Author's Note: Short chapter, I know, but hope you enjoy it. Review please!

Chapter 25: Change of Plans

Peter sat at a table in a local library. He was in the back corner waiting for Piper to return. They had arrived half an hour earlier and Peter had set about finding information on the phone number William had on him. Piper was going to research the business cards. Piper had given him a hoodie to wear so his face would be obscured from any prying eyes. He looked up and smiled as Piper walked up.

"What did you find out?" Piper asked.

"The phone number is for a local archaeologist," Peter answered sliding the slip of paper across the table. He'd written the archaeologists name and address on it. "My guess is William called him to ask him about the Indian tribes that lived here while that thing was buried. Get as much information as he could on it."

"I doubt an archaeologist would know much about it," Piper said.

"Maybe, but it couldn't hurt to ask," Peter said. "He may have some sort of idea where more of them might be buried. What did you find out?"

"One was a pawn broker and the other two realtors," Piper answered.

"Realtors?" Peter asked confused. It seemed like a weird time for William to be looking to buy a house.

"Well yes," Piper answered. "Robert would need property out here. He wouldn't be able to hide Micky and the others without property. Normally we look for something abandoned or large."

"That seems like a lot to go on," Peter said.

"Yes, I know," Piper sighed. "But this is a special case and I think we might be able to narrow it down a bit. We know it has to be large enough to house him, Micky and the others, as well as the guards watching over them. So it won't be one or two bedrooms."

"I doubt they'd use an abandoned property," Peter said. "Having someone moving around and screaming prisoners might draw attention."

"Yes," Piper agreed. "And because of the screams, I'd bet that he wouldn't be smack in the middle of town. It'd have to be remote. And it would have to have a basement of some sort."

"Basement?" Peter asked. "Why would they need a basement?"

"Best place to hold Micky and the others," Piper answered. "A basement wouldn't really have any windows for them to escape from or shout out. The walls would be solid enough where they couldn't force their way out either. Surrounded on all sides by dirt. Plus a basement would be large enough for the four of them and likely have just enough plumbing to make a passable bathroom."

"You think Robert's letting them have a bathroom?" Peter asked. He hadn't really pictured anything like that. He kinda pictured what happened in old movies where people were tied to train tracks or chained to walls.

"I know Robert," Piper said. "Yes, he lied to us our entire lives, but I grew up around him. He was always kinda a jerk and controlling. He pushed people. He pushed us harder than most other parents push their kids. I never liked him that much. I know he's gonna keep them just comfortable enough to keep them from fighting too much. They won't be chained. He may even give them beds. And I'm not talking mattresses on the floor. The mattresses won't be great, but they'll be enough to sleep on. Shower, toilet, sink, water. Basic essentials. To keep them alive and healthy. He's sadistic, but he needs them alive."

"Oh, right," Peter said. It kinda made sense the way she said it. "I have a question, and this might sound kinda cold, but…if he was such a jerk, why did Micky's mother fall in love with him?"

"It's ok," Piper said. "I understand the question. I was too young to really remember anything, but I asked my parents after he pushed Micky so hard during training that Micky's arm broke. I couldn't understand why my favorite aunt was in love with such a jerk. My mom told me she thought it had more to do with the death of Rose's father more than anything else. She was so distraught that she fell in love with the first man who came in and swooped her out of her misery. Mom said she never really got over the death of Rose's father. I think she was just settling. Robert came in and helped Diana during the last part of her pregnancy. He helped her give birth to Rose. Something like that creates a bond."

"So she was ok with Micky breaking his arm?"

"Of course not. She was furious with him! I'd never seen her so furious with him. Mom said Diana nearly kicked Robert out, but he turned on his charm again. Won her over all over again. Diana was a wonderful mother. Gave everything to Micky and Rose. Did everything for them. Robert and Diana were polar opposites in many ways. He never outright abused the kids or her and she had a blind spot for some of the what she called "poor decisions" he made."

"Do you know what happened to Rose's father?"

"Actually, all I know is that he was killed. No one in the family talked about it very much. I don't even know what his name was."

"That's weird."

"Yeah, it is. I just kinda assumed it was because she never got over his death and bringing him up reminded her of it. Anyway, we should get going. There's nothing else we can do tonight. In the morning we'll contact these people and ask what they told William. We'll have to be careful though, in case they're the ones who killed William."

"How do we do that? If they killed him, won't us asking questions tip them off to us, too?"

"Yes, but we'll check them out before we talk to them and be very careful with our words. Let me talk to them, ok?"

"Of course."

"We'll stop and grab something to eat on the way back."

"Actually, I wanted to ask you something," Peter said as they stood to leave. "I know we're really tight on funds and stuff, but I thought maybe with everything Willow's going through, it might be kinda nice to bring her something better than whatever was cheap on the way."

"Peter…" Piper started as they reached the front doors. She sighed and they walked outside towards their car.

"I know it's expensive and we don't have money coming in and we have to make the emergency funds last, but she deserves it. I'll skip eating tonight if we can give her something nice."

"That's so sweet, Peter, and I do love that about you, but you can't skip a meal. She wouldn't want you to and you need your energy."

"Perhaps I can help," Daryl suddenly said behind them.

"Daryl," Piper said smiling at him. He'd startled Peter, but he got the idea that Piper knew he'd been behind them for a while.

"Hey, I hoped I'd catch you," Daryl said. "I have an offer for you. I'm assuming that you guys will likely be here for a while and paying for a hotel is gonna add up. My sister moved out of the house we shared last month, so I have her room and a guest room extra. Stay with me. I'm too prominent in the area to attack, so you'll be safer there anyway."

"You don't think that because of your prominence, us staying with you will bring undue attention?" Piper asked.

"Maybe, if you aren't careful," Daryl said. "But you are very careful. It'll be nicer accommodations anyway. And better food. More room to move around and stay in shape. I converted my basement to a home gym."

"Alright," Piper said with a smile. "If you insist."

"I do," Daryl smiled. "Let me know what Willow's favorite food is; I would love to make her something tonight."

"She loves Italian," Piper said. "Her dad made a good ziti."

"Ziti is it then," Daryl said. "You remember where my house is?"

"Yes," Piper answered.

"Good, I'll meet you there," Daryl said. "Just gonna head by the store on the way home."

Mike wiped a little sweat off Micky's face and forehead. He was very clammy and still burning up. Mike placed the cold, wet washcloth Rose had brought out before he'd flipped out under the back of his neck. He only hoped that it would make Micky more comfortable, although it didn't seem so. Micky was still groaning slightly as if he was in pain. Mike was trying to think about what else he could do to when he heard a stifled yelp from the bathroom. Mike quickly dashed over and opened the door. Rose was leaning against the wall of the bathroom holding her stomach and Ginny was asleep on the floor.

"What happened?" Mike asked worriedly. "You ok?"

"Yes," Rose answered as Mike walked over to her. "I'm fine. It's nothing."

"Rose…" Mike pressed. He knew she was trying to downplay whatever pain she was in.

"Ginny passed out," Rose said. "I think all that really took a toll on her. It's really not good for her or the baby. I tried to move her to a bed to make her a little more comfortable, but…"

"But what?" Mike asked.

"I tried lifting her, but my stomach," Rose said. "Micky kicked me hard."

"Let me see it?" Mike asked.

"It's fine, can you just help her please?" Rose said covering her stomach with her arms. Mike reluctantly nodded and knelt down to lift Ginny off the floor. Rose followed him as he carried Ginny to a bed.

"Ok, she's resting," Mike said pulling a sheet over Ginny, "now, please let me look at your stomach?"

"It's fine," Rose said. Mike gave her a look that said she shouldn't argue with him cause he wasn't going to drop it. So she finally relented and sat down on one of the vacant beds. Mike lifted up her shirt a little to reveal her stomach. There was a large red spot across one side that was beginning to turn green.

"Yeah, he really did get you good," Mike said.

"It's nothing serious, I'm sure," Rose said. "Just a major bruise. If there were internal bleeding or anything, I'd know by now."

"You do realize that a bruise IS internal bleeding right?" Mike chuckled. She glared at him, but smiled. "This is gonna be a pretty nasty bruise. You'll be in pain for a while, but you're right, I don't think there's any other damage."

"I'd really rather not let Micky find out about this," Rose said quietly looking at Micky. "If we can avoid it."

"Hopefully he won't remember any of this," Mike said sitting on the bed next to Rose.

"He can't hear us, can he?" Rose asked.

"I'm not sure he's really that aware of what's going on," Mike said.

"Shouldn't we restrain him in case he freaks out again?" Rose asked.

"I don't really want to just yet," Mike said. "If we restrain him and he has another seizure…"

"He'll hurt himself more," Rose said as Mike trailed off. "What do we do if he flips out again? Do I knock him out again?"

"I don't think that'll be a problem for a little bit," Mike said. "When I was cleaning him up, he looked at me and he looked at me. Before when he was choking me, he looked towards me. He wasn't seeing me. Wow, that really made no sense."

"It kinda did," Rose said. "I know what you meant."

"Why don't you just try and get some sleep," Mike said. "We still have a long road ahead of us."

"Only if you do, too," Rose said. Mike nodded and laid down. Rose curled up next to him, wrapping her arms around him and resting her head on his chest. Mike carefully stroked her hair and before long, she had fallen asleep. Mike couldn't sleep very well though. His thoughts were swirling. He was worried about each and every one of them. He wouldn't be able to sleep for a while and when he finally did, it was short and strained.