Chapter XVI
Oh Jack, Remember Me?
Love Triumphant
Cole's plan definitely had a shot at succeeding John thought. It would definitely throw Jack off kilter. John just wished it didn't require his brother and the Halliwell sisters to bear most of the risks. He was used to taking the lead when it came to the dangerous parts. Not to mention the fact that even though he worked with women like Sam, Rachel, and Grace on the task force it still bothered him more than a bit to see women in harm's way. If that made him sexist so be it. He had said as much to Cole.
His brother had said he understood but then reminded John that the Halliwells weren't exactly ordinary or helpless. As if John could ever forget that fact. Then Cole warned John to keep his voice down since the sisters wouldn't take kindly to any suggestion that they couldn't handle matters, especially Prue. Cole cautioned John in a whisper that pissing her off was tantamount to throwing one's self into a river of hot lava. John had no doubts about that either.
The eldest Halliwell was mustering her little army in a manner that McArthur would have been proud of. John drew in a deep breath and began to prepare himself mentally for battle as well. He knew he was going to be up against it mentally. It was one thing coming to terms in the abstract that ghosts were real it would be another matter seeing one face to transparent face, especially Jack's.
"Okay, is everyone ready?" Prue asked. Everyone added his or her assent. John included. "Alright then it is show time," Cole informed them. "Literally!" He winked at John and once again John felt himself being transported this time into a huge loft high above the warehouse floor.
Two cameras appeared as if out of nowhere. They were going to be a main part of Cole's strategy as well as the two huge screens that could be seen through out the warehouse. Careful to keep themselves hidden the assembled rescue team surveyed the ground below to locate Sam and her captor.
Sam was bound, gagged, and tied to a huge beam. Jack was screaming at her that she would remain his prisoner her in this dank damp warehouse and never see Chloe again. That is unless she vowed to surrender to his desires that she become his protégé as she was always meant to be.
The little part of John that could see past the sickness and rage he felt on Sam's behalf, whispered inside his head: "Same old crap Jack, just a different day, in a strangely different universe."
John also noted Sam. She'd always been one tough lady but knowing her as well as he did he could see she couldn't take much more. Her eyes were closed and he could see the tears running down her face. He was under no fear that she would give into Jack or surrender her soul to him. She'd just endured so much at the maniac's hands that John felt that her mental status was like that of a frayed rubber band ready to snap. He'd hate to see such a vibrant caring woman retreat into a psychological cave from which she might never emerge again. If Jack weren't already dead John would have gladly killed him right then and there.
"We will get her out of his hands before he breaks her," Cole said earnestly as if he was reading John's thoughts. "You just need to stay calm as possible and stick to the plan." He patted John on the back. Then Cole turned his attention towards his wife and family.
John noted the embrace Cole and Phoebe shared. It was clear they meant everything to each other. John couldn't believe the stirrings of envy he felt. He'd always been of the belief that he didn't want a relationship that even hinted at any sense of permanency. Yet these two managed to make it look easy and appealing as they shared kisses and vows to be careful.
Phoebe was the first to step back towards her sisters. She closed her eyes and then Prue and Piper did the same. They joined hands and then their bodies went limp. It was strange enough to see that not one of the three was moving a muscle. What was even stranger was that John had a strong sense they were no longer in the room or for that matter even in their bodies.
"Where did they go?" John asked. "They projected to the astral plane. Their encounter with Jack will take place there," Leo explained. It's the only place a ghost can be vanquished. "In the meantime it is our job to keep him ignorant of their presence there," Cole said. "So let's get started." "Leo you need to use whatever means you think is best to communicate to Dr. Waters that the cavalry is here. Just don't let Jack see you." "Gotcha," Leo said then orbed out. John had no idea where he went. He couldn't see him and there wasn't time to ask Cole to explain.
He'd already pointed toward the cameras and they had clicked on. Jack happened to be taunting Sam with his belief that no one was going to come to her rescue. There was no time for rehearsals. He and Cole were on live.
Cole had managed to change his outfit. Seeing their images being broadcast simultaneously on the huge screens was definitely eerie for John. Dressed in the same clothes they really were each other's mirror image. John was also about to learn that his brother wasn't one to waste time. He heard Cole growl, "Guess again Jack Ass, remember me?"
Oh Jack, Remember Me?
Love Triumphant
Cole's plan definitely had a shot at succeeding John thought. It would definitely throw Jack off kilter. John just wished it didn't require his brother and the Halliwell sisters to bear most of the risks. He was used to taking the lead when it came to the dangerous parts. Not to mention the fact that even though he worked with women like Sam, Rachel, and Grace on the task force it still bothered him more than a bit to see women in harm's way. If that made him sexist so be it. He had said as much to Cole.
His brother had said he understood but then reminded John that the Halliwells weren't exactly ordinary or helpless. As if John could ever forget that fact. Then Cole warned John to keep his voice down since the sisters wouldn't take kindly to any suggestion that they couldn't handle matters, especially Prue. Cole cautioned John in a whisper that pissing her off was tantamount to throwing one's self into a river of hot lava. John had no doubts about that either.
The eldest Halliwell was mustering her little army in a manner that McArthur would have been proud of. John drew in a deep breath and began to prepare himself mentally for battle as well. He knew he was going to be up against it mentally. It was one thing coming to terms in the abstract that ghosts were real it would be another matter seeing one face to transparent face, especially Jack's.
"Okay, is everyone ready?" Prue asked. Everyone added his or her assent. John included. "Alright then it is show time," Cole informed them. "Literally!" He winked at John and once again John felt himself being transported this time into a huge loft high above the warehouse floor.
Two cameras appeared as if out of nowhere. They were going to be a main part of Cole's strategy as well as the two huge screens that could be seen through out the warehouse. Careful to keep themselves hidden the assembled rescue team surveyed the ground below to locate Sam and her captor.
Sam was bound, gagged, and tied to a huge beam. Jack was screaming at her that she would remain his prisoner her in this dank damp warehouse and never see Chloe again. That is unless she vowed to surrender to his desires that she become his protégé as she was always meant to be.
The little part of John that could see past the sickness and rage he felt on Sam's behalf, whispered inside his head: "Same old crap Jack, just a different day, in a strangely different universe."
John also noted Sam. She'd always been one tough lady but knowing her as well as he did he could see she couldn't take much more. Her eyes were closed and he could see the tears running down her face. He was under no fear that she would give into Jack or surrender her soul to him. She'd just endured so much at the maniac's hands that John felt that her mental status was like that of a frayed rubber band ready to snap. He'd hate to see such a vibrant caring woman retreat into a psychological cave from which she might never emerge again. If Jack weren't already dead John would have gladly killed him right then and there.
"We will get her out of his hands before he breaks her," Cole said earnestly as if he was reading John's thoughts. "You just need to stay calm as possible and stick to the plan." He patted John on the back. Then Cole turned his attention towards his wife and family.
John noted the embrace Cole and Phoebe shared. It was clear they meant everything to each other. John couldn't believe the stirrings of envy he felt. He'd always been of the belief that he didn't want a relationship that even hinted at any sense of permanency. Yet these two managed to make it look easy and appealing as they shared kisses and vows to be careful.
Phoebe was the first to step back towards her sisters. She closed her eyes and then Prue and Piper did the same. They joined hands and then their bodies went limp. It was strange enough to see that not one of the three was moving a muscle. What was even stranger was that John had a strong sense they were no longer in the room or for that matter even in their bodies.
"Where did they go?" John asked. "They projected to the astral plane. Their encounter with Jack will take place there," Leo explained. It's the only place a ghost can be vanquished. "In the meantime it is our job to keep him ignorant of their presence there," Cole said. "So let's get started." "Leo you need to use whatever means you think is best to communicate to Dr. Waters that the cavalry is here. Just don't let Jack see you." "Gotcha," Leo said then orbed out. John had no idea where he went. He couldn't see him and there wasn't time to ask Cole to explain.
He'd already pointed toward the cameras and they had clicked on. Jack happened to be taunting Sam with his belief that no one was going to come to her rescue. There was no time for rehearsals. He and Cole were on live.
Cole had managed to change his outfit. Seeing their images being broadcast simultaneously on the huge screens was definitely eerie for John. Dressed in the same clothes they really were each other's mirror image. John was also about to learn that his brother wasn't one to waste time. He heard Cole growl, "Guess again Jack Ass, remember me?"