CHARMED
"Open Your Eyes"
by shel
© november 2002
| disclaimer: | the charmed ones, cole, and leo, and the rest of the cast of characters we've come to know and love, belong to spelling television, inc. and possible other copyright holders. i intended no true infringement on their copyrights; i only wanted to borrow these marvelous characters for a short time in my own scenarios and hopefully return them no worse for wear; the only things i've gained from this story are the satisfaction and pleasure of having written it and in knowing that others may have enjoyed it too |
| rating: | pg-13 |
| summary: | phoebe sees her life in a whole new light |
| timeline: | up to, and including, the events of season 5's the eyes have it' |
| archive: | please don't without expressed permission |
| notes: | there are references to characters and/or events from 'magic wears a mask,' 'the good, the bad, and the cursed,' 'lost & bound,' 'a witch's tail,' 'marry go round,' 'we're off to see the wizard,' 'charmed and dangerous,' 'black as cole,' 'chick flick,' 'womb raider,' 'all hell's breaking loose,' 'long live the queen,' and 'witch way now'please let me know if you enjoyed my tale and why and, if not, why notand, please, don't bother wasting your time or mine by sending any flames |
Chapter One
"What's this?" Phoebe asked as her assistant entered her office carrying a modest bouquet of wildflowers.
"Pretty, but not very romantic," her assistant lightly answered. "Here's the card."
"Depends on who's sending them," Phoebe murmured as she sniffed the flowers appreciatively. As soon as her assistant left her alone, she opened the tiny envelope and read the card.
I'm back. I'd like to talk.
Phoebe stared at the note for a moment and wondered about his request. She hadn't seen him since the incident with Miller two weeks before and hadn't even spoken to him since the following day when he told her he was going away for a while once his case was over. She nervously flicked the card between her fingers as she debated her options before she realized she only had one option. She picked up the phone and dialed his number.
"Mr. Turner's office," the feminine voice answered.
"Tell him," Phoebe stated, "seven o'clock, tonight, in my office."
"Excuse me," his assistant asked, "but who's calling?"
"Just tell him. He'll know," Phoebe said as she abruptly disconnected the call.
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Phoebe saved her document, took off her glasses, and leaned back in her chair. She closed her eyes, pinched the bridge of her nose, and sighed. She checked her watch and decided to begin another column. As she reached for a letter from the pile of unopened mail on the corner of her desk, she accidentally brushed the pile and sent envelopes fluttering to the floor. Phoebe groaned, got up, walked around the side of her desk, and knelt to pick up the mail. She straightened the envelopes, stood, and placed them back on her desk in a neat pile.
"Phoebe," Cole cautiously greeted as he entered her office.
She turned around and mentally yelled at her heart for skipping a beat. "Cole."
"At least you didn't throw them out," he commented as he indicated to the bouquet that stood precariously upright in a glass of water on the pile behind her desk.
"I love wildflowers," she told him, "and you know it. I don't know what you --"
"I wasn't up to anything," Cole interrupted. "Honest," he added as he held up his hands in surrender. "They're just flowers. No hidden agenda."
Phoebe looked back at him with a skeptical eye and questioned, "You wanted to talk?"
He nodded, "I told you I needed to get away for a little while. Sort some things out."
"Did you?" she wondered. Again, he nodded. But when he didn't continue, Phoebe asked, "You want to sit down?" As she pulled a chair closer, she apologized, "Just let me get this pile of mail off."
He looked around her office, "Guess there are a lot of people asking for your help."
"Ain't that the truth," she muttered. She caught his gaze and apologized, "Sorry, it's been so crazy lately between the mail and appearances, it's overwhelming at times." She turned away and softly commented, "It even got to the point where I was losing my powers."
"What?" Cole uttered in shock. He reached for her arm and asked, "Are you all right?"
Unsure of how to feel about his genuine concern, Phoebe stepped back and sorted a few envelopes in her hands as she answered, "Yeah, I was so busy working so hard towell, not think about everythingthat it seems I threw myself off-balance. I even went to a --"
"Phoebe?" Cole watched her suddenly sway. Her eyes had a glassy look and she reached out for him with her empty hand. He quickly reached out in return, to steady her, and asked, "Is it a premonition?"
But Phoebe didn't hear him as the envelopes fell from her hand and her office suddenly became a dark room. A basement or a warehouse. There were stacked crates and boxes all around. A young couple was crouched on the floor to her right. And a dark figure loomed menacingly before her. Facing them. A dark creature with glowing eyes. Electricity sparking from its raised fingers. It turned. It saw her. But, there was something else there. Another creature on the opposite side of the room. And another one. Behind her? How many more shadows? "Cole?" she whispered as she saw him appear in the room on the other side of the demon. "Watch ou--"
Cole reacted and caught her as she suddenly fell towards him. "Phoebe?" he murmured as he slowly lowered her to the floor. "Come on, honey, open your eyes." As he brushed the hair from her shut eyes, he noticed the dark stain that was brushed on his sleeve. He was horrified to realize that it was blood. The horror grew even worse when he discovered that his hand that cradled Phoebe's head was covered in blood. Her blood. "It'll be okay," he desperately promised as he quickly lifted her up and faded out of her office and into the Halliwell Manor. "LEO!"
Piper ran into the living room holding a dishtowel and let out a cry. "Phoebe!"
At that moment, Paige orbed in and began speaking anxiously, "Piper, something's wrong. I can feel --" She suddenly noticed Cole holding Phoebe and yelled, "What the hell did you do to her?!"
"I didn't do anything!" Cole retorted as he lay Phoebe on the couch. "Where the hell is Leo?!"
"Leo!" Piper desperately cried as she shoved the towel under Phoebe's head and kept pressure on it.
"Dammit, we don't have time," Cole angrily stated as he watched Phoebe turn paler. "Paige, do something! Now!" he barked as he knelt by Phoebe and squeezed her hand. "Hang in there, Phoebe," he whispered.
"But I've only done light healing," Paige hesitated. "Leo's always been there to help me with anything big."
"Leo!" Piper shouted again as tears formed in her eyes. She noticed the towel was already soaking with blood and she turned to Paige. "Paige, we can't wait for Leo. You'll have to do it or we'll lose her."
Unsteadily, Paige stepped in closer and Piper allowed her access to Phoebe. She turned Phoebe's head slightly and held her hands over Phoebe's bloody wound. The glow came from her fingers almost immediately and, after several long minutes, the blood began to disappear from Phoebe's head. "It's working," she whispered in disbelief.
"Thank God," Piper murmured.
Cole stayed silent and merely squeezed Phoebe's hand tighter.
The glow dimmed from Paige's hands and she stepped back. "I think that's it," she told the others.
"Why hasn't she come to?" Cole asked as he tried to keep the worry from his tone.
"I don't know," Paige defensively answered. "I told you, I've never done anything like this before."
"It's okay, Paige," Piper said as she reached out for Paige's hand, "you did it and that's what counts. It was just a little too close this time. Phoebe will be fine." She turned to Cole and, in a sharp tone, asked, "What happened?"
Cole didn't take his eyes off Phoebe as he answered. "We were talking in her office when she suddenly seemed a little out of it. I thought she was having a premonition but it was more than her usual reaction. When she collapsed, I found the back of her head covered in blood. The only time something like that ever happened during a premonition was when she was linked to Bo Lightfeather." He looked up at the sisters and frowned, "What is it?"
The sisters exchanged glances and Piper turned back to Cole. "It also happened last week. Phoebe's powers seem to have advanced a bit."
"She started to tell me about some trouble with them," Cole recalled. "What do you mean advanced?"
"I don't know about this Bo Lightfeather but it only happened once," Paige hastily clarified, "so we don't really know that it's a permanent thing. Phoebe was pretty upset and tried to read some tea leaves to help our innocent and it just came from no--"
"Tea leaves?" he interrupted. "I didn't realize she'd been working with Gypsy methods," he added in a slightly impressed tone.
"She went to a fortune teller for help with her powers," Piper told him as she caressed Phoebe's cheek. Phoebe stirred but didn't waken. "We got involved when the gypsy was killed after Phoebe's visit."
"Who was it?" Cole somberly asked.
Piper was taken aback by his interest but replied, "Madame Theresa."
Cole's free hand clenched and his jaw muscles tightened. "Who did it?"
"A demon named Cree," Paige answered with a nervous glance towards Piper. "He was really working for his father, O--"
"Orin," Cole growled, "that son of a bitch. I thought he was blind and a recluse."
Confused by Cole's reaction, Piper commented, "He had his son doing his dirty work. They killed several gypsies over the past few weeks. They were after the gypsies' eyes."
"For their power," Cole muttered. "Did you get him?" he suddenly snapped.
Paige was startled by his outburst and complained, "What do you care? What do you know about gypsies anyway?"
"More than you, I suspect," he sharply answered. "Most gypsies have the power of foresight. Almost all have knowledge of healing. They are respected and often sought out by demons. Particularly upper-level ones."
"You're kidding," Paige uttered, "I didn't think demons were so sentimental about tradition."
"It's got nothing to do with tradition," he lectured to them, "and everything to do with practicality. Not every demon has his or her personal oracle or seer or healer. One never turns away from an opportunity to gain knowledge of the future nor a chance to heal an injury. Dealings with gypsies are simple business transactions. And for one to hunt them goes against everyone's best interest and that person will be dealt with severely." He looked at Phoebe again and, in a calmer tone, added, "Besides, I knew Theresa."
"You did?" Paige asked, shocked.
"She was very powerful for her kind," he commented thoughtfully, "and well respected among the Brotherhood. I last sought her for her abilities, oh, about fifty years ago in Europe. I wish I'd known she'd set up shop here."
"Yeah, well, I'm glad you didn't because it --" Paige began but Phoebe stirred and she greeted, "Hey, Phoebe!"
Piper turned back to Phoebe and encouraged, "Come on, sweetie, open your eyes." Phoebe's eyelids fluttered a moment before they opened completely and Piper smiled at her sister. "How are you feeling?"
Phoebe struggled to sit up and Piper helped her to a seated position. She looked at the others and, in a dazed tone, answered, "Okay, I think. What happened?"
"You had a premonition in your office," Cole told her as he still kept his hand on hers.
"A premonition?" Phoebe wondered as she shifted her gaze from Cole's face to their hands.
He nodded and quickly removed his hand. "I didn't know about the advance in your power and I brought you here as soon as you collapsed. Do you remember it?"
Phoebe looked at him quizzically and thought for a moment. "I don't. Not anything."
"Well, that's okay, sweetie," Piper told her as she lightly rubbed Phoebe's arm. "It's still new. You just need some time to adjust."
Phoebe shook her head quickly and Cole sensed something was off. "What's wrong?" he asked warily.
"I don't remember anything," she quietly answered him. "It's all a blank," she added as she looked from one concerned face to another.
Cole leaned in closer and gently asked, "Do you know who I am?"
"No," she admitted in a scared voice, "II don't know any of you. What happened to me?"
Both Piper and Paige gasped and turned to Cole who glared back at Paige. "What the hell did you do to her?"
"Me?" Paige exclaimed. "I told you I'd never done any major healing before."
"Leo!" Piper shouted to the ceiling. "We need you! I'm not kidding!"
"Who's she talking to?" Phoebe asked Cole.
"Leo," Piper automatically answered, still shocked. "My husband? You don't remember him either?"
Phoebe shook her head and again asked Cole as she indicated to Paige, "What did she mean healing? Was something wrong with me? Is she a doctor?"
"Hardly," Cole snorted. "She's not even a --"
"Look," Paige interrupted before she could be further insulted, "why don't you just leave? We'll take it from here."
"I'm not leaving," Cole adamantly answered, "until I know she's herself again. Besides, you don't know what was in her premonition, Leo's missing in action again, and you don't know what you're up against."
Piper turned to Paige and said, "That crack about Leo aside, I think Cole has a point. Until we know more, we may need his help." She turned to Cole, "What was she doing when the premonition hit?"
"I told you, we were just talking," he answered. "She was holding a couple of envelopes. I'll get them. Maybe touching them again will cause another premonition." Without waiting for comments, he stepped back from the couch and faded out of the room.
"Cool," Phoebe commented in wonder at his sudden disappearance. "How'd he do that?"
Disturbed by Phoebe's situation, Paige pulled Piper up from the couch and spoke in a low tone. "I don't like this. It's too coincidental that he was with her, alone, when this happened. And now she has amnesia?"
"I'm not crazy about it either," Piper admitted, "but we don't have much of a choice with Leo not here. Besides, if Cole is involved, it's better to keep him close so that we can keep an eye on him."
"All right," Phoebe interrupted, "What's going on with the three of you? What's he done other than bring me here to try and help me?"
"I made you Queen of all Evil," Cole stated as he suddenly reappeared in front of them.
"What do you mean?" Phoebe hesitantly asked him.
Unwilling to rehash bad history, Piper answered first, "It's a long story." She glared at Cole but reached for the letters that he held.
Cole let her take the letters. "I don't know which is the one that actually set her off."
Piper turned to Phoebe and said, "I know this is all confusing for you and we'll try to explain it all but right now we need you to focus on these letters and see if you have another premonition."
Phoebe looked at them all in confusion. "Premonition?"
Paige nodded, "It's one of your powers. You have premonitions."
"What am I," Phoebe laughed in disbelief, "some kind of superhero fortune teller?"
"Actually," Paige hesitantly answered after a quick glance to Piper, "you're a witch."
"Like Samantha?" Phoebe chuckled. "Wait, a minute, who's Samantha?" she quickly asked with a frown. "I'm really a witch? You're kidding, right?" Phoebe laughed again. But the looks on their faces caused her grin to disappear. "You're not kidding."
"You did look kind of cute with that mask, though," Cole teased, "along with that leather outfit."
Phoebe smiled, "Tell me more."
But Paige pushed Cole to the side and knelt before Phoebe. "It's a long story and we don't have much time."
"Why not?" Phoebe questioned as she grew more frustrated with their seeming disinterest in providing her with answers.
Piper sat next to Phoebe and explained, "Sometimes, when you touch things, you get premonitions of people in danger. You don't really know when it'll happen but it always happens for a reason and usually not long before whatever's going to happen happens. So, whatever you saw in your office before is going to happen soon and, without your memory, we won't know how to help our innocent so we need you to try and have another premonition."
"Innocent?" Phoebe questioned as her head buzzed with information that didn't quite make sense to her.
"It's what we call the people we have to save," Paige answered as she tried not to let her frustration come through her tone of voice. "Are you up to trying?"
Phoebe shrugged, "What do I have to do?"
"Just hold each letter separately," Piper answered, "and focus on it."
"What if she gets hurt again?" Cole asked as he stopped Piper from giving Phoebe one of the letters.
"Then I'll heal her again," Paige declared as she stood up and faced Cole.
"You call her healed? You gave her amnesia!" Cole exclaimed.
"I did not!" Paige shouted back in frustration.
"It's okay," Phoebe interrupted as she reached for Cole's hand. "If it's as serious as they say, I have to try." Cole gave her hand a slight squeeze and she smiled back, "Just tell me what to do."
"Nothing to do, exactly," Paige answered instead. "Just hold it and see what happens."
The three waited as Phoebe held the first letter in her hands and stared at it. She turned it over and gripped it tighter but looked back at them and shrugged, "Nothing. I don't see anything but I don't know if I'm doing it right."
"You'll know when it's right," Piper assured her. "Here, try this one."
Again, the three waited while Phoebe held the second letter in her hands. But the result was the same. "Nothing. I'm sorry," Phoebe apologized as she shook her head in disappointment.
"Nothing to be sorry about," Paige told her. "Besides, you still have another letter left."
Phoebe reluctantly took the last letter from Piper's hand, "I'm not sure what good it'll --" Phoebe stopped in mid-sentence as dark images suddenly flooded her mind. She sucked in her breath as she watched the young couple huddle in fear before the dark creature. It was poised for attack with electricity sparking from itsclaws? A figure suddenly appeared but the image disappeared before she could recognize him or her. Phoebe let out her breath and tried to stop trembling. She suddenly realized Piper's arm was around her shoulders and she smiled weakly at Piper. "Was that a premonition?"
"That was a premonition," Paige agreed. "Are you okay?"
"I think so," Phoebe shakily answered. "It was so strange. Like I was there but I wasn't."
"I think you were there the first time you had this premonition," Piper thought aloud. She turned to Cole and explained, "That's what happened with the tea leaves. She somehow linked with her future-self in her premonition and suffered the same injury her future-self did."
"So now she risks dying every time she has a premonition?" Cole asked in an outraged tone. "Why aren't the Elders doing something about it?"
"Leo said this is a natural progression of her power," Piper answered defensively. "She'll learn how to adjust."
"How to adjust -- to what? Dying?" Cole asked exasperated as he towered over Piper.
"Look, pal," Paige stepped in between them, "we've got enough to deal with without you criticizing the good guys."
"Don't you even --" Cole began in annoyance.
"Enough!" Phoebe angrily interrupted. "The three of you have done nothing but snipe at each other since I opened my eyes. And if that wasn't enough, you're all talking about me as if I lost my hearing in addition to my memory. Well, I've got news for you. I'm sitting right here and can hear every word you say and if you don't start working on a plan on what we do next, I will. Alone." She crossed her arms in front of her and glared at the three. "So are you with me or do I leave right now?"
Piper apologized, "You're absolutely right. We have an innocent to save and that should be more important than our bickeringWhy don't you tell us what you saw?"
"It all happened so fast," Phoebe answered as she tried to concentrate on her vision. "It was a dark room with lots of crates."
"A warehouse?" Paige suggested.
"II don't know," Phoebe shrugged. "I did see this young couple. They were holding each other and sitting on the floor in front of some crates. I couldn't hear anything. It was like the volume was on mute but I knew they were terrified. There was thisthis thing in front of them and it was just about to attack."
"Can you describe it?" Piper questioned.
Phoebe frowned, "I'm not sure. It all happened so fast and it was so dark and the thing was dark. It was tall and thin. I don't think it was even human. It was almost like a shadow. But it had glowing eyes and these long fingers or claws and sparks were coming out of them." She looked at them, "Does that help?"
"Of course it does," Piper assured her. "Sound familiar?" she turned and asked Cole.
"Could be a form of shadow demon," Cole considered, "or an Electric Seeker."
"Electric Seeker?" Paige echoed with a frown.
"Demons who survive by absorbing all the natural electrical impulses of a living being," he explained as he considered the idea. "They will work for either side, going after humans or other demons, if the price is right."
"Price?" Piper hesitantly asked.
"Food," Cole answered simply.
"Great," Paige muttered. "If they're made of electricity, I doubt an energy or fire ball will work against them. Any ideas how to vanquish them?"
Cole shrugged, "I never dealt with them."
"Beneath you?" Paige taunted. Cole ignored her so she turned to Piper, "Okay, I'll get the Book of Shadows."
"The what?" Phoebe asked with interest but, just as Paige was about to answer, she said with a frown as she settled back on the sofa, "I know, long story."
"Once we get started," Piper promised, "we'll sit down and tell you."
"Sure," Phoebe agreed even though she didn't quite believe Piper.
"Okay, then," Piper decided as she stood, "I'll check the Book. Paige, I'd like you to take this letter and track down the person who sent it."
Paige took the letter from her sister, opened it, and skimmed it. "Laura Anderson. She's asking for help in dealing with her boyfriend. He has some sort of secret he's been hiding from her and she feels he's in danger but he won't let her in to allow her to help. She included her address. I'll get on it."
"Colethe attic?" Piper indicated.
"Actually," he answered, "I have a couple of ideas of my own."
"Anything you care to share?" Paige warily asked.
"Not yet," he responded. "I'll be back soon." He took a step back from the couch.
"Wait just a minute, cutie," Phoebe interrupted. "What exactly am I supposed to be doing while you're all doing your assigned tasks?"
"Cutie?" Cole asked with an amused grin.
"Oh, do you have a name?" she asked without apology as she glared at him. "Must be nice to have a name. It seems I wouldn't know about that."
Cole chuckled, "Sorry, honey, I guess the first thing we should've done was introduce ourselves."
"I'm Piper," Piper told her, "and you're my sister, Phoebe HalliwellRing any bells?"
Phoebe shook her head so Paige told her, "I'm your other sister, Paige."
Satisfied for the moment, Phoebe nodded and then turned to Cole. "And you are?"
"Cole," he replied simply.
"My brother?" Phoebe asked in a wary tone.
Cole chuckled again and shook his head, "No, your husband."
"Thank God," Phoebe whispered in relief and couldn't help but notice his smile broaden.
But, at the same time, Paige had sharply corrected, "Ex-husband."
Cole's smile quickly vanished and he acknowledged Paige's statement with a curt nod. To Phoebe's questioning glance, he quietly said, "We'll talk when I get back." And before Phoebe could say anything, he faded out of the room.
"What was that about?" Phoebe asked her sisters.
Piper and Paige exchanged glances and Piper answered with a sigh, "Long story short: You're a good witch and you fell in love with Cole, an evil demon. You tried to make it work on the side of good and you tried to make it work on the side of evil. Neither did. You divorced him, he won't give up, but still you're moving on with your life."
"You make it sound so cut-and-dried," Phoebe quietly commented as she stared into the space that Cole had vacated.
Paige told her, "You gave him enough chances to prove he could be good and you got burned every time. We all did. And Cole just hasn't gotten it yet. But he will."
"But --" Phoebe began.
"Look, Pheebs," Piper interrupted, "we'll sit down and tell you all about yourself but we've got to get started on Laura first. Okay? Come on, I'll show you your room before I go up to the attic. Maybe being there will jog your memory."
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