Between Heaven & Hell

Disclaimer – The characters from Charmed, belong to Constance M. Burge/Brad Kern, and the WB. However any characters you don't recognize belong to me. I am merely borrowing the characters and hoping they'll stay for a long, long, time….lol. Part 6
"What do you mean; I'm not her whitelighter anymore?" Leo was confused, and stunned.
"Yes Penny, what do you mean?" The Elders asked dryly - they had learned a while ago that when a Halliwell got an idea, they tended to stick with it like a dog to his bone.
"Simple." Penny fixed them with an evil glare, and smiled inwardly when one of them winced. "Paige has healing abilities, therefore she can heal herself. Leo is to be Piper's whitelighter anyway, and all of his other charges are to be reassigned." She paused to see their reactions. Leo looked elated, though still confused. The Elders looked affronted.
"And what about the eldest, Prudence?" One asked, just for the sake of knowing. He didn't doubt that Penny would have an answer. And he was right. Penny just smirked, and then replied.
"I know just the person to be her whitelighter. He's been in training for a while now, and she will be the perfect charge for him."
"Penny, you know that the eldest would most likely refuse." A different Elder spoke, and then paused and added almost as an afterthought, "Who would it be anyway?"
"I really don't think that she would refuse." She smiled at Leo, who was still grappling over the fact that he wouldn't have to leave Piper much anymore. "You know exactly who I'm talking about."
"I believe we do." Another Elder spoke, and the other four nodded in acquiescence.
"Well, I don't. And it would be nice to know." Leo finally shook out of his daze, and caught the last couple of sentences.
"An old friend of Prue's - Andy. I believe you met him one or two times. After he died, the Elder's decided that he should become a whitelighter."
"Wait - Andy, as in, Prue's old boyfriend, cop Andy?" When she nodded, he smiled. "This should be interesting." He frowned, hearing Piper calling. Without a word, he orbed out.

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"Well, here we are. Now would you please explain what's going on? And does any of this have to do with Prue?" Cole glared at Jason.
"Look - about one and a half years ago, Jarret came to see me. He'd had a vision. Cole, you know what his visions are like. This one scared the hell out of him." He paused, and then added, "Literally."
"Cut the cryptic guy act Jason - it never suited you." Cole said derisively, and then began walking. Following him, Jason ignored Cole's remark and continued.
"He was freaked. He disappeared for a couple of months. Then I got a message - he was at the cavern." Jason glanced sideways at Cole, and then queried softly, "You do remember the cavern, don't you?" Cole glared at him again, his eyes narrowing. "Sheesh. Anyways, he was there. And he had a witch with him. And not just any witch either, the bloody idiot kidnapped the eldest Charmed One." Cole looked startled and spoke.
"A year ago? That would have been just before I met them - how? Prue was there." Just as Jason was about to reply, Cole heard Paige calling. The two sisters had cast a spell so that he would always be able to hear them if they called. "Hold on to that thought. I've gotta go. I'll meet you here later." He was about to shimmer, and then added, almost as an afterthought, "Oh, and Jason? Don't even think about not turning up." He shimmered out, leaving a disgruntled Jason behind.

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"NOOOO! Prue!" The once silent patient struggled on the bed, pulling out numerous I.V. lines and drips.
"Ssshhhh…Phoebe, it's okay. C'mon Pheebs, wake up."
"Cl…Clay? What happened?" Phoebe managed to get out groggily as she opened her eyes to see her boyfriend sitting next to her.
"Phoebe, you were stabbed two days ago. You're in the hospital."
"Wha…it's all hazy." Clay looked at her for a moment as if he was assessing something, and then spoke firmly.
"Phoebe, I'm taking you back to San Francisco." When Phoebe was about to refuse, he gently shushed her and continued. "I know that you probably don't want to see Piper and Paige, but you have to realize that what happened with Prue wasn't your fault."
"Of course it wasn't. Roger's a lying bastard. Clay, who's Paige?" Clay's mouth dropped open.
"Uhh…Pheebs? Phoebe, sweetie, what year is it?"
"Well duh. 1998, silly."

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"What is it? Honey, what's wrong?"
"What's up?" Cole and Leo simultaneously orbed/shimmered into the private waiting room, shooting questions at the two women.
"Is that Prue?" Piper asked them, her voice shaking.
"Yep."
"Oh, sweetie, it is." Again they spoke at the same time.
"Leo, why couldn't we heal her?" Just as Paige spoke, the doctor came in, apparently not hearing the last bit of conversation. Piper was on him like a shot.
"How's my sister? How's Prue?"
"I'm afraid the news isn't very good. We've had to put her on dialysis and antibiotics. Whatever made those wounds had some sort of substance on it - we won't be sure what until the blood work comes back. What we do know right now is that your sister, Prue, has contracted septicemia, which is blood poisoning. It also makes her condition that much more unstable. I hate to tell you this, but if her heart stops again, there's an 80% chance that she won't live." All their faces began to fall, and Piper's world crumbled to pieces around her.
"Dr. Roberts? I think you need to see this. Now." A nurse stepped in, a scared look on her face.
"What? Is it Prue?" Paige asked nervously. Dr. Roberts gave her what was supposed to be a reassuring smile and ran out, leaving a terrified family behind.

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He smiled at his accomplice. So far, no one suspected a thing. Everything was going great, and if it stayed that way, he would be able to commence his plans sooner than he expected. They were all playing into his hands. The major players were all coming together, and it was soon going to be time to play ball.
"They will pay. She will pay." His accomplice promised him, not realizing that he had just sealed his fate. He gave a small half smile, one that didn't reach his eyes. 'Yes…yes, they would all pay. And she will suffer.'

TBC