Released
By: Piper Chris Melinda Halliwell
Chapter 14: Soul-Splitting Demon
"Hey, baby," Phoebe murmured. Paytin only smiled. "I'm so sorry."
Cole kicked a crystal away and Paytin smirked. She pulled her hands from behind her back. She had two energy balls in them. She threw one at Piper quickly. She ducked and the ball scorched the wall. She aimed the other one at Leo.
Wyatt tackled her to the floor before she could throw it. She was so surprised that the blue electricity extinguished. Paytin thrashed against him but his weight kept her down. "Get off me!" she roared.
"Well, so much for knocking her out," Wyatt said.
Phoebe knelt down in front of her. "I'm sorry," she whispered again. She grabbed Paytin's chin and forced her mouth open, pouring the contents down her throat. Paytin gagged, but the liquid stayed. She continued to fight against them, but her body was growing tired. Blue blotches started to form at her mouth spreading quickly until effectively all her skin was blue. Wyatt laid her on the floor.
"Give her the second potion!" Leo ordered.
Phoebe opened her daughter's mouth and slipped the second potion. Her skin started to fade back to the original tan color. Phoebe released her.
"Why is her skin turning back?" Coop asked.
Leo looked perplexed. "The potion probably needs to run its course."
Suddenly a whimper was heard. Their heads snapped towards the sound. Paytin whimpered again, her hands curling in pain. Her mouth opened and a blood curdling scream came out. She curled inwardly in pain and gripped the floor.
Phoebe instantly pulled her into her arms, but Cole grabbed her. "No Phoebe!" Black smoke started to leave the child's body, but then reentered. Left then reentered for about five minutes until it was finally forced out.
"But what's happening?" she asked, as she saw Cole's eyes turn as black as his name implied and her laid her on the ground, still squirming and crying.
Phoebe stalked back over to Leo, the look of a psycho-killer in her eyes as she grabbed him by his shirt. "You said she wouldn't be in pain!" she yelled shoving him backwards.
"I didn't know!" Leo said in panic, regaining his balance. "She shouldn't be!"
"Phoebe," Coop said as he wrapped his arms around her. "Come on, Love. Come back. She needs you."
Nodding mutely, she walked back over and sat beside her.
Phoebe petted Paytin's hair. "It's okay, it's okay, baby." She turned towards Leo. "Get it out of her!"
He bit his lip. "We can't. The potion has to take full effect."
"I don't give a damn! My daughter is in pain! Undo it now!" she growled looking like a mama bear protecting her cub. She stood and stalked towards Leo and glared. "You get it out of her right now Leo Wyatt, or I swear to God you will never be able to reproduce again!"
Leo cringed. "There's nothing we can do."
"If it's gone, then why is she still in pain?" Phoebe asked.
"MOMMY!" The little girl cried. "IT HURTS! MAKE IT STOP!"
She ran to her, cradling her like an infant. "Sshh, it'll be okay, baby. We'll make it better. Daddy's on his way," she whispered into her ear.
"Go Coop," Cole said. "She needs the other half soul."
He nodded, running over and sitting beside them. "Here, baby, I can make it better, but you need to lay still with Mommy."
"Hurts!" she whimpered. Phoebe couldn't hold back anymore and her tears flowed. "Mommy!"
"I'm right here. I'm not leaving," she promised.
Coop's hand hovered above her and a pinkish-orange light left him and entered her body. Paytin squirmed and cried, but as Phoebe knew there wasn't much they could do now, she held her close.
"How long will this last, Leo?" Phoebe asked.
He walked over. "It should be done already."
"I wonder if the spell backfired," Paige commented.
"And because it did, her body can't shut down," Piper realized. "We have to get her back to the hospital."
Upon hearing the word, the girl screamed flailing her arms and legs."NO! MOMMY! I DON'T WANNA GO!"
Phoebe tried to calm her down. "I know, sweetie, I know, but it'll make you better."
Piper and Paige walked over beside her. "And so will this," Paige said placing the doll on her chest.
"What was awakened from its sleep,
Must once again slumber deep"
They recited as she lay motionless in Phoebe's arms. Phoebe inhaled sharply, feeling the full effects of the wounds. "Hey guys, didn't she have casts on in the hospital?" she asked.
Wyatt walked over. "Yes, but somewhere they were shattered."
Phoebe looked to Piper. Her vision was blurry. "Then she'll have to go through all this again," Phoebe held her tighter, "won't she?"
"Leo, is there any way to make them forget they operated on her?" Piper asked. "Otherwise, we're gonna have to come up with one hell of a cover story."
"Wait," Chris commented. "Wasn't the purpose of this to have it where she could be healed? Why can't we just heal her and not take her back?"
Phoebe looked at him. "Everyone's still frozen in the hospital and even if we did heal her, she'd still be in a coma."
"Why?"
"It's a synapse thing, Chris. Look it up in your biology book," Wyatt said sighing. "But if you want the short version, your brain needs certain impulses to carry out bodily functions. Right now, she doesn't have those impulses to wake her up."
"And being in a hospital will help that?"
Piper cut in. "Kind of. She just needs to be hooked up to monitors, fed fluids, talked to, soothed."
"And sooner or later something will bring her back," Phoebe's soft, shaky voice finished.
Wyatt chuckled.
"And what is so funny about this situation, Wyatt?" Phoebe snapped.
Wyatt walked over beside her. "No, nothing, Aunt Phoebe. I was just thinking of something."
Cole walked over beside Leo. "I'm sure all of us could use a laugh."
"It's not really—"
"Aww! C'mon Wy!" Chris encouraged.
He sighed. "I was just wondering if any of us knew someone who could hypnotize the doctors into thinking they'd never stabilized her, but it's crazy. I mean, there's no way—"
"Maybe there is. I'll be right back," Leo said as he disappeared.
"What's he thinking of?" Coop asked.
Piper sighed. "I think I know, but I don't know what to hope for."
Coop walked over and sat behind Phoebe. She leaned into him, resting against his chest. "If he does, you think it'll work, Piper?"
"Probably, but don't hold your breath."
Phoebe nodded.
Leo appeared moments later. "Okay, no one remembers operating on her yesterday, but I did mention that she has bones that need to be set."
"Wait, how did you do that?" Piper asked.
"I reminded them that you kept your promise about Wyatt all those years ago and they reversed the damage and part of their memories," he stated.
"Wait, what about me?" Wyatt asked.
Piper sighed. "The time when you were irresponsible as a baby and the Cleaners made us forget you."
Phoebe walked over with Paytin in her arms and Coop beside her. "We promised them that nothing like that would ever happen again and we've kept it."
"I can't believe they remembered."
"They have to remember, Paige. It's their job," Leo said.
"Okay, okay," Phoebe urged. "We have more important things to worry about now than telling old stories."
Leo nodded. "Here, I'll take her."
"Why you?" Phoebe asked.
"Wiping part of their minds wasn't the only thing they did for me," he answered as he pulled out a card from his back pocket.
"A medical license?" Piper asked. "Is. . . this a permanent thing, Leo?"
He shook his head. "It'll dissolve when this is taken care of."
"And everyone will forget what happened?" Wyatt asked.
"Yes, now can I take her, Phoebe?" he asked.
Reluctantly, she gave her up, watching them leave in blue lights. "Okay. But now what do I do? I can't stand sitting in those stark, white halls waiting." She sighed. "Again."
"I'll go," Coop offered.
Phoebe clung to him. "No! Please…"
"Somebody's gotta be there just in case," Coop reasoned.
Piper sighed. "Well, I could go back. I've got nothing important to do…" Phoebe glared. She cleared her throat. "Uh, except this."
"But Mom," Chris argued. "I thought you needed to get ready for that band at P3 tonight. I forget, what's the name Wyatt?"
Wyatt raised his eyebrow, gesturing to his t-shirt. Chris gaped. "Really Mom? Nickelback?"
"No, Wyatt, that's next month. Tonight is . . . I think 3 Doors Down."
Paige laughed and Piper turned to her. "What?"
"It's just that we own it and you don't know."
"Hey, lay off! This day's been hard enough!"
"Piper's right," Phoebe spoke for the first time in about ten minutes. "She needs to be there. I think you should go, Paige."
"Me? Why me?"
"Because you've slept more than all of us in this room combined. Your mind and reflexes should be sharper," Phoebe said, "besides, I've got two daughters who've hardly seen me more than 10 minutes since this whole thing happened. Plus, I'd like to get a little rest." Coop wrapped his arms around her.
"Well," Cole said walking up from behind. "I guess my reason for being here is done."
Paige glared at him, then turned to Phoebe. "Can I punch him?"
Phoebe rolled her eyes. "Be my guest. He ain't my husband anymore. If I wasn't so drained, I'd join you."
Paige grinned. "Hear that?"
Cole walked up to her. "Yes. Give it your best shot."
"You mean, you're not even gonna put up a fight?" she pouted.
"I can still kill you, you know."
"That's true."
"Did you want to get one in too, Phoebe?" Cole asked.
She looked at Coop. So many things had changed in her life over the years. Yes she was still pissed, but deep down she wasn't mad at what he did to her. She knew she would never regret loving him. Anger still stemmed, somewhat, over the fact that he tried to kill her sisters.
"No, I'm good."
"Phoebe, don't tell me you've forgotten everyth—"
"No Paige, I haven't, believe me, but my anger isn't specifically over him anymore," she looked to Piper.
"I get it," Piper answered.
"Will someone fill us in?" Chris asked.
"She's not angry at me. Its the Source she hates, for trying to kill her sisters," Cole said.
"It makes sense," Wyatt commented. "C'mon Chris. I bet those cookies are cooled down way more than they needed to be."
"Oh yeah!" he remembered as they orbed out.
"I need to go see them," Phoebe said.
"No, we need to go get them," Coop disagreed. Phoebe was about to ask why, but he beat her to it. "They've been really worried about Paytin and . . ."
"And what?"
"They need us, but not just the two of us. They need to be included."
She sighed. "With as much sense as that does make, Coop, I need a rest. I've been in knots all day. Mentally. . . emotionally."
"So we'll go get them and go home for a bit."
"Chris!" Piper called.
He orbed in with a plate of chocolate chip cookies, not including the half of one hanging from his mouth. "Wha?"
"Okay, first finish that," she said commenting under her breath that she didn't raise dogs for over 10 years.
"Okay," he said after his mouth cleared. "What?"
"Don't bother bringing the cookies to them. They're going home to rest," Piper said. "And please tell me you two are cleaning up."
Chris nodded. "I baked so Wy's cleaning. That was our agreement."
Paige smirked. "Him clean? Are you sure? He's never that tidy around here."
"Yep, I am." He turned to Phoebe. "Do you have cookie jars, Aunt Phoebe? I'll fill them for you."
Phoebe yawned. "Yeah, they're in the far cupboard by the fridge."
"How many batches did you make?" Coop asked.
He grinned. "Way more than necessary! I'll take one jar from here too."
"Hey! Did you forget about me?" Cole asked. "I really need to go, so if you're gonna punch me, Paige, do it now."
"Punch?" she asked. "Oh no, I've got a much better idea," she said grinning and holding out her hand as an Athame formed.
"What are you gonna do to me?" Cold asked, slightly jumpy.
"Oh, you'll see."
"Paige," Piper warned, laying her hand on her shoulder. "I don't think castration is the answer here," she said.
Paige looked at her, confused. "Hey! I wasn't gonna—" she grinned as the idea played itself out, "but come to think of it, that's not a bad—"
"Paige!"
"All right, Piper! Geez!" she said, dropping her hand to her side. "Can I still use the Athame?" she turned to Phoebe.
Phoebe turned her head from Coop's neck to look toward everyone. "I don't care."
"Paige," Coop spoke, "you don't need revenge to move on. Look at your life now. You have sisters, nieces & nephews and a husband who would do anything for you. Do you really think it's the answer?"
Paige sighed. "No I don't, but you don't know how many times this bastard tried to kill me so he and Phoebe would have passion again like before I came along!"
"I agree," Piper said, "but what will you do? Kill one who can never die and risk getting yourself killed? What good would that do?"
"Yeah, good point. Here," Paige handed the object to her. She then turned to Cole. "I know all this pent-up anger that I have for you isn't healthy. I want to kill you." she looked to Phoebe. "So bad, but I'll follow Phoebe's example. I won't kill you." She walked over to him.
"Good. It wouldn't help anyway," Cole said. "But I do think you'd feel better if you did something to me. For your mental health's sake."
"Are you sure?"
"Why the hell are you asking him?" Piper asked. "He tried to kill you, remember?"
"You're trying to piss me off Piper. I know it," she turned to her. "And thanks, but I really don't need to be any more pissed." She turned back to him. "So. . ."
All of then saw Cole mouth the words: "Oh No!" before he dropped to the floor in excruciating pain from Paige's knees connecting him in the groin and a string of cuss words came from him. Paige only smiled as she placed her leg on the ground.
She walked back over to Piper, Coop and Phoebe.
"YOU B—" but his profanity was cut off as light engulfed him and took him back to purgatory.
Phoebe looked to Paige and Piper who were trying their hardest not to laugh. Coop let go of her and she walked over to them. "You know, he's been deserving that for longer than I can remember, but I still would've thought he'd scream."
They smiled and burst into laughs. Phoebe fell into them as they leaned against the wall for support. "You know, that's a very welcome sound, Phoebe," Paige said, wrapping one arm around her and the other around Piper.
"What?"
Piper smiled. "Your laughter."
Phoebe nodded. "Feels good too!"
A thud was heard in the room and Phoebe looked around, seeing Coop on his knees. Phoebe untangled herself from her sisters and went over to him. "Need help?"
He looked up at her. Her eyes hadn't been that light or happy in a long time. He smiled painfully as he grabbed her hands and stood.
Paige orbed out as Phoebe helped him to the couch. Piper grabbed his other side. "Didn't look away in time?" Piper asked. Coop nodded.
Paige orbed back in with an ice pack and handed it to Phoebe. "Thanks," she said. Coop nodded.
"No problem. Well, I guess I'd better get to the hospital."
"Are you okay?" Piper asked. Coop nodded.
"I'll stay with him," Phoebe said as she sat next to him and he rested his head in her lap. Piper lifted his legs up onto the couch as she stood.
"Would you mind dropping me off at P3 on your way?" Piper asked.
"Sure," Paige replied as she grabbed Piper's arm. "Bye."
"Bye," Phoebe said as they left in blue lights.
Author's Note: So what do you think?
Please read and review!
Personal thanks to: That70sshowlova, paulahalliwell, & charmed-darkangel for their kind reviews for the last chapter!
{Special Thanks to That70sshowlova for giving me ideas on how to start this chapter! Love ya!}
Next chapter: Chapter 15: Talks, Goodnight Kisses, and Breaking Hearts
Piper Chris Melinda Halliwell