Okay, I THINK I got this fixed now . . . . I'm posting this chapter and then I'll wait awhile and post a few more -- I'm done up through 15, but again, something VERY bizarre was happening with this website and my chapters were disappearing! (Maybe Lilith doesn't like my story and is trying to delete it, LOL!) Anyway -- I really AM sorry for not catching this problem sooner -- I just found it now. I hope it doesn't happen again!
Thank you to all of you who are reading and enjoying this fanfic, despite all the technical difficulties!
Cole, Paige, Piper and Leo storm into the police station. "Where is she?" Piper asks Darryl, fuming.
"I have her in an interrogation room." Darryl tells her, pointing to a door.
"Has anyone else spoken to her?" Leo asks.
"Not yet -- and my sargeant is breathing down my neck trying to find out what's going on. He's been wanting to question her since this whole mess began -- I'm the one who's been doing everything I can to stall. But I can't keep this under wraps for much longer." Darryl says.
"I'll deal with her." Cole says. He storms into the room, and slams the door behind him. "What the HELL do you think you're doing?" he angrily asks Phoebe.
"Turning myself in, what does it look like? And I told you to stay away from me, Cole." Phoebe says.
"Look -- for the last time -- you are NOT going to kill me. But you're tempting ME to want to do it to YOU -- do you know how much you've upset your sisters?"
"Oh yeah, well think how upset Paige will be when you're DEAD! At least locked up here there's no risk of that."
"Phoebe, no arrest warrant has been issued, and as far as I'm concerned, they don't have enough evidence TO make an arrest. But -- if you're adamant about this, let's sit down and discuss it. We can always plead temporary insanity." Cole says.
"Oh, you'd like THAT wouldn't you? Look, just get out of here, I don't need you!" Phoebe shouts.
"You need an ATTORNEY! I happen to be one -- so you're stuck with me, sweetheart." Cole shouts back. Piper and Paige storm into the room, with Darryl and Leo following behind.
"Hey, hey, hey -- we can hear you all the way down the hall. I thought this was supposed to be a legal counseling session, not a shouting match." Piper says.
"Well, your sister is one of the most AGGRAVATING women I've ever met!" Cole says, slamming down his briefcase.
"Paige, get him out of here." Phoebe says.
"No. I asked Cole to represent you, and he agreed to do it." Paige says. Phoebe tries to ignore all of them.
"Darryl -- would you please get another officer in here? I really want to make this confession official." Phoebe says.
"Piper, can't we do something to shut her up?" Paige asks.
"No, you can't. And I told you to get Cole OUT of here! Do you really want him to die?" Phoebe asks.
"What is she talking about?" Darryl asks.
"She had a premonition a few days ago that she killed Cole. I think she -- stupidly -- figures that getting herself put in jail will keep her from doing that." Piper says, looking at Phoebe and glaring at her when she says the word 'stupidly'.
"Well, I can't stall for much longer. And if my sargeant sees that she's here, of her own free will, he's gonna move forward with this investigation, call Miles's landlord and have her put in a line-up." Darryl says.
"Do you know if he got a really good look at her face? Because Piper and I had this idea that just might work." Leo suggests.
"Whatever it is will be a moot point if she CONFESSES!" Cole shouts, glaring at Phoebe.
"Right, that's why we need to find a way to shut her up." Paige says, looking at Piper.
"Um -- okay -- Spirits far and spirits near, protect my sister while she's here. Until she's free and we rejoice, from Phoebe, take away her voice." Piper says, clearly making up the chant off the top of her head.
"Piper, if you really think that you can shut me up with --" Phoebe begins, and then her mouth continues moving, as if she's shouting, but no sound is coming out.
"Hey -- that's pretty cool." Paige says.
"Hmmm . . . interesting. I should bottle that and sell it." Piper jokes.
"Hell, I'd buy some for the next time I get in a fight with my wife." Darryl suggests. Phoebe looks around the room at all of them, glaring angrily at everyone.
"Aw, come on Phebes -- this is just a short-term thing, don't have a hissy fit over it. Oh, wait -- you can't." Cole teases, and starts laughing. Phoebe lunges for him in anger, as Paige smacks him in the arm.
"Be nice -- remember, we're trying NOT to give her reasons to kill you." Paige reminds him. Another officer enters the room.
"Morris -- what the hell is going on here?" the sargeant asks, and he looks at Phoebe. "So -- you finally got moving on this case like I asked you to? What does she have to say?"
"Oh, she doesn't have anything to say. So don't try to railroad my client into a confession, because don't forget I know all the ins and outs of how this place works and every loophole I need to get around them." Cole informs him. "Now -- my client hasn't confessed to anything, you have no evidence to hold her -- so how about we just leave."
"Not so fast." the sargeant says. "She can wait a few more minutes -- I'm gonna make a phone call to the witness we have that saw a woman with her height and build going into the victim's apartment with him. We'll see if we can get a positive ID -- then we'll talk about evidence, Mr. Turner." The sargeant leaves the room.
"Well that's just great." Paige says. "Now what?"
"Darryl -- is there any way you can stall?" Piper asks. The sargeant comes back in the room.
"She's free to go." he says.
"What are you talking about?" Darryl says.
"Landlord was found dead in his apartment this morning -- it's being ruled a suicide. We've got nothing to hold her on, no witness, and I'm not willing to expose this department to an arrest scandal. I guess this is one for the cold case files." the sargeant admits in defeat, and leaves.
"Lilith." Cole says to himself.
"Who?" Darryl asks.
"The demon that got Phoebe possessed. Cole, do you think she did it?" Piper asks.
"Who else. Lilith always makes sure there's no evidence -- AND no witnesses. She always makes sure her messes are cleaned up -- like I said, she'd good at staying hidden." Cole tells them.
"Then Phoebe's in the clear." Paige says.
"Leo, can you orb her out of here before her voice comes back and she becomes a chatterbox again." Piper says.
"Good idea." Leo replies, and he touches Phoebe and they orb out of the room.
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Back at the manor, Phoebe paces the living room while the others watch her. "You guys all SUCK, you know that? I can still confess, by the way. I'm still guilty -- and someone has to pay for that. Miles's death has to be avenged." Phoebe says.
"Phoebe, it WILL be -- as soon as we can find a way to vanquish Lilith. She's the one who killed Miles -- you were nothing but a vessel for her." Piper says.
"Piper -- that doesn't matter to me. I don't know if I can live with this." Phoebe says, and she heads upstairs.
"Maybe I should go talk to her." Piper says, standing up.
"No -- I'll go talk to her. I think I know what she needs to hear." Cole says.
"Cole -- is that really a good idea?" Paige says.
"Oh, come on Paige, you're still not buying into this 'Phoebe's gonna kill me' stuff, are you?" Cole asks.
"Well -- she's never been off on a premonition before." Paige says. "Just -- be careful." Cole kisses her on the cheek.
"I love it that you care." Cole says. "If I'm not back down here in ten minutes, you better send a search party." he teases, as Paige just glares at him, clearly not amused. Cole heads up the stairs, and knocks on Phoebe's door.
"Go away." Phoebe says from inside. Cole ignores her and opens the door. Phoebe sighs in disgust and glares at Cole. "Do you have a death wish or something? Get out."
"Phoebe, I'm not afraid of you. I just wanted to say -- if you really need somewhere to place your guilt over Miles -- put it on me." Cole says.
"You? You didn't do anything." Phoebe says. Cole sits down next to her.
"I'm the one who caused you to hurt so much that you were vulnerable to Lilith. I know -- there's plenty of blame to go around for both of us. But if it helps you move on -- I'm willing to shoulder the blame for this one. I think you still have alot of anger toward me, and maybe having somewhere to channel it will help you get through this." Cole suggests.
"Are you SHRINKING me now?" Phoebe asks incredulously.
"Hey, you can't be married to 'Dear Phoebe' without picking up a few pointers." Cole teases. "Let this go, Phebes -- let it go, or it's going to eat at you and it'll destroy you. And I care too much about you to watch that happen." Cole stands up, kisses her on her head, and leaves the room. Phoebe sits silently on the bed watching him leave, and a tear falls from her eye as she has the same premontion due to Cole's physical contact, of killing him.
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In the middle of the night, Cole comes down to the kitchen. Phoebe is in there making some tea. "Hey -- you can't sleep either, huh?" Cole asks.
"Not really -- too much on my mind, I guess. How about you?" Phoebe asks.
"Paige keeps having these nightmares -- about the baby. As soon as I can get her to fall back to sleep --- then I sit there worrying. I'm trying to convince her it's not true, but -- I'm starting to wonder if she's the one I'm really trying to convince. I mean -- to my knowledge, I don't think a demon and a whitelighter have ever conceived a child. It's just not done." Cole sighs as he sits down at the table.
"Here -- have some tea, it'll help you relax." Phoebe says.
"Thanks." Cole says, and he takes a drink. "Hey, you're not stressing over thinking you're going to kill me. So did our little talk earlier finally sink in?"
"Why would I want to kill you, Cole?" Phoebe asks. Suddenly Cole grabs his neck as if choking, unable to breathe.
What was in that tea?" he asks, barely able to get the words out.
"Something to make this easier -- for me at least." Phoebe says, and she goes up to him and wraps her hands around his neck. She morphs into Elizabeth. Cole looks at her in shock.
"Mother?" he says, struggling to keep his balance and catch his breath.
"I'm so sorry, Cole." Elizabeth says as she morphs back into Phoebe. A bright light appears around them, and when Elizabeth is finished Cole collapses to the ground. She takes out a mirror, and releases all of the powers she has taken into it. She then sets the mirror on the counter, and pulls out an athame. She kneels down next to Cole. "I'm so sorry, my son." she says.
"Cole -- are you down here?" Paige calls out. She enters the kitchen and sees 'Phoebe' kneeling next to Cole, wielding an athame. Paige screams. "Leo! Piper!" she calls out. Leo and Piper orb into the room.
"Phoebe, don't do this." Piper says.
"Do what? What's going on?" the real Phoebe asks as she comes into the room. Elizabeth looks up at them and morphs back into her own image.
"You. He's your son, you can't kill him." Paige says.
"I have no choice. I have to do it." Elizabeth tells them.
"Piper -- stop her." Paige begs. Piper attempts to vanquish her -- but her powers are useless.
"Her mirror -- Paige, her mirror is right there on the counter." Phoebe says.
"How are we supposed to get it?" Paige asks.
"Call it." Phoebe suggests. Elizabeth pulls up the athame in a stabbing motion, and suddenly stops herself.
"My son -- I can't kill you." Elizabeth says, stroking Cole's cheek.
"Wow -- even demons love their young. Who knew." Piper says.
"Paige, would you call the damn mirror!" Phoebe says.
"I don't have my powers." Paige says.
"You don't have your whitelighter powers -- telekinesis is a WITCH power. Just try it." Phoebe suggests. Elizabeth starts to stand up.
"Mirror." Paige says, and the mirror lifts up and flies toward her. Paige ducks, as Piper sees the mirror and destroys it in mid-air. Elizabeth screams. Paige, Piper, and Phoebe all grab hands, and begin to chant together.
"Prudence, Penelope, Patricia, Melinda . . . . Ashford, Helen, Laura and Grace . . . . Halliwell witches stand strong beside us. Vanquish this evil from time and space." Elizabeth lets out a blood-curdling scream, as fire engulfs her, and she combusts. Paige rushes to Cole's side.
"Cole -- oh, please be okay." she begs. She looks up at Leo. "Leo -- do something!" Leo starts to head over to Cole's side, as a dark cloud appears in the room.
"Here -- let me do something." Lilith says. She grabs Cole and throws him with intense force across the room and through a window, shattering glass around him. "Useless man -- I guess if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself." Lilith turns her attention to Piper. "You killed my daughter -- but don't worry -- I'll have my revenge. I'll have yours soon enough." Lilith says to her, touching Piper's stomach.
"You stay AWAY from her!" Leo shouts, his voice filled with rage, and he charges toward Lilith. Lilith laughs as she grabs him by the neck.
"Do you really think you have any powers over me -- whitelighter?" she says. She starts to choke him, as the girls can see his power being drained.
"Leo!" Piper screams. She attempts to freeze Lilith, but her powers are useless. Phoebe grabs her athame and throws it at Lilith, hitting her in the arm, and causing her to let Leo go. Piper rushes to his side. Lilith looks at her arm and watches the wound Phoebe inflicted heal.
"Hmm . . . . that was fast. This could prove useful." Lilith says. "Well, I think I've done enough here -- for now. But I'll be back." Lilith says, and she vanishes. Paige and Phoebe both rush to Cole, as Piper tends to Leo.
"Leo -- do something, he's dying!" Paige cries out, cradling Cole's motionless and bleeding body in her arms.
"Paige, Leo is hurt, too." Piper says.
"No, I'm fine." Leo says, as Piper helps him stand up. "I can help him." Leo goes over to Cole's side, and lays his hands on him. "He's mortal -- I don't sense any powers in him." Leo struggles to heal Cole, but his powers weaken quickly.
"Leo -- what's going on?" Paige asks.
"I don't know. My powers -- Lilith did something to them. Paige, I don't know if I can heal him." Leo says, looking up at her apologetically.