Aftermath 3
This is the sequel to "Shades of Gray". I do not own Charmed, I just write about it.
"Cole." Phoebe commented as she whirled on Gerald. "What the hell is going on?"
Gerald's face was expressionless as he said, "I've shielded us so we will remain unseen. Just watch."
The sisters were in a large cavern that seemed to have been polished to a perfect sphere. Runes and ancient inscriptions covered the wall, and in the very center sat a stone alter with Cole on it. As the sisters watched, Gabriel appeared, and they fought not to gasp.
Gabriel had always been thin, but now he was skin and bones. His wings hung limply at his sides, as if he didn't have the energy to lift them. But it was his eyes that disturbed the sisters the most. When they passed over them, Phoebe fought not to weep. They were the look of a person who was so far beyond his limits that he'd forgotten everything but the next step. They were like a person who was climbing a mountain, and was so tired he could only focus on the next handhold, and not how far he had to go. They were the eyes of a person near death.
"Gabriel." Phoebe whispered. Gabriel ignored them, and slowly approached Cole. He placed his hands on Cole's head, and began to chant. Piper winced as she heard his voice, for it was utterly hoarse. Tears began to flow from Gabriel's face, and the group realized his throat was so raw simply speaking was brutally painful. Still, he chanted without pause or hesitation. As the group watched, a single point of light appeared at the edge of the chamber. It seemed to hesitate, and slowly began to weave its way towards Gabriel and Cole. When it got there, the light came to rest on Cole's forehead, and it seemed to be absorbed by Cole's mind.
Gabriel slumped and his hands fell away from Cole. "Stay here, and just watch," Gerald said as he boldly strode forward. Gabriel looked up, and the sisters could see him straining to collect power. "Master, Nephew, it's just me."
The power died as Gabriel recognized Gerald. "What." Gabriel began and winced in pain.
Gerald placed his hands on Gabriel's throat, and said, "Take my power, and use it to heal your throat. Please."
Gabriel's throat glowed for several moments, and then some of the pain eased from his face. "Thank you."
"Gabriel, please stop, this is going to kill you." Gerald begged, and the group realized this was an argument he'd been making for a while.
Gabriel shook his head as he said, "I can't. I'm getting closer. I've gotten almost half of the memories back. All I need is more time."
"Master, you can't keep this up. You'll never survive; all you're doing is making Cole's sacrifice in vain." Gerald murmured.
"I don't care," Gabriel said dully. "He is my father, and I will never give up. I will heal him, no matter what. Unlike the others, I will never lose hope."
As if his words were a key, the group felt memories slam into them. The images ran over them, and they felt themselves being pulled into the past.
***
"FATHER!" Gabriel screamed. He tried to stand, but he didn't have the strength. Mortanos ran over and helped him get up.
"Come on, let's go find him. He must be alive," Phoebe said desperately.
They all gathered around Mortanos, who transported them down to the bottom of the pit. When they got there, Phoebe's heart soared, and she ran forward, "Cole!"
Cole was lying near the center, not moving. Phoebe grabbed him, and felt for a pulse. It was there, strong as ever. She looked up and said, "He's alive!"
The group gathered around as Phoebe shook Cole and said, "Cole, baby, can you hear me."
Cole's eyes were open, and they stared without sentience at Phoebe. Phoebe shook harder and said, "Cole, please, come on, talk to me."
"Oh no." Leo said sadly.
"What, what is it?" Phoebe asked.
Leo looked to Mortanos, who nodded. Leo sighed, and said, "I'm so sorry Phoebe, he's gone."
Phoebe shook her head sharply, and said, "No, you're wrong, he's right here."
"His body might be here, but his mind is not," Mortanos explained gently. "Pulling in all that power and redirecting it destroyed his mind. There's nothing we can do."
"There must be something.Melinda, you helped Gabriel when he was insane. Help Cole, please." Piper suggested.
Melinda shook her head and said, "There's nothing I can do. Cole isn't merely insane, his mind has been utterly erased. His memories were carried away by the power, and could be anywhere in this realm. I have no way to find or rebuild them. I'm sorry, but Cole is gone."
Phoebe began to weep, and Paige and Piper gathered her into their arms. She cried for several moments, then looked up as Leo drew a knife. "Leo, what are you doing?"
Leo looked deeply sad as he replied, "What I have to. The body could linger for weeks, slowly wasting away. I'm going to end it now, so we can mourn Cole for his sacrifice instead of as he is now."
"But." Phoebe began.
"Phoebe, there's no hope. Better this than to see him slowly waste away before you, right?" Leo asked slowly.
Phoebe swallowed a sob as she said slowly, "Alright."
Leo took two steps before he heard a voice full of rage and menace said, "Take another step towards my father, and uncle or not, they'll need tweezers to pick up your pieces."
Leo whirled as Gabriel stood up. Power blazed in his eyes, while his features had an angry set to his features. "Step away, slowly." He said softly.
Phoebe stood up, and said, "Son, please, this is the only way."
Gabriel shook his head and said, "I can't believe you're giving up already. We have to try something, we can't let it end like this."
"Cousin, there's no way to find his memories. We can't help him," Melinda started.
Gabriel glared, and said, "Do you all feel this way?"
As they all nodded, Phoebe saw some of the rage die in his eyes, and began to hope he would see the light. However, his face took on a look of pure determination as he said, "So be it. You may give up on him, but I never will. My father never stopped believing I was alive, and he would sacrifice anything to save me. I can't give up without showing him the same courtesy and love."
He walked over towards Cole's body. Cole's body began to float towards Gabriel. "Gabriel." Phoebe began.
Gabriel whirled, and his eyes blazed, "I will save him, and bring him back. Until then, I can't have you interfere. I'm truly sorry." Power washed over the group, too quick for them to react. They tried to form a mental defense, but Gabriel's power rammed through them. The last thing Phoebe remembered before losing consciousness was Gabriel's voice saying softly, "Forget."
***
Phoebe opened her eyes, and looked over at her sisters. "I remember now," she said softly as they nodded.
Gabriel looked at them, and he frowned. His eyes blazed, then widened. "How dare you, I told you not to bring them here."
"I'm sorry, but they remembered, and needed to see this," Gerald mentioned.
"How.of course, I must have missed someone who knew me." Gabriel murmured to himself.
"Son, I'm so sorry, but you need to let him go." Phoebe began.
"I believe we're already covered this," Gabriel said coldly, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do."
As Gabriel struggled to stand, Mortanos strode forward and helped him stand. "Life, you need to rest. Even if you save Cole, you need to be at full strength when you do it."
Gabriel shook his head weakly. "No, this is a one way process. I can't stop or rest, I have to use my power to keep the pieces together till I find them all."
"If that's true, it'll take more and more power just to hold Cole's mind together. You're already stretched beyond your limits, you can't keep this up. This'll kill you if you don't stop." Michael begged.
"Then so be it," Gabriel remarked, "I would rather die than know I didn't do everything I could to save him. It is my choice."
"No, it's not," Mortanos said gravely, "you're neglecting your job, dragging all of life down with you, and I can't allow that. I am so very sorry." Power erupted from Mortanos, and Gabriel's eyes widened.
"No, please don't, I can't.not NOW!" Gabriel shouted. He put up a token defense around Cole's body just as Mortano's power slammed into it.
"You have to choose," Mortanos said calmly, "You can't protect Cole's body and keep your spell going."
"NO! This is a one time shot, I CAN'T START IT AGAIN! PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!" Gabriel shouted as tears began to flow down his cheeks.
"I have no choice; if you don't veer from this path, all of life will end as you use them up as fuel for this spell. It's either Cole or all life, and I know what he would choose." Mortanos stated. Suddenly, the power hitting the shield quadrupled. On instinct, Gabriel increased his power to stop it, and then he screamed in terror.
The runes instantly stopped glowing, and small pockets of light began to flow from Cole's mind. "NO!!!!!" Gabriel screamed. He began to weep as he tried desperately to restart the spell, but it was too late. He whirled on Mortanos and said, "HOW DARE YOU! YOU'LL SPEND AN ETERNITY REGRETTING THAT!"
Gabriel suddenly began to float, and Mortanos was thrown against the wall. Rage and utter hatred roared to life in Gabriel's eyes and he pulled more and more power in to utterly obliterate Mortanos.
"Gabriel, LOOK!" Phoebe shouted. Gabriel whirled, and his eyes widened. The lights had stopped moving, and as the group watched, more and more lights appeared. Soon, there were more than the group could count, and they all floated into Cole's mind. With a shuddering gasp, Cole sat straight up, and as the group watched, sanity and sentience flowed back into his mind. He looked around in confusion before whispering, "Gabriel."
The power died around Gabriel as he collapsed. He fell forward and pulled Cole into a deep hug. Cole placed his arms around him as Gabriel shakily sobbed. Finally, Gabriel's sobbing stopped, and Cole looked up and whispered. "He's asleep."
"Cole." Phoebe began, before she too stumbled forward and hugged Cole. "How."
"I don't know," Cole said honestly, "last thing I remember is redirecting the power.wait, I also have some of Gabriel's memories." Cole looked into Phoebe's eyes and said lovingly, "I know what you almost did to me, and I forgive you. You did the right thing."
He would have said more, but the rest of the group ran over and pulled him into a large group hug. After a few moments, Leo said, "It's a miracle."
"Whatever it is, I'm grateful," Phoebe said firmly. "Now, let's go home."
Cole smiled, and said, "You're going to have to shimmer me from here. Look." The group looked, and smiled in joy. Even in sleep, Gabriel had a death grip around Cole, and Cole couldn't move. Everyone smiled as Mortanos began to shimmer them out. "Let's go home."
***
As soon as they were gone, Angel released his spell of hiding. He walked forward and reverently ran his hands over the altar. "Very impressive, Gabriel. You truly are a worthy Azarian." It had been risky to openly use his powers, but Angel felt it was worth it. After all, he had a debt to repay Gabriel for stopping his son. Angel smiled and said, "Rest well, Gabriel. I have plans for you."
THE END
This is the sequel to "Shades of Gray". I do not own Charmed, I just write about it.
"Cole." Phoebe commented as she whirled on Gerald. "What the hell is going on?"
Gerald's face was expressionless as he said, "I've shielded us so we will remain unseen. Just watch."
The sisters were in a large cavern that seemed to have been polished to a perfect sphere. Runes and ancient inscriptions covered the wall, and in the very center sat a stone alter with Cole on it. As the sisters watched, Gabriel appeared, and they fought not to gasp.
Gabriel had always been thin, but now he was skin and bones. His wings hung limply at his sides, as if he didn't have the energy to lift them. But it was his eyes that disturbed the sisters the most. When they passed over them, Phoebe fought not to weep. They were the look of a person who was so far beyond his limits that he'd forgotten everything but the next step. They were like a person who was climbing a mountain, and was so tired he could only focus on the next handhold, and not how far he had to go. They were the eyes of a person near death.
"Gabriel." Phoebe whispered. Gabriel ignored them, and slowly approached Cole. He placed his hands on Cole's head, and began to chant. Piper winced as she heard his voice, for it was utterly hoarse. Tears began to flow from Gabriel's face, and the group realized his throat was so raw simply speaking was brutally painful. Still, he chanted without pause or hesitation. As the group watched, a single point of light appeared at the edge of the chamber. It seemed to hesitate, and slowly began to weave its way towards Gabriel and Cole. When it got there, the light came to rest on Cole's forehead, and it seemed to be absorbed by Cole's mind.
Gabriel slumped and his hands fell away from Cole. "Stay here, and just watch," Gerald said as he boldly strode forward. Gabriel looked up, and the sisters could see him straining to collect power. "Master, Nephew, it's just me."
The power died as Gabriel recognized Gerald. "What." Gabriel began and winced in pain.
Gerald placed his hands on Gabriel's throat, and said, "Take my power, and use it to heal your throat. Please."
Gabriel's throat glowed for several moments, and then some of the pain eased from his face. "Thank you."
"Gabriel, please stop, this is going to kill you." Gerald begged, and the group realized this was an argument he'd been making for a while.
Gabriel shook his head as he said, "I can't. I'm getting closer. I've gotten almost half of the memories back. All I need is more time."
"Master, you can't keep this up. You'll never survive; all you're doing is making Cole's sacrifice in vain." Gerald murmured.
"I don't care," Gabriel said dully. "He is my father, and I will never give up. I will heal him, no matter what. Unlike the others, I will never lose hope."
As if his words were a key, the group felt memories slam into them. The images ran over them, and they felt themselves being pulled into the past.
***
"FATHER!" Gabriel screamed. He tried to stand, but he didn't have the strength. Mortanos ran over and helped him get up.
"Come on, let's go find him. He must be alive," Phoebe said desperately.
They all gathered around Mortanos, who transported them down to the bottom of the pit. When they got there, Phoebe's heart soared, and she ran forward, "Cole!"
Cole was lying near the center, not moving. Phoebe grabbed him, and felt for a pulse. It was there, strong as ever. She looked up and said, "He's alive!"
The group gathered around as Phoebe shook Cole and said, "Cole, baby, can you hear me."
Cole's eyes were open, and they stared without sentience at Phoebe. Phoebe shook harder and said, "Cole, please, come on, talk to me."
"Oh no." Leo said sadly.
"What, what is it?" Phoebe asked.
Leo looked to Mortanos, who nodded. Leo sighed, and said, "I'm so sorry Phoebe, he's gone."
Phoebe shook her head sharply, and said, "No, you're wrong, he's right here."
"His body might be here, but his mind is not," Mortanos explained gently. "Pulling in all that power and redirecting it destroyed his mind. There's nothing we can do."
"There must be something.Melinda, you helped Gabriel when he was insane. Help Cole, please." Piper suggested.
Melinda shook her head and said, "There's nothing I can do. Cole isn't merely insane, his mind has been utterly erased. His memories were carried away by the power, and could be anywhere in this realm. I have no way to find or rebuild them. I'm sorry, but Cole is gone."
Phoebe began to weep, and Paige and Piper gathered her into their arms. She cried for several moments, then looked up as Leo drew a knife. "Leo, what are you doing?"
Leo looked deeply sad as he replied, "What I have to. The body could linger for weeks, slowly wasting away. I'm going to end it now, so we can mourn Cole for his sacrifice instead of as he is now."
"But." Phoebe began.
"Phoebe, there's no hope. Better this than to see him slowly waste away before you, right?" Leo asked slowly.
Phoebe swallowed a sob as she said slowly, "Alright."
Leo took two steps before he heard a voice full of rage and menace said, "Take another step towards my father, and uncle or not, they'll need tweezers to pick up your pieces."
Leo whirled as Gabriel stood up. Power blazed in his eyes, while his features had an angry set to his features. "Step away, slowly." He said softly.
Phoebe stood up, and said, "Son, please, this is the only way."
Gabriel shook his head and said, "I can't believe you're giving up already. We have to try something, we can't let it end like this."
"Cousin, there's no way to find his memories. We can't help him," Melinda started.
Gabriel glared, and said, "Do you all feel this way?"
As they all nodded, Phoebe saw some of the rage die in his eyes, and began to hope he would see the light. However, his face took on a look of pure determination as he said, "So be it. You may give up on him, but I never will. My father never stopped believing I was alive, and he would sacrifice anything to save me. I can't give up without showing him the same courtesy and love."
He walked over towards Cole's body. Cole's body began to float towards Gabriel. "Gabriel." Phoebe began.
Gabriel whirled, and his eyes blazed, "I will save him, and bring him back. Until then, I can't have you interfere. I'm truly sorry." Power washed over the group, too quick for them to react. They tried to form a mental defense, but Gabriel's power rammed through them. The last thing Phoebe remembered before losing consciousness was Gabriel's voice saying softly, "Forget."
***
Phoebe opened her eyes, and looked over at her sisters. "I remember now," she said softly as they nodded.
Gabriel looked at them, and he frowned. His eyes blazed, then widened. "How dare you, I told you not to bring them here."
"I'm sorry, but they remembered, and needed to see this," Gerald mentioned.
"How.of course, I must have missed someone who knew me." Gabriel murmured to himself.
"Son, I'm so sorry, but you need to let him go." Phoebe began.
"I believe we're already covered this," Gabriel said coldly, "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some work to do."
As Gabriel struggled to stand, Mortanos strode forward and helped him stand. "Life, you need to rest. Even if you save Cole, you need to be at full strength when you do it."
Gabriel shook his head weakly. "No, this is a one way process. I can't stop or rest, I have to use my power to keep the pieces together till I find them all."
"If that's true, it'll take more and more power just to hold Cole's mind together. You're already stretched beyond your limits, you can't keep this up. This'll kill you if you don't stop." Michael begged.
"Then so be it," Gabriel remarked, "I would rather die than know I didn't do everything I could to save him. It is my choice."
"No, it's not," Mortanos said gravely, "you're neglecting your job, dragging all of life down with you, and I can't allow that. I am so very sorry." Power erupted from Mortanos, and Gabriel's eyes widened.
"No, please don't, I can't.not NOW!" Gabriel shouted. He put up a token defense around Cole's body just as Mortano's power slammed into it.
"You have to choose," Mortanos said calmly, "You can't protect Cole's body and keep your spell going."
"NO! This is a one time shot, I CAN'T START IT AGAIN! PLEASE DON'T DO THIS!" Gabriel shouted as tears began to flow down his cheeks.
"I have no choice; if you don't veer from this path, all of life will end as you use them up as fuel for this spell. It's either Cole or all life, and I know what he would choose." Mortanos stated. Suddenly, the power hitting the shield quadrupled. On instinct, Gabriel increased his power to stop it, and then he screamed in terror.
The runes instantly stopped glowing, and small pockets of light began to flow from Cole's mind. "NO!!!!!" Gabriel screamed. He began to weep as he tried desperately to restart the spell, but it was too late. He whirled on Mortanos and said, "HOW DARE YOU! YOU'LL SPEND AN ETERNITY REGRETTING THAT!"
Gabriel suddenly began to float, and Mortanos was thrown against the wall. Rage and utter hatred roared to life in Gabriel's eyes and he pulled more and more power in to utterly obliterate Mortanos.
"Gabriel, LOOK!" Phoebe shouted. Gabriel whirled, and his eyes widened. The lights had stopped moving, and as the group watched, more and more lights appeared. Soon, there were more than the group could count, and they all floated into Cole's mind. With a shuddering gasp, Cole sat straight up, and as the group watched, sanity and sentience flowed back into his mind. He looked around in confusion before whispering, "Gabriel."
The power died around Gabriel as he collapsed. He fell forward and pulled Cole into a deep hug. Cole placed his arms around him as Gabriel shakily sobbed. Finally, Gabriel's sobbing stopped, and Cole looked up and whispered. "He's asleep."
"Cole." Phoebe began, before she too stumbled forward and hugged Cole. "How."
"I don't know," Cole said honestly, "last thing I remember is redirecting the power.wait, I also have some of Gabriel's memories." Cole looked into Phoebe's eyes and said lovingly, "I know what you almost did to me, and I forgive you. You did the right thing."
He would have said more, but the rest of the group ran over and pulled him into a large group hug. After a few moments, Leo said, "It's a miracle."
"Whatever it is, I'm grateful," Phoebe said firmly. "Now, let's go home."
Cole smiled, and said, "You're going to have to shimmer me from here. Look." The group looked, and smiled in joy. Even in sleep, Gabriel had a death grip around Cole, and Cole couldn't move. Everyone smiled as Mortanos began to shimmer them out. "Let's go home."
***
As soon as they were gone, Angel released his spell of hiding. He walked forward and reverently ran his hands over the altar. "Very impressive, Gabriel. You truly are a worthy Azarian." It had been risky to openly use his powers, but Angel felt it was worth it. After all, he had a debt to repay Gabriel for stopping his son. Angel smiled and said, "Rest well, Gabriel. I have plans for you."
THE END