll be fine. Just let her deal with this in her way right now."
"Ok. But if she does something crazy, I'm blaming you."
"Fine." He looked down at her and smiled. Wondering how he could be blessed to have found his own angel when he himself lived amongst so many.
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Prue sat in the attic flipping through the BOS. She was more passing time then actually looking for something. But like her youngest sister had a few years ago, she was beginning to feel the true connection to the old book. It held so much of her own past, a past she knew nothing about. But to her surprise the book started to flip its pages on its own as it had so many times in her own true past. Finally stopping on a page near the back.
Prue looked at the page it stopped on and read it taking in all the vital information that it was telling her.
She quickly slammed the book shut, placed it back on its pedestal and ran out of the attic. Scribbling a note for Piper she grabbed her keys and headed out the door.
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Closing the front door behind her Piper walked into the Manor that she had shared with her sisters for the most of the past three years.
"Prue. I'm back. Lets go see Phoebe before visiting hours end." Piper walked into the living room expecting to find her oldest sister, but instead was met by emptiness. "Prue?" she called out as she made her way towards the kitchen. Again nothing. "Ok. PRUE?" she called up the stairs as she walked up them. Looking in all the rooms she tried one last place, though the worry inside her was increasing with each empty room.
Stepping through the attic doorway she found the attic empty as well. Met only by the silence of their ancestors. Working her back down stairs she found herself back in the kitchen. It was her spot of the house, her one place where she felt at ease. "Prue where the hell are you?"
"Leo get down here." Piper called out for her husband as she thought of everything bad that could have happened to her sister.
Appearing in a bask of blue lights Leo could see the wrooy on Pipers face before he even asked.
"Prues missing."
"What?"
"Gone. Not here. No where to be found in the Manor."
"She didn't leave a note?"
"Well not where I could find it."
"Ok calm down Piper I'm sure she left one. Or maybe she just went for a walk. She'll walk in the door any minute now."
"Humour me. And do that radar thing you do."
"Piper."
"Leo. My sister is no where to be found. She is recovering from a bullet wound and she was going on this morning about helping Darryl catch these guys. Please."
Leo closed his eyes to get a read on the oldest Halliwell.
"She's ok."
"Where is she?"
Opening his eyes he looked at Piper.
"Piper she's fine. Now come on lets go see Phoebe."
"Leo."
"Piper she probably just needed some air. She's fine I promise. Now go see Phoebe, I'll see if I can keep an eye on her for you. Ok?"
Piper looked at him not sure if she should agree to his proposal or not.
"Ok. But you help her, the minute things get out of control. Or better, before they get out of control."
"I will. Say hi to Phoebe for me." He kissed her softly before orbing out to where he sensed Prue.
Piper opened the front door but something on the floor caught her eye before she had it completely opened. Bending down she recognized her sisters writing.
--
Piper I may have found something out about our bank robbers. This may have more to do with us then the money. I'll meet you at the hospital. Love ya. Prue
--
"You couldn't leave it alone could you Prue." Piper said as she starred at the note before heading out the door.
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Piper exited the elevator on the third floor of the hospital, her mind still on Prue. Why did she have to be so damn stubborn? She thought as she made her way to Phoebes room. Phoebe. What would we ever do if anything happened to you? Our baby girl.
She was two doors down from Phoebes room when she heard voices coming from her destination.
"We're gonna lose her. Where the hell is that crash cart?"
Piper felt her heart stop as she ran to Phoebes room. Three nurses and the doctor were crowded around her sister. Everyone working frantically to save Phoebes life.