Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed.
Author's Notes: Readers: please remember to review! Please! I am on my hands and knees, begging! Please! It really inspires me to write, and I need that inspiration. Especially if I get up early before school to write a chapter for you guys. So please, please, please remember to review! By the way, this chapter is a lot longer! Yeah! Enjoy!
Piper's Breakdown
Phoebe pulled up into the driveway, and it was now 9:00. She was running late – again! Piper would be furious with her! She quickly hopped out of the car, and smoothed her suit down – "I just washed this…," she muttered. Phoebe walked along the path leading up to the front door, her high-heel shoes clicking against the cement. She pushed it open, and accidentally slammed it shut. She cringed waiting for Piper to yell at her for either (a) being late, or (b) slamming the door too hard, or even (c) not calling to tell her where she was. When Phoebe didn't even get a 'hey', she called for her, "Piper! Are you home?" There was no answer. Phoebe slowly walked into the kitchen, but she did not see Piper. 'Okay…That's weird…' she thought. Piper was either in the kitchen, or - . Oh wait, maybe she was in her room. Or if she was taking a shower, she wouldn't be able to hear Phoebe.
Phoebe went up the stairs two at a time, and knocked on Piper's door – no answer. Phoebe lightly touched the knob, and turned it. The door slowly creaked open, but the bed had not been touched. Phoebe walked slowly down the stairs, a little disappointed; she wanted to tell Piper about her day. She shrugged her shoulders, and went into the kitchen and called Piper's cell phone. 'Brrring – Brrring – Brrring – Brrring – ' Phoebe hung up, and put the phone back on the carrier. She groaned aloud, and looked down at her clothes. "Well, fine, I will just get into my PJs and watch TV until Piper gets home." She frowned a little, and then walked back the way she had just come. She went upstairs the stair case, and opened the door to her room. As she turned on the lights, she threw her uncomfortable shoes lightly onto her bed. "Ungh…" Piper slowly opened her eyes, and realized the light was on. Phoebe was standing in the doorway with a look of confusion on her face.
Phoebe crossed the room in one stride, and clapped her hands, "Oh, goody! You're home!" She proceeded to sit on the bed, and share her day with her sister. Piper didn't know what to say to her sister. She stared blankly at her, and then flinched in pain when Phoebe sat on the bed. Phoebe didn't notice Piper's condition, since she was covered up except for her head. Phoebe continued to talk about her day when she asked a question she regretted, "So, how has your day been?" Just those five words were enough to make Piper hysterical again. Piper turned her head the other way, not wanting her sister to see the tears streaming down her cheeks.
Of course, Phoebe noticed, and concernedly said, "Piper…honey? Look at me? Please? … What happened?" Piper shook her head, unable to tell her sister. Phoebe coaxed Piper to turn towards her, and then asked, "What happened?" Piper uttered her husband's name, "Leo…" and then burst into tears. Phoebe hugged her sister a little too hard, and Piper immediately recoiled, and a look of pain spread across her face. Phoebe raised her eyebrows at Piper and quietly asked for her to pull the blanket down. Piper just trembled, and pulled it up even higher. Phoebe ran her fingers through Piper's hair, and said, "I know something bad happened, and I know you're hurt. Please show me. Please…you can trust me." Piper nodded her head, and pulled down the blanket. A deep gash was revealed, and Phoebe yelled for Leo. Piper tried to cover her mouth, but couldn't reach Phoebe's mouth without causing herself anymore pain.
Leo heard Phoebe's panicked call, and quickly orbed into her room. As soon as Piper saw Leo, she screamed, "Don't come near me! Phoebe, help me!" Phoebe put a hand to her mouth, and then said, "Sorry, Piper. I forgot you were mad at him, but you have to let him heal you." Phoebe had no idea what she was saying was betrayal to Piper's ears. Leo went to Piper's side, and she screamed in fear, "Get away from me! Don't touch me!" She quickly got out from underneath the blankets, forgetting she didn't dress herself. Severe pain shot through her arm, and her legs. She almost fell to the floor from the pain, but was too scared to let herself fall. Phoebe stared at Piper, wondering what was wrong with her, and why she wasn't dressed.
Leo stared at Piper in disbelief, "What is all this about?" Phoebe shrugged her shoulders and put up a hand to almost stop Leo from asking her any questions, "Don't ask me; it seems you should be talking to…" She looked at Piper, who was standing by the wall with a look of terror spread across her face. Leo looked at Piper, and concernedly asked, "What happened today, Piper? Why are you so afraid of me?" Piper just shook her head like she was three, and refused to answer. Leo looked at Phoebe, "A little help here, please?" Phoebe looked at Leo, and then looked at Piper, "Honey, what happened? C'mon. You need to tell me. Please." Phoebe got off the bed, and slowly walked towards Piper. Leo followed Phoebe's lead, and also started to walk towards Piper.
Piper looked frantically around the room looking for a way to escape. She called to Phoebe, "Out t-the w-window. Get o-out of h-here!" Phoebe looked at Piper with a sideways glance, "Why? There is no danger here." Piper twisted her hands nervously. She didn't want her sister to get hurt like she had earlier. The only way for her sister to heed her advice was to tell her why. Piper took a ragged breath, and shakily pointed a finger at Leo. She looked at Phoebe and met her gaze, "You n-need to g-get out of h-here." Her hand started shaking violently, "He…He…raped …me…" The last part was barley audible, but since Phoebe was standing only a few feet away from Piper, she had heard her perfectly. Phoebe gasped and put her hand to her mouth, and turned to face Leo. Her face was contorted in shock and pain for her sister. She angrily asked, "What? Did you rape her?" Leo just held as much shock and pain, and numbly shook his head no.
Piper fell to the floor, out of grief and pain, and cried. When she had said the word, it was like a tidal wave hitting her in the gut. Phoebe rushed over to Piper, and helped her sister up. She then wrapped her in a blanket and put Piper's arm around her shoulder. She clenched her teeth, and whispered, "C'mon. I'm taking you to the hospital." She slowly walked past Leo, and thought she saw him crying. Leo then blocked the doorway for a minute, and placed his hands over Piper.
She screamed and tried to run away, but then realized the gash in her arm was healing. Leo looked into Piper's eyes as she backed away from him. He looked hurt, and then hung his head, and whispered, "You know, I wasn't in the manor at all today. And then when I come home, my own wife thinks I – " He shook his head in frustration, and in sympathy. Tears streamed down his face, and he openly cried. He looked directly into Piper's eyes, and whispered, "I love you, and I don't know who the hell raped you, but it wasn't me!" Leo shook with anger, "That damn bastard is going to pay for what he did!" Leo orbed out of the manor with anger in his eyes.
Piper shuddered, and looked at Phoebe, "He h-healed me." Phoebe nodded her head, and quietly asked, "Do you think you may be – pregnant?" Piper shook her head, and put her hands up to her forehead in frustration, "I don't know." Phoebe gently patted Piper on the back, and led her to her room. "C'mon. Let's get you dressed, and then we can go look in the Book of Shadows for whomever…um…" Piper slowly nodded her head, but it didn't seem to register. She just stared ahead of her, unwilling to face what happened.
Paige orbed into the manor right next to Piper with a smile on her face, until she saw Piper wrapped in a blanket. Her face fell, "Are you okay? What happened?" Piper just shook her head, tears still streaming down her face. Phoebe patted Piper on the back, "Oh, honey. It's going to be okay. Come on. Let's go." They headed off again, and Phoebe looked at Paige's stunned face, and mouthed, 'I'll be back. Stay here.' She walked Piper into her room, and gasped. Leo was sitting on Piper's bed with his legs cross and stretched out. He was laying on his side, with his elbows on the bed, and his hands were cupping his face. When he saw Piper, his eyes lit up, "There you are! I was waiting for you. I thought we would go at it again!" He smiled devilishly as Piper screamed and backed out into the hallway, hitting her body against the wall. She put her hands to her face and yelled, "NO!"
Author's Notes: I didn't get as many reviews this time. What happened? I really enjoy reading your comments/questions. It inspires me to write. So, please keep writing your reviews! Hopefully, you enjoyed this chapter a little more, considering it was longer. ? Please remember to review! Thanks! Also, in your reviews, tell what Charmed fan fictions you have written, so I can read them! Thanks! (I don't have enough time to go through everyone's fictions.) J