A/N: Bradley, since he was connected to his powers at the time, was killed. The Source, being the Source, disappeared... or died maybe. I don't know. :-p
Enjoy!
And if no one got it... Phoebe's dead. Yeah. Sorry!!! (But keep reading. Life gets better.)
Chapter 14: A Deal for a Lawyer
Cole dropped the necklace and ran to Phoebe's lifeless body. He screamed. No! Damn it! Tears fell down his cheeks at a rapid speed as she picked Phoebe up into his arms. There was nothing he could do now. She was dead. The love of his life was dead. The word ran through him. You're not dead, Phoebe! Do you hear me? You don't die! He wiped a tear off her forehead and kissed her. She looked like she was sleeping. But she wasn't.
Cole laughed bitterly. She was sleeping in a way... sleeping forever. Cole struggled to get to his feet, but the combination of his grief and Phoebe's weight didn't let him.
Don't bother, Cole, a voice called. Cole turned around and saw the female Avatar, Margaret.
Fix this, he growled.
Margaret slipped the necklace into her pocket. I have a deal for you, which just may fix this. For both of us. She smiled, but it wasn't the grandmotherly smile he had seen before. It was all business. Cole recognized it.
Cole sneered at her, laying Phoebe, with utmost care, on the ground again.
We bring her back and you become an Avatar, Margaret replied, her face emotionless.
Cole, don't become an Avatar. They're independents, soldiers of fortune. Henry Whitfield's words ran through his head.
What's the catch? Cole asked, the question a negligible point anyway. He was willing to do anything to bring his wife back.
Margaret lowered her eyes before looking up at Cole again. You will swear on her life that you shall never see her again.
Her life? Cole asked, flabbergasted.
Margaret nodded gravely. We feel that sometimes hers is more important to you than yours sometimes. You tend to be reckless with your own life.
Cole turned away from the Avatar. The catch' tore out his heart and he wished that he hadn't asked. Cole choked down a sob, kissed Phoebe once more, wiping his tears off her face, and turned back to Margaret. Cole tried to not scream.
Another Avatar, taller and much more sinister, appeared behind Margaret. You will go with Bartholomew, she instructed.
Cole replied again, grabbing Bartholomew's arm fiercely. The disappeared in a cloud of smoke.
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Piper put her hands to her head and sat down on the couch, not believing the words that Leo had just said.
Paige hugged Piper, tears beginning to drip down her face.
Phoebe doesn't die, Piper stated firmly, standing up to face her husband and sister. I felt my heart tear in two when I felt Prue die. I was drifting back into conciousness and I felt her death and it tore me in two. I don't feel anything now. I think that you're wrong. You and your Elders, she sneered out the names of Leo's superiors.
Paige sat in shock at Piper's coldness. A defensive mechanism, she thought. No. That couldn't be it. Paige wasn't sure. She wasn't sure about anything anymore.
Paige sat there in almost parlysis as Leo orbed out. Five seconds later Piper grabbed Paige's hand and ordered her to orb them to Phoebe... wherever she was.
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Margaret set to work. First she broke the necklace, a pink light flooding the room for a second before vanishing without a trace, save the broken red glass on the floor.
The Avatar then made a quick hand motion over Phoebe and suddenly the Halliwell was dressed in a dress and heavy cloak. Margaret rested her hand on Phoebe's forehead, a green light flying from her fingers for a moment.
She pulled a blue stoned necklace from her pocket, debating about whether or not to give it to the girl. The Avatars had instructed her to not give her any protection of any sort. They just wanted her to give back the powers, wipe her memory of certain things, and send her away. Margaret decidedly undid the clasp and floated the necklace onto Phoebe's neck, where it immediately and automatically clasped.
Margaret wagged her finger at Phoebe, even though she couldn't hear any of what she was saying, that won't come off until it's purpose is served. It'll protect you from some evil, but, sadly, not a lot. Be careful.
Margaret swooped her hand in the air over Phoebe again and Phoebe turned into an orb of swirling orange, red, and yellow light. Margaret directed the orb to her and it hovered a few inches above her left hand. With her right she traced a symbol through the air with her index finger.
A ripple formed in the air and suddenly the cave disappeared and forest grew in front of them. Margaret flung the orb into the forest. I'm sorry little witch, she whispered, shut the portal, and disappeared.
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She's not here, Piper! Paige yelled frantically, landing in the chamber where Margaret and Phoebe just were.
She's got to be! She certainly isn't dead! Piper looked behind some rocks.
Yes, she is! Leo said it! Paige pleaded with her sister, sinking to her knees, the emotional turmoil of the day taking its toll.
No! No! She's not! Piper yelled, turning on Paige and exploding a few rocks before turning to sobs herself. She's not. I know it, Paige. You have to believe me, her voice was a hoarse whisper.
She's right, Leo said, a giant grin on his face. Phoebe... Phoebe isn't dead.
Paige and Piper jumped up, tears of joy flying down their faces as they embraced Leo.
Where is she? Piper asked.
Is she okay? Paige questioned.
She's okay, Leo bit his lip. We're not sure where she is. All we know is that she has her powers and she's fine.
For now, Piper sobbed. For now that's good enough for me.
Paige agreed, hugging her sister and brother-in-law that much tighter. Happy at the knowledge of her sister's safety and worried about her whereabouts, but the happiness overpowered the anxiety for the moment.
Paige imagined the intense pain Piper and Phoebe had went through when Prue died. Paige had only know Phoebe for about a year, but when she thought that her sister was gone forever she felt something like she never felt before. She was sad, angry, guily, and upset about the death of her parents, but thinking her sister was dead was an entirely different thing.
It was horrible. Not as horrible, perhaps, as the death of her parents, but up there, Paige thought with a gulp.
So Paige cried anew for her parents, for her, for Phoebe, and for Prue, the sister she had never known.
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A/N: I'm really trying not to make the Phoebe/Cole thing dominate. How am I doing? Um... Phoebe's not dead... if I didn't make that clear. This chapter is kind of confusing. I can re-explain if anyone needs me to. Just ask! Nothing worse than being confused.
Let's see... I ventured in Cole's mind, Phoebe's, Piper's, and Paige's. Does anyone think that we should take a little stroll in Leo's? I have to admit he's not my favorite or anything, but in spirit of fairness I could if anyone asked. Otherwise I'm not going to bother.
How do you feel about the Avatars? Do they scream good or evil to you? Ah... the graying.
Thanks for reading and please review!! :-))
