Body The Battle Wanes Near

Piper slowly led Phoebe down the staircase and into the living room. "Sit down, Phoebe." She quietly coaxed her sister. "How are you feeling, honey?" Piper continued, waiting long enough for Phoebe to catch her breath between long uncontrollable sobs.

"Piper, I don't know what to do. I can't see. I can't be blind. Please say it isn't so." Phoebe's breath was still catching as she tried to be brave, but failed. She was scared; more scared than she had been before.

Piper knew that there was nothing she could say to Phoebe. She had never had to face blindness. That words would just rang hollow, so instead Piper turned her despair outward. Crying aloud, she cried for the one person who she knew could help her. "Leo! Leo, if you can hear me, please, please help us."

It seemed like eternity, but Leo slowly appeared. "Leo, she's blind. You got to help her, please," cries Piper.

As Leo slowly turns to Phoebe, his voice radiates warm and comfort to her. "Phoebe, sit back and relax. I will see what I can do." Slowly, his index finger and thumb lay gently on her eyes. Radiant ambers of light came forth.

Slowly, Phoebe eyes begin to open. "I can see. This is wonderful. You are the most beautiful man in the world, Leo." Phoebe exclaimed exuberantly. Elated, Phoebe begins to have another thought. "I guess that demon, monster or whatever it was, isn't as powerful as he thinks he is. Leo was able to heal me and Prue will be alright too."

"Wait a minute, Phoebe. Leo's healing seem too easy," Piper cautioned. "Sorry Leo. I know you have quite a few powers. But this thing could have easily prevented your powers from working if it wanted to."

"Phoebe, I'm afraid Piper's right. I couldn't have healed you unless it was meant to happen. He had to want me to heal you or at least let me do it." Leo stated sullenly,

"Then for what purpose did it serve to blind me in the first place?" But as soon as Phoebe made the statement, she knew her answer. "It was a ploy, wasn't it? Was it to get you here to help me and possible trap you as well?"

Thinking that her sister might be right, Piper started to cry. "I'm sorry, so sorry Leo, I didn't know."

"Sh, Piper. Leo whispered, trying to comfort Piper. Leo slowly led Piper to the coach beside the still sitting Phoebe. "I don't think that is the reason why Phoebe was blinded." he started out slowly.

"Then why?" asked Phoebe.

Before Leo could answer, another voice broke through to the sisters. "Prue", it stated quietly. "It was for Prue." Turning around, the girls saw Andy standing in the doorway.

"It knew that Prue would come to save her sisters. Prue would be here at all costs. Turning to Leo, Andy angrily "How stupid we were; we should have known. We should have taken that into consideration."

Leo shot Andy a look of despair. Andy was revealing too much. Piper and Phoebe are smart. Leo just prayed that they didn't catch all of what Andy was saying or thought that maybe his words were the ramblings of a despondent lover.

With immediate realization, Phoebe sprung from the couch "What are you talking about? Consideration for what? You knew about Prue, didn't you Leo. You know she is going to die. How long have you known? Why didn't you tell us? Why haven't you tried to protect her, to protect us, why?" Phoebe begin her tirade of questions

"Yes, I knew Phoebe, Piper." Leo started out, exhaling sharply before continuing. "I am here to protect both of you. There is nothing I can do about Prue."

"I thought your job was to protect the innocent?" Piper cut in. "Prue is an innocent. Why can't you save her?"

"Listen, Piper, Phoebe. There are many things beyond my control and there are sometimes higher dictates than our own personal wants and desires. Then Leo laid out his final blow. "Prue is going to die. There is nothing you nor I can do about it. It has to be."

Phoebe would not be placated. "What possible purpose could Prue's death serve?"

Tiredly, Leo stated bleakly. "This is something I can't explain. Please believe me if there was another way, I would help you fight to save her. But my job is to see that you two are not hurt."

This time it was Piper's whose anger flared. "We don't want your help, Leo. Get out. I never want to see you again."

"No, Piper I will not leave you." Leo stated reassuringly. In time, you will understand why Prue must die. But for now, I will be here to make sure you are not harmed and hopefully if you let me, help you get through Prue's death.

All Piper could do was stare bleakly at Leo. Was this the man she once loved? she thought. How could he let her sister be killed so easily? No, she decided, once she saved her sister's life she would never speak to him again.

Prue was in the taxi, praying that her sisters would be all right, that no further harm would come to them, before she could get to them. She would told the taxi to floor it in that she was in a hurry. Taking one look at the disshelved, gravely looking Prue, the taxi driver did. Prue arrived at the house in fifteen minutes.

Paying the taxi driver, she slowly walked up to the porch of Halliwell Manor. At the door, she paused. She had the strange feeling that if she opened that door and walked in, she would never be coming out. Despite her fears, her sisters were in there and she needed to protect them. She turned the door knob, opened the door and walked in.

The Battle Approaches

"Piper! Phoebe!" she shouted upon entering. Both her sisters came toward her. Phoebe was walking fast with no evidence that she was having any difficulty seeing where she was going.

Both sisters pulled her into a tender embrace. They both remembered the horrible burns on her arms. Piper was the first to break the embrace. "Prue. For Pete Sake's what are you doing here?"

Prue was oblivious to the concern in Piper's voice. Prue had one thing on her mind. She looked worriedly at her youngest sister; secretly praying everything was all right.

Sensing what her sister was thinking, Phoebe stated. " I'm okay, Prue. Leo healed me. I can see."

A flash of relief came across Prue's face. At that same time, Prue felt queasy and a little unsteady on her feet.

Looking at her sister, Piper could see that Prue was very tired. Prue's face was an off green and she looked like she was barely able to stand. Piper gently took her sister's arm and led her to the couch. "Your too sick to be out of bed. Why didn't you stay in the hospital."

" I couldn't." Prue sounded tired as if she was about to go sleep. "I saw what happened to Phoebe. I had to make sure she was alright; that you both were alright."

"We're fine, honey." Phoebe answered. Looking into her sister's face, she could see a haunted look. Her sister's eyes had dark rings around them and it was obvious that she hadn't slept. " I think you need to get some rest." Prue lend her head back on the couch. "I will stay here with you while you get some sleep." Phoebe gently stated as she stroked her sister's hair, hoping that Prue would get some sleep.

Only a couple of hours had passed when Prue was awaken from sleep. Her sisters had not left her side. Sometime during her sleep, Leo had appeared and was also in the room waiting. No one was saying anything. At first she thought it was that they didn't want to wake her up. However, she could sense more. The tension in the air was almost unbearable. Peering around she could see anger, no more like hatred in Piper's eyes, aimed at Leo. "Piper," she stated weakly. "What's wrong?"

Her sister quickly answered, "Nothing is wrong, go back to sleep."

Leo was now angry. He was angry with Piper for not trusting him. He was anger at himself because he was helpless to act the way Piper and Phoebe wanted him to. His anger burst forth. "Don't lie to her Piper. She has a right to know. Wouldn't you want to know?"

"Know what. What aren't you guys telling me? What should I know?" Prue quickly asked.

Cutting through the argument, Prue heard a familiar voice. Slowly Prue became aware of overabounding love. The presence of love begin to grow and grow. .

A smile lit Prue's face as she recognized the figures in front of her. For in front of her, Prue saw her mother and grandmother. "Mother, Grams, how I have missed you. I tried to protect Piper and Phoebe, but I have lead this monster into our home," sobbed Prue. She embraced them not bashful of the emotions she felt as tears rolled down her face.

"Sh. my dear. Your sisters will be alright," consoled her mother. Deciding that she must know the truth, her mother started quietly to tell Prue. "Honey, I have something I would like to talk to you about."

"No" came a voice from behind Prue. Turning around, Prue saw the one man she knew she would always love, no matter what others may come into her life. "I will tell Prue." Turning to Phoebe and Piper, but addressing the question to all in the room, Andy asked, "Will you please excuse us? I feel this should done in private."

Mother, Gram and Leo faded out. Piper and Phoebe left the living room to wait in the kitchen while Andy gently told Prue.

"Prue, I don't know where to begin." Andy hesitated.

"Just tell me Andy. We promised each other no more secrets, remember," Prue prompted.

"Yes, Prue you are right. I guess the best way to say it is be truthful. I am sorry Prue. You know I love you and don't want to see you or your sisters hurt in any way. But Prue, soon, very soon, your sisters will be harmed greatly. They will experience the one thing they never wanted to see." Andy paused, but he knew he must continue. "They will see you die, tonight."

Before Prue could respond, before she could utter one word at all, the front door open. A cold chill came upon the room as the lights started to flicker on and off, foretelling of the ominous battle to come. Then, he appeared.

"Prue, my darling, you acted exactly as I knew you would. You would be your sisters' Protector. Finally, I have you all in one place. Let the battle begin!" he declared.