Chapter 7The Rescue

Cole sat nervously in his car, trying to sort through his thoughts. Phoebe had
asked him not to follow her, but in his mind he knew he couldn't just sit
there. He balled his hand up punching his steering wheel in frustration. Quietly he opened the door, making quick steps down the alley. He felt a chill in his blood as he turned the corner into the empty parking lot. He heard Phoebe's scream. He didn't care any longer about being quiet. His slow quiet walk turned into a quick and loud sprint. Pushing the doors open he stopped to listen for a moment. He could hear Phoebe pleading with Charlie.

"Please Charlie, just let her go." She tried hard to focus as tears filled her
now swelling eyes. She tried not to think about pain she was feeling. The
bleeding continued, but she was more worried about Paige now than herself.
Charlie stood there between the two of them. She could see Paige's chest
slowly moving up and down, at least that was a good sign. What worried her was
the open wound on her forehead. She didn't know what Charlie had hit her with,
but it made her blood run cold just seeing it.

"I think this is more fun." He walked closer to her, sweeping her legs out
from underneath her with one of his own. He watched as she fell back, failing
to catch herself and hitting the floor with a thud.

Phoebe hesitated before standing up. She wobbled a little, placing a hand on
the near by wall to steady herself. "What do you want from me?" She screamed,
her voice cracking.

Charlie smiled as he pulled a small back gun from his jacket. " What I have realized is that you seem to care more about what you're sisters think than me. It's not supposed to be that way, I think with them out of the way, you can truly be my girl. We'll start with sweet little Paige. I want you to tell your baby sister good bye." He winked at Phoebe as he pulled the hammer back.

Phoebe gasped as she saw Cole leaping from the doorway. Everything happened so fast. Charlie fell to the ground, fighting to keep control of the gun. Phoebe watched helplessly as Charlie got the best of Cole, knocking him off balance and sending him flying toward the wall. Cole grabbed his jaw looking up at Charlie.

"Big mistake tough guy." Charlie aimed the gun at Cole and pulled the
trigger.

Phoebe gathered what little bit of strength she had and jumped in front of
Cole, the bullet piercing her side.

"Phoebe!" Charlie screamed as he ran to her now limp body.

Cole sat in shock. He wasn't sure if what was happening was real. Phoebe lay
there across his legs, Charlie holding her head in his hands. Cole balled his
hand into a fist preparing to throw a punch. He was shocked when he saw the
board rise up behind Charlie, coming down forcefully on the back of his head.
As Charlie fell sideways from the blast Cole watched a very exhausted Paige
fall to her knees.

"Is she alright?" Paige asked, trying to pull herself up.

"I don't know." Cole took his cell phone from his jacket, quickly dialing 911.

Prue sat in the passenger seat, an awkward silence filled the car.

"Any ideas where she might be?" Andy turned the corner onto a near by street.

"No, my guess would be somewhere away from everyone else." Her eyes searched nearby businesses and parking lots.

"There are always the abandoned buildings, down by the docks. We'll try there."
Andy reached over and took Prue's hand into his own. "We'll find her, I
promise."

Prue felt butterflies in her stomach. She had really convinced herself that
she was over Andy. They had dated for nearly three years before he left after
graduation. "How was New York?" She tried to keep her mind from thinking
about Phoebe, as well as her feelings for Andy.

"It was cold to be truthful. Nothing like our sunny days here."

"What happened to the academy there, I thought you said you'd never come back."

"Well, let's just say that the warm sun wasn't the only thing I missed." He
smiled at her.

"I see. So the uniform, they make you wear that thing." She couldn't help
but laugh a little.

"Actually yes, of course my job is no where near as thrilling as sitting behind
a desk at the museum." His tone sounded sarcastic.

"Well, things change." Prue pulled her hand out of his.

"Prue, I didn't mean to sound rude. I just thought you were going to do
something with your photography."

"Well, not many people will hire a nineteen-year-old photographer, at least no
one who wants to pay you. I have responsibilities now, there's more at stake
hear than what I want."

"Paige." Andy called out.

"Not only Paige, but Phoebe…."

"No Prue look, Paige." Andy speeded up as he turned into the parking lot.
Paige was holding on to Cole's shoulder trying to help hold herself up. Cole
held Phoebe in his arms, blood still pouring from her side.

Not waiting for the car to stop Prue opened the door and jumped out. She ran over and grabbed Paige by the arm just as her legs gave out. "What happened?"

"Charlie shot her. He was aiming for me, but she jumped in front of me." Cole knelt down with Phoebe in his arms. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean for this to happen."

Andy was on the radio calling in for an ambulance. "Where is he?" Andy drew his gun from its holster.

"In there." Cole said between breaths.

"The ambulance is on its way, keep pressure on her wound." With his gun in front Andy started inside. He stopped though once he noticed he wasn't alone. "Prue, stay here."

"No. Andy he shot my sister."

"That's all the more reason why you should be there with them. They need you." He searched her eyes, hoping to find that she agreed.

"I'm going with you. You of all people should know better than to argue with me." With that she pushed passed Andy and started into the warehouse.

"At least let me go first, I do have the gun."

They entered the empty office and found Charlie lying in the floor. Andy quickly reached down and took the gun from his hand. "He's out cold." Andy looked up at Prue who stood there with rage in her eyes.

She lunged forward, ready to pounce on the unconscious man. Andy reached his arms out catching her, pulling her tightly to him. He stood there not knowing what to do as she finally broke down. Prue couldn't stop her tears this time. Andy held her close to him, slowly stroking her hair.

Piper pulled down another side road, searching the parking lots for Charlie's car.

"There it is." Kyle shouted as he pointed to a lot past the old abandoned court house.

Piper stomped the gas pedal, speeding toward Charlie's car and Andy's empty patrol car.

"Phoebe, Paige!" She shouted as she got out of the car and ran to her sisters.

Phoebe opened her eyes, groggily turning her gaze to Piper. "I'm sorry." She whispered.