A/N: This chapter is once again dedicated to Thalia's Tree, a constant reviewer who first gave me the idea of this scene between Piper and Phoebe in her first review. Enjoy!
Chapter 11
The phone at the Manor rang and Phoebe went to pick it up. Piper, who was the only other person downstairs, went over to the phone as well. Paige was in the attic.
"Phoebe, it's me, Darryl. Cortez just told me what he saw at Joanne Lacey's apartment but I acted like it was complete crap," Phoebe heard from the phone, she opened her mouth in shock.
"Who is it?" Piper asked, curious.
"It's Darryl. Cortez already told him what he saw at Shax's house," Phoebe explained, waiting cautiously for Piper's reaction.
"That son of a bitch!" she yelled, furious. Piper couldn't believe that Cortez had already told Darryl what he had seen. Thank God it had only been Darryl, who already knew their secret. What if it had been someone else?
"Are you still there Phoebe?" Darryl asked softly.
"Yeah," Phoebe whispered back, trying to get over the fact that they had yet another thing to worry about.
"I'm just warning you because he can be dangerous when it comes to things like this. He's gonna try and bust your asses," Darryl concluded.
"Thanks Darryl," Phoebe finished, hanging up.
Both women stared at each other, wondering what they were going to do.
"We have to shut him up, Phoebe," Piper spoke first, breaking the silence.
"Piper," Phoebe warned. She was worried about her sister. Piper had always been so in control and never driven by revenge or anger. Phoebe didn't know what had gotten into her.
"Piper, think about this," she started again.
"What's to think about Phoebe?" Piper questioned.
"Inspector Cortez is a mortal. Remember when I had that premonition of me being burnt at the stake and we went to the future?"
"What's that got to do with anything? That future doesn't exist anymore! Prue's dead!"
"Piper, we protect the innocent, we don't punish the guilty,"
"What about ourselves Phoebe? When can we start protecting ourselves? If we didn't have to protect the innocent all the time, Prue would still be here. But no, she just had to go and get herself killed. Did she ever think about how we would have felt? How we would have reacted? If Leo hadn't saved me but Prue instead, she could be here and do you know how guilty I feel, every day? Knowing that because I had to throw myself in front of Shax as well, Prue is dead? Knowing that because I went against the Elders and broke their stupid rules, Leo saved the wrong sister? I don't know how you can live with it Phoebe because I sure as Hell can't!" Piper sobbed angrily. Phoebe rushed over quickly to give Piper a reassuring hug.
"Leo didn't save the wrong sister Piper. He saved you for a reason. Prue was already dead by the time we got there; it was too late for her but not for you. Leo didn't save you because you're his wife; he saved you because it was the right thing to do. It wasn't your time to die. And until you learn to accept that, you won't be able to live with Prue's death," Phoebe soothed, stroking Piper's hair. They had both gone to sit down on the stairs and Phoebe was now crying as well as Piper.
"But-" Piper started to argue.
"No buts, sweetie. It's okay to be angry. Angry at Prue, at Leo, at the Elders, at me and Paige but don't get yourself killed because of it. Don't be driven by revenge," Phoebe finished. Piper's head was resting on her shoulder and they were holding hands. Phoebe just wished that this was enough for Piper to understand that she shouldn't vanquish Cortez at all and that she shouldn't vanquish Shax without the help of her sisters.
As if Piper had heard Phoebe's thoughts she replied;
"At least let me vanquish Paris,"
Phoebe thought for a moment.
"You know as well as I do that she isn't a demon. Yes, she may have been raised by Shax but by the looks of it, she had no idea about her guardian's demon form. She was just as shocked as we were when she orbed as well. We need answers Piper, and I think she has them,"
"Thanks Pheebs, for everything," Piper said.
"Don't thank me Piper, what are sisters for? I love you," Phoebe replied.
"I love you too," Piper answered.
The two of them continued to sit in silence, just thinking. They also held onto each other for dear life, both of them scared that if they let go, their sister would never be coming back. Just like Prue.
A/N: I hope you liked this scene between Piper and Phoebe. I think I may be updating a little more over the next few weeks because we have the summer holidays. Unfortunately, I do have lots of homework to do over the summer because I'm starting my GCSEs in September. Please review.