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Chapter 13
When Leo orbed into Halliwell manor he was greeted by three very grim and pissed off sisters.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing is wrong," Paige answered sarcastically, "It's just our innocent. At first she told us that we were interfering in her life, then she kicked us out of her house and at the end threatened to sue us for the emotional harassment."
Leo shook his head in disbelief. "Why did she react like that? It's very strange," he said looking at his wife who was sitting on the sofa with the thoughtful expression on her face.
"Well, it isn't if you take into account what Phoebe told her," she answered her husband.
The middle Halliwell gave her sister an angry look. "Forgive me, Piper, but I just told her the truth, while you were going in circles around it I cut to the chase."
Piper rolled her eyes in exasperation, "Come on Phoebe, you practically told her that Cole was using her as a rebound sex. It's not the way to make people listen to you. I was surprised that she did not slap you in the face. That what I would have done."
"Well, it's the truth, isn't it? And it's better if she finds out now and not 3 months down the line when Cole damps her."
"Even if it's true, we were there to make her believe us, not to insult her."
Leo gave two sisters a confused stare, "What are you talking about?" he asked finally.
"Our innocent - is the same blond, whom Cole's been dating." Paige piped in. "All the time we were in this house I expected Cole to show up. But thank God, she was on her own. But there is no doubt she'll tell him about our visit."
Leo shook his head again, this time in frustration. "Can you go back and talk to her again?"
"Oh, no," Paige said. "I don't think she'll open the door to us."
Whitelighter plopped on the couch. He was annoyed with Phoebe. Her hatred to Cole was spreading on anybody who was remotely connected to him. "I will talk to the Elders," he finally said. "May be they will authorise us to tell her the truth about Cole."
"She won't listen," Phoebe remarked sarcastically.
"You have better ideas?" whitelighter retorted. No answer followed his question.
"Well, I see that's settled." Piper summarized slowly.
*******
"Why?" Nicole cried out, "Why are you telling me this now? Why not 12 months ago when we first met. If you loved her all this time why didn't you tell me?"
"I am so sorry Nicole. I know there is no excuse to my behaviour. I really tried to fall in love with you but I couldn't. You are a great person and I am sure that you will meet somebody else, who'll deserve you more than me."
Nicole could not look at him any more; she turned her back upon him desperately trying to hold back tears. "Just go, Chris," she said finally. "There is nothing you could say or do to make me feel better just like there is nothing I can say or do to make you love me."
The guy stared at her back for a while then picked up his bag. "I am really sorry it got to this." He waited for her answer for a few minutes and then opened the door and left.
Nicole continued to stare into the open window. She noticed a man standing on the pavement. He raised his head and she recognised his dark hair and blue eyes, "Cole!" Nicole exclaimed not believing her luck. She rushed to the door, flew down the stairs and ran into the street. She saw Cole's tall figure just a few feet away. "Cole," she called again and ran towards him. But before she could reach him he turned round and Nicole saw him kissing a petite dark haired woman he held in his arms. Nicole felt herself falling down a cry escaping her mouth.
"Nicole," she heard somebody calling her name. The young woman opened her eyes and saw Cole's face just inches away from her. His hand was wrapped around her waist and he looked at her worriedly.
"Cole," she breathed out.
"You had a nightmare," half demon explained, "you almost fell off the bed."
She finally realized that she was laying on the very edge of the bed and only Cole's hand was preventing her from falling. She tried to move away from the edge, which led to her body coming in contact with Cole's, her hand touching his chest. Nicole's whole being split in half. Part of her yearned to be in his arms, to feel his strong muscles under her fingers and to repeat the kiss they shared, which has been haunting her all these weeks. Her nightmare brought back memories from five years ago of feeling humiliated and unwanted. And she wanted to hide from them in his embrace. But the other part was telling her to move away from him in order to keep up the wall she built around herself so that nobody ever again could make her feel so used. Her hand faltered ready both to touch his face and to push him away. As if he could read her thoughts half demon's hand tightened around her waist and he whispered softly, "Don't be scared of me, Nicole. I won't hurt you." He pulled her closer and could feel her arms wrapping around his neck. It was so long since Nicole felt safe and cared for that she could not stop tears forming in her eyes. And for the first time since she was four year old she did not fight them back. Cole could feel her body shuddering in his arms. He lightly stroked her hair, gently tightening his embrace with every sob. They stayed like that for a long time, cuddled together on a massive bed with almost no space between their bodies. A complete opposite of how they started that night. Neither of them noticed how they've fallen asleep.
Loud thudding noise woke them up. Nicole set up abrupt hitting Cole's chin with her head. Both of them groaned. Somebody was banging on the Penthouse's doors. Half demon quickly glanced at the clock. It was five in the morning. He could hear loud voices outside the door.
"Who is it?" Nicole gave him a worried look.
Cole shrugged his shoulders, "We'll better find out," he said getting out of bed and heading out of the bedroom. When he got into the living room the door into the guest bedroom opened and Elizabeth peeped out.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Don't know, but I am about to find out," Cole said continuing to the door. When he opened it he was greeted by the sight of the fire team.
"I am afraid you have to leave the building, Sir," a young fireman said in a rushed voice.
"What's wrong?" the half demon asked.
"There is a fire in the apartment below you. We are evacuating the building. It's strange that your fire alarm has not gone off," the fireman's radio has blurted out something incoherent, from which Cole could not understand a word. But the young man seemed to make perfect sense of it, "We should hurry. They have troubles containing the fire downstairs. Who else is home with you, Sir?"
Cole turned his head just to see Nicole standing behind him. She shook her head, indicating that Elizabeth had already shimmered out and half demon replied, "It's just me and my partner."
"Then please follow us."
"Can I just grab my jacket?" Nicole asked trying to get some time alone with Cole.
"We need to go," one of the firemen stepped up. "It's not safe here."
Half demon nodded, "We understand. We'll go downstairs straight away," with this words he pulled Nicole by the hand and headed towards the stairs hoping that the fire team we'll leave them alone. But there was no such luck. They were escorted all the way down and then out of the building where they joined their neighbours who were all staring up at the blazing fire shooting out of the windows. Young Lugels stood a few feet away from the rest of the crowd.
"Oh, God," Nicole looked horrified, "this is just below the Penthouse. And look at these flames. It will probably ruin your apartment."
Cole casually waved his hand, "Nothing will happen to the Penthouse."
"How do you know?" Nicole asked.
"Because I put a spell on it," Cole explained. "When I was the Source, I was flaming in and out, so I disconnected the fire alarm. Otherwise it would be going off all the time. I also put a protective spell on the apartment when Phoebe got pregnant. Did not want any accidents."
When he mentioned Phoebe and her pregnancy Nicole felt a stab of jealousy but she did not have time to sulk on it because at the same time the cloud, which was hanging in the sky for the whole day, finally decided that it was time for rain and big drops of water started to fall.
"Oh, crap" Nicole muttered. "I am stuck outside at five in the morning in my pyjamas. And it's raining." In two minutes they were both soaking wet.
"I think we should go somewhere." Nicole suggested.
"Trust me, I would have done it long ago," half demon grumbled, "but there are too many people here. And with all these lights around we're completely on the spot."
Nicole looked at the entrance of the building and saw two firemen carrying their colleague on a stretcher. He was unconscious and she recognised the young guy who just quarter of an hour ago escorted them downstairs. Nicole turned to half demon, "Do you think we can do something about this fire?"
Cole looked up thoughtfully, "Well, if we were there we could use our powers to transform flames into water and ice. But we can't get there, plus it would be difficult with all these firemen there. We'll risk exposure."
"What about doing it from here? Combining telekinesis and water streams?"
Half demon thought for a second. "It could work," he finally said. "OK, if you try to get a vision of what's going on so we don't throw some poor fireman into the flames, and then project it to me, I'll do all the water balls throwing." Half demon winced, "Oh, God," he mumbled under his breath, "fire balls sound so much better."
Nicole gave him an amused look but quickly sobered up. She tried to concentrate on getting a clear picture of the apartment by intercepting the visions from the firemen fighting the flames but all she could get was a red blur. Nicole was cold, the rain has hardened and her clothes were soaking wet. She felt herself shivering from every gust of wind. "I can't get a proper vision," she said in a strained voice. "I cannt concentrate, it's too cold."
"Try again," Cole urged, "here," he stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, "this should protect you from the wind." He pulled her closer and Nicole felt an immediate sense of warmth spreading through her body. She concentrated on using her telepathy again. Suddenly she felt an incredible surge of power rushing through her body. She tried to contain them but was overwhelmed by the immense force. The next moment she could feel her powers erupting from her body and flowing into Cole, who still stood behind her, the similar stream coming from him. Nicole's eye flue open and turned almost black. And she saw the apartment, very similar to the Penthouse, filled with smoke and flames. A small group of firemen was trying to contain the flames preventing them from spreading around.
Cole could feel the streams of powers flowing freely between him and Nicole, pulling them closer to each other with the incredible force. The next moment he was hit by a vision of the apartment. Cole lifted his hand and a massive fountain of water erupted from the hose of one of the firemen. Half demon moved his hand slightly forward and the fireman unable to hold his pipe let it go. As if by the life of its own the hose flew a few meters and fallen into the flames. Cole opened his palm and a massive wave of water rose from the pipe and then collapsed consuming the flames. Half demon closed his hand. It was over.
The members of the fire team looked around in shock. The flames were gone, so was the mountain of water, which they thought would drown them. Small puddles were covering the floor. But there was no sign of anything extraordinary.
The crowd outside the building breathed out in relief. The blazes, which just minutes ago were bursting out from the windows above their heads, had completely disappeared.
Nicole's eyes returned to their normal emerald colour. She breathed out and turned her head just to see Cole's eyes staring at her in shock. A few minutes passed and they remained silent, his arms still wrapped around her with her hands holding his wrists. To everybody they looked like lovers, cuddled together, waiting to get back to their warm bed. But they both knew that something has happened, something they did not expect and did not know how to react too.
A young policeman approached them.
"Hi," he greeted them, "I am Officer Grant. Can I take your names and address, please?
His appearance forced Cole and Nicole to separate. "My name is Cole Turner," half demon said. "I live in the Penthouse of this building."
The policeman wrote down Cole's named and address and turned to Nicole. "And you are?"
"My name is Nicole Berg and I live at XXX Mansion Lane."
While officer Grant was writing down her details, Cole asked. "Do you know when will we be able to return to the building?"
The policeman gave him a sympathetic smile, "I am afraid it's not going to be today. The fire was very intense, so they are going to have engineers come and check that the structure of the building was not affected. Plus the experts have just started trying to identify the cause of the fire. It will take them a few hours. So you should find a hotel to stay. You can latter claim the money from your insurance."
Cole and Nicole exchanged glances. "Thank you, officer," the latter said. "So can we go?"
The young policeman gave Nicole appreciative look, which made Nicole realize that she was wearing just a silk black pyjama, which was now soaking wet. She folded her hands in front of her chest. Office Grant smiled at Nicole and said, "Yes, you can go now, but do expect that you might be contacted within next couple of days for some additional information." With these words he gave Nicole another flirtatious glance and walked away not aware of a strong urge Cole felt to incinerate Officer Grant on the spot.
*****
Piper Halliwell rubbed her aching back. This pregnancy was taking the best of her. She poured herself a glass of juice and slowly shuffled to the Sun Room. She planned to enjoy a few hours in front of the telly. Phoebe and Paige were at work. Leo was summoned early in the morning by the Elders. She had two free hours before she had to go to P3 and with any luck she could just relax. She settled on the coach when the phone rang. Piper mentally congratulated herself with being wise enough to move the phone to the coffee table so now she just had to starch her hand to pick it up.
"Hello," she said.
"Piper," Phoebe's voice was full of anxiety. "Switch on the TV."
"Why?" Piper asked, "Are they showing a demon?"
Phoebe let exasperated sigh, "Oh, trust me it's worth," she told her older sister.
Convinced by Phoebe's serious voice the oldest Halliwell reached for the remote control.
"We are reporting from the bottom of the Tower, one of the most prestigious tenement buildings in San Francisco," a young female presenter was saying. "Around 5 o'clock this morning the fire broke out in the apartment just below the Penthouse. When the fire brigade arrived the flames had already spread throughout the apartment. While one group of firemen was trying to contain the flames, the other had to evacuate the tenants. We've been told that there were approximately 120 people staying at the Tower at the time." The face of the presenter was replaced by the images of the Tower taken from the helicopter showing the flames coming out of its windows. Then the camera showed the fire brigade and police cars with flashing lights and a crowd of people in front of the building behind the police cordon. The camera was showing faces highlighted by the searchlights. Suddenly Piper saw Nicole Berg standing a bit away from the rest of the crowd in the embrace of one powerful half demon. One of his hands was slightly outstretched with his palm opened. Piper gasped. To a non-magical person it looked like he was trying to collect the raindrops. But she knew this gesture all too well. She's seen it so many times when Cole was conjuring a fireball.
"You see what I mean," Phoebe said with content. "It was Cole who started this fire."
The oldest Halliwell frowned, "Why would he do that?" she asked.
"I don't know," Phoebe exclaimed. "And I don't care. We need to do something. And we need to do it fast. For all we know Cole could easily conjure evidence that it was Nicole who started the fire."
"We should also speak to Darryl," Piper suggested, "see what police thinks about the cause of this fire. May be it wasn't Cole's fault."
"Piper, you saw what I saw. He was conjuring the fireball. There can be only one explanation for that."
"We did not see the actual fire ball," Piper protested. "Cole does not have a power to conjure invisible fireballs, he also can't send them hundreds of feet up into the air."
"How do you know that? If we have not seen him doing that, it does not mean he can't."
"Phoebe, I am just saying don't jump to conclusions. I will speak to Leo and see if the Elders know anything. And I will also call Darryl and then we can decide what to do."
"Fine," the middle Halliwell snapped. "I have to go now but I'll be home by five." She hang up.
Piper sighed, "So much for a quiet afternoon," she thought and picked up the phone.
Chapter 13
When Leo orbed into Halliwell manor he was greeted by three very grim and pissed off sisters.
"What's wrong?" he asked.
"Nothing is wrong," Paige answered sarcastically, "It's just our innocent. At first she told us that we were interfering in her life, then she kicked us out of her house and at the end threatened to sue us for the emotional harassment."
Leo shook his head in disbelief. "Why did she react like that? It's very strange," he said looking at his wife who was sitting on the sofa with the thoughtful expression on her face.
"Well, it isn't if you take into account what Phoebe told her," she answered her husband.
The middle Halliwell gave her sister an angry look. "Forgive me, Piper, but I just told her the truth, while you were going in circles around it I cut to the chase."
Piper rolled her eyes in exasperation, "Come on Phoebe, you practically told her that Cole was using her as a rebound sex. It's not the way to make people listen to you. I was surprised that she did not slap you in the face. That what I would have done."
"Well, it's the truth, isn't it? And it's better if she finds out now and not 3 months down the line when Cole damps her."
"Even if it's true, we were there to make her believe us, not to insult her."
Leo gave two sisters a confused stare, "What are you talking about?" he asked finally.
"Our innocent - is the same blond, whom Cole's been dating." Paige piped in. "All the time we were in this house I expected Cole to show up. But thank God, she was on her own. But there is no doubt she'll tell him about our visit."
Leo shook his head again, this time in frustration. "Can you go back and talk to her again?"
"Oh, no," Paige said. "I don't think she'll open the door to us."
Whitelighter plopped on the couch. He was annoyed with Phoebe. Her hatred to Cole was spreading on anybody who was remotely connected to him. "I will talk to the Elders," he finally said. "May be they will authorise us to tell her the truth about Cole."
"She won't listen," Phoebe remarked sarcastically.
"You have better ideas?" whitelighter retorted. No answer followed his question.
"Well, I see that's settled." Piper summarized slowly.
*******
"Why?" Nicole cried out, "Why are you telling me this now? Why not 12 months ago when we first met. If you loved her all this time why didn't you tell me?"
"I am so sorry Nicole. I know there is no excuse to my behaviour. I really tried to fall in love with you but I couldn't. You are a great person and I am sure that you will meet somebody else, who'll deserve you more than me."
Nicole could not look at him any more; she turned her back upon him desperately trying to hold back tears. "Just go, Chris," she said finally. "There is nothing you could say or do to make me feel better just like there is nothing I can say or do to make you love me."
The guy stared at her back for a while then picked up his bag. "I am really sorry it got to this." He waited for her answer for a few minutes and then opened the door and left.
Nicole continued to stare into the open window. She noticed a man standing on the pavement. He raised his head and she recognised his dark hair and blue eyes, "Cole!" Nicole exclaimed not believing her luck. She rushed to the door, flew down the stairs and ran into the street. She saw Cole's tall figure just a few feet away. "Cole," she called again and ran towards him. But before she could reach him he turned round and Nicole saw him kissing a petite dark haired woman he held in his arms. Nicole felt herself falling down a cry escaping her mouth.
"Nicole," she heard somebody calling her name. The young woman opened her eyes and saw Cole's face just inches away from her. His hand was wrapped around her waist and he looked at her worriedly.
"Cole," she breathed out.
"You had a nightmare," half demon explained, "you almost fell off the bed."
She finally realized that she was laying on the very edge of the bed and only Cole's hand was preventing her from falling. She tried to move away from the edge, which led to her body coming in contact with Cole's, her hand touching his chest. Nicole's whole being split in half. Part of her yearned to be in his arms, to feel his strong muscles under her fingers and to repeat the kiss they shared, which has been haunting her all these weeks. Her nightmare brought back memories from five years ago of feeling humiliated and unwanted. And she wanted to hide from them in his embrace. But the other part was telling her to move away from him in order to keep up the wall she built around herself so that nobody ever again could make her feel so used. Her hand faltered ready both to touch his face and to push him away. As if he could read her thoughts half demon's hand tightened around her waist and he whispered softly, "Don't be scared of me, Nicole. I won't hurt you." He pulled her closer and could feel her arms wrapping around his neck. It was so long since Nicole felt safe and cared for that she could not stop tears forming in her eyes. And for the first time since she was four year old she did not fight them back. Cole could feel her body shuddering in his arms. He lightly stroked her hair, gently tightening his embrace with every sob. They stayed like that for a long time, cuddled together on a massive bed with almost no space between their bodies. A complete opposite of how they started that night. Neither of them noticed how they've fallen asleep.
Loud thudding noise woke them up. Nicole set up abrupt hitting Cole's chin with her head. Both of them groaned. Somebody was banging on the Penthouse's doors. Half demon quickly glanced at the clock. It was five in the morning. He could hear loud voices outside the door.
"Who is it?" Nicole gave him a worried look.
Cole shrugged his shoulders, "We'll better find out," he said getting out of bed and heading out of the bedroom. When he got into the living room the door into the guest bedroom opened and Elizabeth peeped out.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Don't know, but I am about to find out," Cole said continuing to the door. When he opened it he was greeted by the sight of the fire team.
"I am afraid you have to leave the building, Sir," a young fireman said in a rushed voice.
"What's wrong?" the half demon asked.
"There is a fire in the apartment below you. We are evacuating the building. It's strange that your fire alarm has not gone off," the fireman's radio has blurted out something incoherent, from which Cole could not understand a word. But the young man seemed to make perfect sense of it, "We should hurry. They have troubles containing the fire downstairs. Who else is home with you, Sir?"
Cole turned his head just to see Nicole standing behind him. She shook her head, indicating that Elizabeth had already shimmered out and half demon replied, "It's just me and my partner."
"Then please follow us."
"Can I just grab my jacket?" Nicole asked trying to get some time alone with Cole.
"We need to go," one of the firemen stepped up. "It's not safe here."
Half demon nodded, "We understand. We'll go downstairs straight away," with this words he pulled Nicole by the hand and headed towards the stairs hoping that the fire team we'll leave them alone. But there was no such luck. They were escorted all the way down and then out of the building where they joined their neighbours who were all staring up at the blazing fire shooting out of the windows. Young Lugels stood a few feet away from the rest of the crowd.
"Oh, God," Nicole looked horrified, "this is just below the Penthouse. And look at these flames. It will probably ruin your apartment."
Cole casually waved his hand, "Nothing will happen to the Penthouse."
"How do you know?" Nicole asked.
"Because I put a spell on it," Cole explained. "When I was the Source, I was flaming in and out, so I disconnected the fire alarm. Otherwise it would be going off all the time. I also put a protective spell on the apartment when Phoebe got pregnant. Did not want any accidents."
When he mentioned Phoebe and her pregnancy Nicole felt a stab of jealousy but she did not have time to sulk on it because at the same time the cloud, which was hanging in the sky for the whole day, finally decided that it was time for rain and big drops of water started to fall.
"Oh, crap" Nicole muttered. "I am stuck outside at five in the morning in my pyjamas. And it's raining." In two minutes they were both soaking wet.
"I think we should go somewhere." Nicole suggested.
"Trust me, I would have done it long ago," half demon grumbled, "but there are too many people here. And with all these lights around we're completely on the spot."
Nicole looked at the entrance of the building and saw two firemen carrying their colleague on a stretcher. He was unconscious and she recognised the young guy who just quarter of an hour ago escorted them downstairs. Nicole turned to half demon, "Do you think we can do something about this fire?"
Cole looked up thoughtfully, "Well, if we were there we could use our powers to transform flames into water and ice. But we can't get there, plus it would be difficult with all these firemen there. We'll risk exposure."
"What about doing it from here? Combining telekinesis and water streams?"
Half demon thought for a second. "It could work," he finally said. "OK, if you try to get a vision of what's going on so we don't throw some poor fireman into the flames, and then project it to me, I'll do all the water balls throwing." Half demon winced, "Oh, God," he mumbled under his breath, "fire balls sound so much better."
Nicole gave him an amused look but quickly sobered up. She tried to concentrate on getting a clear picture of the apartment by intercepting the visions from the firemen fighting the flames but all she could get was a red blur. Nicole was cold, the rain has hardened and her clothes were soaking wet. She felt herself shivering from every gust of wind. "I can't get a proper vision," she said in a strained voice. "I cannt concentrate, it's too cold."
"Try again," Cole urged, "here," he stepped behind her and wrapped his arms around her shoulders, "this should protect you from the wind." He pulled her closer and Nicole felt an immediate sense of warmth spreading through her body. She concentrated on using her telepathy again. Suddenly she felt an incredible surge of power rushing through her body. She tried to contain them but was overwhelmed by the immense force. The next moment she could feel her powers erupting from her body and flowing into Cole, who still stood behind her, the similar stream coming from him. Nicole's eye flue open and turned almost black. And she saw the apartment, very similar to the Penthouse, filled with smoke and flames. A small group of firemen was trying to contain the flames preventing them from spreading around.
Cole could feel the streams of powers flowing freely between him and Nicole, pulling them closer to each other with the incredible force. The next moment he was hit by a vision of the apartment. Cole lifted his hand and a massive fountain of water erupted from the hose of one of the firemen. Half demon moved his hand slightly forward and the fireman unable to hold his pipe let it go. As if by the life of its own the hose flew a few meters and fallen into the flames. Cole opened his palm and a massive wave of water rose from the pipe and then collapsed consuming the flames. Half demon closed his hand. It was over.
The members of the fire team looked around in shock. The flames were gone, so was the mountain of water, which they thought would drown them. Small puddles were covering the floor. But there was no sign of anything extraordinary.
The crowd outside the building breathed out in relief. The blazes, which just minutes ago were bursting out from the windows above their heads, had completely disappeared.
Nicole's eyes returned to their normal emerald colour. She breathed out and turned her head just to see Cole's eyes staring at her in shock. A few minutes passed and they remained silent, his arms still wrapped around her with her hands holding his wrists. To everybody they looked like lovers, cuddled together, waiting to get back to their warm bed. But they both knew that something has happened, something they did not expect and did not know how to react too.
A young policeman approached them.
"Hi," he greeted them, "I am Officer Grant. Can I take your names and address, please?
His appearance forced Cole and Nicole to separate. "My name is Cole Turner," half demon said. "I live in the Penthouse of this building."
The policeman wrote down Cole's named and address and turned to Nicole. "And you are?"
"My name is Nicole Berg and I live at XXX Mansion Lane."
While officer Grant was writing down her details, Cole asked. "Do you know when will we be able to return to the building?"
The policeman gave him a sympathetic smile, "I am afraid it's not going to be today. The fire was very intense, so they are going to have engineers come and check that the structure of the building was not affected. Plus the experts have just started trying to identify the cause of the fire. It will take them a few hours. So you should find a hotel to stay. You can latter claim the money from your insurance."
Cole and Nicole exchanged glances. "Thank you, officer," the latter said. "So can we go?"
The young policeman gave Nicole appreciative look, which made Nicole realize that she was wearing just a silk black pyjama, which was now soaking wet. She folded her hands in front of her chest. Office Grant smiled at Nicole and said, "Yes, you can go now, but do expect that you might be contacted within next couple of days for some additional information." With these words he gave Nicole another flirtatious glance and walked away not aware of a strong urge Cole felt to incinerate Officer Grant on the spot.
*****
Piper Halliwell rubbed her aching back. This pregnancy was taking the best of her. She poured herself a glass of juice and slowly shuffled to the Sun Room. She planned to enjoy a few hours in front of the telly. Phoebe and Paige were at work. Leo was summoned early in the morning by the Elders. She had two free hours before she had to go to P3 and with any luck she could just relax. She settled on the coach when the phone rang. Piper mentally congratulated herself with being wise enough to move the phone to the coffee table so now she just had to starch her hand to pick it up.
"Hello," she said.
"Piper," Phoebe's voice was full of anxiety. "Switch on the TV."
"Why?" Piper asked, "Are they showing a demon?"
Phoebe let exasperated sigh, "Oh, trust me it's worth," she told her older sister.
Convinced by Phoebe's serious voice the oldest Halliwell reached for the remote control.
"We are reporting from the bottom of the Tower, one of the most prestigious tenement buildings in San Francisco," a young female presenter was saying. "Around 5 o'clock this morning the fire broke out in the apartment just below the Penthouse. When the fire brigade arrived the flames had already spread throughout the apartment. While one group of firemen was trying to contain the flames, the other had to evacuate the tenants. We've been told that there were approximately 120 people staying at the Tower at the time." The face of the presenter was replaced by the images of the Tower taken from the helicopter showing the flames coming out of its windows. Then the camera showed the fire brigade and police cars with flashing lights and a crowd of people in front of the building behind the police cordon. The camera was showing faces highlighted by the searchlights. Suddenly Piper saw Nicole Berg standing a bit away from the rest of the crowd in the embrace of one powerful half demon. One of his hands was slightly outstretched with his palm opened. Piper gasped. To a non-magical person it looked like he was trying to collect the raindrops. But she knew this gesture all too well. She's seen it so many times when Cole was conjuring a fireball.
"You see what I mean," Phoebe said with content. "It was Cole who started this fire."
The oldest Halliwell frowned, "Why would he do that?" she asked.
"I don't know," Phoebe exclaimed. "And I don't care. We need to do something. And we need to do it fast. For all we know Cole could easily conjure evidence that it was Nicole who started the fire."
"We should also speak to Darryl," Piper suggested, "see what police thinks about the cause of this fire. May be it wasn't Cole's fault."
"Piper, you saw what I saw. He was conjuring the fireball. There can be only one explanation for that."
"We did not see the actual fire ball," Piper protested. "Cole does not have a power to conjure invisible fireballs, he also can't send them hundreds of feet up into the air."
"How do you know that? If we have not seen him doing that, it does not mean he can't."
"Phoebe, I am just saying don't jump to conclusions. I will speak to Leo and see if the Elders know anything. And I will also call Darryl and then we can decide what to do."
"Fine," the middle Halliwell snapped. "I have to go now but I'll be home by five." She hang up.
Piper sighed, "So much for a quiet afternoon," she thought and picked up the phone.