"Piper, I swear to God! Your food, especially this Creme Brulee, is almost orgasmic!" Phoebe exclaimed as she took another spoonful. Prue nodded in agreement, but continued eating instead of talking. Piper smiled.
"Well, I am just glad I was there to fulfill your sexual needs, Phoebe," Piper laughed. Phoebe and Prue giggled.
"You know, if someone had walked in on that little excerpt of this conversation, it would sound very very very bad," Prue said.
"Trust me. It did." Leo had walked into the kitchen, his presence turning the sisters' faces red with embarrassment. Piper started to explain, but he held up his hands to stop her. "I don't think I want to know."
"How long have you been standing there?" Phoebe asked with a hint of amusement.
"Long enough," Leo retorted, trying to act disgusted but it just came off as though he was constipated. Piper laughed at him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"Do you want some?" Piper said, but instantly regretted it. She had meant the Creme Brulee, but she knew her gutter-minded sisters would take it the wrong way. Her intuition was right.
"Jeez Piper, wait until you get in the bedroom for God's sake!" Phoebe giggled. Leo shook his head with a grin.
"No, I don't want any Creme Brulee. I can only be here a few minutes before I have to leave again. It's total chaos 'up there' and I want to know why."
"Well, if you are only going to be here for a few minutes, we had better 'give you some' quickly..." Piper said and wrapped her arms around Leo. They started to kiss, soon forgetting that Phoebe and Prue were still in the room. Finally, the constant lip smacking noises got to Prue.
"You know, if this Creme Brulee wasn't so good, I'd throw up!"
"Well, too bad. You're just going to have to watch!" Piper exclaimed and returned to kissing Leo.
After a few minutes of kissing and listening to Prue and Phoebe's wise cracks, Leo heard the little chimes that signaled the request of his presence 'up there'. He gave Piper one more quick kiss.
"I have to go; 'they're' calling," he said reluctantly. Piper frowned.
Are you coming back later tonight?" she asked. Leo nodded and orbed out. She walked back over to her sisters who were finishing up their bowls of Creme Brulee.
"That was just like one of those corny romance novels," Phoebe pretended to gag. Piper laughed.
"Where's your man?" she asked, trying to change the subject.
"I'm meeting him later tonight," Phoebe responded. She knew her sister was trying to get the subject off topic so she decided to bring it back. "You see, I have the decency to make out somewhere other than in front of my sisters."
"Since when?" Prue retorted sarcastically. Phoebe playfully smacked her oldest sister. They continued on with their antics as they helped Piper clean up.
"Let's go shopping!" Phoebe blurted out unexpectantly.
"What time is it?" asked Prue.
"Its only 6 o'clock. Cole's not picking me up until 9 o'clock so we have plenty of time. Come on, even if we have to limit it to window- it would be a perfect ending to a great meal," she said, nodding to 'Chef' Piper.
"Oh, OK," Prue said reluctantly and stood up, rubbing her full, though flat stomach. Phoebe squealed in delight and went to go get her purse. Piper took off her apron and they all got ready to leave.
* * * * * * * * * *
As always, when the sisters got to the mall, they all wanted to go to different places; Phoebe wanted to go look at shoes, Prue wanted to look at outfits and photography supplies, and Piper wanted to look for cooking utensils and a new outfit to wear to P3.
"I suggested this little trip!" Phoebe argued, "So we have to go to the shoe shops first."
"I don't want to look for shoes," Prue shrugged. Phoebe started to get abnormally angry.
"Fine, you go and look for your little outfit. Its not like you have enough!" Phoebe started. "How about you Piper?"
Piper gave her an awkward smile. "Well, I did want to go and look for a new outfit too and go to the cooking store..." she answered sheepishly. Piper hated to get dragged in the middle of these fights between her sisters.
Phoebe sighed in disappointment and anger. "Fine. You two go and look at your pretty little clothes. I am going by myself." Phoebe turned and stormed down the sidewalk of the mall towards the shoe section. The two remaining sisters looked at each other and shrugged. It was no big deal...
* * * * * * * * * *
But it was a big deal to Phoebe. She knew she had been overly stubborn and should have at least told her sisters of the premonition she had as she grabbed her purse at the manor, but she couldn't help herself. Once she had lost sight of her sisters on the sidewalk, Phoebe realized the trouble she was really in. Her premonition had been of someone grabbing her from behind, somewhere in the mall.
'Well,' she though, 'I will just have to avoid situations like that and tell them later.'
Phoebe walked into about three different shoe shops without any problems, but that all changed when she was at the forth, buying these cute little black heels that would go with her favorite dress (actually it was Prue's, but she always borrowed it). As she was walking out of that store with her purchase, Phoebe heard a scream from around the corner in a little alley. Without thinking, Phoebe ran towards the source of the scream.
When she got there, a young woman with darkish blonde hair was on the ground with some guy straddling her- restraining her hands with his hand and covering her mouth with his other. Phoebe knew she had to act fast.
"Hey! Asshole! Get your damn hands off her!" Phoebe yelled at him, but still kept her distance. It was times like these when she wished she had an active power like her sisters other than levitation- it did nothing for her in these types of situations. The man turned, startled, and glared at Phoebe. She tried to memorize his face and general build so she could tell the police later- one thing she learned in New York.
Suddenly, the man rolled off the woman, picked her up, and threw her against the brick wall. She fell to the ground in an unconscious heap. Before it could register in Phoebe's head what was happening, the man ran forward and grabbed Phoebe, pulling her against him and covering her mouth with his grimey hand. She could smell his sweat and dirtiness... could hear his heavy breathing and grunts as she fought against him... could see the sidewalk get smaller and smaller as he took her deeper into the alley. He fought her to the ground, positioning her the same way he did the other woman- with her hands held over her head with one of his hands and her mouth covered with his other hand. Phoebe could hardly breath because his hand was partly covering her nose as well as her mouth and all of his weight was on her chest where he was straddling. Her vision had just started to blur when he took his hand off her mouth. She tried to take a deep breath, but quickly found she could only take short, unsatisfying gasps.
"OK you little slut, don't you scream now," he barked at her. He grabbed in his pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a leather belt and handkerchief. Phoebe's eyes grew wide in fear and her mouth opened to emit a scream, but he slapped down his hand back over her mouth. She could taste the blood pour into her mouth.
"Don't you fucking scream you little bitch. It'll hurt more if you do," he said gruffly and hesitantly took his hand away from her mouth when she nodded to say that she would comply. He proceeded to strap her wrists together with the belt and attached them the large garbage bin behind her. Then he stuffed the handkerchief into her mouth, saying, "Just incase." Phoebe just closed her eyes. What else could she do? In the darkness of her mind, she could hear the unmistakable sound of a zipper being unzipped and the snap of a pair of jeans being unsnapped. Phoebe could feel the shift of his weight as he struggled to remove his pants; as he struggled to remove hers. The rough cement scraped her lower back and legs. She opened her eyes and stared up into the night sky, being careful not to look anywhere near her attacker and soon to be rapist. Just as she spotted a shooting star, a shooting pain filled her as he made his first thrust. The pain shot through her like a burning heat, and even though she shut her eyes, she could still see the stars; though these stars were pain enduced and dotted the darkness of her eyelids. Phoebe moaned in pain which only enticed the man even more. He moved faster and harder now. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried to think of anything except the escrutiating pain, but it couldn't be pushed away.
Phoebe turned her head sideways and noticed she could still see the street and sidewalk she had been walking on what seemed like an eternity ago. She felt herself start to fantasize about seeing her sisters walking on that street, them seeing her, and running to help. But her dream was cut short as her attacker ripped open her blouse and tore off her bra. She again tried to push what exactly he was horribly doing to her, but there was nothing that could keep her from feeling the full brunt of the pain and the rush of emotions.
Though she didn't think he could, her attacker thrust faster and rougher, his dirty hands all over her. Phoebe could hear him breath very heavy, almost straining to get enough air to satisfy him as he worked so hard to rape her. It was then she realized she had been holding her breath. She let it out and tried to breath normally, but her chest heaved and she couldn't seem to get any air in.
Phoebe basically, at that point, had given up all hope that she would survive. Both Phoebe and her attacked knew she had saw and memorized his face; it would only be an unnecessary risk to let her live. With that in mind, she started to think of everyone close to her that she would never see again. She started to think of Prue... of Piper... of Cole... of Leo... What would they do? Think?
Before she could let her mind wander any more, he apparently finished and rolled off her. Phoebe suddenly had a fleeting hope- this was her chance. She painfully turned over onto her knees. Her whole lower body burned, but she bit her now fat lip and sucked up the pain. Her eyes were focused on the prize- the sidewalk. She didn't care about how her wrists were tied, or how she was almost completely naked, or about the rag in her mouth; she cared about nothing except for that sidewalk... her heaven for the moment.
Suddenly, she felt her hair being yanked back and the next thing she knew she was back on the ground and her attacker was looming over her.
"Where the hell do you think you're going you little slut?!" he said, still gasping for air. Phoebe shook her head, not knowing how to respond. It was then he started to beat her. "We... have... to... make... sure... you... don't... talk... don't... we?!" he said between hits and punches. Phoebe's vision went blurry and the last thing she saw was his face looking into her eyes; a face that would haunt her until she died. She just hoped that that peace in death would come soon.
* * * * * * * * * *
Prue finally was able to drag Piper out of the culinary shop. It was 8:30pm.
"My God, Piper! And you say I was bad when it came to shopping?! Look at you! You spent over an hour in there!"
Piper grinned and raised her eyebrows. "I know I should have stayed longer," she said jokingly. Prue playfully hit her, but then turned a bit more serious.
"Where do you think Phoebe is? Should we go looking for her to give her a ride home or do you think she already walked there, being the stubborn sister she is?"
Piper shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe we should go and take a quick look around near the general vicinity of the shoe shops and... No, wait!" Piper interrupted herself. "Why don't you just astrial project back to the manor. If she's there we can leave and if she's not then we look. Simple as that."
"OK," Prue said reluctantly. She and Piper moved to a less conspicuous place, away from people and onlookers, and Prue astrial projected. Piper tapped her foot and critically watched her sister. After what seemed like 10 minutes, Piper saw Prue's body jerk as if she had just caught herself falling asleep.
"So?" Piper asked, but Prue held up her hand. The disorientation was always hard to deal with whenever she came back to her body after astrial projecting. After a few seconds, Prue opened her eyes.
"Sorry, but I couldn't talk right away," Prue said. "But she wasn't there. Do you want to go look?"
Piper sighed. "Yeah, I guess." They started walking towards the general direction of the shoe shops. They searched the shops for about an hour before they gave up.
"OK, I know she is stubborn, but is she really this stubborn?"
"It's Phoebe we're talking about Piper!" Prue laughed, but inside Prue was getting worried. Phoebe usually came around and found them after they got into shopping arguments, not the other way around. They kept walking until Prue felt a hand on her shoulder. Both Prue and Piper turned around and came face to face with Cole.
"Cole! What are you doing here?" Pier asked.
"Well, I was supposed to pick up Phoebe at 9, but it is almost 10 now and Phoebe isn't usually this late," he explained.
"How did you know to come here?" Prue felt her worry increase.
"Whenever I want to go somewhere by shimmering, I have to sense where I want to go or who I want to see." Cole shrugged. "I tried to sense Phoebe and where she was, but I couldn't get anything from her so I figured my best bet was to shimmer to you guys."
Prue's forehead scrunched up again. Something just wasn't right. "You know what?" she voiced her concern, "I am going to astrial project again and scribe for her. I don't have a good feeling about this." PIper and Cole nodded and they all rushed over to a quiet place for Prue to astrial project.
After a few more minutes, Prue came back and reported her findings. "I had to try it 4 times before it worked, and even then the crystal was really slow. It stopped on the mall, so I put a map of the mall down to narrow it down, but it wouldn't work at all then. Something is really wrong."
Well, then we ought to get looking," Piper said and the three of them started walking in and out of stores.
* * * * * * * * * *
Meanwhile, Phoebe was just coming to back in the alley. For one fleeting second, she forgot what had happened but realized all too soon that it wasn't just some horrible nightmare. The pain was still there, strong as ever. It was so intense that she couldn't think of anything else for a moment. Then, a thought hit her.
"Leo... Leo..." she whispered, but even she knew it wasn't loud enough. Phoebe shut her eyes and tried to open them, but found it difficult. Her eyes were so swollen that they would hardly lift again. So, instead she listened tot he sounds around her. Suddenly, there was a rustling noise to her right. Phoebe's head turned fast and she struggled hard to get her eyes opened. If it was her attacker again, she wanted to know before he could do anything more to her so she could somehow prepare. Instead of him, Phoebe barely made out with her blurry vision the first girl who she had saved start to get up from where she had been laying on the floor. She seemed to be in much better shape than Phoebe; Phoebe could at least see that much. Giving in, she closed her eyes again.
"Please," Phoebe whispered, "Help."
The woman rushed over. "Oh my God!" came her whisper. The girl didn't what to do. She started to say something else, but Phoebe stopped her with a 'ssshh'. Phoebe listened hard to the sounds of the street where she heard:
"Cole, can you try shimmering again?" It was Piper's voice!
Then Cole- "I've been trying to sense her all night! Wait! Hold on!"
What?! Do you sense her?" Prue's voice also floated to Phoebe's ears. For the first time since she had been attacked, Phoebe felt some hope flutter in her stomach and stay there. She grabbed the woman's hands.
"I can hear my sisters and boyfriend on the street. Just go out there and yell the name Prue," Phoebe whispered hurriedly. The woman shook her head in understanding and ran towards the street. Phoebe's exertion, however, left her weak. She fought consciousness as she strained to listen for her sisters.
* * * * * * * * * *
Prue, Piper, and Cole were giving up hope and gaining fear. It was 10:30 and still no sign of Phoebe.
"Cole, can you try simmering again?" Piper asked as they walked past the 4th shoe store.
"I've been trying to sense her all night!" But then he felt a tingle. "Wait! Hold on!"
"What?! Do you sense something?" Prue asked. Finally, something!
"I don't know," Cole answered. "I think so, but it wasn't strong enough to shimmer to." He hung his head in disappointment.
"Damnit!" Piper erupted and plopped down on a nearby bench, hopeless. Prue started over.
All of a sudden, a voice called out from behind them. "Prue?!" it screamed uncertainly. Prue turned around and searched for who had shouted her name. She spotted a woman who was looking all around, clueless to as what was going on except that she was looking for someone. She also noticed the woman was bleeding. Prue rushed over to her, Cole and Piper close behind.
"I'm Prue! What happened?" Prue asked, though she didn't want an answer. They had enough to deal with and didn't have time to go on demon hunts...
"Oh God. You have to come now. Your sister, uh, I don't know her name..." the woman rambled frantically. That was definitely not the answer Prue, Piper, and Cole were expecting. The woman gave up trying to speak and instead led the three to the alley where they got their first look at Phoebe.
She was laying on the ground, almost completely naked except for some torn pieces of clothing hanging from her arms- what was left of her shirt. She was bloody around her face, abdomen and legs. Her hands were tied with a belt and there was a discarded rag next to her beaten face that had obviously been a gag.
Cole shut his eyes. He couldn't take anymore. He felt bile rise in his throat and ran to the dumpster to throw up. Piper could only stare. It didn't register yet- she was still in shock. How could someone do that? Prue, on the other hand, rushed over to her baby sister.
"Phoebe, sweety, talk to me," Prue's voice cracked, but she wouldn't let herself cry. She couldn't. Phoebe mumbled a reply but Prue couldn't understand what she had said. Prue wanted to cover up her baby with something, anything; Phoebe looked to vulnerable.
"Cole. Cole!" Prue shouted. Cole slowly got up from behind the dumpster, wiping his mouth. He wouldn't look over, though.
"What?" came his shaky voice.
"Give me your jacket. We have to cover her up." Prue could feel herself start to cry, but tried relentlessly to cover it up. Cole took off his coat and threw it to Prue, who tenderly cradled Phoebe like a small child and covered her.
"Piper!" Prue said sternly. Piper jumped almost two feet into the air and looked at Prue blankly. "See if you can get Leo." Piper nodded blindly and started calling his name.
"I am going to get some help," the woman, who Prue had already forgotten about, said as she ran for the street. Piper kept calling Leo, but he did not come.
"OK, then Piper, can you help me over here?" Prue asked. Piper looked in Prue's eyes- she could see the fear. Piper walked over and knelt beside her sisters. Phoebe moved slightly and struggled to open her eyes. Though her vision was blurry, she could tell her sisters were there. Relief, like nothing she had ever felt before, washed over her and she snuggled as close as she could into her sisters arms. She finally let her guard down and allowed herself to fall asleep.
Prue and Piper noticed the addition of dead weight. "Oh God, is she-?" Piper asked, fearing the end of the question and the answer that might ensue.
"No, I think she just went to sleep," Prue answered. She had at first thought the same thought. She closed her eyes and tried to think. "OK, what should we do? Shimmer her back to the manor and wait for Leo or wait for the cops?"
But, in the distance, they could all hear the sirens of the fast approaching authorities. "That's our answer," Prue said to no one in particular.
Cole went to go stand outside the alley so that the police would know where they were. Prue and Piper rocked Phoebe back and forth between them, finally allowing themselves to cry. When the paramedics and police came, they had to work to convince Prue and Piper to let go of their baby sister, but they eventually did.
Cole, Prue, and Piper all held each other as they loaded Phoebe into the ambulance and watched with tears as they drove away. Prue was the first to look away.
"I'm calling Darryl," Prue said and broke away from the embrace.
* * * * * * * * * *
They had been sitting in the emergency room waiting area for 4 hours and Cole was ready to burst.
"What the hell?! Why can't we know anything?!" he growled. "Piper, freeze the whole damn hospital. I want to go find her."
"Cole, calm down," Prue reprimanded. Cole responded with a dirty look. "We just have to wait," Prue continued. Just then, a man, apparently a doctor with his white coat, approached them. The three stood up in anticipation.
"Are you Phoebe's family?"
Without hesitation, and before Prue and Piper could respond, Cole answered, "Yes, we are. How is she? When can we see her? And why the hell have you taken so damn long?!"
The doctor held up his hands so he could speak without interruption. He also chose to ignore the last question. "Well, Phoebe has sustained many injuries, both physically and emotionally. She has numerous abrasions and cuts on her face, lower back, legs and buttox regions. As for the complications of the rape itself, there was a lot of tearing both internally and externally, but I don't think there will be any long term damage." He paused for a second to take a breath, but Cole decided it was time to step in again with another question.
"So, you're saying she can still have children someday, right?" Both Piper and Prue stared at him. That was definitely not something they expected to come out of Cole's mouth.
The doctor nodded his head. "Yes, I believe she will. Not right now, mind you, but later when she is emotionally healed."
"Can we see her?" Piper asked. She couldn't let any of this sink in unto she could see her sister for herself. The doctor nodded again.
"Yes, she has been asking for you all. The police should be coming rather soon, however, to get a statement, so you may have to leave. But, I think that seeing you will be very good for her. I'm warning you now, though- she is very fragile and simply not the person you know right now. She's scared, ashamed, and probably very self conscious. I am no psychologist, but I have seen enough rape cases to know that she is going to blame herself and feel as though she let you all down. You just have to make sure to make her feel as safe and content as possible." He nodded yet again and led them to room 1604. "I'll leave you alone. I think she may be sleeping now, but she has been nodding on and off since she got here. Good luck," he said and walked away. Cole glared after him.
"What the hell does he mean, 'good luck'?" Cole erupted. Prue put a hand on his arm.
"Calm down or they won't let us in there," Prue chided, but knew how Cole felt. They were all scared. Prue took her hand off Cole's arm and placed it on the doorknob. She took a deep breath and heard Piper and Cole do the same. She opened the door before her nerve could fail her and stepped inside. Prue's heart lurched to her feet at the sight before her.
Phoebe looked so small in the huge white gurney. IV's littered her small arms. Prue let her eyes travel to her sister's face. Both eyes were almost swollen the whole way shut. She had a swollen lip and a few cuts and bruises on her cheeks and forehead. Her hair was still matted down with blood in areas and looked unkempt, something Phoebe would have never let it be. A tear ran down Prue's cheek. She looked behind her at Piper and Cole- both were crying also. All three of them could only stand there, helpless. An incoherent mumble from Phoebe broke them of their trance.
"Phoebe." Cole almost groaned the name as he rushed over to her side. Piper and Prue followed suit.
"Cole?" came the whisper. Phoebe started the difficult struggle to open her eyes; she had to see them.
"Yes honey, I'm here and so are Prue and Piper. We're all here. It will be OK," his voice was thick with emotion. As they crowded around her, Phoebe finally was able to open her eyes. Once she saw them all above her, Phoebe was able to let go. Her sobbing racked her frail body. Piper laid down next to her on the bed and gathered her in her arms. Prue did the same on the other side. Cole, on the other hand, went off in the room. He grabbed a chair from the corner and carried it over to the bed. Then he quickly grabbed the bed and wheeled it away from the wall, also taking care to wheel the machines and IV stands also. He wheeled them all about 3 or 4 feet from the wall, giving himself enough room to drag the chair to behind the bed. He sat, kissing Phoebe's forehead that was now upside down to him and caressing her hair.
* * * * * * * * * *
They all stayed exactly in that position for about 20 minutes until there was a light rap on the door.
"GO away," Cole yelled gruffly and went back to rubbing Phoebe's head and whispering in her ear. The door opened anyway and Cole jumped out of the chair so forcefully that it clattered and slammed against the wall. Cole could feel himself on the brink of changing into Belthazar, but used almost all of his will power to stop himself- it was only Darryl.
"Hi. How is she?" Darryl asked, oblivious to Cole's outburst.
"I'm OK," Phoebe said meekly. Darryl smiled and walked over.
"I'm glad to hear that, Phoebe. I know you had a lot of people worried about you judging from your little fan following you got yourself here." Prue moved up on her elbow so she could see Darryl better, but Phoebe freaked out.
"No! Prue!" she screamed, "Don't leave me! He'll come back!!" Prue quickly laid back down and hugged her sister. Piper and Cole moved in closer too.
"I'm not leaving, honey," Prue cried, "I will never leave you again."
"Neither will I, Phoebe," Piper added, also crying again. "And as for that guy? He will never touch you again!"
"I'll make sure of it," Cole growled.
After a few minutes, Phoebe gradually calmed down. Darryl approached them again. "Phoebe? I know this is a bad time, but if I don't do it now they'll make someone else do it, and I thought it would be better to do it since you know me. I have to ask you some questions about the incident. You have the option of either having your sisters and Cole stay or leave. It's up to you, Phoebe, but we have to do it now if you want me to do it."
Phoebe stared off into space, thinking. On one hand, she wanted them all to stay. This was the first time she felt somewhat safe and she knew she couldn't deal well without them. On the other hand, however, she did not want to face the shame and embarrassment of them hearing what had happened and how stupid she was for not listening to her premonition. As with most rape victims, Phoebe felt as though it was her fault. After a few minutes of thinking and contemplating her options, her fear won over her self-consciousness.
"They can stay," she answered in a weak voice.
"OK. Then, can we start now? The sooner we get started, the sooner it will be over," Darryl responded. Phoebe nodded her head and Darryl started asking questions. Phoebe answered each question clearly, but oddly lacking any emotion. Her eyes never wavered from some certain spot on the ceiling that must have held interest to only her. Her sisters and Cole actually got more emotional than she did. Prue actually had to leave for a few minutes which of course got Phoebe into an uproar- the only emotion she let show. As soon as Prue came back, however, Phoebe went right back to her melancholy way of answering the constant questions. Even Darryl welcomed the silence when they finished, but cringed as he remembered he had forgotten to ask something.
"I'm sorry Phoebe, but I have one more question. Did you see who did this to you? Anything you remember can help. I know you may not but-"
Phoebe cut him off. "I memorized his face and build. You may as well bring in a police artist because it would be pointless to do it any other way," she said in the same monotone voice.
"Err, OK, sure," Darryl said, surprised. Not many people were able to do that, especially not as bravely as Phoebe did. "Well, I guess that's all for now Phoebe. If there is anything else you-" he started, but stopped as Phoebe let out a moan of agony and started to sob again. The relief that the worst was over and the uncertainty of what was to come had overwhelmed her. She knew her life, and the lives of everyone around her for that matter, would never be the same again....
"Well, I am just glad I was there to fulfill your sexual needs, Phoebe," Piper laughed. Phoebe and Prue giggled.
"You know, if someone had walked in on that little excerpt of this conversation, it would sound very very very bad," Prue said.
"Trust me. It did." Leo had walked into the kitchen, his presence turning the sisters' faces red with embarrassment. Piper started to explain, but he held up his hands to stop her. "I don't think I want to know."
"How long have you been standing there?" Phoebe asked with a hint of amusement.
"Long enough," Leo retorted, trying to act disgusted but it just came off as though he was constipated. Piper laughed at him and gave him a quick peck on the cheek.
"Do you want some?" Piper said, but instantly regretted it. She had meant the Creme Brulee, but she knew her gutter-minded sisters would take it the wrong way. Her intuition was right.
"Jeez Piper, wait until you get in the bedroom for God's sake!" Phoebe giggled. Leo shook his head with a grin.
"No, I don't want any Creme Brulee. I can only be here a few minutes before I have to leave again. It's total chaos 'up there' and I want to know why."
"Well, if you are only going to be here for a few minutes, we had better 'give you some' quickly..." Piper said and wrapped her arms around Leo. They started to kiss, soon forgetting that Phoebe and Prue were still in the room. Finally, the constant lip smacking noises got to Prue.
"You know, if this Creme Brulee wasn't so good, I'd throw up!"
"Well, too bad. You're just going to have to watch!" Piper exclaimed and returned to kissing Leo.
After a few minutes of kissing and listening to Prue and Phoebe's wise cracks, Leo heard the little chimes that signaled the request of his presence 'up there'. He gave Piper one more quick kiss.
"I have to go; 'they're' calling," he said reluctantly. Piper frowned.
Are you coming back later tonight?" she asked. Leo nodded and orbed out. She walked back over to her sisters who were finishing up their bowls of Creme Brulee.
"That was just like one of those corny romance novels," Phoebe pretended to gag. Piper laughed.
"Where's your man?" she asked, trying to change the subject.
"I'm meeting him later tonight," Phoebe responded. She knew her sister was trying to get the subject off topic so she decided to bring it back. "You see, I have the decency to make out somewhere other than in front of my sisters."
"Since when?" Prue retorted sarcastically. Phoebe playfully smacked her oldest sister. They continued on with their antics as they helped Piper clean up.
"Let's go shopping!" Phoebe blurted out unexpectantly.
"What time is it?" asked Prue.
"Its only 6 o'clock. Cole's not picking me up until 9 o'clock so we have plenty of time. Come on, even if we have to limit it to window- it would be a perfect ending to a great meal," she said, nodding to 'Chef' Piper.
"Oh, OK," Prue said reluctantly and stood up, rubbing her full, though flat stomach. Phoebe squealed in delight and went to go get her purse. Piper took off her apron and they all got ready to leave.
* * * * * * * * * *
As always, when the sisters got to the mall, they all wanted to go to different places; Phoebe wanted to go look at shoes, Prue wanted to look at outfits and photography supplies, and Piper wanted to look for cooking utensils and a new outfit to wear to P3.
"I suggested this little trip!" Phoebe argued, "So we have to go to the shoe shops first."
"I don't want to look for shoes," Prue shrugged. Phoebe started to get abnormally angry.
"Fine, you go and look for your little outfit. Its not like you have enough!" Phoebe started. "How about you Piper?"
Piper gave her an awkward smile. "Well, I did want to go and look for a new outfit too and go to the cooking store..." she answered sheepishly. Piper hated to get dragged in the middle of these fights between her sisters.
Phoebe sighed in disappointment and anger. "Fine. You two go and look at your pretty little clothes. I am going by myself." Phoebe turned and stormed down the sidewalk of the mall towards the shoe section. The two remaining sisters looked at each other and shrugged. It was no big deal...
* * * * * * * * * *
But it was a big deal to Phoebe. She knew she had been overly stubborn and should have at least told her sisters of the premonition she had as she grabbed her purse at the manor, but she couldn't help herself. Once she had lost sight of her sisters on the sidewalk, Phoebe realized the trouble she was really in. Her premonition had been of someone grabbing her from behind, somewhere in the mall.
'Well,' she though, 'I will just have to avoid situations like that and tell them later.'
Phoebe walked into about three different shoe shops without any problems, but that all changed when she was at the forth, buying these cute little black heels that would go with her favorite dress (actually it was Prue's, but she always borrowed it). As she was walking out of that store with her purchase, Phoebe heard a scream from around the corner in a little alley. Without thinking, Phoebe ran towards the source of the scream.
When she got there, a young woman with darkish blonde hair was on the ground with some guy straddling her- restraining her hands with his hand and covering her mouth with his other. Phoebe knew she had to act fast.
"Hey! Asshole! Get your damn hands off her!" Phoebe yelled at him, but still kept her distance. It was times like these when she wished she had an active power like her sisters other than levitation- it did nothing for her in these types of situations. The man turned, startled, and glared at Phoebe. She tried to memorize his face and general build so she could tell the police later- one thing she learned in New York.
Suddenly, the man rolled off the woman, picked her up, and threw her against the brick wall. She fell to the ground in an unconscious heap. Before it could register in Phoebe's head what was happening, the man ran forward and grabbed Phoebe, pulling her against him and covering her mouth with his grimey hand. She could smell his sweat and dirtiness... could hear his heavy breathing and grunts as she fought against him... could see the sidewalk get smaller and smaller as he took her deeper into the alley. He fought her to the ground, positioning her the same way he did the other woman- with her hands held over her head with one of his hands and her mouth covered with his other hand. Phoebe could hardly breath because his hand was partly covering her nose as well as her mouth and all of his weight was on her chest where he was straddling. Her vision had just started to blur when he took his hand off her mouth. She tried to take a deep breath, but quickly found she could only take short, unsatisfying gasps.
"OK you little slut, don't you scream now," he barked at her. He grabbed in his pocket and pulled out what appeared to be a leather belt and handkerchief. Phoebe's eyes grew wide in fear and her mouth opened to emit a scream, but he slapped down his hand back over her mouth. She could taste the blood pour into her mouth.
"Don't you fucking scream you little bitch. It'll hurt more if you do," he said gruffly and hesitantly took his hand away from her mouth when she nodded to say that she would comply. He proceeded to strap her wrists together with the belt and attached them the large garbage bin behind her. Then he stuffed the handkerchief into her mouth, saying, "Just incase." Phoebe just closed her eyes. What else could she do? In the darkness of her mind, she could hear the unmistakable sound of a zipper being unzipped and the snap of a pair of jeans being unsnapped. Phoebe could feel the shift of his weight as he struggled to remove his pants; as he struggled to remove hers. The rough cement scraped her lower back and legs. She opened her eyes and stared up into the night sky, being careful not to look anywhere near her attacker and soon to be rapist. Just as she spotted a shooting star, a shooting pain filled her as he made his first thrust. The pain shot through her like a burning heat, and even though she shut her eyes, she could still see the stars; though these stars were pain enduced and dotted the darkness of her eyelids. Phoebe moaned in pain which only enticed the man even more. He moved faster and harder now. Silent tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried to think of anything except the escrutiating pain, but it couldn't be pushed away.
Phoebe turned her head sideways and noticed she could still see the street and sidewalk she had been walking on what seemed like an eternity ago. She felt herself start to fantasize about seeing her sisters walking on that street, them seeing her, and running to help. But her dream was cut short as her attacker ripped open her blouse and tore off her bra. She again tried to push what exactly he was horribly doing to her, but there was nothing that could keep her from feeling the full brunt of the pain and the rush of emotions.
Though she didn't think he could, her attacker thrust faster and rougher, his dirty hands all over her. Phoebe could hear him breath very heavy, almost straining to get enough air to satisfy him as he worked so hard to rape her. It was then she realized she had been holding her breath. She let it out and tried to breath normally, but her chest heaved and she couldn't seem to get any air in.
Phoebe basically, at that point, had given up all hope that she would survive. Both Phoebe and her attacked knew she had saw and memorized his face; it would only be an unnecessary risk to let her live. With that in mind, she started to think of everyone close to her that she would never see again. She started to think of Prue... of Piper... of Cole... of Leo... What would they do? Think?
Before she could let her mind wander any more, he apparently finished and rolled off her. Phoebe suddenly had a fleeting hope- this was her chance. She painfully turned over onto her knees. Her whole lower body burned, but she bit her now fat lip and sucked up the pain. Her eyes were focused on the prize- the sidewalk. She didn't care about how her wrists were tied, or how she was almost completely naked, or about the rag in her mouth; she cared about nothing except for that sidewalk... her heaven for the moment.
Suddenly, she felt her hair being yanked back and the next thing she knew she was back on the ground and her attacker was looming over her.
"Where the hell do you think you're going you little slut?!" he said, still gasping for air. Phoebe shook her head, not knowing how to respond. It was then he started to beat her. "We... have... to... make... sure... you... don't... talk... don't... we?!" he said between hits and punches. Phoebe's vision went blurry and the last thing she saw was his face looking into her eyes; a face that would haunt her until she died. She just hoped that that peace in death would come soon.
* * * * * * * * * *
Prue finally was able to drag Piper out of the culinary shop. It was 8:30pm.
"My God, Piper! And you say I was bad when it came to shopping?! Look at you! You spent over an hour in there!"
Piper grinned and raised her eyebrows. "I know I should have stayed longer," she said jokingly. Prue playfully hit her, but then turned a bit more serious.
"Where do you think Phoebe is? Should we go looking for her to give her a ride home or do you think she already walked there, being the stubborn sister she is?"
Piper shook her head. "I don't know. Maybe we should go and take a quick look around near the general vicinity of the shoe shops and... No, wait!" Piper interrupted herself. "Why don't you just astrial project back to the manor. If she's there we can leave and if she's not then we look. Simple as that."
"OK," Prue said reluctantly. She and Piper moved to a less conspicuous place, away from people and onlookers, and Prue astrial projected. Piper tapped her foot and critically watched her sister. After what seemed like 10 minutes, Piper saw Prue's body jerk as if she had just caught herself falling asleep.
"So?" Piper asked, but Prue held up her hand. The disorientation was always hard to deal with whenever she came back to her body after astrial projecting. After a few seconds, Prue opened her eyes.
"Sorry, but I couldn't talk right away," Prue said. "But she wasn't there. Do you want to go look?"
Piper sighed. "Yeah, I guess." They started walking towards the general direction of the shoe shops. They searched the shops for about an hour before they gave up.
"OK, I know she is stubborn, but is she really this stubborn?"
"It's Phoebe we're talking about Piper!" Prue laughed, but inside Prue was getting worried. Phoebe usually came around and found them after they got into shopping arguments, not the other way around. They kept walking until Prue felt a hand on her shoulder. Both Prue and Piper turned around and came face to face with Cole.
"Cole! What are you doing here?" Pier asked.
"Well, I was supposed to pick up Phoebe at 9, but it is almost 10 now and Phoebe isn't usually this late," he explained.
"How did you know to come here?" Prue felt her worry increase.
"Whenever I want to go somewhere by shimmering, I have to sense where I want to go or who I want to see." Cole shrugged. "I tried to sense Phoebe and where she was, but I couldn't get anything from her so I figured my best bet was to shimmer to you guys."
Prue's forehead scrunched up again. Something just wasn't right. "You know what?" she voiced her concern, "I am going to astrial project again and scribe for her. I don't have a good feeling about this." PIper and Cole nodded and they all rushed over to a quiet place for Prue to astrial project.
After a few more minutes, Prue came back and reported her findings. "I had to try it 4 times before it worked, and even then the crystal was really slow. It stopped on the mall, so I put a map of the mall down to narrow it down, but it wouldn't work at all then. Something is really wrong."
Well, then we ought to get looking," Piper said and the three of them started walking in and out of stores.
* * * * * * * * * *
Meanwhile, Phoebe was just coming to back in the alley. For one fleeting second, she forgot what had happened but realized all too soon that it wasn't just some horrible nightmare. The pain was still there, strong as ever. It was so intense that she couldn't think of anything else for a moment. Then, a thought hit her.
"Leo... Leo..." she whispered, but even she knew it wasn't loud enough. Phoebe shut her eyes and tried to open them, but found it difficult. Her eyes were so swollen that they would hardly lift again. So, instead she listened tot he sounds around her. Suddenly, there was a rustling noise to her right. Phoebe's head turned fast and she struggled hard to get her eyes opened. If it was her attacker again, she wanted to know before he could do anything more to her so she could somehow prepare. Instead of him, Phoebe barely made out with her blurry vision the first girl who she had saved start to get up from where she had been laying on the floor. She seemed to be in much better shape than Phoebe; Phoebe could at least see that much. Giving in, she closed her eyes again.
"Please," Phoebe whispered, "Help."
The woman rushed over. "Oh my God!" came her whisper. The girl didn't what to do. She started to say something else, but Phoebe stopped her with a 'ssshh'. Phoebe listened hard to the sounds of the street where she heard:
"Cole, can you try shimmering again?" It was Piper's voice!
Then Cole- "I've been trying to sense her all night! Wait! Hold on!"
What?! Do you sense her?" Prue's voice also floated to Phoebe's ears. For the first time since she had been attacked, Phoebe felt some hope flutter in her stomach and stay there. She grabbed the woman's hands.
"I can hear my sisters and boyfriend on the street. Just go out there and yell the name Prue," Phoebe whispered hurriedly. The woman shook her head in understanding and ran towards the street. Phoebe's exertion, however, left her weak. She fought consciousness as she strained to listen for her sisters.
* * * * * * * * * *
Prue, Piper, and Cole were giving up hope and gaining fear. It was 10:30 and still no sign of Phoebe.
"Cole, can you try simmering again?" Piper asked as they walked past the 4th shoe store.
"I've been trying to sense her all night!" But then he felt a tingle. "Wait! Hold on!"
"What?! Do you sense something?" Prue asked. Finally, something!
"I don't know," Cole answered. "I think so, but it wasn't strong enough to shimmer to." He hung his head in disappointment.
"Damnit!" Piper erupted and plopped down on a nearby bench, hopeless. Prue started over.
All of a sudden, a voice called out from behind them. "Prue?!" it screamed uncertainly. Prue turned around and searched for who had shouted her name. She spotted a woman who was looking all around, clueless to as what was going on except that she was looking for someone. She also noticed the woman was bleeding. Prue rushed over to her, Cole and Piper close behind.
"I'm Prue! What happened?" Prue asked, though she didn't want an answer. They had enough to deal with and didn't have time to go on demon hunts...
"Oh God. You have to come now. Your sister, uh, I don't know her name..." the woman rambled frantically. That was definitely not the answer Prue, Piper, and Cole were expecting. The woman gave up trying to speak and instead led the three to the alley where they got their first look at Phoebe.
She was laying on the ground, almost completely naked except for some torn pieces of clothing hanging from her arms- what was left of her shirt. She was bloody around her face, abdomen and legs. Her hands were tied with a belt and there was a discarded rag next to her beaten face that had obviously been a gag.
Cole shut his eyes. He couldn't take anymore. He felt bile rise in his throat and ran to the dumpster to throw up. Piper could only stare. It didn't register yet- she was still in shock. How could someone do that? Prue, on the other hand, rushed over to her baby sister.
"Phoebe, sweety, talk to me," Prue's voice cracked, but she wouldn't let herself cry. She couldn't. Phoebe mumbled a reply but Prue couldn't understand what she had said. Prue wanted to cover up her baby with something, anything; Phoebe looked to vulnerable.
"Cole. Cole!" Prue shouted. Cole slowly got up from behind the dumpster, wiping his mouth. He wouldn't look over, though.
"What?" came his shaky voice.
"Give me your jacket. We have to cover her up." Prue could feel herself start to cry, but tried relentlessly to cover it up. Cole took off his coat and threw it to Prue, who tenderly cradled Phoebe like a small child and covered her.
"Piper!" Prue said sternly. Piper jumped almost two feet into the air and looked at Prue blankly. "See if you can get Leo." Piper nodded blindly and started calling his name.
"I am going to get some help," the woman, who Prue had already forgotten about, said as she ran for the street. Piper kept calling Leo, but he did not come.
"OK, then Piper, can you help me over here?" Prue asked. Piper looked in Prue's eyes- she could see the fear. Piper walked over and knelt beside her sisters. Phoebe moved slightly and struggled to open her eyes. Though her vision was blurry, she could tell her sisters were there. Relief, like nothing she had ever felt before, washed over her and she snuggled as close as she could into her sisters arms. She finally let her guard down and allowed herself to fall asleep.
Prue and Piper noticed the addition of dead weight. "Oh God, is she-?" Piper asked, fearing the end of the question and the answer that might ensue.
"No, I think she just went to sleep," Prue answered. She had at first thought the same thought. She closed her eyes and tried to think. "OK, what should we do? Shimmer her back to the manor and wait for Leo or wait for the cops?"
But, in the distance, they could all hear the sirens of the fast approaching authorities. "That's our answer," Prue said to no one in particular.
Cole went to go stand outside the alley so that the police would know where they were. Prue and Piper rocked Phoebe back and forth between them, finally allowing themselves to cry. When the paramedics and police came, they had to work to convince Prue and Piper to let go of their baby sister, but they eventually did.
Cole, Prue, and Piper all held each other as they loaded Phoebe into the ambulance and watched with tears as they drove away. Prue was the first to look away.
"I'm calling Darryl," Prue said and broke away from the embrace.
* * * * * * * * * *
They had been sitting in the emergency room waiting area for 4 hours and Cole was ready to burst.
"What the hell?! Why can't we know anything?!" he growled. "Piper, freeze the whole damn hospital. I want to go find her."
"Cole, calm down," Prue reprimanded. Cole responded with a dirty look. "We just have to wait," Prue continued. Just then, a man, apparently a doctor with his white coat, approached them. The three stood up in anticipation.
"Are you Phoebe's family?"
Without hesitation, and before Prue and Piper could respond, Cole answered, "Yes, we are. How is she? When can we see her? And why the hell have you taken so damn long?!"
The doctor held up his hands so he could speak without interruption. He also chose to ignore the last question. "Well, Phoebe has sustained many injuries, both physically and emotionally. She has numerous abrasions and cuts on her face, lower back, legs and buttox regions. As for the complications of the rape itself, there was a lot of tearing both internally and externally, but I don't think there will be any long term damage." He paused for a second to take a breath, but Cole decided it was time to step in again with another question.
"So, you're saying she can still have children someday, right?" Both Piper and Prue stared at him. That was definitely not something they expected to come out of Cole's mouth.
The doctor nodded his head. "Yes, I believe she will. Not right now, mind you, but later when she is emotionally healed."
"Can we see her?" Piper asked. She couldn't let any of this sink in unto she could see her sister for herself. The doctor nodded again.
"Yes, she has been asking for you all. The police should be coming rather soon, however, to get a statement, so you may have to leave. But, I think that seeing you will be very good for her. I'm warning you now, though- she is very fragile and simply not the person you know right now. She's scared, ashamed, and probably very self conscious. I am no psychologist, but I have seen enough rape cases to know that she is going to blame herself and feel as though she let you all down. You just have to make sure to make her feel as safe and content as possible." He nodded yet again and led them to room 1604. "I'll leave you alone. I think she may be sleeping now, but she has been nodding on and off since she got here. Good luck," he said and walked away. Cole glared after him.
"What the hell does he mean, 'good luck'?" Cole erupted. Prue put a hand on his arm.
"Calm down or they won't let us in there," Prue chided, but knew how Cole felt. They were all scared. Prue took her hand off Cole's arm and placed it on the doorknob. She took a deep breath and heard Piper and Cole do the same. She opened the door before her nerve could fail her and stepped inside. Prue's heart lurched to her feet at the sight before her.
Phoebe looked so small in the huge white gurney. IV's littered her small arms. Prue let her eyes travel to her sister's face. Both eyes were almost swollen the whole way shut. She had a swollen lip and a few cuts and bruises on her cheeks and forehead. Her hair was still matted down with blood in areas and looked unkempt, something Phoebe would have never let it be. A tear ran down Prue's cheek. She looked behind her at Piper and Cole- both were crying also. All three of them could only stand there, helpless. An incoherent mumble from Phoebe broke them of their trance.
"Phoebe." Cole almost groaned the name as he rushed over to her side. Piper and Prue followed suit.
"Cole?" came the whisper. Phoebe started the difficult struggle to open her eyes; she had to see them.
"Yes honey, I'm here and so are Prue and Piper. We're all here. It will be OK," his voice was thick with emotion. As they crowded around her, Phoebe finally was able to open her eyes. Once she saw them all above her, Phoebe was able to let go. Her sobbing racked her frail body. Piper laid down next to her on the bed and gathered her in her arms. Prue did the same on the other side. Cole, on the other hand, went off in the room. He grabbed a chair from the corner and carried it over to the bed. Then he quickly grabbed the bed and wheeled it away from the wall, also taking care to wheel the machines and IV stands also. He wheeled them all about 3 or 4 feet from the wall, giving himself enough room to drag the chair to behind the bed. He sat, kissing Phoebe's forehead that was now upside down to him and caressing her hair.
* * * * * * * * * *
They all stayed exactly in that position for about 20 minutes until there was a light rap on the door.
"GO away," Cole yelled gruffly and went back to rubbing Phoebe's head and whispering in her ear. The door opened anyway and Cole jumped out of the chair so forcefully that it clattered and slammed against the wall. Cole could feel himself on the brink of changing into Belthazar, but used almost all of his will power to stop himself- it was only Darryl.
"Hi. How is she?" Darryl asked, oblivious to Cole's outburst.
"I'm OK," Phoebe said meekly. Darryl smiled and walked over.
"I'm glad to hear that, Phoebe. I know you had a lot of people worried about you judging from your little fan following you got yourself here." Prue moved up on her elbow so she could see Darryl better, but Phoebe freaked out.
"No! Prue!" she screamed, "Don't leave me! He'll come back!!" Prue quickly laid back down and hugged her sister. Piper and Cole moved in closer too.
"I'm not leaving, honey," Prue cried, "I will never leave you again."
"Neither will I, Phoebe," Piper added, also crying again. "And as for that guy? He will never touch you again!"
"I'll make sure of it," Cole growled.
After a few minutes, Phoebe gradually calmed down. Darryl approached them again. "Phoebe? I know this is a bad time, but if I don't do it now they'll make someone else do it, and I thought it would be better to do it since you know me. I have to ask you some questions about the incident. You have the option of either having your sisters and Cole stay or leave. It's up to you, Phoebe, but we have to do it now if you want me to do it."
Phoebe stared off into space, thinking. On one hand, she wanted them all to stay. This was the first time she felt somewhat safe and she knew she couldn't deal well without them. On the other hand, however, she did not want to face the shame and embarrassment of them hearing what had happened and how stupid she was for not listening to her premonition. As with most rape victims, Phoebe felt as though it was her fault. After a few minutes of thinking and contemplating her options, her fear won over her self-consciousness.
"They can stay," she answered in a weak voice.
"OK. Then, can we start now? The sooner we get started, the sooner it will be over," Darryl responded. Phoebe nodded her head and Darryl started asking questions. Phoebe answered each question clearly, but oddly lacking any emotion. Her eyes never wavered from some certain spot on the ceiling that must have held interest to only her. Her sisters and Cole actually got more emotional than she did. Prue actually had to leave for a few minutes which of course got Phoebe into an uproar- the only emotion she let show. As soon as Prue came back, however, Phoebe went right back to her melancholy way of answering the constant questions. Even Darryl welcomed the silence when they finished, but cringed as he remembered he had forgotten to ask something.
"I'm sorry Phoebe, but I have one more question. Did you see who did this to you? Anything you remember can help. I know you may not but-"
Phoebe cut him off. "I memorized his face and build. You may as well bring in a police artist because it would be pointless to do it any other way," she said in the same monotone voice.
"Err, OK, sure," Darryl said, surprised. Not many people were able to do that, especially not as bravely as Phoebe did. "Well, I guess that's all for now Phoebe. If there is anything else you-" he started, but stopped as Phoebe let out a moan of agony and started to sob again. The relief that the worst was over and the uncertainty of what was to come had overwhelmed her. She knew her life, and the lives of everyone around her for that matter, would never be the same again....
