Treading Water- Part 3
Laris appeared in a cubicle in the male bathroom of the asylum. He quickly waved his hands around to dispel the crimson vale which accompanied him whenever he travelled demonically. That done he fixed his clothing, yet again putting the finishing touches to his doctor guise, pining his name tag back on.
He then exited the cubicle and with one last glance in the bathroom mirror he walked out into the hallway. It wouldn't take him long to reach Phoebe's cell and hopefully when he got there, no one else would be around or paying enough attention to notice what he was doing. The plan was simple; it would not take long to work after it was initiated. Laris smiled a little, he was just as eager to cause Phoebe pain as Cole was. A nice reward after being forced to watch her for months.
Soon Laris came to a halt outside Phoebe's cell. He took out his clipboard as well as a pen from his pocket and uncapped it. Placing pen to paper he leaned forward a little and peered in through the small window.
Phoebe lay a little bit away in a foetal position, looking closer he could see that her face was slightly tear stained. At the moment her features were peaceful which only meant one thing. She was in her world again.
"Perfect!" Laris spoke in a loud whisper. He glanced about himself and saw no one near. Turning back to the window a wicked smile crept across his face.
Closing his eyes he put a hand to his forehead and concentrated on Phoebe. Concentrated on penetrating her mind, her world. With some people it was easier to access their minds, however most minds he accessed were sane ones, they had a certain order to them. Entering a psyche which was unstable was a whole other matter. These minds, minds like Phoebe's were much more jumbled; erratic and so it took a little longer to gain entry.
Finally Laris found himself in Phoebe's world, the world she created to escape to. He looked around himself and recognised immediately where he was. It was the infamous Halliwell Manor. The place was intact, as if no demon had ever frequented the place. It seemed much brighter; happiness filled ever nook and cranny. It oozed out of the walls. Next he heard voices coming from the room next to him. Slowly and carefully he made his way over to the wall and peeked around it. Sitting in front of him were the dead sisters plus Phoebe. She was sitting smiling, watching them as they spoke, taking in everything about them and obviously enjoying being in their presence.
'Too bad it isn't real,' He thought with fake remorse. He knew what to do now. Pulling away from the wall he stood back a little, grinning. 'Time to bring the world from inside...outside.' Concentrating he began to use his power, work his magic so to speak, adding his own touches to this make believe world. He could manipulate a person's thoughts, fantasies and then make them see them for real, except they would be fashioned to what was necessary. It wouldn't be long before Phoebe saw her sisters, literally.
Once he was finished, for the moment, Laris began to carefully pull himself out of Phoebe's mind. When he was out he took a moment to shake off the effect using his power had on him, the world around him would be hazy, dreamlike for a few seconds before his full consciousness took over again.
Gazing back through the window he stood patiently waiting for moment when the result of his actions became clear.
~ ~ ~ ~
Leo was awakened by a ringing in his head, not a ringing a person would perhaps have if they had drank a little too much alcohol, no this ringing belonged to the Elders. At this realisation Leo groaned and rolled over, he was still clutching onto the picture of his dead wife.
"What?" He asked in a hoarse whisper. "I though I told you to leave me alone!" He said his voice getting louder as he over articulated each word.
Sitting up Leo carefully placed the picture of Piper on the bedside table before looking upward "How many times do I have to tell you? How many? You never listen. Never!" As he yelled those last words saliva sprayed from his mouth, some of it trickled onto his chin.
Wiping it away roughly he attempted to scramble to the edge of the bed, his legs becoming even more entangled with the sheets. Annoyed at the twisted linen he grabbed onto it and wrenched it from around his legs and then pulled himself to the side of the bed, swinging his legs over it.
Putting his head in his hands he tried to ignore what the Elders were telling him but it was futile.
"You don't understand. I can't do anything for her. I wont." Shaking his head a slightly Leo's thoughts flashed back a little in time
"Phoebe?" Leo called urgently as he entered the manor. Looking around he saw that his sister-in-law was nowhere in sight. That wasn't good. Ever since the incident with Cole she hadn't been the same, this of course probably wasn't helped much by the fact that Leo had brought her back to the manor. He had thought it would help but it had made things worse. Phoebe was balancing precariously on a thin piece of ice anything could make her fall into the freezing cold depths below.
He glanced into the living room, she wasn't there. He ran through the hallway into the solarium, again she wasn't there. 'Phoebe where are you?' Leo thought to himself before he remembered his sensing ability. In the panic of trying to find her he'd completely forgotten about it.
Closing his eyes Leo reached out to her, searching for Phoebe's presence, her light. It was something that was always easy to find in the past but now that wasn't so. Eventually he found it; it was distant bit it was there. He frowned a little, this time it was faint but for another reason.
Acting quickly Leo dashed up the stairs and along to Phoebe's bedroom. When he got there he stood outside the door and braced himself for what he might see. His hand opened the door slowly and it was almost as if he watched what came next in slow motion.
The door finished opening. His eyes darted around. They settled upon her form. It was still. There was blood everywhere. Pooling around her. It was seeping from wounds on her wrists. She still clutched photographs of her sisters.
Blinking to bring him back to reality Leo rushed forward. "God! Phoebe no. This isn't the way." He placed his fingers to her neck, checking for a pulse. A smile crept across his face when he felt one, it was faint but it was there.
He took a moment to glance at the photos Phoebe held in her hand. One was of her with Piper and Paige, the other, of her and Prue. They were smiling. "Happier times," He whispered as he took hold of her wrist gently and began to heal the wound. Once that one was done he did the same with the other.
"Phoebe? Come on Phoebe. Wake up." Leo said while shaking her gently. As she began to stir he took the pictures from her hand and placed them to the side. "Phoebe," He said again but this time it was a little firmer.
"P...P-Prue?" Phoebe asked uncertainly, she was not yet fully aware of her surroundings.
"No Phoebe, I'm sorry, it isn't," He said moving some of her hair out of her eyes.
At this Phoebe's eyes shot open and stared directly into Leo's Blue meeting brown. "What the hell? Y-You healed me? Why Leo? Why?" She asked slightly angered but desperate.
"Phoebe I couldn't let you commit suicide, that is not the way to be with your sisters." Leo stated as gently as possible.
Phoebe moved away from Leo a little, out of his grasp but maintained eye contact with him. "How dare you!" She cried croakily. "How dare you bring me back? Leo I don't want to be here without them."
"I know you don't but when your time comes, your real time that is, you will get to be with them. Phoebe you have to live! If not for you then for them," He pleaded, looking into her eyes, searching for something, some sort of understanding of what he was saying but he found none.
She shook her head and laughed a little, "I can't believe this. I can't believe what you're saying."
"Phoebe.." Leo started but was cut off.
"No! You know what... no, all right," Phoebe said pointing a finger and standing up, Leo standing up with her. She looked him directly in the eye, "You lost the right to give me advice on that day."
"What do you mean?" He asked, unsure as to where she was going with this. He didn't want to see her like this. It upset him but he was also slightly angered and frustrated. Why wouldn't she listen to him? Why wouldn't she realise that what he was saying was the truth?
"What I mean Leo is you lost that right because on that day you failed them. All of them." She said with an almost nasty edge to her voice.
"Phoebe! What did you expect me to do? Cole appeared and massacred our family he almost go to you as well." Leo said desperately.
"Heh! It probably would've been better if you had let him take me." Phoebe muttered looking down but she looked back up again almost immediately. "Leo I expected you to save them. Not leave them there to die! You failed them again. . Just like when you failed to bring Prue back. You failed Piper just like you failed Prue."
Leo couldn't believe what she had just said. There had been no chanced of saving Paige or Piper. If there had been he would not have left them there to die. He loved them both, Piper more than anything.
What Leo did next almost seemed as if he was watching himself do it. Before he knew it he had raised his hand and slapped Phoebe across the face. He couldn't stop himself, what she had said hand angered him so much the action was carried out over sheer emotion.. After he had done it he regretted it. The look of utter shock on her face. "Phoebe I..." He held out his hand to her but she shied away, a hand still over the spot where Leo's had struck her.
"Leo don't! Just... just leave me alone," She stated firmly looking at him with part fright, part hatred.
"Phoebe I didn't mean..." Leo was again cut off.
"Leo! Get out! Just leave me alone! " Phoebe yelled a bit more viciously but when this demand was met with no movement she screamed the words as loud as she could. "Get out. Get out. Get OUT!" She had then shrunk against the wall and slid down it visibly shaking, sobs coursing through her body. Her had still partially covered the area where Leo had slapped her.
Leo stood for a moment in slight disbelief as her outburst but eventually he left the room closing the door behind him. He stood for a moment staring at the door, "Phoebe I'm..." But he cut himself short and sighed. Shaking his head wearily he moved off in the direction of the room he once shared with his wife.
A firm jingle from the Elders brought him out of his memories. They were trying again. Trying to convince him that she needed his help. She may well be in danger but no, he was not going to go galloping to her rescue. He couldn't.
"For the last time no!" Leo yelled. "Can you not see? I can't save her, not anymore. Please, give it up," He pleaded one last time and this time it was met with silence. He smiled. Finally they had got the message. He then picked the picture of Piper off of the bedside table again and stared at it lovingly. "I'm taking care of everything. Don't worry soon everything will be fine."