The Miracle Child
Chapter II
"Right!" Cole uttered disdainfully at Charles's protests. This had been going on ever since the judge refused him his probation. "No really, Charles… You're only getting two months and you're gonna be out in less than one. Considering your behaviour in prison, if I'd been the judge…"
"See, that's exactly what I meant, brother," Charles spat.
"What's that supposed to mean? I tried to defend you, but in truth, you had no defense. You almost killed that guy and for what? Some pocket change."
Charles groaned and the manacles he still had on his wrists made an unpleasant noise as he trailed his hands on the bare table that sat in the middle of the waiting room.
Cole clenched his teeth together, while looking away. Phoebe was right. With such a family, it was hard to forget the monster he had been. He had been sitting in front of Charles for the last fifteen minutes, only wishing that Daryl would finally show up. They arranged for him to be the one bringing Charles back to the prison where they had provided an isolated cell for him. Daryl thought that this cell had been an exaggerated request on Cole's part, and at first, he had refused to make the suggestion to the warden. Two days later, a mini riot exploded in the cell block where Charles was incarcerated. Some of the prisoners complained that he was utterly insane and they feared for their lives. In truth, even the guards had soon become wary of the former demon.
The night after the riot, when Daryl arrived at Cole's apartment with a flustered expression, this one simply smiled impishly, as he guessed what brought the detective to his place.
"Problems…?"
"Your brother's a plague…that shouldn't surprise me though…"
"Thank you very much," Cole answered curtly, even as this wiped off the smirk he had on his lips. "I warned you about Charles. He didn't choose to be good. I know him…he's not gonna be cooperative at first…if ever," Cole uttered darkly. "This is why I suggested he be left by himself…"
"Well, you'll be glad to know that the warden agrees with you now."
Cole shrugged at this, only reminded bitterly that it was his own brother they were talking about.
Right then, as his attention was brought back to the present by yet another movement of impatience from Charles, Cole suddenly realized something as he watched his brother, who looked so much like him. So much so, in fact, that Cole thought he had used poor judgement in presenting the case himself, although he doubted that any other lawyer could have gotten Charles off. The judge was staring at them in a less than amenable way throughout the procedure. It was impossible to ignore the resemblance and in the end, Cole was convinced that the judge thought no more of him than he did of Charles. However, if that was bad, Cole's new insight was even more disheartening. For the first time in two months, he understood that Phoebe might never come back. As he watched his brother, he realized what Phoebe must be seeing when she looked at him and he understood that nothing he could say would change that. Cole felt strangely detached at this idea. Not that the thought of leaving didn't hurt… However, he simply found it might just be the motivation he needed to let go…
What's more, only a few days earlier, he had received an offer from his firm to be transferred in a Los Angeles office with more responsibilities and a better salary. Cole reflected that it might actually give him the opportunity to start fresh and cut the ties with Phoebe for good… As painful as the thought was, Cole was now almost certain that if he left, Phoebe could finally live a normal life. As much as he wished to share it with her, Cole realized now that it may very well have been too selfish on his part. So much had happened. And besides, by now he knew that Phoebe could never bring herself to trust him completely.
"Hey," Charles uttered irritably. "It's not enough that you're sending me to rot…now you're trying to bore me to death?"
Cole cast a look of contempt toward his brother without answering. Then, he stood up and walked to the door, intent on finding out what was keeping Daryl. This one almost hit him square in the face with the door, as he entered hurriedly.
"Well…it's about time," Cole uttered sourly, choosing not to comment on the near accident.
"Well, when you know why, you're not gonna be so miffed."
In spite of his resolve, Cole couldn't help a little hope to stir him at this. However, he didn't show anything outwardly.
"And what would that be," he asked calmly.
"Yeah," Charles questioned in turn, but with a vicious mockery piercing through his voice.
Daryl glanced at him with annoyance, and then he grabbed Cole's arm, pulling him outside the room. As soon as they were in the hallway, Daryl began smiling happily.
"Guess what I've just heard?"
"You know, Morris…One would think you'd be aware I don't like riddles by now…"
"Really," Daryl uttered without losing his good mood. "I was left with the impression that mysteries were your deal…"
"Hum," Cole only uttered.
"So do you wanna know?"
Cole sighed as if he was faced with an unruly child.
"I'm sure you're dying to tell me. Although why me, I don't have a clue…"
"Piper just gave birth to a healthy boy," Daryl answered, ignoring the obvious sarcasm.
"And you should be glad I care to tell you about it…" Daryl added, telling Cole that he wasn't impervious to his snide remarks.
"I just have some trouble believing you'd think of me as a friend whom you can tell this stuff…" Cole said without letting him see anything about his feelings on the matter. The news was good in a way, but it was also painful. The good part was that Phoebe must be happy for her sister and maybe, him leaving wouldn't be so hard on her. However, he couldn't help the deep regret about his own lost son to invade his thoughts again.
"Well, you've been behaving lately," Daryl remarked, interrupting Cole's musings. "So I guess it's a step forward…"
"You're too kind," Cole sneered. He still questioned Daryl further about the news. "Wasn't the blessed event supposed to be for next month?"
"Hey, the baby's fine. Who cares if he showed up early? Well, I'm gonna take care of this cra…your brother," Daryl tried to save in extremis, although they both knew exactly what he had been about to say. "The sooner it's done, the sooner I can have a look at this little angel…Literally."
"Well," Cole answered with apparent detachment. "You can send me pictures…"
"What? Are you telling me you won't show up? Now that's not like you."
"Nobody understands me; it's my cross to bear," Cole clowned unhappily. Then he became more serious as he pursued, "Maybe you should be the first one to know I won't be around so much…"
"Longing for the underworld are you?" Daryl half-mocked as he grabbed the doorknob to the waiting room.
Cole only shook his head dejectedly as Daryl entered the room while harbouring a self-satisfied smile.
Evidently, the detective didn't believe Cole. Maybe he had really come back too many times. This time however, it would be different. When he came out with his brother, Cole only nodded toward Daryl. He was about to go find a quiet place to flash out when Charles called back to him from the end of the hallway.
"One of these days, Bel…Cole, I'll get you for this and all the rest…"
"And the fun continues," Cole answered coldly, as he watched his brother being led through the door by Daryl. "Yes," Cole thought then, "I really have to get away from here." As soon as he was certain no one would notice, he flashed out.
Phoebe and Paige orbed inside the Manor and even as they materialized, Paige's voice could be heard. "What's the big emergency?"
Phoebe didn't answer. Paige stared at her insistently and she realized that her sister was as pale as death.
"Hey, Pheebs, you're scaring me. Are you getting sick?"
Phoebe turned worried eyes toward her sister.
"Paige, I don't know what to do…"
"About what? We should be with Piper, Leo and our precious nephew. Unless there's something wrong about that…?"
Phoebe's expression was suddenly eloquent.
"What could be wrong," Paige insisted with some panic in her voice.
"I had a vision…"
"Ok," Paige trailed… "Well, where's the demon? Let's take care of it and then we can go back to Piper."
"The demon is with Piper," Phoebe uttered darkly while staring at Paige.
"Then what the hell are we doing here? Shouldn't we be with her, protecting her and her son?"
"It's complicated," Phoebe replied painfully.
"It always is with you. You know, Piper tells me you're supposed to be this simple girl with simple tastes… I've yet to see that."
Phoebe ignored Paige's babbling as she thought back of the vision and the obvious implication. What was she to do? Was it even possible?"
"Hey Pheebs! I know that you're lost in your little world, as it has been your usual lately… and you probably don't wanna be interrupted… But you've just dropped a bombshell on me. You can't just tell me there's a demon with Piper and stop there."
"I need to talk to Cole…" Phoebe said rather than clarifying anything for Paige.
"What? Ok Phoebe, I know that you can't bring yourself to trust him, but really he's been behaving lately. I sincerely doubt…"
"Paige," Phoebe exclaimed nervously. "I didn't say anything about Cole being responsible. I just need to talk to him…"
"Oh alright… You think he could help us with whatever it is you don't wanna tell me," Paige answered with an obviously miffed expression.
"Look Paige, it's not that I don't wanna tell you. I just need to be certain first…"
Paige gave another good look at her sister and Phoebe seemed so distraught that Paige decided against insisting.
"Well, if you think you need to…"
"Yes," Phoebe interrupted. "Do you have any idea where we might find him?"
"Why do you ask me?"
"Come on, Paige. I know he's been helping you. You haven't been very discreet about it."
"He might be at his office… He had a court appearance this morning, but I'm sure he's done by now…" Paige hesitated on the last part and Phoebe's curiosity was mildly aroused by her expression. However she refrained from questioning Paige about it. Her present problem was much more important.
"I've got to prepare something but after that I'll need you to orb me there…" Phoebe started toward the stairs even as Paige called to her.
"Shouldn't I rather go back to Piper and protect her?"
"I don't think she's in any danger just yet…He didn't do anything to her so he must need her still," Phoebe added mostly for herself. Then she turned to Paige briefly again. "Wait for me, it's safer for you here… He hates you more than any of us…"
"Who the hell are you talking about?"
"I promise you'll understand soon…" Phoebe replied as she rushed upstairs.
"Don't you want my help," Paige called when she saw Phoebe heading for the stairs.
"No, I don't," Phoebe called curtly from out of sight.
Paige shrugged nervously but didn't make a move to follow her. A few minutes later, Phoebe came back with a piece of paper, but instead of going to Paige, she rushed toward the kitchen and this time, Paige followed irritably.
"Hey what's this all about, Phoebe?
"Just something we need," Phoebe announced cryptically, as she put a pot on the stove and hurriedly started preparing a potion that Paige didn't recognize. On the piece of paper were the ingredients listed but no mention of the purpose.
"Phoebe… if that's for Cole, I don't think…"
"Paige I asked you to trust me…" Phoebe interrupted with the same curt voice. When she saw the dubious expression on Paige's face, she added, "It's not for Cole…"
From the look of Phoebe, Paige knew she wasn't gonna get anything more out of her for the moment. Thus, she resigned herself to wait and help her with the potion. Then as they were done filling the vial with the resulting light red mixture, Paige tried questioning Phoebe again.
"Now can you tell me what it's for, Phoebe?"
"I said you'd understand soon, Paige. Now please, orb us to Cole's office."
Paige shrugged in annoyance but she still took her sister's hand and orbed them both out.
After they materialized in an alley facing the building where Cole worked, Phoebe's heart skipped a beat. Way up there, Cole and she had shared beautiful and very ugly moments together. For the most part, it was a painful reminder of the sad ending to their marriage. "My fairytale," Phoebe thought bitterly. "Why did it have to be like that?"
However, she shook herself, as the urgency of the situation never left her thoughts. Phoebe noticed the applied stare that Paige gave her but she chose to ignore it as she headed toward the building hurriedly. Inside, Paige led Phoebe toward a clerk she said had been helpful on many occasions. The clerk in question looked up and smiled gently at Paige.
"Paige! What can I do for you?"
From his familiar attitude toward Paige, Phoebe knew that she was right about Paige spending a lot of time with Cole.
"It's not for me, this time… Phoebe would like to see Cole…"
"Oh, Mrs Turner," the clerk said, as he recognized Phoebe. "Mr. Turner left almost an hour ago unfortunately."
Phoebe grimaced unhappily at this.
"Where did he go?"
"Actually he left a letter for Paige …" The clerk opened a drawer, but then he hesitated.
"What is it Nigel?" Paige questioned.
"Well, Mr. Turner insisted I sent this tomorrow by courier…I'm not sure why, but he didn't seem to want you to get it today…"
"Do you know where he went," Phoebe insisted nervously.
"I'm not sure exactly…" Nigel uttered uncertainly.
Paige cast a worried glance at Phoebe before she turned back toward Nigel and forced herself to smile charmingly at him.
"I'm sure he just meant it wasn't urgent. When's he coming back?"
"He's not," Nigel replied soberly. "Mr. Turner took an offer to start in a new office a week from now and he asked to get some vacation time until then. He said he was leaving town today."
Paige was very surprised but when she turned to Phoebe, she saw that her sister seemed devastated.
"I've got to talk to him now. I can't risk it without knowing," Phoebe babbled nervously.
"We'll get to him in time, Phoebe," Paige assured her, although she was still wondering what this was all about… "Please Nigel, maybe there's something in this letter that would help us…"
Nigel still hesitated for a moment, but then he pulled the envelope from the drawer anyway.
"Well, it looks important to you and I'm sure that Mr. Turner will understand."
"Yes…" Paige replied with another forced smile. "Thank you, Nigel."
"It's nothing…" Then, as the young man saw them leaving in a hurry, he called back. "Paige?"
"Yes?" This one answered impatiently while holding the elevator doors open.
"Huh…I was wondering…"
"Nigel, we're somewhat in a hurry here…"
"Right…I wondered if you'd like to have a drink with me sometimes…"
Paige's mouth twitched at this.
"Huh, if we can make this coffee…?"
"Of course," the young man smiled happily.
"Paige," Phoebe called imperatively.
Paige gave one last smile to the young man in spite of Phoebe's admonition.
"Call me. You know where to find me," Paige added as she finally allowed the doors to close.
"Phoebe," Paige uttered irritably as soon as they were alone.
"Open the letter," Phoebe said nervously, ignoring her sister's annoyance with her.
Paige rolled her eyes, as she was utterly tired of being led in the dark, but she still opened the envelope. Inside, in addition to a note addressed to her personally, she found another smaller envelope, this one for Phoebe.
"Well… there's something for you," Paige said hesitantly.
Phoebe grabbed the envelope from her impatiently and tore it open. As the doors to the elevator were opening, Phoebe rushed out and found a bench in the lobby where she sat heavily. Paige followed at a slower pace, while reading the note Cole had left for her. In it, he was saying he was sorry to leave her in a lurch, but that he had already taken care of their last case, and would try to make arrangements for another lawyer from the firm to help her. Paige thought this was actually a nice gesture, although she wondered how it was possible that Cole decided to leave so suddenly. From the look of Phoebe when she started reading her own letter however, Paige began to believe it might be true.
"Phoebe, when you read this, I'll be long gone; and this time, I won't come back…I've finally accepted that you would never trust me again. I don't hold it against you. I understand, believe me. For a long time, I kept hoping that we could work things out, but it's obvious it's not going to happen. So, I figured if I left, you could get on with your life. I guess it's the least I can do for you.
I know you don't believe this, but I assure you, I will never hurt anybody again. At least, not intentionally… So, you don't have to worry about me anymore. Just be happy.
I'll love you forever, Cole."
Phoebe slowly lowered the letter toward her knees and to Paige, she seemed in a state of shock.
"No…not now…he can't do this to me now…"
"Huh, Phoebe…wasn't that what you wanted? I mean, Cole's moving on…you should be relieved."
"You don't understand, Paige. I need him here now!" Phoebe exclaimed almost angrily.
"You're not being fair, Phoebe."
"Fair has nothing to do with it, Paige. I need him to help me save our son." Phoebe blurted at last.
Paige opened wide eyes and breathed in hard before she exploded, "What??"
Phoebe simply stared at her for a brief instant, and then she stood up and headed decisively toward the entrance without another word.