Love Triumphant
Befuddled.
Chapter XXII
Something awoke John from his deep slumber. He had no idea what. The last thing he remembered was Sam telling him that he was in the Halliwell Mansion and that he could leave only if he could retrieve his own clothes from the bureau. He was completely alone now and he just hoped he hadn't totally humiliated himself in front of one of the people he'd always admired most in the world.
John groaned. It wouldn't surprise him if he had lost Sam's respect because he didn't have much for himself anymore. He crawled out of bed and managed to stand. John was still shaky but he found he could walk. As he made his way over to the bureau doubts started to overwhelm him about all that had happened since yesterday.
Who was he to think he was worthy of being a god? Let alone a god of love. He hadn't had a relationship with a woman, which had lasted longer than a year. John sometimes wondered what would have happened if Kate had lived. If she had would he have kept his vow to form a deeper bond with her, or had that promise only been made in the first place because he felt guilty that he hadn't been able to protect her?
There was no percentage, however, dwelling in the past. It was anxieties about the present and the future that consumed him at the moment. Perhaps everyone including his new found twin would be better off if John just opted out of this whole deal entirely. Cole wasn't a lost soul in need of family. He had Phoebe and John knew that his sister-in-law would fight any enemy, demon or human, to make sure Cole never got hurt emotionally or physically scarred again, with every ounce of her strength. Her sisters, parents, grandparents, Leo, Darryl, and all the gods and goddesses of Olympus would without a doubt join in the battle as well. Not to mention Erin and Morrigan. Cole truly belonged, it wasn't fair to saddle him with a brother who didn't.
John's friends from the VCTF also didn't need him either. Sam was free of Jack once and for all, and had Tom back. Bailey had always been an amazing leader. Sam's, Grace's, and George's combined IQ's could easily qualify them for the Guinness's Book of World Records, and though he had only really met Darryl briefly, John sensed he was an incredibly dedicated cop with damned good instincts. This was all without the benefit of the added gifts they would be receiving from Zeus, Morrigan, Odin, Nebula, and Iphicles. Once the VCTF had their full godly powers the human evildoers of the world didn't stand a chance. Nope, when John thought about it, he wasn't really needed it at all.
Having made his decision, John knew it was time to get the hell out of Never-Never land and back to reality, no matter how pointless of one it was. He dressed quickly and started to make his way down a huge set of stairs just outside the guest room as stealthily as he could. The alcohol was still impairing him physically.
John had nearly made it and had his hand on the door when an attack was launched on him from behind. Whatever it was that had a hold of his legs it wasn't human. Images of all sorts of horrendous mythological creatures raced through his head. He shook his leg as hard as he could and something went flying across the room. For a moment he closed his eyes not sure he wanted to know what he was up against. Swearing at himself, John finally opened his eyes.
A strange looking cream -colored cat glared at him from across the room. It snarled and hissed at him. John wondered whether it really wasn't some kind of monster in disguise. At any rate maybe he should try to sober himself up a little further before he set foot outside the mansion. He hadn't been feeling any to sturdy before his run in with the ferocious feline, now he was feeling less so.
As if in answer to his silent prayer, John caught the smell of a full bodied coffee in the air. He knew coffee didn't really have sobering effects but it might take the edge of the grogginess he still felt from all the sleep he'd lost recently. He followed the scent to what he assumed was the kitchen door. He'd just slip in there, grab a gallon or two, and maybe some aspirin, and then he'd be on his way to find a ride off Olympus. There had to be someone who'd be willing to transport him back to earth and his condo. Maybe Ares! That guy sure acted like he didn't care who he ticked off but then why should the god of War care?
John opened the door as carefully as he could and peeked inside. The room was amazing. He wasn't much of a cook himself but it didn't take much to know that this was a kitchen that would make Emril have erotic dreams. Speaking of things that sparked erotic dreams, John noticed the gorgeous brunette sitting at the huge table with her head buried in a thick book. Prue Halliwell was fast asleep although she appeared to be whimpering in her dreams.
Maybe he should go now while the getting was good and forget refueling. John didn't want to chance awakening her. If that made him a coward then so be it, he'd gladly face down ten serial killers before he'd risk an encounter with this sexy as all get out witch goddess. John didn't think his heart had what it took to survive it. Hell when Prue had taken his hand in the park yesterday, he had really thought he was going to have a cardiac right on the spot. Not only was there a sense of the most immediate and intense arousal he'd ever felt in his life, but some other strange and indefinable sensation as well. It had scared him shitless then and his fear of it and her had only gotten more intense over the past several hours.
John was about to turn to go again when once more he caught a whiff off the coffee. Damn it smelled fantastic like motor oil, just the way he liked it. He was a trained to be sneaky for heaven's sake. His life often depended on it. Surely he could manage to slip in, and steal at least one cup without awakening "Sleeping Beauty!" And damn she sure was beautiful. He felt a stirring below his belt and scolded his thoughts for heading in that direction. Gracie was right. He really could be a pig sometimes.
Slowly Agent Grant began to make his way across the kitchen being very careful to tread softly. He was so proud of himself when he made it. He also managed to grab a cup off a hanging rack, fill his cup to the brim, and take a gratefully long slip. He sputtered for a moment, and then sighed in pure delight. His suspicions were right. This would cripple a man with a cast iron stomach yet he loved it. John topped off the cup again and was about to try and make his way back across the room.
He would have been successful this time too if it hadn't been for outside interference. John hadn't realized it but the cat had snuck past him when he opened the door from the living room to the kitchen earlier. In fact John had been so caught up in thoughts of Prue and her heavenly coffee that he didn't even notice that the cat was right in front of him that is until he went flying head first over it. John landed with a loud and indignant harrumph and then a pained groan as his behind hit the floor hard. "Why not?" he thought disgustedly. He already ached everywhere else! Why not add a severe pain in the rear to the list? Not to mention that the cup had crashed into a million pieces and the glorious brew it had held was now corroding the floor and not his stomach, damn it!
John heard a woman's scream and opened his eyes to see Prue raising her hand about to blast him. He quickly covered his important body parts in self- defense and yelled: "Don't shoot me, I'm an unarmed man. By the way where is my gun?"
Befuddled.
Chapter XXII
Something awoke John from his deep slumber. He had no idea what. The last thing he remembered was Sam telling him that he was in the Halliwell Mansion and that he could leave only if he could retrieve his own clothes from the bureau. He was completely alone now and he just hoped he hadn't totally humiliated himself in front of one of the people he'd always admired most in the world.
John groaned. It wouldn't surprise him if he had lost Sam's respect because he didn't have much for himself anymore. He crawled out of bed and managed to stand. John was still shaky but he found he could walk. As he made his way over to the bureau doubts started to overwhelm him about all that had happened since yesterday.
Who was he to think he was worthy of being a god? Let alone a god of love. He hadn't had a relationship with a woman, which had lasted longer than a year. John sometimes wondered what would have happened if Kate had lived. If she had would he have kept his vow to form a deeper bond with her, or had that promise only been made in the first place because he felt guilty that he hadn't been able to protect her?
There was no percentage, however, dwelling in the past. It was anxieties about the present and the future that consumed him at the moment. Perhaps everyone including his new found twin would be better off if John just opted out of this whole deal entirely. Cole wasn't a lost soul in need of family. He had Phoebe and John knew that his sister-in-law would fight any enemy, demon or human, to make sure Cole never got hurt emotionally or physically scarred again, with every ounce of her strength. Her sisters, parents, grandparents, Leo, Darryl, and all the gods and goddesses of Olympus would without a doubt join in the battle as well. Not to mention Erin and Morrigan. Cole truly belonged, it wasn't fair to saddle him with a brother who didn't.
John's friends from the VCTF also didn't need him either. Sam was free of Jack once and for all, and had Tom back. Bailey had always been an amazing leader. Sam's, Grace's, and George's combined IQ's could easily qualify them for the Guinness's Book of World Records, and though he had only really met Darryl briefly, John sensed he was an incredibly dedicated cop with damned good instincts. This was all without the benefit of the added gifts they would be receiving from Zeus, Morrigan, Odin, Nebula, and Iphicles. Once the VCTF had their full godly powers the human evildoers of the world didn't stand a chance. Nope, when John thought about it, he wasn't really needed it at all.
Having made his decision, John knew it was time to get the hell out of Never-Never land and back to reality, no matter how pointless of one it was. He dressed quickly and started to make his way down a huge set of stairs just outside the guest room as stealthily as he could. The alcohol was still impairing him physically.
John had nearly made it and had his hand on the door when an attack was launched on him from behind. Whatever it was that had a hold of his legs it wasn't human. Images of all sorts of horrendous mythological creatures raced through his head. He shook his leg as hard as he could and something went flying across the room. For a moment he closed his eyes not sure he wanted to know what he was up against. Swearing at himself, John finally opened his eyes.
A strange looking cream -colored cat glared at him from across the room. It snarled and hissed at him. John wondered whether it really wasn't some kind of monster in disguise. At any rate maybe he should try to sober himself up a little further before he set foot outside the mansion. He hadn't been feeling any to sturdy before his run in with the ferocious feline, now he was feeling less so.
As if in answer to his silent prayer, John caught the smell of a full bodied coffee in the air. He knew coffee didn't really have sobering effects but it might take the edge of the grogginess he still felt from all the sleep he'd lost recently. He followed the scent to what he assumed was the kitchen door. He'd just slip in there, grab a gallon or two, and maybe some aspirin, and then he'd be on his way to find a ride off Olympus. There had to be someone who'd be willing to transport him back to earth and his condo. Maybe Ares! That guy sure acted like he didn't care who he ticked off but then why should the god of War care?
John opened the door as carefully as he could and peeked inside. The room was amazing. He wasn't much of a cook himself but it didn't take much to know that this was a kitchen that would make Emril have erotic dreams. Speaking of things that sparked erotic dreams, John noticed the gorgeous brunette sitting at the huge table with her head buried in a thick book. Prue Halliwell was fast asleep although she appeared to be whimpering in her dreams.
Maybe he should go now while the getting was good and forget refueling. John didn't want to chance awakening her. If that made him a coward then so be it, he'd gladly face down ten serial killers before he'd risk an encounter with this sexy as all get out witch goddess. John didn't think his heart had what it took to survive it. Hell when Prue had taken his hand in the park yesterday, he had really thought he was going to have a cardiac right on the spot. Not only was there a sense of the most immediate and intense arousal he'd ever felt in his life, but some other strange and indefinable sensation as well. It had scared him shitless then and his fear of it and her had only gotten more intense over the past several hours.
John was about to turn to go again when once more he caught a whiff off the coffee. Damn it smelled fantastic like motor oil, just the way he liked it. He was a trained to be sneaky for heaven's sake. His life often depended on it. Surely he could manage to slip in, and steal at least one cup without awakening "Sleeping Beauty!" And damn she sure was beautiful. He felt a stirring below his belt and scolded his thoughts for heading in that direction. Gracie was right. He really could be a pig sometimes.
Slowly Agent Grant began to make his way across the kitchen being very careful to tread softly. He was so proud of himself when he made it. He also managed to grab a cup off a hanging rack, fill his cup to the brim, and take a gratefully long slip. He sputtered for a moment, and then sighed in pure delight. His suspicions were right. This would cripple a man with a cast iron stomach yet he loved it. John topped off the cup again and was about to try and make his way back across the room.
He would have been successful this time too if it hadn't been for outside interference. John hadn't realized it but the cat had snuck past him when he opened the door from the living room to the kitchen earlier. In fact John had been so caught up in thoughts of Prue and her heavenly coffee that he didn't even notice that the cat was right in front of him that is until he went flying head first over it. John landed with a loud and indignant harrumph and then a pained groan as his behind hit the floor hard. "Why not?" he thought disgustedly. He already ached everywhere else! Why not add a severe pain in the rear to the list? Not to mention that the cup had crashed into a million pieces and the glorious brew it had held was now corroding the floor and not his stomach, damn it!
John heard a woman's scream and opened his eyes to see Prue raising her hand about to blast him. He quickly covered his important body parts in self- defense and yelled: "Don't shoot me, I'm an unarmed man. By the way where is my gun?"