A/N: So how was that for an explanation? Everyone like Lou? Or what?
Special thanks to Barb and Trunks. The only people who reviewed my last two chapters *hint hint* Hehe. :-)
I've reached the fifty review mark! :-))
Disclaimer: Chapter Three, Page 8

So you going to go help? Lou asked.

Cole replied glumly, not at all shocked to find the obstreperous cab driver in his office.

You idiot, Lou remarked jovially, sitting down. Of course you can help. Remember the loophole?

No magic, Cole replied in the same fashion as before.

Lou waved his hand. Now that rule was meant to be broken. We didn't think you'd adhere to it this long anyhow.

Cole asked, looking up.

Don't look so unpleasant. We just don't want you throwing the heavens out of whack. Use as much magic as you want. We told you that before because we wanted to prove to you that you can live just by yourself as a human. No magic involved.

There's always magic involved, Cole replied. He had long given up asking who We' was. Lou always gave a shrug when the question was asked and said that they were his bosses, which meant he knew nothing about them. They apparently weren't prone to fraternizing with the help. Cole often wondered why he was taking direction from an unknown, and quite annoying, group of things. He just did. He needed some kind of direction, having had it all his life, and for now We' seemed to fit the bill.

Well... yes, Lou admitted slowly.

I think I'm going to stop working for Cole remarked.

You could. I suppose, Lou shrugged. I could send them your resignation.

Cole shrugged himself. Not yet. Just... uh... tell them I want to meet them.

You idiot, Lou said again, smiling. You are going to help, correct?

To protect, Cole said.

I never said that you had to protect her from a demon. You could protect her from herself you know, Lou said. He got up, signaling the end of the conversation. He pulled some laminated cards from his tweed jacket pocket. Could you hand these out? I... uh... I need some business.

Cole nodded, taking the business cards from Lou's weathered hand. Lou nodded his thanks and disappeared out the door. Cole looked at the cards in his hand. Al's Taxi Service was written in large block letters with a number underneath. Lou Stevenson was printed across the bottom along with the company's slogan.

* * * * * *

Oh Phoebe, Piper said as her sister came down the stairs. You look as radiant as ever.

Phoebe nodded, Her hair fell limp at the sides of her head and she seemed to sink into her clothes, a baggy pair of pants and an oversized sweatshirt, which once belonged to Cole. Where's Paige?

Piper shrugged. The normal one is off on another date.

Won't she be late for work? Phoebe asked, softly.

Piper laughed. Phoebe and work? Phoebe's worrying about work! She laughed again. Why don't you go get a job and then complain about the normal half-Halliwell?

Phoebe shrugged and disappeared up the stairs to scry for evil, just as she did each morning.

* * * * * *

Cole messed around all morning, calling clients from months back to check up on them - just to avoid seeing the Halliwells again. He called Darryl several times, who, after a while, didn't answer the phone. Cole was never a fan of caller ID.

After a while Cole decided just to tail the Halliwells. He tried to convince himself that it was to see if Leo was overreacting, but really? It was just to avoid the inevitable.

* * * * * *

Darryl sighed as he saw Cole's work number flash across the caller ID screen. All in the guys in the office wondered why he hung around with the awkward lawyer anyhow. Darryl had brought Cole to an office party with him and his wife. Sheila hoped that Cole might meet someone. Cole, however, didn't want to talk to anyone. He stood in the corner staring at his beer and looking nervous. Sheila, and even Darryl, hadn't realized that Cole couldn't relate... at all. Darryl had seen that type of syndrome, in a lesser degree, exhibited in the Halliwells, but seeing Cole was quite pathetic.

Darryl had later explained to all his cop pals that Cole was a friend from when Darryl was young and they had stayed friends through the years. The guys nodded. They understood that kind of loyalty. Along the way a friend got a little weird, but you stuck by him just because he had been your friend for so long.

* * * * * *

What about work? Nick asked, in between kisses.

Who cares? Paige said, kissing him again.

Nick laughed. I don't.

Not now you don't, Paige replied with a smirk, turning the sign on the door from Open' to Closed.'

* * * * * *

You're fired, Piper gleefully told Nick.

I've been a good employee for a year, Piper! You have no right to fire me! Nick protested.

Look on the door, Nick. Read it.

Nick read, rolling his eyes.

You're fired Nick, Piper said with a smile. And Nick? Nick, despite himself, stopped and turned to face his former employer. On your way out tell Kristen to put up a help wanted sign.

* * * * * *

Phoebe kicked the demon back a bit before throwing the potion. She glanced from a moment at the blood that was rushing down her arms from the cuts in her shoulder, but didn't call Leo. She glanced briefly at the hurt innocent huddling in the corner. She still didn't call Leo. All she did was take a piece of paper out of her pocket along with a pen and cross Galgern demon off the list.

* * * * * *

You idiot, Lou greeted Cole. Stop following her already and go save her.

Cole glanced at Lou for a second before turning his eyes back to Phoebe, who was coming out bloodied from a warehouse. Why doesn't she call Leo? he mumbled.

Lou whistled. Doesn't care. None of them care. He rolled his eyes as he leaned against the soft leather seats of Cole's car. Cole was coming accustomed to use of automobile, rather than shimmering. You ain't going to do a thing about it at this rate.

Am too, Cole replied childishly, before realizing that Lou was gone once again.

* * * * * *

C'mon buddy, Leo said, picking up Wyatt.

I don't want to go home! Wyatt protested, giving a pleading look to his grandfather.

Can't he stay here tonight Leo? I'm off tomorrow, Victor agreed.

Leo nodded sadly. Better that Wyatt be here, he thought, putting his son down. See you tomorrow, kiddo, Leo told his son, ruffling his hair. Wyatt gave a silly grin to his grandfather. Leo orbed off.

* * * * * *

Cole sighed, parking the car in a parking lot. He took the keys and slipped them in his pocket. Here goes nothing, he told himself as he shimmered off.

* * * * * *

Phoebe collapsed on the couch. Not feeling fulfilled or happy, but fine considering she was the only one home out of the three sisters. She couldn't seem to relate to either one anymore. The only person she had had a decent conversation with in weeks was Leo, but now she was even turning away from him. He had his own issues and she could feel that Leo didn't really want to be party to hers.

You're an empath for a reason, Cole said, shimmering in.

Paige's voice carried across the room. Just when my life is getting good...

It's all crap, Paige, Leo said, orbing in. He had followed Cole for a while. Cole acknowledged the whitelighter with a nod, he had felt Leo's presence.

A little party, Piper appeared from up the stairs.

I thought I was alone, was all Phoebe said.

Sit down. Everybody.

Who the hell are you? Paige asked, tossing her purse at Cole. He caught it.

Aw. C'mon Paigey. Let's sit down, Piper yanked her sister down next to her. Piper turned towards Cole, brown eyes cold. Or are you scared of the bastard?

Cole sighed and tossed his hands up, freezing the scene. Well it wasn't frozen, but just moving at an extremely slow pace. The only one not affected was him.

It was the first time he had seen all three of them together in months. And they looked very different, all worse for the wear. Well, he corrected himself, Paige looked better than usual. Phoebe slouched, hiding behind her hair, which looked like it hadn't been washed. She put her eyes towards the ground and cuts and bruises adorned her body like jewelry. Piper sneered, terror alight in her eyes. She sat up straighter with her eyes narrowed, surveying for faults and discrepancies. Paige rolled her eyes at the world. Her hair was perfectly coifed and her makeup perfectly done. She looked neatly pressed and her stance held a bit of superiority, telling you straight off that you weren't good enough to talk to her. And Leo? Cole glanced at the poor man. He was tired and worn down by the things brewing around him.

Cole raised his hands again, not quite sure where to start.

A/N: What do you think? Good? Not? Way off base?