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.