Disclaimer: No, I don't own Charmed. Hey, it disappoints me as much as it does you. lol. Seriously though, I would have done some things a lot differently if I'd owned the show...anyways. That's my disclaimer and I'm stickin' to it! (In case you were wondering, no I don't do drugs, yes I really am THAT weird!!!:P)
AN: Sorry to have to do this to you guyz....read on, you'll understand why!
Two Weeks Later....
Piper walked wearily down the hallway, tiptoeing softly in her house shoes. Getting up at five thirty in the morning was a brutal reminder of why she had loved owning her own business. Sleeping in! She peeked into Phoebe's bedroom, assuring herself that her younger sister was fine. Well, as well as could be expected lately. Sighing, she made herself go back down the hall and into her room to get dressed.
In the two weeks since Prue's party, Phoebe had shown more obvious signs of her illness. She seldom remembered names, retreated into a childish, stubborn mindset. It had been difficult for all of them, and each delt with it in their own unique, avoiding-the-matter-at-hand way. Prue, characteristically, worked long hours in an effort to have her brain shut down before she came home. It was easier for her to handle the grief this way, than to face it dead on. Sometimes, running head first into a problem did nothing but slice you straight through, leaving you no chance for survival. At least, that was what she told herself this morning, struggling with yet another bout of guilt. Timing it perfectly, she exited her bedroom just as Piper entered hers. The less interaction, the less confrontation. It was simple. The guilt couldn't overcome her if she simply ignored it in every direction it could possibly approach. Grimacing, she hurried downstairs and out of the Manor.
Piper's manner of dealing was much more subtle. When anything got to be too much for her, the nurturer in her went overdrive. In the last few days, she had taken more bowls of homemade soup to sick co-workers than she had in the years she owned P3. Telling herself that she was being a nice, caring individual helped her to forget the searing pain in her heart. Well, she never really forgot it, simply pushed out of her immediate thoughts. This morning she couldn't help but notice how unsettlingly quiet the house seemed, and how alone she really felt. Leo had been away so much, it was almost as though she had made him up, a very vivid, warm, and generous figment of her imagination. The bitterness in her started to rise, but she forced it down firmly with something far more pressing. Who would take care of Phoebe everyday? It wasn't fair to ask Paige to do it all the time. That entire, heavy burden on one person was just too much. Especially for Paige, who had been so withdrawn and quiet it made it easy to forget she was even in the house. She glanced at her clock, and rushed through the last few processes of getting ready. Later, she would deal with Phoebe, now, she was late for work.
Paige awoke several hours after her sister left. Listening intently for a moment, she detected the sound that had woken her up to begin with. A child-like voice begging for attention. Quickly, she jumped out of bed and ran down the hallway. Phoebe was sitting in the middle of the floor, staring at her shoestrings. "I can't remember how to do it...Can you show me?," she asked, holding up the strings imploringly. Paige smiled gently, feeling sorrow tug at her heart, and bent down to show her sister how to tie her shoes. The thought nearly knocked her over. No one should have to go through this kind of mind game. One week, you are a happy, young adult, and the next you are a miserable grown child, struggling with simple tasks. Chocking back a sob, she finished the last loop and forced herself to smile at Phoebe.
"Thank you, Paige," she said gratefully. Paige peered into her eyes and saw a glimpse of the former Phoebe, before it was chased away by an unsettling confusion. Her little sister stared up at her helplessly, and the hole in her heart got deeper. "Sweetie, I am so sorry I did this to you," she whispered, a tear dripping down her cheek. Phoebe's look of confusion increased, and Paige had to force her emotions back.
"You did this to me? What's wrong with me now?," Phoebe asked, looking hurt. Paige looked at her and impulsively hugged her tightly.
"You're perfect, honey, nothing's wrong with you. I am just sad for a lot of reasons," Paige explained, drawing back to smile at Phoebe. The hurt look transformed into a huge grin as Phoebe's emotions settled.
"Don't be sad, Paige. I'm here and I won't let anything bad happen. I promise," she said, toying with Paige's hair. Paige nearly broke down, but held on tightly to reality. Right now, she had to be together, patient, unconditionally loving. She would have years to break down...for now, she just had to be there for her sister.
"I know, sweetie. I love you," she said with forced cheer. Phoebe grinned happily and hugged her.
"Me too," Phoebe answered, smiling widely. Paige got up and offered a hand to Phoebe, who took it and pulled herself up. Phoebe pitched forward, and nausea rolled in her stomach. Her head was throbbing as Paige caught her, and then she slipped into the welcoming darkness of unconciousness.
"Phoebe, Phoebe!," Paige screamed, frantic. What was she going to do?
"Ms. Halliwell, I thought I asked you to file these BY three o'clock," a woman said, causing Prue to jump and nearly spill her half-full cold mug of coffee.
"It's only one, Mrs. Steinburg," she answered, narrowing her eyes. If only she could use her powers on wicked little bit....
"I realize that, but you should probably get started," her boss advised, pretending to be helpful, "Thanks, hon'." Prue glared at the retreating figure. WHY did she agree to work here again? Before she could remind herself of the reasons she needed the job, the phone rang. Sighing, she jerked it up before it rang again.
"F5 Magazine, this is Prue Halliwell speaking. How may I help you?," she answered, forcing sarcasm out of her voice and replacing it with cheerful helpfulness. How she hated this job!
"Paige, slow down. Take a deep breath and tell me what happened," she said after a minute of listening to an hysterical Paige.
"Fine, call the ambulance. I'll be home as soon as I can," she told her and hung up quickly. Leaping out of her chair, she threw on her coat and half-jogged towards the exit.
"Ms. Halliwell, where are you going? I told you already, I need those papers filed by...," Prue heard called after her. Ignoring her boss, she rushed to her car. Phoebe was in trouble and she wasn't there to save her. What the hell kind of sister was she?
By the time she arrived home, Paige was crying and rocking Phoebe back and forth gently. Prue ran to her side, desperate to assure herself that her sister was not dead. Her heart was beating rapidly, and she felt tears rise up, only to be pushed down and taken over by the confidence and calm attitude that was in Prue's nature.
"She won't wake up, Prue," Paige informed her brokenly, gazing at her older sister helplessly. Prue touched Phoebe's face gently and noticed how incredible cold she felt. But that didn't mean...did it? She reached down to check for a pulse as an ambulance tore down the street and stopped in front of the Manor. The screaming sirens filled the room quickly, but the sisters were oblivious to everything but Phoebe.
"Don't you dare die, Phoebe, don't even think about it," Paige told her fiercely, watching as Prue touched Phoebe's throat tentatively. Please, let her still be alive...
AN: Sorry to have to do this to you guyz....read on, you'll understand why!
Two Weeks Later....
Piper walked wearily down the hallway, tiptoeing softly in her house shoes. Getting up at five thirty in the morning was a brutal reminder of why she had loved owning her own business. Sleeping in! She peeked into Phoebe's bedroom, assuring herself that her younger sister was fine. Well, as well as could be expected lately. Sighing, she made herself go back down the hall and into her room to get dressed.
In the two weeks since Prue's party, Phoebe had shown more obvious signs of her illness. She seldom remembered names, retreated into a childish, stubborn mindset. It had been difficult for all of them, and each delt with it in their own unique, avoiding-the-matter-at-hand way. Prue, characteristically, worked long hours in an effort to have her brain shut down before she came home. It was easier for her to handle the grief this way, than to face it dead on. Sometimes, running head first into a problem did nothing but slice you straight through, leaving you no chance for survival. At least, that was what she told herself this morning, struggling with yet another bout of guilt. Timing it perfectly, she exited her bedroom just as Piper entered hers. The less interaction, the less confrontation. It was simple. The guilt couldn't overcome her if she simply ignored it in every direction it could possibly approach. Grimacing, she hurried downstairs and out of the Manor.
Piper's manner of dealing was much more subtle. When anything got to be too much for her, the nurturer in her went overdrive. In the last few days, she had taken more bowls of homemade soup to sick co-workers than she had in the years she owned P3. Telling herself that she was being a nice, caring individual helped her to forget the searing pain in her heart. Well, she never really forgot it, simply pushed out of her immediate thoughts. This morning she couldn't help but notice how unsettlingly quiet the house seemed, and how alone she really felt. Leo had been away so much, it was almost as though she had made him up, a very vivid, warm, and generous figment of her imagination. The bitterness in her started to rise, but she forced it down firmly with something far more pressing. Who would take care of Phoebe everyday? It wasn't fair to ask Paige to do it all the time. That entire, heavy burden on one person was just too much. Especially for Paige, who had been so withdrawn and quiet it made it easy to forget she was even in the house. She glanced at her clock, and rushed through the last few processes of getting ready. Later, she would deal with Phoebe, now, she was late for work.
Paige awoke several hours after her sister left. Listening intently for a moment, she detected the sound that had woken her up to begin with. A child-like voice begging for attention. Quickly, she jumped out of bed and ran down the hallway. Phoebe was sitting in the middle of the floor, staring at her shoestrings. "I can't remember how to do it...Can you show me?," she asked, holding up the strings imploringly. Paige smiled gently, feeling sorrow tug at her heart, and bent down to show her sister how to tie her shoes. The thought nearly knocked her over. No one should have to go through this kind of mind game. One week, you are a happy, young adult, and the next you are a miserable grown child, struggling with simple tasks. Chocking back a sob, she finished the last loop and forced herself to smile at Phoebe.
"Thank you, Paige," she said gratefully. Paige peered into her eyes and saw a glimpse of the former Phoebe, before it was chased away by an unsettling confusion. Her little sister stared up at her helplessly, and the hole in her heart got deeper. "Sweetie, I am so sorry I did this to you," she whispered, a tear dripping down her cheek. Phoebe's look of confusion increased, and Paige had to force her emotions back.
"You did this to me? What's wrong with me now?," Phoebe asked, looking hurt. Paige looked at her and impulsively hugged her tightly.
"You're perfect, honey, nothing's wrong with you. I am just sad for a lot of reasons," Paige explained, drawing back to smile at Phoebe. The hurt look transformed into a huge grin as Phoebe's emotions settled.
"Don't be sad, Paige. I'm here and I won't let anything bad happen. I promise," she said, toying with Paige's hair. Paige nearly broke down, but held on tightly to reality. Right now, she had to be together, patient, unconditionally loving. She would have years to break down...for now, she just had to be there for her sister.
"I know, sweetie. I love you," she said with forced cheer. Phoebe grinned happily and hugged her.
"Me too," Phoebe answered, smiling widely. Paige got up and offered a hand to Phoebe, who took it and pulled herself up. Phoebe pitched forward, and nausea rolled in her stomach. Her head was throbbing as Paige caught her, and then she slipped into the welcoming darkness of unconciousness.
"Phoebe, Phoebe!," Paige screamed, frantic. What was she going to do?
"Ms. Halliwell, I thought I asked you to file these BY three o'clock," a woman said, causing Prue to jump and nearly spill her half-full cold mug of coffee.
"It's only one, Mrs. Steinburg," she answered, narrowing her eyes. If only she could use her powers on wicked little bit....
"I realize that, but you should probably get started," her boss advised, pretending to be helpful, "Thanks, hon'." Prue glared at the retreating figure. WHY did she agree to work here again? Before she could remind herself of the reasons she needed the job, the phone rang. Sighing, she jerked it up before it rang again.
"F5 Magazine, this is Prue Halliwell speaking. How may I help you?," she answered, forcing sarcasm out of her voice and replacing it with cheerful helpfulness. How she hated this job!
"Paige, slow down. Take a deep breath and tell me what happened," she said after a minute of listening to an hysterical Paige.
"Fine, call the ambulance. I'll be home as soon as I can," she told her and hung up quickly. Leaping out of her chair, she threw on her coat and half-jogged towards the exit.
"Ms. Halliwell, where are you going? I told you already, I need those papers filed by...," Prue heard called after her. Ignoring her boss, she rushed to her car. Phoebe was in trouble and she wasn't there to save her. What the hell kind of sister was she?
By the time she arrived home, Paige was crying and rocking Phoebe back and forth gently. Prue ran to her side, desperate to assure herself that her sister was not dead. Her heart was beating rapidly, and she felt tears rise up, only to be pushed down and taken over by the confidence and calm attitude that was in Prue's nature.
"She won't wake up, Prue," Paige informed her brokenly, gazing at her older sister helplessly. Prue touched Phoebe's face gently and noticed how incredible cold she felt. But that didn't mean...did it? She reached down to check for a pulse as an ambulance tore down the street and stopped in front of the Manor. The screaming sirens filled the room quickly, but the sisters were oblivious to everything but Phoebe.
"Don't you dare die, Phoebe, don't even think about it," Paige told her fiercely, watching as Prue touched Phoebe's throat tentatively. Please, let her still be alive...