When you're gone

I always needed time on my own. I never thought I'd need you there when I'd cry. The days feel like years when I'm alone. The bed where you lie is made up on your side. When you walk away I count the steps that you take. Do you see how much I need you right now? When you're gone the pieces of my heart are missing you. When you're gone the face I came to know is missing to. All the things I need to hear to always get me through the day and make it ok I miss you.

Dean grabbed his little brother firmly by the shoulders forcing him into a chair, "Don't feed me any of that you're fine crap. You aren't sleeping. Hell you hardly eat. Worst yet you nearly got yourself killed tonight. What were you thinking?"

Sam rolled his eyes, "I killed her. Dean I killed her."

Dean's face softened, "You didn't have a choice Sam. Like dad always said you can't save everyone. It sucks but sometimes innocent people get caught up in the cross fire. It wasn't your fault."

Sam didn't meet Dean's eyes, "You didn't see the way Piper looked at me. In her eyes I'm a monster."

Dean sighed, "Listen to me. Sam you didn't do anything wrong; now get some sleep before I knock you out."

Sam laughed sadly, "Jerk."

Dean smiled back, "Bitch."

Back at the manor Piper was trying to find another demon for her, Phoebe and Paige to fight. Wyatt tugged on Piper's pants leg, "Mommy."

Piper bent down and plastered a smile on her face, "What?"

Wyatt pointed at a picture of Dean, "Where's daddy?"

Piper sighed and brushed her son's bangs out of his eyes, "Daddy had to go to work bud. He will be home in a few days. Now why don't you go pester your auntie Phoebe?"

Phoebe came into the living room and smiled at her nephew, "Hey buddy. Do you want to play the bubble game?"

Wyatt nodded excitedly and ran over to Phoebe. The young woman smiled, "Alright. Go wait outside in the yard for me ok. I just want to have a quick chat with your mommy."

Once Wyatt was out of ear shot Phoebe grabbed her older sister's shoulder, "Piper when was the last time you spent time with Wyatt and Chris?"

Piper closed her eyes in thought, "I take them to school every morning. I put them to b…"

Phoebe shook her heads, "Since Prue died you haven't set one step outside of this house."

Piper snapped, "Phoebe have you forgotten what happened three weeks ago? Have you forgotten that your husband killed our sister? I don't understand why magic can't bring her back? It's not like we haven't cheated death before. What makes this time any different? Why would the book just desert us and desert Prue? I just don't understand why."

Phoebe wrapped her older sister in a hug and whispered into her hair, "We've lost our sister. How can we ever understand that?"

Piper sniffed hard, "Since things are so crowded in here I'm going to go search for demons in my room."

Phoebe wiped her streaming eyes and went outside to go play with Wyatt and Chris. Halfway through the game Phoebe heard the impala pull into the driveway. Wyatt hardly let Dean get out of the car before he ran into his dad's arms. Dean squatted down and lifted his son into his arms, "Hey. How you doing bud? Where's your mom?"

Wyatt didn't say anything he just clung to Dean's leather jacket and held on tightly. Phoebe spoke softly, "It's been a rough week. Piper isn't acting like herself. She's angry."

Dean rolled his eyes, "Her sister just died. Of course she is angry. She is grieving."

Phoebe nodded, "Yes but she is being a little bit self destructive. It's almost like she doesn't care about what happens to her anymore. All she cares about is killing demons. I've already lost one sister. Don't make me lose Piper to. Please."

Dean sighed, "I'll talk to her. How is Paige taking the whole ordeal? I know you guys recently found out she is your half sister."

Phoebe squeezed her eyes shut tightly, "Watching Piper and Paige kind of reminds me of all the times Piper had to get in between me and Prue."

Dean smiled sadly at Phoebe, "Not a job you would have chosen."

Phoebe nodded, "Paige is having a real hard time with this magic stuff and then there is the fact Piper refuses to have anything to do with white lighters."

Dean nodded, "I will go talk to her."

Dean went into Piper's bedroom and knocked on the door, "Pip? Hey. Can we talk a second?"

Piper took a deep breath and tried to fight back tears, "It hurts to talk Dean. It hurts to breathe. So unless you have some idea on how to bring Prue back I don't want to talk right now."

Dean gripped Piper's shoulder gently, "I don't like you putting your life at risk like that. It's dangerous and stupid."

Piper snapped, "It's not your choice now is it Dean?"

Dean spoke firmly, "I'm your husband and there is a problem when you talk to me like that. I want to help you."

Piper snapped, "You want to help? Stay out of my way."

Later that night Piper came out of her room and said, "There is another demon. They are called fury demons."

Phoebe rolled her eyes, "if you want to fight this one you are going by yourself. Paige and I aren't going with you."

Piper snapped, "Fine."

Phoebe rolled her eyes at Dean, "I told you that wouldn't work."

Dean sighed, "We can't just stand by and let her fight those demons by herself. She could get really hurt. Phoebe you go check the book shadows and see what you can find out. Sam, Paige and I will go help Piper kill these things."

When Sam, Dean and Paige reached the alley way where the demons were located Dean felt his blood run cold. Piper was lying in a heap surrounded by six fury demons. Three red deep scratch marks were across her face. Sam and Paige fought the demons while Dean carried his wife to the impala. Carefully he laid her limp body across the back seat of the car and stroked her hair away from her face, "Piper it's going to be ok. Just hang on. I promise."

Halfway back to the manor Piper moaned in her sleep, "D…"

Dean kissed his wife's cheek, "I've got you. It's ok."

Sam helped Dean carry Piper inside and lay her on the couch, "Pheebs you go check the book of shadows see if there is any danger from Piper being scratched by those demons. Dean call Castiel and get him to heal Piper. I'm going to go make sure we have the needed pain killers for when she wakes up."

Paige spoke up, "We don't need Castiel. I might not be a full white lighter but I can heal people."

Sam started to tell Paige to go ahead and try but the second Piper felt her half sister's hand on her cheek she started to cry, "Leo please don't go please... you said you would always love me no matter what the elders said. Why would you let them tear us apart?"

Dean looked confused and wiped away his wife's tears, "Piper who is Leo?"

Piper sniffled and sat up, "He was our white lighter. He came to our house shortly after my sisters and I got our powers. The three of us needed some help around the house and Leo was our resident handy man. At first when I found out about his powers I was so angry. I didn't trust him. Then he almost died and I ended up with his powers. I saved his life and I fell in love with him. We were together for years and then the elders didn't like it and he had to…"

Phoebe came back into the room and finished for her sister, "He chose his job over their relationship. We haven't seen or heard from Leo sense we met you and Sam."

Dean forced himself to stay calm, "Phoebe what did you find out about this fury demon? Is Piper in any danger?"

Phoebe nodded sadly, "Dean she is turning into one. If we don't find out what she is angry at we will have to…"

Sam spoke up, "I'm the one she is angry at. The book says they go after people who have done evil things. I drank demon blood. I opened up the gates of hell. If I go to Piper she will try and kill me. That will give you, Paige, and Paige and Phoebe some time to talk some sense into her."

Paige nodded in agreement, "That is the best way to go."

Dean snapped, "You are not using my brother as bait!"

Sam set his hand on Dean's shoulder, "I've always messed things up Dean. This is my one chance to redeem myself. I have to do this."

Piper suddenly lunged at Sam, "I sense evil."

Castiel came into the room and gripped Piper's hand before zapping her into the grave yard with Sam. Sam spoke gently, "Piper listen to me. It's ok to be angry. It's ok to hate Prue. When Dean sold his soul for me he died and left me alone and I hated him for it. Piper tell Prue that you hate her. It's ok."

Piper walked towards Sam and then turned to Prue's headstone and began punching it, "How dare you! How dare you leave me! How could you die and leave me here all alone? I need you please come back! Please…"

Sam wrapped his arms around Piper and held her close, "Piper its ok."

Piper sobbed, "No it's not ok. She risked her life everyday and she never thought about what would happen to me and Phoebe if she was gone. How could she think that I could live without her?"

Sam rubbed Piper's back, "I felt the same way when Dean was trapped in hell but I wasn't alone. I had you Prue and Phoebe. You aren't ever going to be ok with her being gone Piper but I can promise you every day it will hurt a little less."

I've never felt this way before. Everything that I do reminds me of you. The clothes you left they lie on the floor. They smell just like you. I love the things that you do. When you walk away I count the steps that you take. Do you see how much I need you right now? When you're gone the pieces of my heart are missing you. When you're gone the face I came to know is missing to. When you're gone all the words I need to hear to always get me through the day and make it ok I miss you. We were made for each other now and forever I know we were. All I never wanted you to know everything I do I give my heart and soul. I can hardly breathe. I need to feel you hear with me.

Later that night Phoebe went to go put Wyatt and Chris to bed when she heard soft voices from upstairs. Sam touched her arm, "Pheebs Dean and Piper are putting the boys to bed."

Phoebe smiled, "Everything is finally getting back to normal."

Sam rolled his eyes, "You have a white lighter half sister. After Dean just found out about Piper ex things are going to get a lot harder."

Phoebe rolled her eyes when she heard Dean and Paige fighting, "You get your brother. I will get Paige."

Sam nodded and followed his wife into Paige's bedroom. The youngest Halliwell was curled up in a ball hiding her face in a pillow. Phoebe touched her half sister's arm and tried not to get upset when the young woman flinched at the contact, "Sam can you and Dean give us a minute."

Sam nodded and went downstairs; as soon as Dean and Sam were gone Phoebe spoke gently, "Hey. What happened?"

Paige shook her head without lifting it from the pillow, "I'll find another place to stay in the morning."

Phoebe gasped when she saw the bruise on the young woman's cheek, "Did Dean do this to you?"

Paige nodded, "He said all white lighters are evil. I tried to explain myself and defend Leo and he hit me pretty hard. It's best if I just leave."

Phoebe stroked her baby sister's hair softly, "Paige you aren't going anywhere. We are a family. You helped save Piper's life. You are nothing like Leo and the elders. You are a Halliwell. Nothing is ever going to change that. I will talk to Piper in the morning. For right now I want you to get some sleep."

In the morning Phoebe woke Piper up, "Piper we need to talk."

Piper nodded, "Talk about what? I have to get the boys ready for school."

Phoebe sighed, "How about the fact that your husband hit Paige last night because he is angry about the fact that Leo hurt you."

Piper gasped, Dean wouldn't do that."

Phoebe sighed, "Piper you have been with Dean for years you know how over protective he can be. My advice is talk to Paige. She won't replace Prue I know that but she is still our sister and she needs you right now."

Piper gripped the counter, "What am I supposed to say to her? After everything we've been through saying I love you just seems like an invitation for more pain."

Phoebe wrapped her sister in a hug, "Then don't start with I love you. Just start with thanks."

Piper went to Paige's office and set down a basket of muffins, "Hey."

Paige forced a smile, "Muffins."

Piper smiled back, "Busy work. I'm best in the kitchen. Prue was the one who liked chasing demons when she was upset. I'm sorry about what Dean did to you last night. I don't want you to leave. I know I haven't acted like it but you are my…"

The boss walked over to Paige's desk, "We aren't getting much work done are we?"

Piper smiled, "My fault. I distracted her with muffins."

The boss smiled, "You are?"

Piper set her hand on her sister's shoulder, "Her sister."