Piper could count how many times she had looked down at Prues features. It was a miracle to her that her big sister was even alive. But she knew that somewhere some one had decided it wasn't time for her to leave them yet. Them. Piper took the word to herself as she thought of Phoebe. A sister she had pushed away. A sister that was now missing.
It had been hours since Cole and Leo had left the hospital room in search of the youngest Halliwell. And still she had no word.
Leo finally appeared to let her know what had happened at the Manor and that they had once again lost Phoebe.
"I don't understand it Leo. How can you and Cole just lose her like that?"
"I don't know Piper but we will find her again I promise." Trying to assure her that they would find Phoebe.
"Don't make promises you can't keep." Her words were harsher then she had intended but her fear was getting the best of her.
She was mad at herself more then Leo but right then he was at the receiving end of her own anger. She had said things to Phoebe she hadn't wanted to. Maybe on some deep level she partially did blame Phoebe for what had happened to Prue but it had been her fear of losing Prue that had made everything come to the surface. Now her sister was in more trouble then she wanted to imagine and no one had anyway of finding her.
Prue had heard Piper's outbreak at Leo and knew her sister was hurting inside with guilt. Hell she was blaming herself. She should have seen it coming a long time ago. Phoebe had been acting strange. But she also looked back still to that day she had told Leo to save Piper no matter what the cost had been. She hadn't asked him and in doing so that was what got Phoebe into the mess she was in now. It was something Phoebe and her had been working on ever since they had saved her from the underworld and Cole had sacrificed himself to save her.
The two of them had sat up many nights just talking about the days growing up and Phoebe was even truly opening up to her about what had happened to her in the hands of the Source. Each time she had held back the tears of hurt and anger as her baby sisters own tears rolled gently down her face.
Prue was now just watching and listening as Piper and Leo tried to figure out what could have happened to Phoebe.
"We can try a spell." Prue spoke softly. She was still tired from her injuries but she a feeling inside that she had to see Phoebe and fast. She was not sure why.
Piper turned and looked over at Prue, "Like what?"
"To Call a Lost Witch." Prue replied with some hope that it might work
Piper looked at Leo trying to get his thoughts on if it would work.
"It's worth a try. I'm out of options and Cole is shimmering around the city looking for her anywhere he can think of." Leo answered himself having hope it would work.
Leo stood by the door watching for anyone that might come.
Piper stood beside Prue's bed, "Are you up for this honey?" she asked with concern that maybe her sister wasn't strong enough yet to cast a spell.
"I don't have a choice Piper." Prue answered seeing the worry in her little sisters eyes
Taking Prue's hand in her they both started,
Power of the witches' rise.
Course unseen across the skies.
Come to us, we call you near.
Come to us and settle here
They both waited for something to let them know where Phoebe was but as the seconds ticked by they knew it hadn't worked.
"Ok I don't understand. Why didn't that work?" Piper looked from Leo to Prue.
What Leo feared he knew now must be true. The only reason it didn't work was because Phoebe was dead. But that didn't make sense to him. Something wasn't right.
"I'll be right back." He orbed out not waiting for an answer.
--- ---- --- ----
"Come on Billy you aren't."
"She kicked our asses last time in case you forgot Sam. Embarrassed us in front of everyone." He bent down and ran his hand over Phoebes cheek. "This time she isn't gonna get the chance to fight back."
She felt the hand touching her face and heard the muffled words around her. She fought to stay focused but she couldn't as the cold wet rain still pelted on her and she was utterly exhausted from running.
"Come on now baby. You remember me don't ya?" he spoke soft as he eased her body towards the ground. Taking his hand he moved it with practice ease to the top of her blouse unbuttoning the buttons one by one slowly as he moved in and kissed her.
She knew what was happening and had to stop him. She found a hidden strength as she slammed her knee into him sending him reeling back in pain.
"You bitch!" he grabbed her as he tried to scramble free. The back of his hand slammed into her face sending her across the alley into the far wall.
He moved quickly as she grabbed her by the hair and slammed her again into the wall.
"I forgot you liked it rough bitch. But this time its you that will pay." He spun her around and slammed his fist into her mid-section causing her to bend over clutching her stomach. But as soon as her hands wrapped around her stomach she felt his knee slam into her face sending her to the ground.
She fought to stay conscious, as she knew what would happen the minute she blacked out. She tried to find the strength again to fight back. But as she lay there on the wet ground the rain splattering down on her she felt the kick to her ribs not once or twice but repeatedly.
--- ---- --- ----
Cole had arrived back at the hospital to find Prue sleeping and Piper resting her head on the bedside her. He took in the scene and thought of what the two of them would have to endure if they never found their sister. His own heart was starting to break he didn't even want to imagine what it was doing to the two of them.
He pulled a chair up and leaned against it, hidden in the shadow of the room just watching out for them. He saw Leo orb in a few minutes later. "Any luck?" he asked from his place in the shadow.
"No. But I know why we can't get a read on her." Leo cast a glance to the girls and debated to let them sleep or wake them with what he found. "She cast a spell to strip her of her powers."
"She what!"
Both Leo and Cole turned and looked at the ice blue eyes of Prue glaring back at them.
"The BOS was opened to the page that will strip you of your powers."
"No we burned that page. Neither one of us wanted to get in that situation again."
"This one will just work on one witch, not all three of you. My guess is that Pipers words got to her and she figured that the only way to protect you two from her again was to strip herself of her powers."
Prue couldn't believe that her sister would do that. Phoebe of all people. She loved being a witch. Until it got us hurt, she added as her mind took over. "Is it reversible?" she asked hoping that once they found their sister they would be able to restore her powers.
"It should be though I didn't see one in the book." He answered not sure if that was because there wasn't one, and that what Phoebe had done was permanent.
They sat in silence taking in the consequences of what Phoebe had done. She had ended the power of three.
