"It was meant to be Piper's time," Death told Prue. "But you sacrificed yourself for her, and that sacrifice has saved her. But Evil may try to cheat that bargain." He inclined his head toward Andy, who was kneeling beside Prue's body, his hands spread over her wounds.

"Prue! Prue, come on, I broke every rule in the world to get here, you can NOT die on me now, dammit!"

Prue gazed at him tenderly. "Andy..."

He stiffened and looked up, and slowly was able to see Prue's spectral form. "Oh, Prue, no..." His voice trailed off, brokenly.

"Andy, it's okay, it's my time. But Piper -- you have to heal Piper, please."

Weeping unashamedly, Andy turned and spread his hands over Piper. The familiar healing glow of a Whitelighter spread out from his hands, and Piper's wounds began to close.

* * *

The tableau in the Underworld remained motionless. It seemed to Leo, Cole, and Phoebe that they had been standing there forever. Wordless communication -- hardly communication at all, just a shared understanding -- passed between Cole and Leo. They knew they could not coordinate a strike telepathically, as the Source had proven that would be useless. But in desperation, both men realized that they could no longer wait passively as the Source destroyed the loves of each of their lives, along with two other women each of them loved like sisters.

Suddenly, without warning and so fast it was hardly a blur of motion, Cole morphed into his demon form, snatched Phoebe from the Source's grasp, and shimmered out, as Leo orbed back to the manor. The Source was left alone in the Underworld, howling in desperation.

* * *

"It is time," Death announced. "Come, I must take you."

"Leo's coming," said Andy. "I can't be seen here, Piper's out of immediate danger. Let me go with her, please? It's been so long..."

Death nodded, acquiescing. He and Andy each reached out a hand to Prue. She took their hands, understanding at last what it meant to be "at peace," and the three of them faded from view.

* * *

Leo orbed into the manor just as Cole shimmered in with Phoebe. "Oh, no," whispered Phoebe.

Not pausing to think, or even begin to comprehend the awful scene before him, Leo first checked Dr. Griffiths, the innocent. He was clearly dead, and Leo reached out and closed the doctor's eyes.

Turning on his heel, Leo approached Prue and Piper. He could see at a glance that Prue's injuries were worse. Grabbing her wrist, he couldn't find a pulse. He could see she wasn't breathing, but he held his hands over her, trying to heal her.

Nothing happened.

Cole gently tapped his shoulder. "She's gone. You have to save Piper. And I have to get out of here. The Source is going to send everyone he's got after me." He shimmered out, after leaving a sobbing Phoebe on the couch.

Leo nodded at Cole's words, and held his hands over his wife's body. A golden glow emanated from him, and the blood flowed back into Piper, and the wounds -- and her clothes -- knit themselves up. After what seemed an eternity, Piper groaned.

"Hey," Leo said softly.

"What happened?" asked Piper, weakly.

"Shhh, don't try to talk yet. You were pretty far gone, you need to rest to get your strength back." Leo carefully blocked Piper's view so she wouldn't be able to see her sister's lifeless body. "Here, let me take you to bed," he said gently, wrapping Piper in his arms. He orbed her up to their bedroom and tucked her in. He came back down the stairs to find Phoebe still weeping on the couch.

"You did everything you could," Phoebe said, through her tears.

"And she died anyway," Leo said heavily. "You should get some rest," he instructed. Phoebe nodded her assent, and walked slowly up the stairs. Leo waited until he heard Phoebe's door close, then sank to his knees on the living room floor.

He stared up at the ceiling accusingly. "How? HOW? How could this happen? I lost a charge. I lost a Charmed One. I lost my SISTER-IN-LAW! How could you let this happen?"

Sobbing uncontrollably, Leo didn't notice the swirl of orbs behind him.