Disclaimer: I forgot to add one of these to all the rest of the chapters so this stands for all of those as well! I do not own Charmed, I am merely borrowing characters to make up a story of my own. I do however, own Melinda. She's my character! But feel free to borrow her too… Just not my story! Well, anyway, I'll get back to it now…
Paige and Piper were prepared for a reaction from Phoebe when they entered the attic. What they weren't prepared for was her acceptance. When she saw Cole enter the room with her sisters, she merely said, "Are you here to help Melinda?" When he nodded she said, "Ok," and turned back to the book of shadows. Cole shot a surprised glance at Piper and Paige but then proceeded to fill Phoebe in on everything he knew. Then, together, the former couple began to devise a plan. A plan to save their only daughter.
Piper and Paige knelt down behind a bush in the park where the demon had arranged the swap. "Ugh," Paige said, disgusted. "They could have warned me I'd be kneeling in mud, I would have changed my skirt and leggings!" Piper giggled but then quickly shushed her sister. They had refused to let Chris come on the mission. The more people that came, the more likely they were to be spotted. "Piper?" Paige whispered. "Do you think it was smart to pair Cole and Phoebe together for this?"
Piper shrugged, "It was there decision." Together they watched as Cole strolled out from behind another bush. Instantly the demon appeared before him. Phoebe was nowhere to be seen. "Where's my daughter?" Cole demanded.
Declan sniggered, "When I feel sure I have you, you'll get her back. I want to make sure you haven't arranged any little surprises." Quickly, Declan threw his hand out and a blue energy ball sizzled towards Cole. He dived out of the way, barely escaping. Cole rolled over and sprung to his feet again, ready for a fight. It was obvious this demon wasn't going to give Melinda back. Suddenly Phoebe appeared by Cole's side and flashed a pointed look at the bush where her sisters were hiding. "Where is our daughter?" she demanded. Cole felt a quick flash of pride as he realised Phoebe had said our.
The demon smirked, "I should have known you'd enlist help from the brat's darling Mommy! I guess that means the other Charmed Ones are here somewhere too. But just so you know, kill me and you'll never find your daughter!" Paige held out her hand and whispered, "Crystals!" Five crystals appeared in blue orbs and surrounded the demon. A cage sprung up around him, preventing him from escaping. Piper and Paige came out from hiding. "I knew you stupid witches would be here!" Declan spat. Piper threw a tiny pallet at the cage and instantly the demon received a shock. He screamed in pain. "Be nice." Piper said lightly. He glared at her, while breathing heavily, but didn't say anything more.
"Where's Melinda?" Phoebe asked him. Again there was silence. Piper shocked him again, but this time she threw two pallets at him. The pain was unbearable. "Alright!" he screamed. "I'll tell you!" Piper stopped the shock. The demon fell silent and Piper raised her hand again. Quickly, Declan blurted out the location.
Phoebe turned to her sisters. "Ok, Paige and Piper you both need to stay here because if any demons come looking for this guy, Piper you have the fire power and Paige, you have the means to escape." They looked like they were going to protest but Phoebe held up a hand. "She's our daughter, we'll protect her. Paige, orb us down to the underworld and Melinda can shimmer us back out after we rescue her." Reluctantly Paige held out a hand towards Phoebe and Cole, "Declan's Lair!" she cried. Phoebe and Cole vanished in blue orbs.
Melinda sighed, she was never going to get out of here. She couldn't shimmer; she figured the demons had put a spell to prevent shimmering out of the cave. Still she struggled against her bonds. She'd never meet her father if she didn't get out of here and she would never see her mother again. She blinked back the tears that threatened to fall. No! She was a Halliwell and a Turner. She would be strong. Her arm was stinging badly where the demon had sprayed her with the acid but she couldn't think about that right now.
As she tried to think of a way to escape, blue orbs appeared in the room. She couldn't believe her eyes! Her Mom and Dad were here to save her: together! They crouched into battle stances the second they entered the room. Cole pulled a couple of potions out of his pocket and hurled them at a group of demons. With a scream they exploded. Phoebe pulled a knife out of her belt and performed a perfect spin kick on a demon, before stabbing his chest with the knife. He also exploded. Melinda watched in awe as her parents worked their way through the demons, neither using a power. Melinda was a good fighter, but not that good. She wished she could fight like that!
Finally the last demon was vanquished, and her parents stood for a second to catch their breath. Phoebe was the first to recover and she quickly ran to her daughter and freed her from her bonds. "Mom!" Melinda cried, throwing her good arm around her.
"Hey baby, you're ok now!" Phoebe soothed. Melinda released her and held on to her bad arm gingerly as she looked at her Dad. Slowly she walked towards him. "Hi Melinda," Cole said quietly. "Hi Dad," she replied, and then suddenly burst out laughing. Cole looked at her strangely. "I'm sorry!" Melinda gasped, "But I never ever called someone that before. It sounds so strange!" Cole started to laugh too and he pulled her into a hug. She hugged him back tightly, ignoring the pain in her arm.
As they pulled back, Cole saw a movement from the corner of his eye. "No!" he yelled, jumping in front of Melinda. An energy ball hit him and he flew back into the wall. He slid down and didn't move. With a growl Melinda turned to the demon and waved her hand. The knife flew from Phoebe's hand, into the demon's chest. Melinda gave another wave and the knife twisted around. The demon screamed in agonizing pain. Then he exploded. Melinda and Phoebe ran to Cole's side. He wasn't moving. "Daddy don't do this. Come on!" Melinda cried. Phoebe swallowed back a sob too. He had saved Melinda's life and sacrificed his own to do it! "Melinda, help me drag him out of this cave." She told her stricken daughter. "Then you can shimmer us home."
Together they dragged his motionless body out of the cave and Melinda shimmered them to where she could feel her aunts waiting. They appeared in the park and as they landed, Cole's breathing stopped.
