From All Sides
Chapter Five
Couple Courtesy

Cole landed in the middle of the living room of the mansion right beside Piper and Prue. They had gone on an impromptu trip to San Francisco. Piper had decided she wanted some Giradelli chocolate to add to her celebration menu, and Prue wanted to pick out some new clothes from one of her favorite old shops. It was safe for her to go home now even though friends and acquaintances once thought her dead.

John had helped her concoct a cover story that she had been an eye -witness to a gangland murder and that her death had been staged so she could be placed in the witness protection program. As to her sudden reappearance that would be explained by saying the murderer himself had now been executed so it was safe for Prue to come home. If anyone made a call to check on the story, they would be referred to a friend of John's that was still with the Bureau who would confirm the story.

Cole had a number of things to take care of himself including the insurance paper work for the girls in terms of the loss of the house and Piper's club. The official line on that was that a former boyfriend of Patty's had gone berserk and tried to take revenge on her daughters. It was the truth after all, if not exactly the whole truth. Cole had also done some super discreet investigation into the situation with Darryl's old boss. If Darryl wanted to pursue it, Cole thought it best to do a little advance preparation.

None of them were prepared, however, for what greeted them when they got home. Grams, Tom, and the whole regrouped VCTF were gathered and John was trying to comfort a visibly shaken Phoebe. Cole could tell that she was crying. He dropped his briefcase and raced to her side. "Baby what is wrong?" he asked worriedly.

She lifted her watery gaze to his and then looked at her sisters. "Where the hell have you been? We've been looking all over the base and Olympus for hours. It was like the three of you just disappeared off the radar. Thank you for scaring me witless," she said to him and her sisters before she orbed out. All three of them were about to follow her before Sam stopped them. "There is something you need to know first."

"Paige has escaped from the Underworld. She had accomplices. Hades is out there looking and so is Hercules, Iolaus, and half the population of Olympus but so far there is no trace." "No wonder Phoebe is so upset," Prue said shaking her head. Cole noticed that Piper moved closer to her eldest sister and grabbed a hold of her hand seeking comfort. Prue squeezed it reassuringly.

"Phoebe is not the only one who is pissed," John said giving his wife a disapproving look. "Now don't start getting all super macho protective on me, John!" Prue scolded her husband. "Oh no you don't, you are not turning this around on me. This isn't about being macho. You should have at least had the courtesy to tell me you were leaving our sheltered little arena."

"Bad things not only happen to good people they can happen to capable people as well. Hey I'm a super cop and that still didn't save me from taking a bullet. May I also remind you, Mrs. Only Thinks She's Invincible, that I had to rescue you from the Source's Circle of Fire, so don't you dare bitch at me for worrying about you. I may be a god but my very human feelings are still one hundred percent in tact."

"All right hubby dearest," Prue said walking over to her John and placing a calming hand on his chest. "I'm sorry. You are right; we should have left word that we were going out for awhile. At any rate we can talk about this later, I should really go and check on Phoebe."

"That's my job," Cole said to his eldest sister-in-law. "Thank you for offering though. You and my brother should continue your talk now not later." Cole expected Prue to argue but instead she nodded. "Tell Phoebe we are sorry for worrying her," Piper said contritely. "I will. Darryl would you go with Piper to find Leo?" Cole asked. "I think she needs him." Darryl agreed immediately.

Cole turned to the rest of the gang. "Everyone else, I hate to ask this of you but could you keep on top of this Paige thing for us a while longer? We will join in as soon as we can. I promise. We want to see her back where she belongs more than anybody but things are just so..." "Emotionally charged right now," Sam offered when she noticed he was struggling for the proper wording. He nodded gratefully.

"You don't even have to ask. We've got guard duty," Sam assured him. "You all helped save me from Jack. I will never stop being grateful to any of you for that. Whatever I can do to help keep your enemies at bay, I will. So Cole go to Phoebe and try not to worry. If Paige and whomever she is working with, decide to attack this family they are going to have to get through each and everyone of us."

"You don't owe us anything we were more than happy to save you from Jack, but thank you for your help," Cole replied. He grabbed Sam's hand and kissed it in a gentlemanly fashion. John is right. You are one classy lady." He thanked the rest of the team as well and than orbed out to find his understandably distraught wife.