THE DEADS ARE WALKING THE EARTH.
1 Part II
It was a glorious morning at the Halliwell manor. The girls and Leo were at the table eating their breakfast and talking animatedly. Phoebe, who had been so quiet for a while, was now making plans for the day and smiled happily.
Prue noticed:
"Well Phoebe, it's good to see you so happy, I must say."
Piper added:
"It really is, Phoebe…for a while there, we thought you were a goner."
Phoebe, a little cooled off, became more serious and said:
"I'm so happy now… but I know I was a pain to all of you. I'm sorry."
Prue extended her hands toward her and affectionately took Phoebe's in hers:
"It's ok sweetie, we understood. But enough serious talk for now… You should be happy. That's all we need from you."
The smile returned to Phoebe's lips. And so did her animation.
"Ok then, what's the plan?"
Leo and the others stared at her in puzzlement.
Phoebe pursued for them:
"How will I jug his memory? What else? I need my man back before he becomes a father and doesn't even know it."
Leo, always the reasonable one, commented:
"I don't think you should rush anything, Phoebe."
Phoebe questioned impatiently:
"What did the Elders say, exactly?"
"Well they said, you know, just like doctors say. It could be sudden or it could take time. The bottom line is that they really aren't sure. They never faced such a situation before. The only thing they're sure about is that it should mostly come from him. The weight of those memories will still be a burden for him… demon or not, it's his past."
Phoebe's mood darkened suddenly:
"About the baby…" She hesitated a long moment.
"Are they sure he's human."
Leo uttered reassuringly:
"I told you already. They're certain of it. You've got nothing to worry about anymore."
Phoebe's smile returned timidly.
"I know what you've told me… but for the last year, every time I've been happy something terrible has happened to destroy it. I don't think I can take much more of this."
Prue was about to say something encouraging, but she stopped herself when she noticed Cole coming in.
"Good morning!"
At this, they all turned toward him at once, wondering if he heard any of what they'd said. However, Cole didn't give any sign of it, although he seemed perplexed and distracted. After a fashion, he responded to their good mornings, and then Piper offered to serve him breakfast.
Once he was seated, Leo asked the question that was on everybody's lips.
"Something the matter?"
Cole answered in a somewhat sarcastic manner:
"You mean, besides the fact that I can't even remember my name?"
Then realizing he'd been too abrupt, he apologized and continued in a softer tone of voice, although no less perplexed:
"This morning the strangest thing happened. I don't even know if I should tell you. You're all gonna say I'm crazy. I'm not even sure myself."
Phoebe encouraged him to continue:
"You can tell us. Don't worry we won't think anything like that."
Cole gave her a dubious look.
"Wait until you heard. Then, maybe you'll change your mind."
No matter, he still told them what had happened,
"Well, this morning I wanted to shave, but I couldn't find any shaving kit. I was about to ask you about it," Cole said while turning toward Phoebe again, "when I looked back and there it was…"
Phoebe asked him in puzzlement:
"What?"
"The shaving kit! It had appeared on the counter, as if by magic …"
The others exchanged concerned glances, but quickly caught themselves, as Leo whipped an explanation for Cole:
"I'm sure that Phoebe brought the shaving kit at the same time as your clothes last night…didn't you Phoebe?"
Phoebe replied precipitously:
"Yes of course, you must've just missed it and then found it. No biggie."
Cole eyed them both guardedly. Then he answered:
"Yes… I suppose I might've… I mean, what other explanation could there be?"
"None really," Phoebe responded a little too quickly again.
Then she went on:
"By the way, for your other concern, we think you do have a name now."
He gave her a hopeful look.
Phoebe handed him a wallet that she had kept in her bedroom, while telling him that the police found it at the scene after all.
Again he seems very perplexed and somewhat suspicious as well.
"Why would they give it to you?"
Taken aback, Phoebe quickly thought about it and replied:
"Well not to me… they gave it to Piper. When they showed it to her, she recognized your picture and told them that she'd take care of giving it back to you."
Cole looked at Piper in turn with the same dubiousness.
"The police just… gave it to you?"
Piper was annoyed at having to lie, but she still went along:
"Well we've got a friend who's a detective and he trusts us implicitly…"
Cole was not entirely convinced still, but he decided to drop it for the time being. He still added:
"I see…"
Opening the wallet, he simply stated his name unemotionally:
"Cole Turner."
Phoebe questioned eagerly:
"Does that ring a bell?"
"Not at all! I recognize the picture, but I feel like I'm looking into a stranger's personal stuff."
Phoebe couldn't help showing some disappointment at this. However, again she repressed her worries to say: "No matter, I'm sure you'll remember soon..."
Later in the sunroom, Phoebe and Cole were alone and he turned toward her hesitantly.
"There was something else I didn't mention this morning. Somehow I thought I could talk to you about it."
Immediately alerted, Phoebe questioned:
"Yes, anything!"
"So here goes… this morning I got another strange dream…"
"And?"
"Well," Cole pursued uneasily, "I found myself in a field, as if looking through someone else's eyes. You know like I was there but not myself."
Phoebe simply nodded in acquiescence and kept silent.
"Then I felt the rage that this other person felt," Cole continued. "It was overwhelming. Then, we, it's the only way I can describe it, moved off the field and we found ourselves looking at this very house. It happened like in a flash. I couldn't remember walking there… but of course, you know how dreams are. As we were watching this place, his rage became totally focused on the people inside. I felt such disgust… more than this, it scared me somewhat. I think that's what woke me up."
Unable to contain her emotions, Phoebe stood up abruptly and turned away from him, trying to hide her true feelings from Cole. Nevertheless it didn't fool him.
"I'm sorry, I've obviously upset you."
Regaining her control at great efforts, Phoebe looked back with a reassuring expression, while inwardly she was still filled with dread.
"No, it's not you. You know pregnant women," she added with a weak smile; "we're all emotional about little things."
Cole appeared to accept this, so Phoebe continued:
"I must say… that was a strange dream. But maybe it's just frustration you're feeling that expressed itself in a nightmare?"
Cole was still unsure but he answered non-commitally:
"I suppose."
Then he hesitated a moment longer, as if about to ask something. He had apparently dismissed it, but Phoebe saw his hesitation and she questioned him about it.
"Was there something else?"
"Well, it's a little personal, and I don't wanna intrude…
His response confused Phoebe.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well," Cole hesitated some more, then he blurted:
"Where's the father?" He was staring at her belly while asking this and then he looked up quickly before adding:
"If you don't wanna talk about it, I'll understand."
"It's alright, he…. He left me a short while ago… for reasons out of his control." Phoebe added defensively when she saw his expression darkening.
Cole stared at her uncertainly for a few more seconds, and then he said:
"I'm sorry again, I don't know why, but I needed to ask you this. It's one more of those impulses I can't understand," he said sheepishly.
Phoebe reassured him while a sweet smile spread her lips:
"That's ok, I don't mind. It doesn't seem as bad now as it did then." Phoebe could hardly contain herself.
He extended his hand toward her almost instinctively.
"May I?"
She answered softly:
"Of course!" Then she took a step toward him, closing the gap between them.
The moment he touched her, the baby seemed to jump inside her. This brought a bright smile on Phoebe's face, and as she looked up, she could see that Cole had sensed it as well and had a similar reaction. He felt a peace that he had not really expected.
Time seemed suspended, and for a moment they leaned toward each other as if they were about to kiss. However, Cole pulled back suddenly with embarrassment, breaking the moment.
Without a word, he let his hand falling to his side and went passed her toward the window.
As she found herself facing away from him, Phoebe let her disappointment show, as she felt tears coming again. However, she quickly regained her countenance and went to him, stopping a few feet behind him. He was looking out and breathing a little too fast.
Phoebe finally asked:
"What is it?"
"You're going to think it's stupid… but for a moment there I was jealous of that man."
This startled Phoebe and she opened her mouth to say something but he didn't give her the chance.
"I mean," Cole pursued quickly, "we don't know each other…I mean except for those dreams…and I have no right to judge…"
Phoebe interrupted warily:
"Just what are you talking about?"
Cole turned halfway toward her, obviously still embarrassed and nervous.
"Your child's father…the fact that he left you… it also makes me angry.
I know that's weird. But I just can't imagine why he would've left you. I couldn't have."
Phoebe's features softened considerably and she smiled knowingly:
"Like I told you, he didn't have a choice then, but," and then, she hesitated only slightly, "I've got a feeling that he'll be back soon."
When he wasn't answering she added regretfully:
"I've got to have a talk with my sisters about something. Would you like to take a drive later? Who knows… maybe seeing something familiar could trigger your memories?"
Distractedly, he nodded in the affirmative and Phoebe went on her way.
The moment she had left, he stared the way she had gone with an intense longing, even though he believed that he shouldn't.
In the kitchen, Phoebe found her sisters relaxing. She didn't give them a moment to think and began talking animatedly.
"I think we've got a problem."
Prue and Piper were immediately alerted, while Phoebe continued.
"I've got to talk to Leo first."
Then she proceeded to call for Leo without waiting for her sisters' consensus.
Almost immediately, Leo orbed in as if he had expected her call.
Without even asking why they did, he uttered anxiously:
"Something's wrong."
"I was just about to tell you the same thing. Me first, ok?"
Phoebe didn't even give him the time to agree before she added:
"I think that Cole's been having visions of something evil lurking around the house."
They all turned toward her at once, giving her their full attention.
"He told me that he had a very disturbing dream last night… where he sensed he was inside someone else, and that person was feeling pure hatred for us.
He didn't see who that was, but he was certain that we were the objects of his rage."
Prue couldn't help questioning somberly:
"Are you sure that he wasn't talking about himself?"
Phoebe exploded angrily:
"PRUE!"
Leo got their attention by uttering firmly:
"Stop you two!"
Then, he went on more soberly:
"I think that my news is very much related to yours, Phoebe. The Elders have received some disturbing info. When they separated Cole from his demon form, they left the demon intact where he was… now it'd seem that the Source figured out what they did and went one up on them."
The three women didn't need more to understand the implication of this revelation. This combined with Cole's strange connection to the evil, which was coming their way, sufficed to convince them that they were facing a new crisis.
Leo continued after he saw that the news sank in:
"The Elders suggested that you prepared the vanquishing potion on the double. They're convinced that Belthazor won't wait very long before he attacks. Without his human side to guide him, they think he's gonna use brute force rather than subtlety… and the worse part is that we don't even know which powers he retained during the separation."
About this, Phoebe had an idea:
"From what Cole told me of his vision, I think he's the one who can shimmer…"
Leo became more agitated at this, his eyes darting around nervously.
"That means he could be here at any moment." He added uselessly, as the girls had surmised as much with dread.
They all looked around anxiously while half expecting to see the demon showing up right then and there.
Leo shook them out of it when he added:
"One more thing, they suggested we keep Cole and Belthazor away from each other. Their encounter might have unexpected results."
Phoebe responded with more assurance:
"I'm way ahead of you. If you two can prepare for the demon," she told Piper and Prue, "I've already arranged a drive around town with Cole. I suggested it to help him remember, but it'd work out fine to get him away from here, wouldn't it?"
"Yes you're right," Leo approved, "it's a good idea. But maybe we shouldn't lose any more time."
Nodding in the affirmative, they all went to their respective tasks.
Later, while Piper and Prue were hard at work on the potion:
"Oh god, I have a bad feeling about all this." Piper said as she threw an ingredient in the cauldron and the mixture flared.
"So do I," Prue answered in an unaccustomed worried manner. "That demon just keeps coming back to us one way or the other. I'm beginning to think he's gonna be the end of us."
"Prue, you're scaring me," Piper exclaimed while eyeing her sister anxiously. "You're usually so confident. I rely on you to give me courage, not Goosebumps."
"You must admit it's uncanny how every time we think that he's dead or gone for good, he chooses that moment to show up."
"I know, I know… All the more reason to hurry preparing this potion," Piper added nervously. "Who knows, this time might be the charmed?" She said again in an attempt at humor, "No pun intended."
Neither one laughed however… instead, they both redoubled their efforts.
In the car, Phoebe was at the wheel, while trying her very best to keep Cole in the dark about her worries. Nevertheless, he finally let her know that she wasn't succeeding when he asked:
"Phoebe, is something the matter?"
Innocently enough, she answered:
"No…why?"
"Ever since we left the house, you barely said two words and you're constantly looking around as if you were expecting something to happen at any moment."
Phoebe gave him an annoyed look then. He'd always known how to read her like a book.
Cole asked:
"Does it have anything to do with what I told you this morning?"
Alerted, Phoebe questioned:
"Why do you say that?"
Cole hesitated:
"Well… just as we were leaving the house, I got the feeling that somebody was observing us. It was very fleeting, but for an instant I felt just like in my dream."
Hearing this sent a chill down Phoebe' spine and she decided to throw caution to the wind. She was now convinced that Belthazor might very well have been waiting for Cole to go out before making his move. Although she feared what might happen to Cole, she also had to think of her sisters, who might very well need the power of three soon in order to finally vanquish the demon.
Without a word of explanation to her passenger, she turned at the next intersection and set out to return home.
In front of the manor, in a shadowed hiding place, Belthazor had observed the car going away with mixed feelings. He had also felt the strange duality. However, unlike Cole, he knew exactly what it was. Now that he had finally gotten rid of his weak human side, the demon felt stronger than ever. His rage at those people was only equaled by the desire for revenge on Cole himself. He was convinced that his former human half had saddled him all his life and made him not only weak, but also an outcast in his own world.
When he had sensed the human grasp on him, and even if had only been for a fleeting moment, it had exacerbated his rage anew. He was now even more determined to get his revenge as he observed the Manor for signs of trouble.
When he was certain that he could safely make his move, he started slowly toward the house. Belthazor was still wary of a trap, as these witches had often thwarted him, even when Cole was there with all his smarts to make the plans. Still, seeing nothing suspicious however, he shimmered out and reappeared in the dark living room. He stood there for a moment, listening to the noises coming from the kitchen. No one seemed to have noticed his arrival.
He was about to go toward the kitchen when a sound coming from the street stopped him.
A car was coming to a halt and he almost immediately felt the now familiar sensation that alerted him to Cole's presence nearby. Instinctively, he threw himself against the wall and lied in wait…
Outside, Cole stopped short in the driveway. Phoebe turned toward him in wonderment. Before she could ask him about it, he whispered warily:
"It's here."
"What is?"
As she was awaiting his response, she noticed the change in his expression. He appeared intensely surprised at first, and then he soon became horrified.
Inside Cole's mind, a wall had just been shattered. All his memories were flooding back, starting with his father being killed in front of him all those years ago, with visions of horrible crimes that he committed, the thoughts of which made him sick to his stomach. He remembered his deal with the Source, the witches, Phoebe. The latter finished flooring him "Oh Phoebe." Tears ran down his cheeks at this point.
This more than anything else had Phoebe fearing for him. Cole was now shivering all over and he let himself fall to the ground heavily. Head down, he seemed crushed under an unbelievable weight until the memory of his death returned. At that moment, he uttered a weak:
"How?"
With a shaky voice, Phoebe asked:
"What?"
"I was dead. I AM dead. I can't be here!"
Phoebe wanted to tell him all, but her worries about Belthazor were more pressing at the moment:
"Cole, I don't have time to explain now. If we don't act, he's gonna kill us all."
Cole fought the urge to fall back to the ground while questioning:
"Who will kill us?"
Seeing that he didn't understand, Phoebe replied pointedly:
"You!"
At first, he just stared at her with a blank expression. Then he felt the pang of anger again coursing through him, and he finally understood. Not losing any more time, he got up, grabbed Phoebe's arm and pushed her toward the back of the house.
Phoebe protested but he told her that Belthazor was waiting for them in the front. They came rushing through the back door and they found Piper and Prue putting the last touch to the potion, thankfully unharmed. The sisters did not bother to ask what was happening as it was pretty obvious that something has changed in Cole's attitude. They could also very much surmise that it had to do with his other half.
Cole simply said:
"Be prepared, he's coming."
The girls rapidly huddled and started reciting the spell that would bind the potion. However, before they could complete the chant, the door seemed to explode inwardly and Belthazor entered the kitchen. For what seemed like an eternity, but really only lasted a few seconds, both sides observed the other. Cole moved slowly in front of the girls as Belthazor was growling at him. They all seemed to be waiting to see who was gonna make the first move. This hesitation almost cost Cole his life as the demon suddenly attacked and threw an energy ball in his direction. Prue managed to deflect the fireball just in time, while Cole sent a lightning bolt at the demon, which hit him in the chest. Indeed the demon was thrown back toward the hallway, but he was barely affected by the hit. He started toward the kitchen almost immediately and when the sisters understood that it was now or never, they quickly finished the chant that they had started.
Instinctively Cole stepped away from the cauldron, as he was suddenly aware that it might have an effect on him as well. The demon attacked again, this time in the direction of the sisters, who plunged behind the counter in the nick of time. Seeing that he finally had a slight advantage, Cole jumped at the demon and threw him against the wall.
Belthazor lost his balance and fell hard to the floor.
Cole then screamed to the witches:
"Now!" Then he stepped back in a hurry, even as Prue tkd the whole potion over the demon. For an instant, it seemed that he would successfully escape, as he began shimmering, but to no avail. He soon was engulfed in a ball of flames and thankfully burned up for good this time. Or so they really hoped…
At the same time Cole felt an intense heat coursing through him, and then it just stopped. He took a few deep breaths, barely believing that they were all ok.
Prue finally uttered:
"Well this time, there was no mistake!" She cast a knowing look toward Phoebe, and then Cole. Phoebe was about to reply but she stopped herself and smiled warily.
Meanwhile, Cole was still staring at the smoldering rests of his former half, trying to figure out if he has any feeling on the matter.
Then he realized something that had not occurred to him until that moment.
To no one in particular, he asked:
"Since when do mortals have powers?"
Leo, who was just orbing, was also the one to answer:
"It's true that you're human now, but you're also a witch."
On Cole's face was a mix of total surprise and incredulity.
After a moment he just said:
"I'm gonna need a little time alone." Then he turned his back on them and went out without another word.
The sisters look at each other with some apprehension at first, but then they remembered what had just happened. Piper and Prue smiled first, then Leo. Phoebe gave a long look toward the door but she stayed with them and simply listened to their victory banter.
After a little while and a lot of cleaning, Prue noticed that Phoebe was again watching the door and getting more anxious for each moment that passed.
"Phoebe?"
"Yes," Phoebe answered distractedly.
"He's gonna be ok, you'll see."
"How can you be so sure?"
Then Phoebe pursued:
"It was one thing to reject his old ways for me, but now to have become the hunted himself…"
"You know," Prue replied, "I don't want you to think that I resent him or anything… it's in the past now. But he did do a lot of terrible things. And making him a witch was most probably the best way to have him atone for these."
"He looked so upset, Prue…I just hope that he'll see it that way…and not just as a cruel joke on him."
"Do you want me to scry for him? Now that he's a witch, I'd probably find him."
"No need, he'll come back to me."
Then she stopped her watch and helped Prue finish the cleaning.
1 Part II
It was a glorious morning at the Halliwell manor. The girls and Leo were at the table eating their breakfast and talking animatedly. Phoebe, who had been so quiet for a while, was now making plans for the day and smiled happily.
Prue noticed:
"Well Phoebe, it's good to see you so happy, I must say."
Piper added:
"It really is, Phoebe…for a while there, we thought you were a goner."
Phoebe, a little cooled off, became more serious and said:
"I'm so happy now… but I know I was a pain to all of you. I'm sorry."
Prue extended her hands toward her and affectionately took Phoebe's in hers:
"It's ok sweetie, we understood. But enough serious talk for now… You should be happy. That's all we need from you."
The smile returned to Phoebe's lips. And so did her animation.
"Ok then, what's the plan?"
Leo and the others stared at her in puzzlement.
Phoebe pursued for them:
"How will I jug his memory? What else? I need my man back before he becomes a father and doesn't even know it."
Leo, always the reasonable one, commented:
"I don't think you should rush anything, Phoebe."
Phoebe questioned impatiently:
"What did the Elders say, exactly?"
"Well they said, you know, just like doctors say. It could be sudden or it could take time. The bottom line is that they really aren't sure. They never faced such a situation before. The only thing they're sure about is that it should mostly come from him. The weight of those memories will still be a burden for him… demon or not, it's his past."
Phoebe's mood darkened suddenly:
"About the baby…" She hesitated a long moment.
"Are they sure he's human."
Leo uttered reassuringly:
"I told you already. They're certain of it. You've got nothing to worry about anymore."
Phoebe's smile returned timidly.
"I know what you've told me… but for the last year, every time I've been happy something terrible has happened to destroy it. I don't think I can take much more of this."
Prue was about to say something encouraging, but she stopped herself when she noticed Cole coming in.
"Good morning!"
At this, they all turned toward him at once, wondering if he heard any of what they'd said. However, Cole didn't give any sign of it, although he seemed perplexed and distracted. After a fashion, he responded to their good mornings, and then Piper offered to serve him breakfast.
Once he was seated, Leo asked the question that was on everybody's lips.
"Something the matter?"
Cole answered in a somewhat sarcastic manner:
"You mean, besides the fact that I can't even remember my name?"
Then realizing he'd been too abrupt, he apologized and continued in a softer tone of voice, although no less perplexed:
"This morning the strangest thing happened. I don't even know if I should tell you. You're all gonna say I'm crazy. I'm not even sure myself."
Phoebe encouraged him to continue:
"You can tell us. Don't worry we won't think anything like that."
Cole gave her a dubious look.
"Wait until you heard. Then, maybe you'll change your mind."
No matter, he still told them what had happened,
"Well, this morning I wanted to shave, but I couldn't find any shaving kit. I was about to ask you about it," Cole said while turning toward Phoebe again, "when I looked back and there it was…"
Phoebe asked him in puzzlement:
"What?"
"The shaving kit! It had appeared on the counter, as if by magic …"
The others exchanged concerned glances, but quickly caught themselves, as Leo whipped an explanation for Cole:
"I'm sure that Phoebe brought the shaving kit at the same time as your clothes last night…didn't you Phoebe?"
Phoebe replied precipitously:
"Yes of course, you must've just missed it and then found it. No biggie."
Cole eyed them both guardedly. Then he answered:
"Yes… I suppose I might've… I mean, what other explanation could there be?"
"None really," Phoebe responded a little too quickly again.
Then she went on:
"By the way, for your other concern, we think you do have a name now."
He gave her a hopeful look.
Phoebe handed him a wallet that she had kept in her bedroom, while telling him that the police found it at the scene after all.
Again he seems very perplexed and somewhat suspicious as well.
"Why would they give it to you?"
Taken aback, Phoebe quickly thought about it and replied:
"Well not to me… they gave it to Piper. When they showed it to her, she recognized your picture and told them that she'd take care of giving it back to you."
Cole looked at Piper in turn with the same dubiousness.
"The police just… gave it to you?"
Piper was annoyed at having to lie, but she still went along:
"Well we've got a friend who's a detective and he trusts us implicitly…"
Cole was not entirely convinced still, but he decided to drop it for the time being. He still added:
"I see…"
Opening the wallet, he simply stated his name unemotionally:
"Cole Turner."
Phoebe questioned eagerly:
"Does that ring a bell?"
"Not at all! I recognize the picture, but I feel like I'm looking into a stranger's personal stuff."
Phoebe couldn't help showing some disappointment at this. However, again she repressed her worries to say: "No matter, I'm sure you'll remember soon..."
Later in the sunroom, Phoebe and Cole were alone and he turned toward her hesitantly.
"There was something else I didn't mention this morning. Somehow I thought I could talk to you about it."
Immediately alerted, Phoebe questioned:
"Yes, anything!"
"So here goes… this morning I got another strange dream…"
"And?"
"Well," Cole pursued uneasily, "I found myself in a field, as if looking through someone else's eyes. You know like I was there but not myself."
Phoebe simply nodded in acquiescence and kept silent.
"Then I felt the rage that this other person felt," Cole continued. "It was overwhelming. Then, we, it's the only way I can describe it, moved off the field and we found ourselves looking at this very house. It happened like in a flash. I couldn't remember walking there… but of course, you know how dreams are. As we were watching this place, his rage became totally focused on the people inside. I felt such disgust… more than this, it scared me somewhat. I think that's what woke me up."
Unable to contain her emotions, Phoebe stood up abruptly and turned away from him, trying to hide her true feelings from Cole. Nevertheless it didn't fool him.
"I'm sorry, I've obviously upset you."
Regaining her control at great efforts, Phoebe looked back with a reassuring expression, while inwardly she was still filled with dread.
"No, it's not you. You know pregnant women," she added with a weak smile; "we're all emotional about little things."
Cole appeared to accept this, so Phoebe continued:
"I must say… that was a strange dream. But maybe it's just frustration you're feeling that expressed itself in a nightmare?"
Cole was still unsure but he answered non-commitally:
"I suppose."
Then he hesitated a moment longer, as if about to ask something. He had apparently dismissed it, but Phoebe saw his hesitation and she questioned him about it.
"Was there something else?"
"Well, it's a little personal, and I don't wanna intrude…
His response confused Phoebe.
"What are you talking about?"
"Well," Cole hesitated some more, then he blurted:
"Where's the father?" He was staring at her belly while asking this and then he looked up quickly before adding:
"If you don't wanna talk about it, I'll understand."
"It's alright, he…. He left me a short while ago… for reasons out of his control." Phoebe added defensively when she saw his expression darkening.
Cole stared at her uncertainly for a few more seconds, and then he said:
"I'm sorry again, I don't know why, but I needed to ask you this. It's one more of those impulses I can't understand," he said sheepishly.
Phoebe reassured him while a sweet smile spread her lips:
"That's ok, I don't mind. It doesn't seem as bad now as it did then." Phoebe could hardly contain herself.
He extended his hand toward her almost instinctively.
"May I?"
She answered softly:
"Of course!" Then she took a step toward him, closing the gap between them.
The moment he touched her, the baby seemed to jump inside her. This brought a bright smile on Phoebe's face, and as she looked up, she could see that Cole had sensed it as well and had a similar reaction. He felt a peace that he had not really expected.
Time seemed suspended, and for a moment they leaned toward each other as if they were about to kiss. However, Cole pulled back suddenly with embarrassment, breaking the moment.
Without a word, he let his hand falling to his side and went passed her toward the window.
As she found herself facing away from him, Phoebe let her disappointment show, as she felt tears coming again. However, she quickly regained her countenance and went to him, stopping a few feet behind him. He was looking out and breathing a little too fast.
Phoebe finally asked:
"What is it?"
"You're going to think it's stupid… but for a moment there I was jealous of that man."
This startled Phoebe and she opened her mouth to say something but he didn't give her the chance.
"I mean," Cole pursued quickly, "we don't know each other…I mean except for those dreams…and I have no right to judge…"
Phoebe interrupted warily:
"Just what are you talking about?"
Cole turned halfway toward her, obviously still embarrassed and nervous.
"Your child's father…the fact that he left you… it also makes me angry.
I know that's weird. But I just can't imagine why he would've left you. I couldn't have."
Phoebe's features softened considerably and she smiled knowingly:
"Like I told you, he didn't have a choice then, but," and then, she hesitated only slightly, "I've got a feeling that he'll be back soon."
When he wasn't answering she added regretfully:
"I've got to have a talk with my sisters about something. Would you like to take a drive later? Who knows… maybe seeing something familiar could trigger your memories?"
Distractedly, he nodded in the affirmative and Phoebe went on her way.
The moment she had left, he stared the way she had gone with an intense longing, even though he believed that he shouldn't.
In the kitchen, Phoebe found her sisters relaxing. She didn't give them a moment to think and began talking animatedly.
"I think we've got a problem."
Prue and Piper were immediately alerted, while Phoebe continued.
"I've got to talk to Leo first."
Then she proceeded to call for Leo without waiting for her sisters' consensus.
Almost immediately, Leo orbed in as if he had expected her call.
Without even asking why they did, he uttered anxiously:
"Something's wrong."
"I was just about to tell you the same thing. Me first, ok?"
Phoebe didn't even give him the time to agree before she added:
"I think that Cole's been having visions of something evil lurking around the house."
They all turned toward her at once, giving her their full attention.
"He told me that he had a very disturbing dream last night… where he sensed he was inside someone else, and that person was feeling pure hatred for us.
He didn't see who that was, but he was certain that we were the objects of his rage."
Prue couldn't help questioning somberly:
"Are you sure that he wasn't talking about himself?"
Phoebe exploded angrily:
"PRUE!"
Leo got their attention by uttering firmly:
"Stop you two!"
Then, he went on more soberly:
"I think that my news is very much related to yours, Phoebe. The Elders have received some disturbing info. When they separated Cole from his demon form, they left the demon intact where he was… now it'd seem that the Source figured out what they did and went one up on them."
The three women didn't need more to understand the implication of this revelation. This combined with Cole's strange connection to the evil, which was coming their way, sufficed to convince them that they were facing a new crisis.
Leo continued after he saw that the news sank in:
"The Elders suggested that you prepared the vanquishing potion on the double. They're convinced that Belthazor won't wait very long before he attacks. Without his human side to guide him, they think he's gonna use brute force rather than subtlety… and the worse part is that we don't even know which powers he retained during the separation."
About this, Phoebe had an idea:
"From what Cole told me of his vision, I think he's the one who can shimmer…"
Leo became more agitated at this, his eyes darting around nervously.
"That means he could be here at any moment." He added uselessly, as the girls had surmised as much with dread.
They all looked around anxiously while half expecting to see the demon showing up right then and there.
Leo shook them out of it when he added:
"One more thing, they suggested we keep Cole and Belthazor away from each other. Their encounter might have unexpected results."
Phoebe responded with more assurance:
"I'm way ahead of you. If you two can prepare for the demon," she told Piper and Prue, "I've already arranged a drive around town with Cole. I suggested it to help him remember, but it'd work out fine to get him away from here, wouldn't it?"
"Yes you're right," Leo approved, "it's a good idea. But maybe we shouldn't lose any more time."
Nodding in the affirmative, they all went to their respective tasks.
Later, while Piper and Prue were hard at work on the potion:
"Oh god, I have a bad feeling about all this." Piper said as she threw an ingredient in the cauldron and the mixture flared.
"So do I," Prue answered in an unaccustomed worried manner. "That demon just keeps coming back to us one way or the other. I'm beginning to think he's gonna be the end of us."
"Prue, you're scaring me," Piper exclaimed while eyeing her sister anxiously. "You're usually so confident. I rely on you to give me courage, not Goosebumps."
"You must admit it's uncanny how every time we think that he's dead or gone for good, he chooses that moment to show up."
"I know, I know… All the more reason to hurry preparing this potion," Piper added nervously. "Who knows, this time might be the charmed?" She said again in an attempt at humor, "No pun intended."
Neither one laughed however… instead, they both redoubled their efforts.
In the car, Phoebe was at the wheel, while trying her very best to keep Cole in the dark about her worries. Nevertheless, he finally let her know that she wasn't succeeding when he asked:
"Phoebe, is something the matter?"
Innocently enough, she answered:
"No…why?"
"Ever since we left the house, you barely said two words and you're constantly looking around as if you were expecting something to happen at any moment."
Phoebe gave him an annoyed look then. He'd always known how to read her like a book.
Cole asked:
"Does it have anything to do with what I told you this morning?"
Alerted, Phoebe questioned:
"Why do you say that?"
Cole hesitated:
"Well… just as we were leaving the house, I got the feeling that somebody was observing us. It was very fleeting, but for an instant I felt just like in my dream."
Hearing this sent a chill down Phoebe' spine and she decided to throw caution to the wind. She was now convinced that Belthazor might very well have been waiting for Cole to go out before making his move. Although she feared what might happen to Cole, she also had to think of her sisters, who might very well need the power of three soon in order to finally vanquish the demon.
Without a word of explanation to her passenger, she turned at the next intersection and set out to return home.
In front of the manor, in a shadowed hiding place, Belthazor had observed the car going away with mixed feelings. He had also felt the strange duality. However, unlike Cole, he knew exactly what it was. Now that he had finally gotten rid of his weak human side, the demon felt stronger than ever. His rage at those people was only equaled by the desire for revenge on Cole himself. He was convinced that his former human half had saddled him all his life and made him not only weak, but also an outcast in his own world.
When he had sensed the human grasp on him, and even if had only been for a fleeting moment, it had exacerbated his rage anew. He was now even more determined to get his revenge as he observed the Manor for signs of trouble.
When he was certain that he could safely make his move, he started slowly toward the house. Belthazor was still wary of a trap, as these witches had often thwarted him, even when Cole was there with all his smarts to make the plans. Still, seeing nothing suspicious however, he shimmered out and reappeared in the dark living room. He stood there for a moment, listening to the noises coming from the kitchen. No one seemed to have noticed his arrival.
He was about to go toward the kitchen when a sound coming from the street stopped him.
A car was coming to a halt and he almost immediately felt the now familiar sensation that alerted him to Cole's presence nearby. Instinctively, he threw himself against the wall and lied in wait…
Outside, Cole stopped short in the driveway. Phoebe turned toward him in wonderment. Before she could ask him about it, he whispered warily:
"It's here."
"What is?"
As she was awaiting his response, she noticed the change in his expression. He appeared intensely surprised at first, and then he soon became horrified.
Inside Cole's mind, a wall had just been shattered. All his memories were flooding back, starting with his father being killed in front of him all those years ago, with visions of horrible crimes that he committed, the thoughts of which made him sick to his stomach. He remembered his deal with the Source, the witches, Phoebe. The latter finished flooring him "Oh Phoebe." Tears ran down his cheeks at this point.
This more than anything else had Phoebe fearing for him. Cole was now shivering all over and he let himself fall to the ground heavily. Head down, he seemed crushed under an unbelievable weight until the memory of his death returned. At that moment, he uttered a weak:
"How?"
With a shaky voice, Phoebe asked:
"What?"
"I was dead. I AM dead. I can't be here!"
Phoebe wanted to tell him all, but her worries about Belthazor were more pressing at the moment:
"Cole, I don't have time to explain now. If we don't act, he's gonna kill us all."
Cole fought the urge to fall back to the ground while questioning:
"Who will kill us?"
Seeing that he didn't understand, Phoebe replied pointedly:
"You!"
At first, he just stared at her with a blank expression. Then he felt the pang of anger again coursing through him, and he finally understood. Not losing any more time, he got up, grabbed Phoebe's arm and pushed her toward the back of the house.
Phoebe protested but he told her that Belthazor was waiting for them in the front. They came rushing through the back door and they found Piper and Prue putting the last touch to the potion, thankfully unharmed. The sisters did not bother to ask what was happening as it was pretty obvious that something has changed in Cole's attitude. They could also very much surmise that it had to do with his other half.
Cole simply said:
"Be prepared, he's coming."
The girls rapidly huddled and started reciting the spell that would bind the potion. However, before they could complete the chant, the door seemed to explode inwardly and Belthazor entered the kitchen. For what seemed like an eternity, but really only lasted a few seconds, both sides observed the other. Cole moved slowly in front of the girls as Belthazor was growling at him. They all seemed to be waiting to see who was gonna make the first move. This hesitation almost cost Cole his life as the demon suddenly attacked and threw an energy ball in his direction. Prue managed to deflect the fireball just in time, while Cole sent a lightning bolt at the demon, which hit him in the chest. Indeed the demon was thrown back toward the hallway, but he was barely affected by the hit. He started toward the kitchen almost immediately and when the sisters understood that it was now or never, they quickly finished the chant that they had started.
Instinctively Cole stepped away from the cauldron, as he was suddenly aware that it might have an effect on him as well. The demon attacked again, this time in the direction of the sisters, who plunged behind the counter in the nick of time. Seeing that he finally had a slight advantage, Cole jumped at the demon and threw him against the wall.
Belthazor lost his balance and fell hard to the floor.
Cole then screamed to the witches:
"Now!" Then he stepped back in a hurry, even as Prue tkd the whole potion over the demon. For an instant, it seemed that he would successfully escape, as he began shimmering, but to no avail. He soon was engulfed in a ball of flames and thankfully burned up for good this time. Or so they really hoped…
At the same time Cole felt an intense heat coursing through him, and then it just stopped. He took a few deep breaths, barely believing that they were all ok.
Prue finally uttered:
"Well this time, there was no mistake!" She cast a knowing look toward Phoebe, and then Cole. Phoebe was about to reply but she stopped herself and smiled warily.
Meanwhile, Cole was still staring at the smoldering rests of his former half, trying to figure out if he has any feeling on the matter.
Then he realized something that had not occurred to him until that moment.
To no one in particular, he asked:
"Since when do mortals have powers?"
Leo, who was just orbing, was also the one to answer:
"It's true that you're human now, but you're also a witch."
On Cole's face was a mix of total surprise and incredulity.
After a moment he just said:
"I'm gonna need a little time alone." Then he turned his back on them and went out without another word.
The sisters look at each other with some apprehension at first, but then they remembered what had just happened. Piper and Prue smiled first, then Leo. Phoebe gave a long look toward the door but she stayed with them and simply listened to their victory banter.
After a little while and a lot of cleaning, Prue noticed that Phoebe was again watching the door and getting more anxious for each moment that passed.
"Phoebe?"
"Yes," Phoebe answered distractedly.
"He's gonna be ok, you'll see."
"How can you be so sure?"
Then Phoebe pursued:
"It was one thing to reject his old ways for me, but now to have become the hunted himself…"
"You know," Prue replied, "I don't want you to think that I resent him or anything… it's in the past now. But he did do a lot of terrible things. And making him a witch was most probably the best way to have him atone for these."
"He looked so upset, Prue…I just hope that he'll see it that way…and not just as a cruel joke on him."
"Do you want me to scry for him? Now that he's a witch, I'd probably find him."
"No need, he'll come back to me."
Then she stopped her watch and helped Prue finish the cleaning.