Disclaimer: I don't own Charmed, unfortunately. I do not presume to, I simply use the characters that I love in my own stories. It's harmless fun.
AN: Thanks everyone who has reviewed. I know I haven't been so great at updating lately. I'm really sorries, but, well, writer's block has a strong grasp on me. I have been struggling to get out the low-quality chapters you've gotten so far..Y'all have been great, though. Thanks.
lilly: I'm sorries, I know it took me a while to update. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
pippergurl: Thanks. you rock two! lol. Of course Piper cares about her...eventually, we will find out how much...*shrugs*
Kristen's Paige: lol, gummy bears!!!!!!!!!!! YUMMY! Short reviews are good, two! Love ya lotz!
lmcheese: I'm glad you are starting to like the story...I know the first few chapters weren't exciting. I hope this one remedies that...
Fury Piper: ummm...kaysies, then. Does that mean that you like my story or not? *is confuzzled* Well, I hope you keep reading.
Prue3: Thank ya!!!!!!!
Starring Piper: hehe...I gotted ta talk to my twin! *says in a sing song voice* Luv ya, PTTT! Thanks for your review, and I definitely see cause to sound cheerful about hospitalization! It's angsty goodness...hehe. Tttyimh and lwyimh!
The drive to the Manor had taken Piper less time than was safely possible, but she had arrived in one piece. Now, she rushed inside at a breakneck speed and headed straight for the attic. She skidded through the door and, upon glancing around, noticed that Phoebe was not where Piper had expected her sister to be. Panic coursed through her veins, freezing her blood. Phoebe was not home. She could be anywhere. Something, anything, could have happened to her. These thoughts clicked through Piper's head rapidly.
"No," she said aloud into the empty room. Phoebe was fine. Paige was fine. Everything would be fine. In her heart, she knew differently. Tears sprung, unbidden, into her eyes, but she held them back with a vengeance. She gathered the map and crystal used so often for scrying and began the task. No more than a minute later, the crystal dropped and held. Piper slowly let out the breath she had been unconsciously holding.
"Leo," she called out, not really expecting him to show. Quickly, she made her way down the stairs, the map marked and clutched in her left hand. "Leo," she tried once more in a flat tone. When he didn't orb in, she sighed, retrieved her car keys from her pocket, and walked out of the house.
A few minutes later, Piper pulled her car in between two police cars. A few more were in a broad circle around the building she wanted to get into. With a sigh, she searched the sea of faces for Darryl's. A hand grasped her shoulder roughly, and she turned to face the owner of the hand.
"Tell me this doesn't have to do with demons," Darryl demanded, sounding a little angry. Piper stared up at him, then blinked. She had no clue what he was talking about. After a few more moments, she finally took in the scene around her. Police cars, sirens, cops...
"Phoebe is in there," she whispered, halfway to herself and began to move towards the building.
"Piper," Darryl called out, tightening his grip on her arm, "We are doing what we can to get those people out of there." Piper gazed at him through frightened eyes.
"Wh...what's happening?," she asked quietly. Darryl sighed and looked at the ground, collecting his thoughts.
"A couple of guys with guns are holding people hostage inside. They are demanding a huge sum of money in return for their own immunity and the lives of their hostages," he explained in a monotone, keeping any emotion he had out of his voice. Piper shook her head in silent denial.
"I have to go in there and get my sister," she said slowly, jerking away from him. Darryl stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
"There is nothing you can do except wait for us to get this straightened out. I want you to go back to the Manor, Piper. We can't have an hysterical family member distracting the force," he told her firmly. Piper's eyes snapped angrily, and she clenched her fists tightly at her sides.
"I am not waiting quietly at home while some idiot is pointing a gun at my sister," she argued hotly, "Now get out of my way."
A silent battle raged between them as each held the other's stare. Finally, Piper blinked and looked down. She knew she had to do what he suggested, but she didn't like that fact one iota. Darryl allowed his expression to soften when he realized she was giving in. Gently, he squeezed her hand and gave her a look that promised his protection for Phoebe. Piper shot him a weak smile and silently got back into her car.
The entire drive home was a constant bickering between her mind and heart. Her heart lobbied the position of busting through and getting Phoebe before anything could happen, but her mind repeated rationally that it would be better to wait and let the police do their jobs. She pulled into the driveway, snapped off her seat belt, and fought back a scream.
"Leo, I need you. I cannot do this by myself," she said brokenly. Tears were brimming in her eyes, but still, she held them back. If she couldn't save Phoebe, then she would work on helping Paige. There was a slight hinge in that plan, though. Paige was nowhere to be found. Piper saw the hopelessness in her situation and tried to deny its existence. There had to be something she could do.
With somewhat shaky determination, Piper made her way into the house and up the stairs once again. A small part of her wanted to curl into a ball and weep, but she managed to keep her emotions under control. It would not be of any help to either of her sisters, so she ignored the urge and flipped through the Book of Shadows for answers.
Paige was huddled in the corner of a dim, musty room of some sort. Her eyes could jsut barely make out a few shapes in the darkness as she surveyed her surroundings. She was a little confused as to how she had ended up in the place she was now. One second she had been running down an alleyway, and the next something was grabbing her. When she looked around again, it had gone completely dark and her had captor let loose of her. She could hear him rummaging through the room, and she pressed herself against the wall, striving to make herself as small as possible. Terror welled inside of her. What was she supposed to do? She breathed deeply, though quietly as possible, and tried orbing again. Nothing was happening, and she was beginning to lose hope. Where was Piper?
A nagging, insistent voice told her no one was coming to save her, but she pushed it back. Her only chance of escape appeared to lie with her sisters. If they didn't come, she was doomed. She jumped at the sound of a deep, gravely voice only inches away.
"The Charmed legacy will end with you, witch," the demon growled, "I will be your downfall."
Paige trembled, and she dodged his groping hands. He was going to kill her, and no one would know until they found her cold body. It could be days, weeks, if ever. Fear lodged itself deep inside of her as she tried to run. An electric surge shot through her body, and she felt herself fall. Then, black was eating on the edge of her vision, inviting her to enter into it completely. Without much fight, Paige allowed herself to be enveloped.
AN: Thanks everyone who has reviewed. I know I haven't been so great at updating lately. I'm really sorries, but, well, writer's block has a strong grasp on me. I have been struggling to get out the low-quality chapters you've gotten so far..Y'all have been great, though. Thanks.
lilly: I'm sorries, I know it took me a while to update. I hope you enjoy this chapter!
pippergurl: Thanks. you rock two! lol. Of course Piper cares about her...eventually, we will find out how much...*shrugs*
Kristen's Paige: lol, gummy bears!!!!!!!!!!! YUMMY! Short reviews are good, two! Love ya lotz!
lmcheese: I'm glad you are starting to like the story...I know the first few chapters weren't exciting. I hope this one remedies that...
Fury Piper: ummm...kaysies, then. Does that mean that you like my story or not? *is confuzzled* Well, I hope you keep reading.
Prue3: Thank ya!!!!!!!
Starring Piper: hehe...I gotted ta talk to my twin! *says in a sing song voice* Luv ya, PTTT! Thanks for your review, and I definitely see cause to sound cheerful about hospitalization! It's angsty goodness...hehe. Tttyimh and lwyimh!
The drive to the Manor had taken Piper less time than was safely possible, but she had arrived in one piece. Now, she rushed inside at a breakneck speed and headed straight for the attic. She skidded through the door and, upon glancing around, noticed that Phoebe was not where Piper had expected her sister to be. Panic coursed through her veins, freezing her blood. Phoebe was not home. She could be anywhere. Something, anything, could have happened to her. These thoughts clicked through Piper's head rapidly.
"No," she said aloud into the empty room. Phoebe was fine. Paige was fine. Everything would be fine. In her heart, she knew differently. Tears sprung, unbidden, into her eyes, but she held them back with a vengeance. She gathered the map and crystal used so often for scrying and began the task. No more than a minute later, the crystal dropped and held. Piper slowly let out the breath she had been unconsciously holding.
"Leo," she called out, not really expecting him to show. Quickly, she made her way down the stairs, the map marked and clutched in her left hand. "Leo," she tried once more in a flat tone. When he didn't orb in, she sighed, retrieved her car keys from her pocket, and walked out of the house.
A few minutes later, Piper pulled her car in between two police cars. A few more were in a broad circle around the building she wanted to get into. With a sigh, she searched the sea of faces for Darryl's. A hand grasped her shoulder roughly, and she turned to face the owner of the hand.
"Tell me this doesn't have to do with demons," Darryl demanded, sounding a little angry. Piper stared up at him, then blinked. She had no clue what he was talking about. After a few more moments, she finally took in the scene around her. Police cars, sirens, cops...
"Phoebe is in there," she whispered, halfway to herself and began to move towards the building.
"Piper," Darryl called out, tightening his grip on her arm, "We are doing what we can to get those people out of there." Piper gazed at him through frightened eyes.
"Wh...what's happening?," she asked quietly. Darryl sighed and looked at the ground, collecting his thoughts.
"A couple of guys with guns are holding people hostage inside. They are demanding a huge sum of money in return for their own immunity and the lives of their hostages," he explained in a monotone, keeping any emotion he had out of his voice. Piper shook her head in silent denial.
"I have to go in there and get my sister," she said slowly, jerking away from him. Darryl stepped in front of her, blocking her path.
"There is nothing you can do except wait for us to get this straightened out. I want you to go back to the Manor, Piper. We can't have an hysterical family member distracting the force," he told her firmly. Piper's eyes snapped angrily, and she clenched her fists tightly at her sides.
"I am not waiting quietly at home while some idiot is pointing a gun at my sister," she argued hotly, "Now get out of my way."
A silent battle raged between them as each held the other's stare. Finally, Piper blinked and looked down. She knew she had to do what he suggested, but she didn't like that fact one iota. Darryl allowed his expression to soften when he realized she was giving in. Gently, he squeezed her hand and gave her a look that promised his protection for Phoebe. Piper shot him a weak smile and silently got back into her car.
The entire drive home was a constant bickering between her mind and heart. Her heart lobbied the position of busting through and getting Phoebe before anything could happen, but her mind repeated rationally that it would be better to wait and let the police do their jobs. She pulled into the driveway, snapped off her seat belt, and fought back a scream.
"Leo, I need you. I cannot do this by myself," she said brokenly. Tears were brimming in her eyes, but still, she held them back. If she couldn't save Phoebe, then she would work on helping Paige. There was a slight hinge in that plan, though. Paige was nowhere to be found. Piper saw the hopelessness in her situation and tried to deny its existence. There had to be something she could do.
With somewhat shaky determination, Piper made her way into the house and up the stairs once again. A small part of her wanted to curl into a ball and weep, but she managed to keep her emotions under control. It would not be of any help to either of her sisters, so she ignored the urge and flipped through the Book of Shadows for answers.
Paige was huddled in the corner of a dim, musty room of some sort. Her eyes could jsut barely make out a few shapes in the darkness as she surveyed her surroundings. She was a little confused as to how she had ended up in the place she was now. One second she had been running down an alleyway, and the next something was grabbing her. When she looked around again, it had gone completely dark and her had captor let loose of her. She could hear him rummaging through the room, and she pressed herself against the wall, striving to make herself as small as possible. Terror welled inside of her. What was she supposed to do? She breathed deeply, though quietly as possible, and tried orbing again. Nothing was happening, and she was beginning to lose hope. Where was Piper?
A nagging, insistent voice told her no one was coming to save her, but she pushed it back. Her only chance of escape appeared to lie with her sisters. If they didn't come, she was doomed. She jumped at the sound of a deep, gravely voice only inches away.
"The Charmed legacy will end with you, witch," the demon growled, "I will be your downfall."
Paige trembled, and she dodged his groping hands. He was going to kill her, and no one would know until they found her cold body. It could be days, weeks, if ever. Fear lodged itself deep inside of her as she tried to run. An electric surge shot through her body, and she felt herself fall. Then, black was eating on the edge of her vision, inviting her to enter into it completely. Without much fight, Paige allowed herself to be enveloped.