Part 4: The Fever
~~
Chris and the sisters are making their way down the stairs to the hall.
Paige: Just accept it Pheebs, that other spell wasn't needed.
Phoebe: I know, but it just seemed a little too easy. He was the Source yet we killed him like any other demon.
Piper: He wasn't prepared for us.
Phoebe: That's what worries me. He attacked us in the attic, shouldn't he have expected us to track him down?
Chris: Maybe the Source didn't think of us as that much of a threat. In the attic we didn't show him any reason to-
Phoebe: HEY! I did my best.
Piper: And he caught us by surprise. We weren't expecting the old Source to just appear out of thin air.
Paige: Even though several demons have a tendency to do that to us.
Phoebe: Just whose side are you on anyway?
Paige: I'm just trying to make a point. You were surprised by who it was, not by the attack itself.
Piper: Right.
Phoebe: It still felt too easy.
Paige: Pheebs..
Phoebe: Well I'm sorry, but it took us years to vanquish that Source, and he seems to have found a way to come back to life without coming back to life. Who's to say he won't find a way to do it again?
Piper: That's what the extra vanquishing potions are for.
Paige: Hey Chris?
Chris: (looking at Paige) Yeah..?
Paige: Is the Source alive in the future, I mean THIS source?
Chris: Um..
Paige: Right-right, future events. Can't talk about them, I get it, but it'd be nice to know if we get another visit from him or not.
Chris: I think I hear the Elders calling.. (he orbs out)
Phoebe: Now that's how to avoid.
~~
Back in the abandoned warehouse Cole is watching Nethaniel and Pyrena, who are speaking with each other just across the room. Another Avatar appears beside Cole – this one dressed in all gray with slicked back blonde hair.
Adamant: They are an unneeded risk Cole. Already by bringing them here you have opened the door for that world's Source and other demons to enter.
Cole: The Charmed Ones can take care of the anomalies.
Adamant: That's not the point. A balance is meant to be kept in this world, you've disrupted it by allowing two beings who do not fully exist to survive here. Consequences will come of this.
Cole: The balance here was already put in jeopardy by the arrival of the Charmed One's new whitelighter. Now two identical souls exist in one world.
Adamant: It doesn't compare Cole. You've brought in new souls from a reality that you yourself created. The world will only suffer in an attempt to make up for this change.
Cole: Do you doubt my power Adamant?
Adamant: I have been an Avatar longer than you. I know how bad things can get when we give in to our emotions. You claimed to have put your love for Phoebe behind you, but bringing your children in to this world seems to contradict that.
Cole said nothing in reply, and Adamant vanished from the room. That's when he noticed both Nethaniel and Pyrena shimmer out.
~~
Back at the Manor Phoebe is pacing in and out of the conservatory. Paige is watching her from her seat on the window chair, looking a bit amused.
Paige: Phoebe, you should just relax. It's been hours since we vanquished the Source, and I didn't find anything when scrying.
Phoebe: I know, I know. Just wish Leo would orb his ass down here and tell us what he found out. Sneaky little Elder orbing out on us when he should've been sharing his knowledge!
Paige: He'll be back.
Phoebe: What's with this renewed confidence in Leo?
Paige: I just have faith he won't totally bail on us. Plus he's starting to come around more often now.
Phoebe: Because he knows about Chris.
Paige: Yes, but he seems to be willing to try and reconnect with Piper.
Phoebe: For Chris.
Paige: No – well, yes in a way. That's not what I was getting at though. He still loves her, and she still has that look of love in her eyes for him.
Phoebe: Empath here, you don't have to tell me.
Paige: Right. But I just wish they'd get back together, it's so hard seeing them apart.
Phoebe: That it is, but I know how they feel. Piper doesn't want to get hurt, and Leo doesn't want to hurt Piper again.
Paige: Tough situation there.
Phoebe stops pacing and looks around, visibly shaken.
Paige: Pheebs..?
Phoebe: It's that feeling again.
Paige: (getting up and moving over to her sister) The same one you had in the Underworld?
Phoebe: Exactly the same.
~~
Still in the Manor, but now in Wyatt's room, Piper was folding laundry while Chris was keeping Wyatt entertained.
Piper: What did the Elders have to say?
Chris: They, um..
Piper: You didn't go to see them did you?
Chris: No, sorry. I just-
Piper: Wanted to avoid your Aunt Paige's onslaught of questions about the future.
Chris: Yeah. It's not that I don't want to tell you what happens, but I-
Piper: Can't. I know.
~~
Back downstairs, Phoebe is feeling nauseas and leaning against the wall and Paige for support.
Phoebe: I don't feel so good.
Paige: You don't look too good.
Phoebe teeters on her toes as her body starts to give way.
Paige: Whoa! (grabs Phoebe)
Phoebe: Paige... I... (starting to look feverish)
Paige: (worriedly) PIPER!
~~
Back upstairs.
Piper: Can I ask you something?
Chris: Um, sure?
Piper: Why did I- (hears Paige, and orbs down there herself)
Chris looks startled and confused by his mother's sudden orbing.
~~
As Piper materializes downstairs, Phoebe is now totally out of it, and Paige is struggling to keep her sister up.
Piper: What happened? (rushes over)
Paige: I have no idea. She started to get this weird feeling – one she had after we vanquished the Source – and next thing I know she's starting to look and feel sick.
Piper: This can't be good. (quick pause) LEO!
A beat later Leo orbs in, and Chris orbs downstairs.
Leo/Chris: What happened?!
Paige: It's Phoebe. Can you heal her?
Leo: (looking concerned as he moves over to the sickly sister) I can try. (places his hand over Phoebe's forehead and heart, a golden glow appears for a few minutes before fading)
Piper: Leo?
Leo: I can't heal her.
Paige: Why not?!
Leo: I don't know. It's like what Phoebe's experiencing right now is tied to her very soul.
Paige: (looking at Piper) You don't think the Source..
Piper: Oh God. Leo?
Leo: No. I don't sense anything evil in her, it's not the Source's essence.
Chris: Then what is it?
Leo: You tell us.
Chris: How am I supposed to know – I don't remember anything like this happening.
Piper: Who the hell are YOU?!
Everyone turns to look in the direction of Piper's gaze. Pyrena and Nethaniel are now standing near the Manor's entrance.
~~
-To be continued..
~~
Chris and the sisters are making their way down the stairs to the hall.
Paige: Just accept it Pheebs, that other spell wasn't needed.
Phoebe: I know, but it just seemed a little too easy. He was the Source yet we killed him like any other demon.
Piper: He wasn't prepared for us.
Phoebe: That's what worries me. He attacked us in the attic, shouldn't he have expected us to track him down?
Chris: Maybe the Source didn't think of us as that much of a threat. In the attic we didn't show him any reason to-
Phoebe: HEY! I did my best.
Piper: And he caught us by surprise. We weren't expecting the old Source to just appear out of thin air.
Paige: Even though several demons have a tendency to do that to us.
Phoebe: Just whose side are you on anyway?
Paige: I'm just trying to make a point. You were surprised by who it was, not by the attack itself.
Piper: Right.
Phoebe: It still felt too easy.
Paige: Pheebs..
Phoebe: Well I'm sorry, but it took us years to vanquish that Source, and he seems to have found a way to come back to life without coming back to life. Who's to say he won't find a way to do it again?
Piper: That's what the extra vanquishing potions are for.
Paige: Hey Chris?
Chris: (looking at Paige) Yeah..?
Paige: Is the Source alive in the future, I mean THIS source?
Chris: Um..
Paige: Right-right, future events. Can't talk about them, I get it, but it'd be nice to know if we get another visit from him or not.
Chris: I think I hear the Elders calling.. (he orbs out)
Phoebe: Now that's how to avoid.
~~
Back in the abandoned warehouse Cole is watching Nethaniel and Pyrena, who are speaking with each other just across the room. Another Avatar appears beside Cole – this one dressed in all gray with slicked back blonde hair.
Adamant: They are an unneeded risk Cole. Already by bringing them here you have opened the door for that world's Source and other demons to enter.
Cole: The Charmed Ones can take care of the anomalies.
Adamant: That's not the point. A balance is meant to be kept in this world, you've disrupted it by allowing two beings who do not fully exist to survive here. Consequences will come of this.
Cole: The balance here was already put in jeopardy by the arrival of the Charmed One's new whitelighter. Now two identical souls exist in one world.
Adamant: It doesn't compare Cole. You've brought in new souls from a reality that you yourself created. The world will only suffer in an attempt to make up for this change.
Cole: Do you doubt my power Adamant?
Adamant: I have been an Avatar longer than you. I know how bad things can get when we give in to our emotions. You claimed to have put your love for Phoebe behind you, but bringing your children in to this world seems to contradict that.
Cole said nothing in reply, and Adamant vanished from the room. That's when he noticed both Nethaniel and Pyrena shimmer out.
~~
Back at the Manor Phoebe is pacing in and out of the conservatory. Paige is watching her from her seat on the window chair, looking a bit amused.
Paige: Phoebe, you should just relax. It's been hours since we vanquished the Source, and I didn't find anything when scrying.
Phoebe: I know, I know. Just wish Leo would orb his ass down here and tell us what he found out. Sneaky little Elder orbing out on us when he should've been sharing his knowledge!
Paige: He'll be back.
Phoebe: What's with this renewed confidence in Leo?
Paige: I just have faith he won't totally bail on us. Plus he's starting to come around more often now.
Phoebe: Because he knows about Chris.
Paige: Yes, but he seems to be willing to try and reconnect with Piper.
Phoebe: For Chris.
Paige: No – well, yes in a way. That's not what I was getting at though. He still loves her, and she still has that look of love in her eyes for him.
Phoebe: Empath here, you don't have to tell me.
Paige: Right. But I just wish they'd get back together, it's so hard seeing them apart.
Phoebe: That it is, but I know how they feel. Piper doesn't want to get hurt, and Leo doesn't want to hurt Piper again.
Paige: Tough situation there.
Phoebe stops pacing and looks around, visibly shaken.
Paige: Pheebs..?
Phoebe: It's that feeling again.
Paige: (getting up and moving over to her sister) The same one you had in the Underworld?
Phoebe: Exactly the same.
~~
Still in the Manor, but now in Wyatt's room, Piper was folding laundry while Chris was keeping Wyatt entertained.
Piper: What did the Elders have to say?
Chris: They, um..
Piper: You didn't go to see them did you?
Chris: No, sorry. I just-
Piper: Wanted to avoid your Aunt Paige's onslaught of questions about the future.
Chris: Yeah. It's not that I don't want to tell you what happens, but I-
Piper: Can't. I know.
~~
Back downstairs, Phoebe is feeling nauseas and leaning against the wall and Paige for support.
Phoebe: I don't feel so good.
Paige: You don't look too good.
Phoebe teeters on her toes as her body starts to give way.
Paige: Whoa! (grabs Phoebe)
Phoebe: Paige... I... (starting to look feverish)
Paige: (worriedly) PIPER!
~~
Back upstairs.
Piper: Can I ask you something?
Chris: Um, sure?
Piper: Why did I- (hears Paige, and orbs down there herself)
Chris looks startled and confused by his mother's sudden orbing.
~~
As Piper materializes downstairs, Phoebe is now totally out of it, and Paige is struggling to keep her sister up.
Piper: What happened? (rushes over)
Paige: I have no idea. She started to get this weird feeling – one she had after we vanquished the Source – and next thing I know she's starting to look and feel sick.
Piper: This can't be good. (quick pause) LEO!
A beat later Leo orbs in, and Chris orbs downstairs.
Leo/Chris: What happened?!
Paige: It's Phoebe. Can you heal her?
Leo: (looking concerned as he moves over to the sickly sister) I can try. (places his hand over Phoebe's forehead and heart, a golden glow appears for a few minutes before fading)
Piper: Leo?
Leo: I can't heal her.
Paige: Why not?!
Leo: I don't know. It's like what Phoebe's experiencing right now is tied to her very soul.
Paige: (looking at Piper) You don't think the Source..
Piper: Oh God. Leo?
Leo: No. I don't sense anything evil in her, it's not the Source's essence.
Chris: Then what is it?
Leo: You tell us.
Chris: How am I supposed to know – I don't remember anything like this happening.
Piper: Who the hell are YOU?!
Everyone turns to look in the direction of Piper's gaze. Pyrena and Nethaniel are now standing near the Manor's entrance.
~~
-To be continued..
