From All Sides
Chapter 15

"You don't have to do this you know. I just wanted to give you the option," Morrigan told John and Cole. My only concern in this matter is that I didn't want you two to be left with unresolved issues in terms of your sperm donor. If there's anything you wanted to say to him before I cast him in the pit, this is your opportunity. At any rate it is your decision. Think about it carefully. Discuss it with each other and your wives. Erin and I will give you a bit of time alone to make your decision. Then she and Erin left her throne room.

"John, I think this should be your call," Cole said. "You're the one who has the history with that man, so I'll follow your lead. John who had been pacing around the room like a lion in a zoo cage looked at his brother. John envied his twin's ability to remain so calm. He may not have ever really known Patrick O'Doyle but the man was responsible for a major portion of Cole's past suffering. This couldn't be easy for him either but you would never know it by looking at him.

John whirled away and rubbed his hand on his hair. "Part of me wants to bail. Let Morrigan do what she has to do and I'll just forget I ever even had an old man. You know. Another part of me wants to face the bastard and spit in his eye." "Both perfectly understandable reactions," Prue said gently to her husband. She stood from where she had been seated and came over to massage his shoulders trying to soothe him with her touch. He took her one of her hands in his and clung to it gratefully.

The bottom line is I want him to know that we survived and prospered in spite of him. Hopefully he will realize that we have everything we could ever wish for in our lives like love, happiness, and success. I want him to look us in the eyes so he can know the caliber of sons he sacrificed on his own selfish alter.

"All right then it is decided," Cole said. "We face him together. Morrigan," he called. She and Erin immediately reappeared. "Take us to O'Doyle," he asked of her. She waved her hands over the assembled group and they were instantly standing outside a unique cage. Morrigan explained that it had been especially designed to hold malevolent spirits. Patrick O'Doyle's hovered inside.

At their entrance he drifted forward. "You are wasting your time girly. I told you I'm not confessing too or repenting a single thing," he spat at Morrigan. "I did not think you were. You don't have sense enough to do so. I've brought you some visitors." "I don't want any visitors."

"You seem to be deluding yourself O'Doyle. No one gives a rat's ass about what you want anymore," Morrigan informed him. I'm in control of your fate now. "I'll be the one who will be deciding your social calendar. Besides your sons have some things they'd like to say to you. You owe them at least that much."

"I don't owe them a damn thing," he snarled. "You are determined to be a bastard until the end aren't you," John said stepping forward. "Even though you are a few steps further towards eternal damnation you cannot confess to your mistakes and sins."

"The only mistake I made was handing that demon woman the wrong son. I should have given her you. Maybe she could have made a man out of you. Lord knows I never had any luck." John started to lunge at the cage. "Don't," Cole stopped him. "That's what he wants John. Don't give him the satisfaction."

"So you're my other son," O'Doyle directed his attention toward Cole. "At least you showed some promise. I heard though the underworld grapevine that while that demon possessed you, you showed some starch."

"Get this," Cole said turning towards O'Doyle. "John is ten times the man you will ever be and I'm proud he is my brother. That is something I will never say about you being my father. While you may have sired us we are not your sons."

"Am I supposed to be bothered by the fact that you hate me?" "I don't hate you," Cole said coldly. "You're a pathetic bastard who I feel absolutely nothing towards. You have no hold over me whatsoever."

"Like that troubles me," O'Doyle said. "You think I care what you think? You could have had the whole damn world laid at your feet if you played your cards right and stuck with that demon but no you gave it up for a woman," he said shooting a nasty glance towards where Phoebe and Prue were standing.

"Well you see that's the difference between us," Cole said calmly. "I know that the right woman is the whole world and so does John. You're too low and disgusting a creature to realize that love is the only thing worth fighting for. I have no doubts, however, that you will pay for your stupidity. Not to mention for what you did to John and our mother. I'm not going to waste my breath wishing damnation on you. You've already done that for yourself. I got news for you though. I've had a glimpse of what it looks like and you'll soon find out it's not like the devil's brochure's advertised. You've cost yourself everything but you are just too stupid to realize it."

"Cole's right," John said finally getting himself under control. "I've spent my life despising you but seeing you like this makes me realize I've been wasting my time. You're not worth the effort. The best thing I can do is to forget you ever even existed. Ironic isn't it? You spent your whole life lording it over others and beating the crap out of people to show how important you were.

Well all you were in life was Connor O'Cayhill's patsy and in death you're even less than that. You're going to vanish completely and no one will mourn or remember you. How fitting. Justice is alive and well. John turned toward Prue and grabbed her hand and walked out without another word. Cole and Phoebe followed close behind.

"Are you all right?" Prue asked John. "I am now," he answered. "Thanks to the three of you. Having you with me through this reminded me what I have in the present. The past is just a nightmare that it's time I let go of, I'm finally free. Maybe this is inappropriate but I feel like celebrating."

"It's not inappropriate at all. Shall we go to Piper's party?" Prue asked. "Sounds good to me. Are you in?" John asked Cole and Phoebe. They both answered yes. Then they exchanged hugs with Morrigan and Erin leaving them to deal with O'Doyle's fate.