Okay, first off, hello again. Secondly, I'd just like to apolgise for the
length of time that has passed since my last update. Unfortunately, my
computer completely broke down. It took us quite a while to get it into the
shop, fixed, then out of the shop. Everything had to be wiped, so I
couldn't just start up again. In the meantime, I found that I'd kind of
fallen out of the Charmed world. I had to try and get back into the Charmed
universe, and I hope that with this chapter, I've succeded. I apolgise also
for it's length. Know that although this is short, I am working on the end,
and think it will only be one or two more chapters 'til it's done. Then I
have a whole new fic to start posting. So, onto the story......and I hope
you recognise the minor crossover and it's characters.: )
******
As the familiar form of Leo appeared before her, Prue finally let out the breath she'd unconsciously been holding.
Taking one look at the figures on the floor told Leo that at least Prue didn't seem injured. "What happened?" he asked, moving over to the two and kneeling down next to them.
"I don't know.....I just found him like this. He's....he must be delirious, I -- I think he's been poisoned."
The Whitelighter was busy examining the wound. "I think you're right. It definitely does *not* look natural."
Looking between the two men, Prue noticed Leo's grave expression. "What? Can't you heal him?"
Leo shook his head. "Prue.....apart from the fact that it's still against the rules for me to heal a demon, I can only really heal his *human* half .....and I don't think that would be enough."
"Well -- we can't let him die." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Prue wondered at the note of fear that had been plain in her voice. After all, it hadn't been so long ago that she'd hated the guys guts. Shaking her head and earning herself a strange look from Leo, she resolved to deal with her feelings later. Cole was the important thing right now -- and that was *definitely* something she never thought she'd admit!
"The Book Of Shadows," she blurted suddenly.
"What?"
"Uh....maybe, if you can't heal him, there's something in the book that could help."
"That's a good idea.....I left Piper waiting in our room. I'll orb us right there." I'm not supposed to, he thought to himself. But I think the Elders will look the other way, just this once.
"Okay." Prue reached for Leo's hand, watching as he placed his other hand on Cole's uninjured shoulder. As he concentrated, she began to feel the welcome sensation of the Whitelighter's favorite form of travel, and squeezed her eyes shut as they orbed to the Manor.
****
*****
******
As the known surroundings of her sister's bedroom came into view, Prue felt relieved. It was difficult to believe that it had only been a few days since her world view had shifted -- again, she might add. She had gone from lying in her bed thinking that she had no safety, nowhere that she didn't feel that constant gnawing of fear.....to this. The return feeling of that calming, warm aura that had been missing from the Manor for a year. It felt good to come home.
Once her hearing had come back through, Prue was confused to hear -- was that crying?
Whatever it was, the instant the glow of Leo's orb had faded, the noise abruptly ceased, only to be followed by a series of scrabbling sounds.
"Prue?"
The eldest Halliwell's head rose swiftly as she heard her sister's voice, actually *feeling* the absolute fear and misery audible. She stood there, ready to explain to Piper what had happened, when her sister cut off her words by the most expedient method of throwing herself bodily at Prue.
"Oof!" was all Prue managed, her arms automatically going around the trembling woman. Wait, trembling?
"Piper? Honey, what's wrong?"
"I thought -- when Leo said you were calling, I thought --"
Prue mentally finished Piper's statement for her. She'd thought that Prue had been the one hurt. Damn.
"No sweetie. I'm okay. It's alright." Tightening her grip, Prue fought to reassure her sister. "It's alright. It wasn't me that was hurt.....it was Cole."
That seemed to penetrate the worry that Piper had been consumed by since Prue's call. The two witches pulled back, both turning to the figure lying unconsious next to Leo.
"Cole? What happened?"
"We don't know," Leo answered. "Here.....can you two help me get him onto the bed."
Rushing to comply, Prue watched as Leo picked Cole's upper half up, his hands beneath the other man's arms as she and Piper each grabbed a leg and lifted. With a heave, they managed to get the half-demon situated.
"Ugh, what's wrong with his shoulder?" Piper asked, pulling a face at the wound which seemed to be rapidly worsening.
"We think he's been poisoned," Prue said, laying a hand on Cole's forehead to check his temperture -- what *was* a half-human, half-demon's natural temp? -- and pointedly ignoring the look Piper gave her at the gesture.
"He feels hot," she reported.
"I'm not surprised.....are infections supposed look like -- that?"
Prue shook her head at Piper's question. "Don't know. But....if he *was* poisoned, I thought there might be something in the book that could help."
"I'll go get it," Leo offered, touching Piper's shoulder gently on his way past. She rewarded him with a slightly shaky smile before turning back to Prue.
"Do you think this has anything to do with the demon he killed earlier?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well - " Piper's explanation was cut off by a groan, issued from the man on the bed. Both focusing on Cole, they saw his eyelids flutter, then slowly peel open.
His mouth moved as his eyes roamed unseeing, though no sound came from his dry throat. But Prue could plainly recognize the name being mouthed.
"Is he -- is he saying.....?"
"Phoebe," Prue answered her sister sadly, watching as Cole's eyes slid shut. "He was asking for her before, too."
"Damn." As the two sisters exchanged a pain-filled look, Leo came back into the room. "Here," he said, placing the book at the foot of the bed.
Prue and Piper moved up to him, gathering around the book.
"Alright....what were you saying before, Piper?" Prue asked, thumbing quickly through the book.
"Er - just that before, when Cole came here....he said that the guy he'd been to see attacked him, even though it was suicide. And he was wearing a bandage on his shoulder....I saw it bulging out from underneath his shirt."
"Well, maybe that's why the guy did what he did," Leo suggested. "He purposely attacked Cole so that he could injure him and infect him with the poison."
"Right," Prue agreed. Something was niggling at the very edges of her awareness, something that she knew she had to remember. But what was it? "For now let's just see if the book can come up with anything, either to combat the poison or just alleviate the symptoms.....maybe try contacting Grams?"
When she moved to go and get some candles, she was stopped by Piper, who had a strange expression on her face.
"What?"
"I don't think we have to, " Piper said slowly.
"What do you mean?" The niggling was increasing.....what was she trying to remember? One look at Piper's face made Prue realize that her sister had picked up on it too.
"Think back," Piper instructed. "Remember we asked the spirit squad for help?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah.....and they turned the book to a page that didn't make sense --"
"'Cause it had nothing to do with what we were asking," Prue filled in, now pretty sure of what she had tried to recall.
"Right! What if Grams or mom or whoever, knew we'd need this page when we found Cole?"
"Of course!" Spinning back to the book, Prue leafed through it until she came to the page that she'd seen before.
"The Blood Of Roupice," Leo read.
"You've heard of it?" Prue asked.
"Only little snippets, here and there. It's not really supposed to exist."
"Yeah, but we've thought that before," Piper reasoned.
"True....what does the book say?"
Prue re-read the entry. "Basically, that this is a test. No cure for the sickness itself. It's just supposed to be weathered. If he survives he's worthy. If not....."
"Right," Piper sighed. "How like the underworld. So basically, the only thing we *can* do is wait?"
Prue nodded. "For now.....but remember, according to Cole's intelligence, we have two innocents to save."
Leo sighed this time. "Well, in light of what we're guessing about how Cole was injured, the information he received was probably meant to lure him into a trap."
"I agree, but....I still think that whoever our evil is, he'll try to take out those two witches, and they have no protection. Plus, Cole can't help in this condition." Piper took a deep breath as she finished speaking, and perched one hand on her hip, running the other through her long hair.
"Then it's up to us," Prue decided. "According to Cole, it could be tonight or tomorrow. Now, as much as I think that they wouldn't bother to infect Cole without giving him a chance to recover, demons have been known to be -- well, dumb. So it could still be tonight. So, if we scope out the park tonight, we can see if we're needed. I don't want to split us up, but one of us is going to have to stay here, too."
"Maybe not," Leo murmured. As the woman looked at him, he explained. "I'll check with the Elders, maybe talk with some fellow Whitelighters. Someone has to have heard something."
"Okay," Prue answered with some relief.
"So, we stay here and try to help Cole?" Piper put in.
Prue nodded, returning to the book to see if there were any spells that would be helpful in treating Cole's symptoms.
Leo gave Piper a tight smile, immediately orbing from the Manor to complete his mission. His wife stood there for a moment, staring at the place he had just been standing in, lost in her own thoughts until Prue spoke. "Piper."
She spun to face her, and Prue indicated the book. Piper nodded, moving towards her to help in her search.
****
*****
******
It was dark.....so dark. Words that he couldn't understand echoed all around him, the sounds sharp points that dug into his flesh as they were uttered. All he knew was an absence of light.....and pain. Physical, mental.....it all blurred together. It just....was.
****
*****
******
Completing his orb, Leo scanned his surroundings. He seemed to be in some sort of park or woodland area. Somewhere with trees. But as he stood there a moment later, he realized he could feel something......he was on Holy ground. Hearing noises near by, he decided to proceed carefully. He knew what kind of reputation this little town had.
"Leo?" The inquiry was whispered, but Leo heard it anyway. Making his way forward, he spotted his reason for being there, squatting behind a head stone of all things. He crouched down next to her, careful not to be seen by the mortals he knew she was observing.
"Hey Lucy," he greeted, curiosity getting the best of him as he peeked over the big stone. He saw several figures, all of them standing too far into the shadows for him to get a clear look.
"What are you doing here? I didn't think that you had any charges in this town."
"I don't," he answered. "I'm here looking for a bit of information.....I thought you might be able to help."
Lucy shrugged, her grey eyes straying back to the action happening before them. "If I can.....but I don't know what use I'll be. I'm only in this little hellhole because of my charge. If you ask me, they'd all be better off out of this place, but the Elders seem to think that they're needed here. Also, they told me that my charge'll be coming into her power soon. And she's an important part of this little saga. Then it'll be time for the whole, 'Hi, I'm Lucy and I'm your supernatural Guardian Angel,' spiel. Plus.......well, the big guys upstairs seem to think that this little band of misfits are important.....as in 'save the world from the Apocalypse' important. Kinda like your Charmed Ones."
As a cry went up from their subjects for what sounded like a stake, it clicked in Leo's mind. "Wait, your charge is the Chosen One?" Lucy shook her head, wincing as two people broke away from the shadows, both obviously trading blows. "No, not really. See that one over there?" Leo looked to where she had indicated, but got no more than an impression of a woman in a long skirt. "Well, she's mine. Born magical, but sort of reluctant with it. A while ago, she met up with someone else -- don't know if she has a 'lighter or not -- but her power's growing. Unfortunately, so is the others."
"Why unfortunately?" He knew he may not get an answer, but had to ask anyway.
"'Cause, something's coming. Not in a magical sense....demonic, I guess you could say. More the Slayer's realm than ours. But it'll end up in tears, I guarantee. Maybe not soon, but....they'll all need help. They've all been touched by evil too many times to come out unmarked. And soon.....someone'll pay for it."
Her last words were whispered, as Leo took his eyes away from the fight going on to see the sadness -- and fear -- in her face. A fleshy thud turned his attention back, just in time to see a vampire go up in dust. He shook his head, trying to focus on the present. "I haven't been up to the Elders yet. I thought I'd try down here first. What do you know about the latest demonic activity the Charmed Ones have been dealing with?"
Lucy shrugged. "Nothing, really. Heard about the youngest, couldn't not, actually. Big news....big tragedy. But as for the here and now? Nada. Elders have had me too busy with this one for that kind of catch up."
Leo's shoulders slumped. "Damn. Thanks anyway."
Lucy nodded. "It's okay. Sorry I couldn't help, though."
Leo just gave her a frustrated smile, orbing away as the group they had been watching began to leave.
"Hey, thanks for the magical assist, Wil."
"You're welcome.....but I couldn't have done it without Tara."
Lucy shook her head, watching as her young charge exchanged a smile with the woman next to her. "Big trouble," she muttered, orbing away to make her report.
**** ***** ******
"There," Piper said, dropping the last ingredient into the bubbling pot. She stirred it some more before moving it off the heat as Prue grabbed the baster and a small bowl, transferring some of the liquid from one to the other. "We just have to let this cool a bit," she continued, still reading from the pages of the book. "Then we can use it to try and bring Cole's fever down."
"Think it'll work?" Prue asked, voicing the question both of them had been wondering about.
"I don't know....but it says it's for use on magical beings......We can only cross our fingers."
Prue nodded, making sure the bowl was safely on the counter before moving to one of the chairs at the table and slumping down.
"Hey." She turned at the sound of her sister's voice, watching as Piper walked over, pulling out a chair and falling much as she had just done. "You okay?"
Prue considered her answer. "No....not really." She could see from the look on Piper's face that she was confused. Well, she wasn't the only one.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean," answered Prue, "that I'm so......confused. Why is all of this happening? I - if we were supposed to save innocents, why has an entire coven nearly been wiped out? Was that 'supposed to be?' And.....if Cole is meant to find some sort of redemption in saving the remaining witches, why is he so sick?"
Piper seemed to be thinking it over. "I don't know," she said finally. "And maybe.......we aren't supposed to."
"*That* makes sense," Prue muttered sarcastically, throwing a contrite look Piper's way an instant later. After a moment of silence, she seemed to shake herself off. "I'm going to take the potion up to Cole....why don't you wait here for Leo? Maybe check out the book, see if there's any more spells."
Piper nodded, and Prue got up, moving to the counter and picking up the bowl. She left the room with a final smile to Piper.
**** ***** ******
Setting the bowl down carefully, Prue checked Cole's temperature. She quickly pulled her hand back with a hiss. Okay, that wasn't normal. She immediately chided herself.......what about this whole screwed up situation was normal? But this seemed to go beyond that. Cole's forehead was so hot, it actually burned. Prue checked her hand, expecting to see blisters from the raging heat, finding only slightly reddened skin. She moved into the bathroom that was located just off Leo and Piper's room, coming back with a washcloth. She dipped it in the potion, wringing it out slightly and placing it on Cole's forehead. The half-demon stirred at the touch, but settled down almost immediately. She drew the cloth down his naked torso, stopping to re-wet it, and then beginning again. She decided to risk touching him again, and was shocked that he now felt icy. Wishing they had some idea of how to combat this, or even just more of an idea of what *this* was, Prue allowed the repeated movements of her hand and arm to lull her mind, until her thoughts gently drifted.
~~~
"You're sick, Prue." Phoebe's voice rang out loud and strong in the Manor Hallway. Too loud and strong for Prue's sensitive ears.
"God, Phoebe, could you shout that a little louder.....I doubt Victor heard you......wherever he slunk off to this time."
Phoebe didn't answer, just gave Prue a dirty look, marching over to the phone that sat on the hallway table.
Prue's curiosity got the best of her. "What are you doing?"
"I'm calling Bucklands," Phoebe answered, fingers already tapping in the numbers.
"Oh no you're not," Prue decided, striding forward as fast as her shaky legs would let her and grabbing the receiver from her sister, pressing down on the disconnect button with her other hand at the same time. She slammed the receiver down, wincing reflectively as the noise seemed to echo in her head.
"Prue, if you go into work today, you'll be coming home in an ambulance. This 'flu that's going around is dangerous....you need plenty of rest or it could complicate."
"Complicate?" Prue asked sceptically.
"Yeah, complicate.......turn into Bronchitis or something."
"And you'd know that how?"
Phoebe was quiet for a moment, her expression one of hesitation. One Prue recognized to mean that she wouldn't like what came next. " From a....a friend...."
"Ah huh.......and would your friend be, by any chance........a doctor?"
"Er, no......." Phoebe trailed off, then decided to get it over with and let out a string of joined together words. "ShewatchesERalot."
Prue nodded, pursing her lips. "Yeah, well as much as that glowing reference fills me with confidence, I think I'll leave off taking medical advice from Dr Couch Potato." And with that, she picked up her briefcase, ignoring the twinges her stiff and sore limbs gave her, and then headed for the door. She was stopped by Phoebe's voice.
"Prue......I don't want you to get sicker."
Prue paused, before slowly turning around. "I know, Pheebs. I appreciate that, I really do. But I have urgent work due today.....I can't blow it off 'cause I'm feeling a little under the weather."
She could see that Phoebe still wasn't happy. She didn't want this to strain their already fragile relationship further. "I'll tell you what," she compromised. "How about, I go into work and take care of the most urgent things..........then I'll take the rest of the day off and rest at home. How does that sound?"
"Better," Phoebe said, managing to smile. "You know I'm only worried about you, right?"
Prue placed her briefcase down, walking over to Phoebe. "I know," she said quietly, impulsively wrapping her arms around the younger woman in a hug. "Thank you."
They both pulled back, and Phoebe's smile had turned into a grin. "No problem," she whispered.
~~~
Prue found herself smiling fondly at the memory, warmed inside at the rememberence of her sister's concern. She sighed, wetting the cloth once more and moving back to Cole's forehead. She was startled to find two blue eyes watching her. She dropped the cloth with a start.
"Cole?"
***** ****** *******
******
As the familiar form of Leo appeared before her, Prue finally let out the breath she'd unconsciously been holding.
Taking one look at the figures on the floor told Leo that at least Prue didn't seem injured. "What happened?" he asked, moving over to the two and kneeling down next to them.
"I don't know.....I just found him like this. He's....he must be delirious, I -- I think he's been poisoned."
The Whitelighter was busy examining the wound. "I think you're right. It definitely does *not* look natural."
Looking between the two men, Prue noticed Leo's grave expression. "What? Can't you heal him?"
Leo shook his head. "Prue.....apart from the fact that it's still against the rules for me to heal a demon, I can only really heal his *human* half .....and I don't think that would be enough."
"Well -- we can't let him die." As soon as the words were out of her mouth, Prue wondered at the note of fear that had been plain in her voice. After all, it hadn't been so long ago that she'd hated the guys guts. Shaking her head and earning herself a strange look from Leo, she resolved to deal with her feelings later. Cole was the important thing right now -- and that was *definitely* something she never thought she'd admit!
"The Book Of Shadows," she blurted suddenly.
"What?"
"Uh....maybe, if you can't heal him, there's something in the book that could help."
"That's a good idea.....I left Piper waiting in our room. I'll orb us right there." I'm not supposed to, he thought to himself. But I think the Elders will look the other way, just this once.
"Okay." Prue reached for Leo's hand, watching as he placed his other hand on Cole's uninjured shoulder. As he concentrated, she began to feel the welcome sensation of the Whitelighter's favorite form of travel, and squeezed her eyes shut as they orbed to the Manor.
****
*****
******
As the known surroundings of her sister's bedroom came into view, Prue felt relieved. It was difficult to believe that it had only been a few days since her world view had shifted -- again, she might add. She had gone from lying in her bed thinking that she had no safety, nowhere that she didn't feel that constant gnawing of fear.....to this. The return feeling of that calming, warm aura that had been missing from the Manor for a year. It felt good to come home.
Once her hearing had come back through, Prue was confused to hear -- was that crying?
Whatever it was, the instant the glow of Leo's orb had faded, the noise abruptly ceased, only to be followed by a series of scrabbling sounds.
"Prue?"
The eldest Halliwell's head rose swiftly as she heard her sister's voice, actually *feeling* the absolute fear and misery audible. She stood there, ready to explain to Piper what had happened, when her sister cut off her words by the most expedient method of throwing herself bodily at Prue.
"Oof!" was all Prue managed, her arms automatically going around the trembling woman. Wait, trembling?
"Piper? Honey, what's wrong?"
"I thought -- when Leo said you were calling, I thought --"
Prue mentally finished Piper's statement for her. She'd thought that Prue had been the one hurt. Damn.
"No sweetie. I'm okay. It's alright." Tightening her grip, Prue fought to reassure her sister. "It's alright. It wasn't me that was hurt.....it was Cole."
That seemed to penetrate the worry that Piper had been consumed by since Prue's call. The two witches pulled back, both turning to the figure lying unconsious next to Leo.
"Cole? What happened?"
"We don't know," Leo answered. "Here.....can you two help me get him onto the bed."
Rushing to comply, Prue watched as Leo picked Cole's upper half up, his hands beneath the other man's arms as she and Piper each grabbed a leg and lifted. With a heave, they managed to get the half-demon situated.
"Ugh, what's wrong with his shoulder?" Piper asked, pulling a face at the wound which seemed to be rapidly worsening.
"We think he's been poisoned," Prue said, laying a hand on Cole's forehead to check his temperture -- what *was* a half-human, half-demon's natural temp? -- and pointedly ignoring the look Piper gave her at the gesture.
"He feels hot," she reported.
"I'm not surprised.....are infections supposed look like -- that?"
Prue shook her head at Piper's question. "Don't know. But....if he *was* poisoned, I thought there might be something in the book that could help."
"I'll go get it," Leo offered, touching Piper's shoulder gently on his way past. She rewarded him with a slightly shaky smile before turning back to Prue.
"Do you think this has anything to do with the demon he killed earlier?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well - " Piper's explanation was cut off by a groan, issued from the man on the bed. Both focusing on Cole, they saw his eyelids flutter, then slowly peel open.
His mouth moved as his eyes roamed unseeing, though no sound came from his dry throat. But Prue could plainly recognize the name being mouthed.
"Is he -- is he saying.....?"
"Phoebe," Prue answered her sister sadly, watching as Cole's eyes slid shut. "He was asking for her before, too."
"Damn." As the two sisters exchanged a pain-filled look, Leo came back into the room. "Here," he said, placing the book at the foot of the bed.
Prue and Piper moved up to him, gathering around the book.
"Alright....what were you saying before, Piper?" Prue asked, thumbing quickly through the book.
"Er - just that before, when Cole came here....he said that the guy he'd been to see attacked him, even though it was suicide. And he was wearing a bandage on his shoulder....I saw it bulging out from underneath his shirt."
"Well, maybe that's why the guy did what he did," Leo suggested. "He purposely attacked Cole so that he could injure him and infect him with the poison."
"Right," Prue agreed. Something was niggling at the very edges of her awareness, something that she knew she had to remember. But what was it? "For now let's just see if the book can come up with anything, either to combat the poison or just alleviate the symptoms.....maybe try contacting Grams?"
When she moved to go and get some candles, she was stopped by Piper, who had a strange expression on her face.
"What?"
"I don't think we have to, " Piper said slowly.
"What do you mean?" The niggling was increasing.....what was she trying to remember? One look at Piper's face made Prue realize that her sister had picked up on it too.
"Think back," Piper instructed. "Remember we asked the spirit squad for help?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah.....and they turned the book to a page that didn't make sense --"
"'Cause it had nothing to do with what we were asking," Prue filled in, now pretty sure of what she had tried to recall.
"Right! What if Grams or mom or whoever, knew we'd need this page when we found Cole?"
"Of course!" Spinning back to the book, Prue leafed through it until she came to the page that she'd seen before.
"The Blood Of Roupice," Leo read.
"You've heard of it?" Prue asked.
"Only little snippets, here and there. It's not really supposed to exist."
"Yeah, but we've thought that before," Piper reasoned.
"True....what does the book say?"
Prue re-read the entry. "Basically, that this is a test. No cure for the sickness itself. It's just supposed to be weathered. If he survives he's worthy. If not....."
"Right," Piper sighed. "How like the underworld. So basically, the only thing we *can* do is wait?"
Prue nodded. "For now.....but remember, according to Cole's intelligence, we have two innocents to save."
Leo sighed this time. "Well, in light of what we're guessing about how Cole was injured, the information he received was probably meant to lure him into a trap."
"I agree, but....I still think that whoever our evil is, he'll try to take out those two witches, and they have no protection. Plus, Cole can't help in this condition." Piper took a deep breath as she finished speaking, and perched one hand on her hip, running the other through her long hair.
"Then it's up to us," Prue decided. "According to Cole, it could be tonight or tomorrow. Now, as much as I think that they wouldn't bother to infect Cole without giving him a chance to recover, demons have been known to be -- well, dumb. So it could still be tonight. So, if we scope out the park tonight, we can see if we're needed. I don't want to split us up, but one of us is going to have to stay here, too."
"Maybe not," Leo murmured. As the woman looked at him, he explained. "I'll check with the Elders, maybe talk with some fellow Whitelighters. Someone has to have heard something."
"Okay," Prue answered with some relief.
"So, we stay here and try to help Cole?" Piper put in.
Prue nodded, returning to the book to see if there were any spells that would be helpful in treating Cole's symptoms.
Leo gave Piper a tight smile, immediately orbing from the Manor to complete his mission. His wife stood there for a moment, staring at the place he had just been standing in, lost in her own thoughts until Prue spoke. "Piper."
She spun to face her, and Prue indicated the book. Piper nodded, moving towards her to help in her search.
****
*****
******
It was dark.....so dark. Words that he couldn't understand echoed all around him, the sounds sharp points that dug into his flesh as they were uttered. All he knew was an absence of light.....and pain. Physical, mental.....it all blurred together. It just....was.
****
*****
******
Completing his orb, Leo scanned his surroundings. He seemed to be in some sort of park or woodland area. Somewhere with trees. But as he stood there a moment later, he realized he could feel something......he was on Holy ground. Hearing noises near by, he decided to proceed carefully. He knew what kind of reputation this little town had.
"Leo?" The inquiry was whispered, but Leo heard it anyway. Making his way forward, he spotted his reason for being there, squatting behind a head stone of all things. He crouched down next to her, careful not to be seen by the mortals he knew she was observing.
"Hey Lucy," he greeted, curiosity getting the best of him as he peeked over the big stone. He saw several figures, all of them standing too far into the shadows for him to get a clear look.
"What are you doing here? I didn't think that you had any charges in this town."
"I don't," he answered. "I'm here looking for a bit of information.....I thought you might be able to help."
Lucy shrugged, her grey eyes straying back to the action happening before them. "If I can.....but I don't know what use I'll be. I'm only in this little hellhole because of my charge. If you ask me, they'd all be better off out of this place, but the Elders seem to think that they're needed here. Also, they told me that my charge'll be coming into her power soon. And she's an important part of this little saga. Then it'll be time for the whole, 'Hi, I'm Lucy and I'm your supernatural Guardian Angel,' spiel. Plus.......well, the big guys upstairs seem to think that this little band of misfits are important.....as in 'save the world from the Apocalypse' important. Kinda like your Charmed Ones."
As a cry went up from their subjects for what sounded like a stake, it clicked in Leo's mind. "Wait, your charge is the Chosen One?" Lucy shook her head, wincing as two people broke away from the shadows, both obviously trading blows. "No, not really. See that one over there?" Leo looked to where she had indicated, but got no more than an impression of a woman in a long skirt. "Well, she's mine. Born magical, but sort of reluctant with it. A while ago, she met up with someone else -- don't know if she has a 'lighter or not -- but her power's growing. Unfortunately, so is the others."
"Why unfortunately?" He knew he may not get an answer, but had to ask anyway.
"'Cause, something's coming. Not in a magical sense....demonic, I guess you could say. More the Slayer's realm than ours. But it'll end up in tears, I guarantee. Maybe not soon, but....they'll all need help. They've all been touched by evil too many times to come out unmarked. And soon.....someone'll pay for it."
Her last words were whispered, as Leo took his eyes away from the fight going on to see the sadness -- and fear -- in her face. A fleshy thud turned his attention back, just in time to see a vampire go up in dust. He shook his head, trying to focus on the present. "I haven't been up to the Elders yet. I thought I'd try down here first. What do you know about the latest demonic activity the Charmed Ones have been dealing with?"
Lucy shrugged. "Nothing, really. Heard about the youngest, couldn't not, actually. Big news....big tragedy. But as for the here and now? Nada. Elders have had me too busy with this one for that kind of catch up."
Leo's shoulders slumped. "Damn. Thanks anyway."
Lucy nodded. "It's okay. Sorry I couldn't help, though."
Leo just gave her a frustrated smile, orbing away as the group they had been watching began to leave.
"Hey, thanks for the magical assist, Wil."
"You're welcome.....but I couldn't have done it without Tara."
Lucy shook her head, watching as her young charge exchanged a smile with the woman next to her. "Big trouble," she muttered, orbing away to make her report.
**** ***** ******
"There," Piper said, dropping the last ingredient into the bubbling pot. She stirred it some more before moving it off the heat as Prue grabbed the baster and a small bowl, transferring some of the liquid from one to the other. "We just have to let this cool a bit," she continued, still reading from the pages of the book. "Then we can use it to try and bring Cole's fever down."
"Think it'll work?" Prue asked, voicing the question both of them had been wondering about.
"I don't know....but it says it's for use on magical beings......We can only cross our fingers."
Prue nodded, making sure the bowl was safely on the counter before moving to one of the chairs at the table and slumping down.
"Hey." She turned at the sound of her sister's voice, watching as Piper walked over, pulling out a chair and falling much as she had just done. "You okay?"
Prue considered her answer. "No....not really." She could see from the look on Piper's face that she was confused. Well, she wasn't the only one.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean," answered Prue, "that I'm so......confused. Why is all of this happening? I - if we were supposed to save innocents, why has an entire coven nearly been wiped out? Was that 'supposed to be?' And.....if Cole is meant to find some sort of redemption in saving the remaining witches, why is he so sick?"
Piper seemed to be thinking it over. "I don't know," she said finally. "And maybe.......we aren't supposed to."
"*That* makes sense," Prue muttered sarcastically, throwing a contrite look Piper's way an instant later. After a moment of silence, she seemed to shake herself off. "I'm going to take the potion up to Cole....why don't you wait here for Leo? Maybe check out the book, see if there's any more spells."
Piper nodded, and Prue got up, moving to the counter and picking up the bowl. She left the room with a final smile to Piper.
**** ***** ******
Setting the bowl down carefully, Prue checked Cole's temperature. She quickly pulled her hand back with a hiss. Okay, that wasn't normal. She immediately chided herself.......what about this whole screwed up situation was normal? But this seemed to go beyond that. Cole's forehead was so hot, it actually burned. Prue checked her hand, expecting to see blisters from the raging heat, finding only slightly reddened skin. She moved into the bathroom that was located just off Leo and Piper's room, coming back with a washcloth. She dipped it in the potion, wringing it out slightly and placing it on Cole's forehead. The half-demon stirred at the touch, but settled down almost immediately. She drew the cloth down his naked torso, stopping to re-wet it, and then beginning again. She decided to risk touching him again, and was shocked that he now felt icy. Wishing they had some idea of how to combat this, or even just more of an idea of what *this* was, Prue allowed the repeated movements of her hand and arm to lull her mind, until her thoughts gently drifted.
~~~
"You're sick, Prue." Phoebe's voice rang out loud and strong in the Manor Hallway. Too loud and strong for Prue's sensitive ears.
"God, Phoebe, could you shout that a little louder.....I doubt Victor heard you......wherever he slunk off to this time."
Phoebe didn't answer, just gave Prue a dirty look, marching over to the phone that sat on the hallway table.
Prue's curiosity got the best of her. "What are you doing?"
"I'm calling Bucklands," Phoebe answered, fingers already tapping in the numbers.
"Oh no you're not," Prue decided, striding forward as fast as her shaky legs would let her and grabbing the receiver from her sister, pressing down on the disconnect button with her other hand at the same time. She slammed the receiver down, wincing reflectively as the noise seemed to echo in her head.
"Prue, if you go into work today, you'll be coming home in an ambulance. This 'flu that's going around is dangerous....you need plenty of rest or it could complicate."
"Complicate?" Prue asked sceptically.
"Yeah, complicate.......turn into Bronchitis or something."
"And you'd know that how?"
Phoebe was quiet for a moment, her expression one of hesitation. One Prue recognized to mean that she wouldn't like what came next. " From a....a friend...."
"Ah huh.......and would your friend be, by any chance........a doctor?"
"Er, no......." Phoebe trailed off, then decided to get it over with and let out a string of joined together words. "ShewatchesERalot."
Prue nodded, pursing her lips. "Yeah, well as much as that glowing reference fills me with confidence, I think I'll leave off taking medical advice from Dr Couch Potato." And with that, she picked up her briefcase, ignoring the twinges her stiff and sore limbs gave her, and then headed for the door. She was stopped by Phoebe's voice.
"Prue......I don't want you to get sicker."
Prue paused, before slowly turning around. "I know, Pheebs. I appreciate that, I really do. But I have urgent work due today.....I can't blow it off 'cause I'm feeling a little under the weather."
She could see that Phoebe still wasn't happy. She didn't want this to strain their already fragile relationship further. "I'll tell you what," she compromised. "How about, I go into work and take care of the most urgent things..........then I'll take the rest of the day off and rest at home. How does that sound?"
"Better," Phoebe said, managing to smile. "You know I'm only worried about you, right?"
Prue placed her briefcase down, walking over to Phoebe. "I know," she said quietly, impulsively wrapping her arms around the younger woman in a hug. "Thank you."
They both pulled back, and Phoebe's smile had turned into a grin. "No problem," she whispered.
~~~
Prue found herself smiling fondly at the memory, warmed inside at the rememberence of her sister's concern. She sighed, wetting the cloth once more and moving back to Cole's forehead. She was startled to find two blue eyes watching her. She dropped the cloth with a start.
"Cole?"
***** ****** *******
