Warriors

by Coles Guardian

The R rating is for Chapter 5. Cole returned from the Wasteland a year ago and found a friend and a destiny... a destiny they would share. A year has passed and just as Cole moves to fullfill his destiny the Charmed Ones reappear in his life.

5. Chapter 5 RRated for violence

Distribution: This story cannot in part or whole be sold or used for profit in any way. Copies may only be distributed with author's permission and must include all disclaimers.

Disclaimer: Cole Turner, Darryl Morris, Prue, Piper, Paige, and Phoebe Halliwell. Leo Wyatt, Jenna, and Andy Trudeau and all other characters that have appeared on the series "Charmed" as well as the concept of Charmed and all backstory are the copyright property of Aaron Spelling, E. Duke Vincent, and the WB Television Network. No copyright infringement was intended. All original characters as well as the story idea and the story itself are the sole property of the author.

Warning: This chapter discusses physical and sexual child abuse, so if these things are going to bother you please leave now.

First thank you to all those who reviewed.. I just love getting reviews.

Okay then.. as for timing of this part - This part returns to the present.

Darryl hadn't wanted to leave Cole alone on the Dreamscape but his Guardian instincts had told him he was needed in the waking world. When he opened his eyes he knew why. Standing down the hallway were the Charmed Ones and Leo and he briefly wondered how they could be there since this whole area was protected. A stray memory popped into his head and he understood, they had met with the Coven here just two days ago and Dr. B had had to lower some of the protection fields to allow them entrance. He would have to remind Dr. B to replace those fields as soon as possible. He rose to his feet and placed himself between the Charmed Ones and the doors that lead to his charge making sure that he kept a tight rein on his emotions. Anger would only cloud his judgment and here and now that could get someone hurt. His eyes looked to each of them in turn as they came to a stop five feet in front of him.

"What are you doing here?" He sounded cold even to himself but right now he was finding it hard to care. His friend was once again hurt because of the four people who stood before him and he was angry, worried and angry. When Phoebe spoke Darryl found his hands clenching into fists, a habit he had picked up from Cole.

"You know why we are here Darryl. He has to be destroyed." Phoebe's voice was cold, her eyes flat and devoid of all emotion.

He looked into those eyes and realized that she simply didn't care. When he looked to Paige he saw hate and the same with Leo. However, when he looked to Piper he saw something else, he saw fear but he couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Deciding he would have to figure it out later he took one step back so he could address all of them. "You have no idea what you are doing."

"Oh we know perfectly well what we are doing Darryl. He is the Source, he is dangerous, and he has to be destroyed. We failed before but we won't fail again." Unlike Phoebe's cold voice Paige's voice was hot with anger.

"The Source is dead and has been for a year now. You know that Phoebe, you were there, you saw the Wasteland. Hell you left Cole there to die too." Darryl hadn't meant to yell but that was what he was doing. He couldn't stand the fact that they were standing there telling him that his friend had to be destroyed, that they knew what had to be done. Suddenly he realized that they had always been like that, believing themselves to be better than everyone else because they were the Charmed Ones of Prophecy. Of course that was when they weren't bitching and complaining about how they wished that they had normal lives and how being a witch could be such a pain. He also realized that yelling and arguing with them wasn't going to get him anywhere. They were the Charmed Ones, the magical ones and whatever he said wouldn't matter because to them he was nothing more than a mere human being. He sighed, there was no reasoning with them, not here and not now. Fortunately the doors opened and Dr. B chose that moment to walk out. He immediately forgot about the people in front of him and directed all of his attention to her.

"Darryl." As she said his name she realized that they were not alone. So that was whom I felt before. Oh well we knew this was going to happen sooner or later I just wish it hadn't happened right now. Darryl is worried enough and when he finds out about Cole's temporarily losing his sight again. oh Gods above and below you must be having quite the laugh right about now. She was brought out of herself as Darryl moved closer to her, his worry plain to see. "He's all right and they are getting ready to move him to your regular room so why don't you go and give them a hand." She saw his hesitation as he looked back at their unwanted guests. Knowing that Cole needed Darryl close to him right now and Darryl so obviously needed to check on his charge she simply told him to go. "I will take care of this now go. Your partner needs you. And before you ask I sedated him myself this time so he won't wake up until it is time. Now off with you." She had seen the question in his eyes before he had even asked. Ever since the night of the shooting Darryl has always been worried about Cole waking up while he was on the vent, the operating room incident was never far from his mind, nor was it far from hers. After reassuring him Darryl left through the doors she had just come through, he never even looked back at the girls.

Dr. B stepped forward placing herself between the Charmed Ones and her Grandson. Her eyes swept from one girl to the next as she raised the magical shields back into place, strengthening them at the same time. She had never met the fabled Charmed Ones in person before but it was easy to tell which witch was which. The one thing she did find curious was the look in the eyes of the oldest. She had learned from Prue that Piper took her role as oldest very seriously and she wondered what the look of fear in the girls eyes meant, what was she afraid of.

"Well, well, well. The Charmed Ones and their Whitelighter Leo Wyatt." She had to be very careful as her emotions could get her into a lot of trouble right about now.

"Who are you and how do you know us?" Phoebe's voice was still very cold and unemotional and Dr. B found just the sound of the girls voice was grating on her patience.

"I have gone by many names but here and now I am called Dr. Raven Blackwell. However the name I am most associated with is Ravenor." Dr. B took an inordinate amount of pleasure in watching Leo do a credible impersonation of Casper the Friendly Ghost.

"But that. she's. they're just legends." Leo was having a little trouble forming a complete sentence and Dr. B was enjoying it. The girls however didn't like being in the dark.

"What are you talking about Leo?" Paige demanded. She wasn't at all happy about what was going on, she had seen Cole standing right in front of her when he was supposed to be dead and she wanted him dead. "Leo."

"Are you really her? I mean do they really exist?" Leo was still having a little trouble wrapping his mind around what was standing before him.

"Yes Leo I am really her and yes we most certainly do exist." She smiled. If Whitelighters weren't already dead she would swear that Leo was about to drop dead from a heart attack or a stroke, the bet was even money on which.

"Leo get a grip and just tell us what she is." Phoebe didn't like the game that Dr. B was playing, not when she knew Cole was so close at hand, close enough for her to kill him again and this time make sure he stayed dead.

Dr. B watched as Leo collected himself but most of her attention was on Piper, so far the oldest Charmed One hadn't said a word instead she simply kept looking at her. When Leo started to explain she never moved her eyes from Piper's.

"They are the Guardians. They guard the Balance and are loyal only to the Balance. They are neither Good nor Evil they simply are. There are rules and laws that govern the worlds of good and evil and they are the enforcers of those rules and laws. Most of the rules and laws are in regards to doing anything that would destroy this realm. The Elders and the Source are bound by these laws, as are the Councils on both sides. Legend says that. that Ravenor was one of the first of the Guardians and that she is not human but more than human. What that something is has been lost through time." Leo had fallen back into his Whitelighter training mode as he spoke and by the time he was finished he was sweating and shaking and Dr. B loved every minute of it.

"What do you mean lost in time and if she's not human what is she?" Paige was curious but still angry as she turned to her brother-in-law. "If she isn't good then she has to be evil which means she has to be vanquished just like Cole."

"Paige let me let you in on a little secret. You are not getting anywhere near Cole. None of you are. I am among other things his doctor and it is my job to keep him alive, which is exactly what I am going to do."

"He's a." Phoebe's cold voice interrupted but she didn't get very far.

"He is my Grandson which means that if you want him you have to get through me first and yes I am one of the first Guardians and no I am not human." Dr. B had let her own eyes go cold and her voice go hot. She needed them to understand that she was serious and that she could and would defend her Grandson. They seem to have gotten the point and backed off a little. Still she didn't let her guard down.

"What are you?" It was Piper who asked and her tone spoke only of her wanting to understand.

Dr. B looked at her and tried to measure her sincerity. It seemed to her that the oldest of the Charmed Ones may have some hidden feelings that the rest of her family were unaware of and she made a mental note to speak to Cole about his relationship with Piper. Before she could answer Piper's question though Officer Simmons came running down the hall having shimmered into the closet next to the lift as usual.

"Is he all right?" Simmons had come as soon as the twins had told him that the girls had left the Manor. He had been watching the Manor himself but had been called back to the station and what he found out there made him send the twins back to Raven Manor. Once he was sure the twins were safely ensconced at home he reported directly to Dr. B, somehow knowing that that was where he was going to find the Charmed Ones as well. He wasn't disappointed either.

"He's fine Simmons. I was able to reverse the swelling so relax." She smiled at the flustered look on his face. He had originally been sent by her to watch out for the boys until they came into their own but at some point, fairly early on at that, he and the boys had simply become friends. It was because of this that she knew something else was also wrong. "All right Simmons, what is it? What's wrong?" The look he was giving her wasn't doing her state of mind any good. "Simmons spill now please."

"He escaped tonight." It was all Simmons had to say for his boss to understand. He watched as the emotions played across her face and then he knew he was the one missing something now. "Boss I already have the guys at the precinct working on the best way to protect them but something tells me that that is not the only bad news. Now you spill." Simmons was getting a bad feeling about this whole situation.

Dr. B wasn't sure about revealing this piece of information in front of the Charmed Ones but she knew she had no choice. Before she could though one of the girls spoke up.

"Who escaped? What the hell are you talking about? And who or what are you?" It was Paige and she was none too happy.

Simmons took exception to her outburst though and swung around to face her. "The guy who shot Cole that's who. And as for who I am I am Officer Simmons of the SFPD. I also work for Dr. B here. As for what I am I'm a half-blood. Now if any of you even think about trying anything just remember you have to go through me first to get to Cole so just back off." Simmons had seen the smile flit across Dr. B's lips." What's with the smile?"

"I already told them that they would have to go through me first if they wanted to get anywhere near Cole." Her smile faded quickly though. "He escaped? Did he have help?" She meant did he have demonic help since he had been working for a demon when he had tried to shoot Darryl but hit Cole instead.

"No. This was a completely human break out. I have already talked to the Captain and he is helping arrange the security for the boys. How long before Cole can be released?"

"It'll be another." Dr. B stopped as she considered speaking in front of the Charmed Ones but hen decided that it couldn't be helped, besides they all had known that this day would come she simply wished her Grandson wouldn't be at such a disadvantage. "He'll be another 5 hours on the vent and then a half an hour to recover and for Darryl to get him dressed and ready to leave. There is one other thing though. He won't get his sight back for about 72 hours." She saw the impact her words had on Simmons and she understood his fear. Cole was now at an even worse disadvantage and Darryl, well Darryl would be Darryl, which meant he would be Mother Hen Darryl until his charge could see again.

"But he will get it back again right? Just like the times before right?" Simmons was worried and not just because he was one of their watchdogs but also because they seemed to have wormed their way into his very life and he now thought of them as friends instead of an assignment. It complicated things but for him the complications had proved to be more than worth it.

"Yes Simmons he will but until then we both know that Darryl isn't about to let him out of arms reach." The smile in her words was one of fondness. She knew Darryl and she knew how he was going to react.

"He never does when this happens. Does he know?" Simmons was worried about Cole but also Darryl. The boys were alike in many ways and their ability to lay on the self guilt trip was equaled by none.

"I would assume that he knows now that he is with Cole physically. However he isn't aware of this new problem." Dr. B's mind was running a mile a minute. Her mind going over the facts, trying to find the best solutions and the first order of business was getting the Charmed Ones away from her Grandson.

"Okay. What the hell is going on and who has escaped?" Paige's anger seemed to be growing and as Dr. B looked to Simmons she realized that he was likely to blow very soon, not that she could blame him of course. She was about to intervene when Simmons turned fully to face the girls so she waited.

"Slater is a human who was working for the demon Kretar. Kretar had hired him to do the shooting. He was trying to take down the fabled Charmed Ones so he targeted their friends. He wanted you off balanced emotionally so that he could take you out."

"Well shooting Cole only did us a favor so this demon couldn't be too smart." Phoebe's statement had earned her a death glare from Simmons, which she simply ignored. Little did she know what kind of fire she was really playing with.

Simmons felt Dr. B's hand on his shoulder keeping him in place; he hadn't even realized that he had started to move forward. He took a calming breath before setting the little witch straight. "Slater's intended target was Darryl but Cole had been able to see the escaped perp before the rest of us and pushed Darryl out of the way, shielding him as well. The bullet in Cole's head was meant for Darryl. It was designed to cause severe pain, which would eventually drive the victim insane, not kill them outright. The bullet had a potion on it; one that was geared for Darryl's system and it almost killed Cole. It would have had Darryl not helped in the creation of the antidote, help that caused him extreme pain I might add." Simmons saw the confused looks on their faces and decided to try again, this time when he spoke he sounded like someone trying to explain something to a four year old. A dense four year old.

"Almost 10 months ago to the day they arrived at a crime scene right after the suspect had escaped, stealing an officer's gun in the process. We had been searching for about 10 minutes when Cole spotted him behind a car aiming the stolen gun at Darryl. There wasn't time for him to call out a warning so he simply ran, pushing Darryl out of the way just as the suspect fired. Cole didn't have time to get out of the way himself and the bullet that had been meant for Darryl found Cole instead. We returned fire at that point but the suspect, Slater, survived. After the trial that put Slater away for life, thanks to Cole's testimony Slater swore to get even with Cole for saving Darryl. The whole robbery had been a set up to get Darryl but he hadn't counted on Cole being able to see him in the dark and saving Darryl." Paige still didn't seem satisfied which simply angered Simmons even more so he decided to spell it out for them, after all they were going to find out soon anyway. "He was shot in the back of the head and the bullet is still inside his head, it couldn't be removed without killing him. He has been living with it for the past 10 months, pain and all. He is also still doing his job as an ADA. And if you know what is good for you then you will leave both Cole and Darryl alone."

Dr. B, sensing that Simmons might not hold his emotions in check for much longer decided to send him away before he did something that they all would regret. "Simmons, why don't you head on down to the boys room, I'm sure Cam could use the company right about now." Cam always manned the nurse's station in the boy's room whenever they were there, day and night if needed.

"What about them?" Simmons didn't like the idea of the Charmed Ones being so close to Cole and Darryl, not that he thought for one minute they stood a chance of getting by his boss, himself, Cam, and Darryl to get to Cole. It was simply their mere presence that was bothering him; he didn't like it when his friends were threatened.

Dr. B understood his problem and like him she knew that there was no chance of the girls getting near Cole but also like him just their nearness to her Grandson bothered her. However, she could tell by looking at Simmons that leaving him in such close proximity to the Charmed Ones could only end up with someone getting hurt and it wouldn't be Simmons. "I will take care of them now go on. Besides you know you want to so just go." She watched as he glared one last time at the girls and Leo before retreating through the double doors behind her. Quickly though she returned her full attention to the unwelcome guests. She didn't really want to deal with them but she had no choice. "All right, this way and be quick about it, I have other things I have to do." Intending to take them to her office she stopped before turning the corner and looked back, they hadn't moved. "Okay children we can do this the easy way or the hard way." She was pleased when her little warning made Leo jump into action as he herded the girls down the hall towards her. Phoebe wasn't at all happy and neither was Paige but Leo kept them together and moving. Piper on the other hand still looked scared, guilty and scared. During the short walk she went over in her mind what she was going to say to them. She had no intention of telling them the whole story, that was for her Grandson to decide but she was going to let them know that perfect they were not.

Simmons was still steaming when he reached the boys room. He had only been with the Charmed Ones for a few minutes and he was already so angry that he could fry the next person he saw. How dare they show up here and threaten his friends, how dare they. So caught up in his anger he jumped when Cam put her hand on his shoulder. Startled he looked up and realized that he had been standing just inside the boys' room, staring at his sleeping friends. Cam's voice finally made him look at her.

"What's wrong? And don't tell me nothing because I know a something look when I see one." Her petite five foot and two inches only brought her to just above Simmons' shoulders but that didn't make her any less dangerous than his five foot nine inches. The look she found in her friends eyes though was chilling because what she saw there was fear. Her own eyes automatically shifted to Darryl and Cole's sleeping forms. Darryl never left Cole's side during these events so months ago she had brought a special comfy reclining chair in for him to use. The chair was just right for Darryl to lie back in and sleep whilst still keeping a firm hold of Cole's hand. Her eyes never left them as Simmons spoke.

"You've been hanging around the boys far too long." He chuckled slightly as Cam used one of the boys' favorite sayings. Sobering quickly he moved to stand at the foot of Cole's bed, he didn't dare get any closer lest Cole's Guardian, not recognizing him put him through a wall. again. The Bond between Cole and Darryl was strong, very strong already but it hadn't completed itself yet, soon but not yet. Until then they understood not to get too close too fast, not when Darryl and his charge were both asleep. "The Charmed Ones are here."

Cam froze, hell she stopped breathing as her eyes focused on her old friend. Cole was sleeping, his drug induced sleep so deep that he wasn't even aware of her presence or Simmons; he was only aware of Darryl. She knew that he would stay in this state until Aunt Raven removed the sedative slash potion he was being fed through his IV, the combination being one of her Aunts best creations, but the drip had to be maintained without interruption or he would wake up. She had been in the operating room the night he had been shot and the look of pure terror in his eyes as she tried in vain to calm him down was one she wished to never see again as long as she lived. Slowly she became aware of the fact that her breathing was matching the rise and fall of his chest; but unlike hers his was being powered solely by the ventilator that sat next to the bed. She knew that as the swelling went down he would begin breathing on his own again, but right now without the vent he would die and the thought always made her shudder. Her eyes shifted to Darryl when she thought about what could happen because if it did then Darryl would die too, their Bond was strong enough to connect them in life and so it would connect them in death as well.

"Since you are here I am assuming that they are with Aunt Raven?" Cam asked when she finally found her voice again. She had known that the boys had met the Charmed Ones earlier tonight but she never expected them to come here.

"Yes they are. She intends to have a little chitchat with them before sending them on their way."

"What is it Simmy? I can tell by your voice that there is something else so spill." Cam had known Simmons almost all of her life and she could read him like a book much to his chagrin.

"Slater escaped tonight." His words were quiet but their effect staggering. He watched as the color drained from Cam's face. Chuckling to himself a little he realized that he had had the same reaction when their Captain had originally told him. The two of them had faced countless demons and other assorted various human and inhuman killers but the mere mention of the name Slater turns their blood cold. He was only a human being, no powers to speak of but he was good at what he did and what he did was kill people, it was how he made his living. The fact that he was only human meant that they had to play by the human rules and that meant no powers. Even though Slater was a human with no powers they still would not underestimate him, no half- blood lived long by underestimating an opponent, any opponent.

"Do you have protection in place and where are the twins?" Cam's first instinct is still the protection of the boys but she also worries about the twins now too. Anita and Julianna mean the world to the boys add to that the fact that they accept the boys' rather unique relationship without fault or question and that makes them the perfect match.

"Yes. The protection is being placed around Raven Manor as we speak and the girls are already safely tucked away at said Manor. I am here and will be sticking to them like glue until we catch Slater." He again looked back at Cole and Darryl and briefly wondered how they were going to take the news. Hell he hadn't taken the news very well himself so he could only imagine what the boys reactions would be like.

"Darryl's going to pitch an absolute fit when he finds out and before you even think about pawning this one off on me forget it. You are going to be the one to tell them. I like breathing thank you very much." Cam had seen Mother Hen Darryl in the past and she had no desire to be on the receiving end ever again.

Simmons grimaced at her tone of voice, it was the 'don't even bother trying' tone and he knew she only used it when she meant it. Of course he too had seen MHD, as they called Mother Hen Darryl for short, and he inwardly cringed as he recalled the first time MHD had made an appearance.

"Simmy are you all right? You don't look so good." His now pale face and slightly widened eyes caused her a little concern, afraid that there was yet some more bad news coming. As her eyes found his she saw in her minds eye what he was thinking about. Somehow she knew her face was now as pale as his was.

They stood starring at each other as they remembered MHD's first appearance, their connected minds returning to the very same night Darryl had been thinking of earlier. The night Darryl saved Cole's life for the first time.

It had been two hours since Dr. B had completed the Tap on Darryl and the antidote was now ready. Cam quickly made her way to Cole's room where Dr. B had been since finishing the procedure on Darryl. As she rounded the corner she ran into Simmons, literally.

"Hey slow down and watch where you are going there Cammy." Simmons said as he reached out a hand to steady her. He had known her long enough to recognize the look in her eyes. "What's the problem?" She hesitated and that made him even more nervous. "Cammy?"

Cam had been searching for a way around what she had found out only moments before but she somehow knew that there was going to be no way out for Cole, no way to escape the pain that she was going to have to inflict on him to save him. She turned her attention to Simmons as he fell into step beside her as she one again began making her way to Cole's room.

"We have a problem, well actually it is Cole who has. I just found out that in order for this antidote to work Cole has to be awake when he gets it. Now before you ask it is because of the spell that goes with the antidote."

"What do you mean he has to be awake?" Simmons had stopped Cam with a hand on her shoulder, the tautness of the muscles beneath his hand making his anger dissipate. When he turned her to face him he could see the control it was taking to keep it together.

Cam had known Cole all of her life, he had been the one to save her life, twice. The first time was on the very day she was born. He had heard about a demoness who was to give birth to a fey child, fey children being bled to death moments after their births for the newborn blood they carried in their veins, blood that could be used for powerful prophecy spells. A twelve-year-old Cole had arrived just in time to save the newborn babe from her mother. After killing those that were present so they wouldn't be able to tell of his rescue of the child he took her to the Nation where she was adopted and named Camilla. She had been the first in a long line of newborn babes that Cole had saved over the decades. Nineteen years later when a witch, a Halliwell witch, killed her half-blood parents Cole had saved her again. Simmons remembered when Cole arrived at the Nation safe zone he had collapsed, an athame lodged between his shoulder blades. Raven had cared for and healed him while he had covered for Cole's absence. Exactly how he had covered was a secret that was best left buried for both Cam and Cole's sakes. As he looked into her eyes he knew that she didn't like this idea anymore than he did, probably less because she was going to have to help Raven hurt Cole. She was going to have to hurt the very man that had a very secret place in her heart, one Cole never knew about.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to shout. It's just. are you sure?"

Cam looked up at him and did her best to control her raging emotions. She wanted to hurt, to tear apart the person responsible for hurting Cole in this way; it was cruel and if she ever got her hands on Slater he would be worse than dead inside five seconds. She drew in a calming breath before explaining. "Yes I am sure. The potion that is coating the bullet is only active when Cole is awake. Once he is either asleep or unconscious the potion suspends itself via the spell. This way it allows Cole to heal enough so he doesn't die and when he wakes up it starts all over again. In the person it was designed for, in this case Darryl, it would be able to keep this cycle up for a very long time, eventually driving him insane but never actually killing him. However, Cole's innate magic is causing the potion to become a poison and every time he is awake and the potion comes out of suspension it is spreading farther and faster and it will eventually kill him."

"But it doesn't even register unless he is awake so in order for the antidote to attach itself to the poison the poison has to be moving. If it's suspended the antidote won't even see it." Simmons may not have had the medical training Cam did but he understood potions very well.

"Precisely." Cam could see that he know fully understood the problem and also realized that it was the only solution. "I hope Aunt Raven is ready for this. Shall we?" She stepped up to the door of the boy's room.

"Is there an option other than going in?"

"No."

"Then by all means let's go." Simmons opened the door and allowed Cam to enter first; chivalry was never dead within the Nation. He stopped next to Cam as his eyes took in the sight before him.

Both men were lying on their sides facing each other, Darryl's hand was reaching over and holding Cole's. The sound of the heart monitors drew their attention to the shelf above Cole's bed. There were now two monitors giving readings, one from Cole and one from Darryl. What startled both Simmons and Cam though was that the monitors were in perfect sync. Darryl's heart rate was matching Cole's, as was his breathing they realized. Both turned to Raven who was watching the boys with glowing purple eyes.

"Aunt Raven, what's going on? Why are Darryl's vitals matching Cole's, not to mention how is it happening?" Cam had never seen this happen before and it worried her. She could tell by the look on Simmons face that he didn't like it either.

Raven redirected her gaze to them before answering. She could tell that her two young friends were wondering how it was possible but she could also tell that they had some bad news to deliver as well. Their young faces telling her all she needed to know.

"It's all right Cam, for once everything will be alright." She could tell that they weren't satisfied but what she said next only raised more questions. "Cole has found his destiny."

"You mean that Darryl is the Guardian, his Guardian." Simmons knew that Raven had a certain interest in Darryl Morris but he only thought it was because he had become so important to her Grandson; he never dreamed it was because he was the other of the Prophecy. He suddenly understood how Darryl and Cole's friendship had come together so fast and yet was so very strong. Darryl, like Cole, was a child of Prophecy and even though he wasn't outwardly magical he had the power within him, a power that wouldn't come into itself until the Bonding was complete. This innate power drew him to Cole and gave him the ability to see beyond the external image that was Cole Turner, to look beyond and see the wounded child that lay within the man.

"The time has come and the Prophecy is before us. Now all we have to do is keep Cole alive long enough for both of them to ascend to their rightful places. so do you have it?" Raven had seen the tray that Cam carried and truth be told she had begun to worry that they wouldn't have it in time. Relief had washed over her when she saw the antidote on the metal try her young friend was carrying. However, as she looked into her friend's eyes she knew that there was bad news to go with the good. "Someday one of us will have nothing but good news to relate. Okay what is the problem?" She inquired as she changed her eyes back to the human violet that they normally were.

Cam didn't really want to say anything but she knew it had to be done and soon, Cole was too important to loose, for more than one reason. She took a deep breath and spoke her peace. The look that found it's way onto her Aunt's face was not a nice look at all and she was sorry that she had had to put it there.

"Okay. Yes I do have the antidote right here, however we have a problem and before you ask I have checked, double-checked, and then rechecked again before accepting it myself. Cole will have to be awake when we administer the antidote. It's the only time the poison is active, when he is awake." Cam waited for the response she was sure she was going to witness when another voice startled everyone in the room.

"Are you absolutely 100 % positive of this?" It was Darryl's voice and he didn't sound very happy.

"Yes Inspector Morris I am positive, if I wasn't I wouldn't have even mentioned it in the first place." Cam couldn't help the tremor in her voice, she knew he needed to be sure but she still didn't like him questioning her intentions towards Cole. She would rather die herself than cause Cole one second of pain. It must have shown through in her voice because Darryl simply accepted it after that.

"It's Darryl and I'm sorry if you thought I was inferring that you would hurt him it's just I don't think he can take much more right now. I know I can't and I'm not even the one hurt here." Darryl hadn't moved but he had opened his eyes, quickly finding Raven. "How long Dr. B? How long will it take?" He somehow knew he wouldn't have to elaborate.

"About twenty minutes." Even to her own ears that didn't sound like a long time but with the amount of pain they were talking of inflicting on her Grandson it would probably seem a lot longer in practice.

"He's going to be awake soon so you should get whatever you are going to need ready." Darryl hadn't sat up yet, he knew he would have to when the time came but he also wanted to save his strength. He was thinking about the best way to handle his friend when he felt three pairs of eyes staring at him. "What?"

"How do you know he's going to wake up soon?" Cam wasn't sure if she was happy or jealous. She had followed Cole's life since she was old enough to know how, somehow always feeling that there was a part of Cole that belonged only to her and this somehow made her feel less alone. There weren't that many fey-demon half-bloods and just knowing that Cole was out there somewhere gave her some form of security. She knew it made no sense; after all it wasn't as if he too were a fey-demon half-blood, but then again not much in the life of a half-blood made a lot of sense. She had never been jealous of his witch, but then his witch had never proved worthy of Cole in the first place, not like Darryl. The boys already had a friendship bond that couldn't be broken and for that alone Cam would accept Darryl into her life. As the Guardian, Darryl was about to become a permanent member of their little family and, for her friend she would make every effort to help Darryl assimilate. She felt better as she turned all of her attention outward as Darryl answered her.

"I'm not sure, I just know he is going to wake up soon. Believe me I would dearly love to talk about this right now because I would also like some answers but we don't have time. Please just get ready." Darryl really wasn't sure what was happening and it did bother him but before he could take the time to get his own answers he needed to see to his friend. While Dr. B, Cam, and Simmons set things up he simply kept a hold of Cole's hand, waiting and planning the best way to deal with what was to come.

Raven moved a chair into place behind Cole while Cam placed everything on a metal tray. As Cam moved this tray next to Raven and helped her set it up for the procedure Simmons fetched a set of four point restraints from another room. Reluctantly he moved to the foot of Cole's bed but he never got any further as Darryl's voice cut across the room.

"Don't even think about it! Do you hear me Simmons, don't even think about it!" Darryl had seen what he was about to do and he wasn't going to allow it. Never letting go of Cole's hand he sat up, only then feeling the leads on his chest. Looking down he followed the wires to a monitor that was sitting next to Cole's above the bed, the monitor showing his protectiveness. Before he got to ask Dr. B why she had hooked him up to a monitor a searing pain made it's presence known inside his head. He had known pain in his time but this was a whole new experience and he found he had to take a few deep breaths to avoid passing out.

"Darryl?" Simmons voice was quiet as he figured he pretty much knew what was wrong, Darryl had moved too soon and was now suffering the effects namely a migraine. He had never had one himself but he had known people who had and he winced in sympathy.

Once he was sure he could move without passing out he turned his full gaze on Simmons. "You go and put those back where you got them from right now, better yet simply toss them because I never want to see them again. Ever. Do I make myself clear." Darryl hadn't shouted but then again he didn't need to in order to get his point across, he could tell the message was received when Simmons looked to Dr. B. As he now leveled his gaze at her he made sure that she knew he meant it.

Raven saw the look in Darryl's eyes, instantly knowing that there would be no arguing with it. She didn't know how he planned on handling her Grandson but the restraints were definitely out. "You heard the man Simmons and if I were you I would simply toss them in the garbage chute because we won't ever be using them will we." Directing the last bit to Darryl.

"Not in this lifetime or the next or any after that." Darryl looked to each of them, making sure that they truly did understand that he meant it. "I will take care of Cole." Darryl glared at Simmons to get him moving when he felt Cole tighten his hold on his hand, he was waking up and Darryl didn't want him to even see the items in Simmons hands. He wasn't sure how Cole would react but panic was the best bet especially considering his friends present state of mind. Just as Simmons was leaving Cole's eyes opened and Darryl couldn't help but smile at his first words, words he would come to hear frequently.

"Darryl, are you alright?" Cole wasn't sure what was going on, his mind too fuzzy to track properly but he did see the look on his friends face and what he saw was pain. The more he woke up though the more came back to him, but only bits and pieces.

Darryl noticed the confused look and understood it. The last thing they needed though was for Cole to panic again so carefully he swung his legs over the edge of the gurney he had been lying on so it was easier for Cole to see him. "Hey partner. Yes I'm fine." He watched as Cole's eyes cleared somewhat, focusing on the wires coming off his chest. "Relax, I said I was fine. Dr. B just wanted to see something that's all. You were right she is a lot like my mother, overprotective." When Cole simply let it go he knew that time was running out and that they had to act soon, to that end he took a deep breath and simply tried to explain. He had to call his name a few times though to get his attention. "Cole. Cole." As soon as his friends somewhat glazed eyes locked with his he calmly started to speak.

"Cam has figured out what is happening. The potion on the bullet was meant for me, but with you it is acting as a poison. Now Cam has made an antidote and Dr. B is ready to give it to you."

"But.?" Cole knew there was a but coming when Darryl's fell silent, the look on his friend's face told him as much. He knew he wasn't going to like what he was about to hear either but he was finding it difficult to actually care. Once he had been sure that Darryl was all right he had relaxed and now he was finding it becoming more and more difficult to understand what was happening around him. He was floating in and out of his own mind never really loosing consciousness simply loosing the ability to track and not really caring either.

Darryl could see that Cole was fading in and out, he watched as his friend's eyes lost their focus more and more as he disappeared into his own head. He had seen it before and he wasn't all that surprised by it. Cole had suffered a great deal in the last 48 hours but Dr. B's comment about his friend's exhaustion stemming from his living in a constant state of fear was one that stayed with him. The fear she had been speaking of had started long before Cole had returned from the Wasteland; it had started when he was a child. The nightmares Cole had been having since he returned from the Wasteland simply brought that fear back to the surface and the lingering fear he had felt even during the light of day did nothing to help.

"Cole. Cole can you hear me?" Darryl watched as Cole's eyes stayed open but never looked to him. "All right this may work to our advantage. Cam you said that he only had to be awake right?"

"Correct." Cam wasn't sure where Darryl was going she simply hoped he got there soon.

"All right then. He's awake right now and with a bit of luck we can do this and he'll never remember it." Darryl carefully stood up, still not letting go of Cole's hand as he steadied himself, the pain from his headache was unbearable but he refused to let his friend down, he had made a promise and he intended to honor it.

"Darryl what are you doing? You shouldn't even be sitting up much less standing up." Dr. B had started to get up but Darryl waved her back down.

"I'm helping my friend like I promised I would that is what I am doing." When Cole had faded out on him, simply lying there on his side staring at the wall he had gotten an idea. Once, a few years ago when he had been at the hospital picking Shelia up after work he had wandered around while waiting for her. Down one hall he had heard what sounded like crying and something in him made him seek it out. What he had found was the cancer ward and treatment room. In one of the rooms he saw two men, the older of the two was lying with his legs bent at the knees while his feet rested behind the younger ones thighs who was lying on his side, trapping the younger ones legs. The younger ones torso was lying against the older ones side, his left arm trapped between their two bodies while his head rested on the older ones shoulder. The older one had his right arm wrapped around the young ones back while his left hand held the younger ones right hand in a firm grip. The younger one was whimpering and crying in pain but was also unable to move, the grip of the older one too strong for him to break. It had been a treatment that he had witnessed, an older brother holding his younger sibling through the pain. The image had always stayed with Darryl and now it seemed that it was going to help him.

"I repeat Darryl what are you doing." Dr. B watched as Darryl carefully sat on the edge of her Grandson's bed after having pulled down the covers. Cole never moved as Darryl lay down next to him, bringing his legs up and over Cole's. When she saw Darryl plant his bare feet behind Cole's thighs, effectively immobilizing his legs she began to understand what he was doing. "Here let me help you." Her voice was quiet in difference to his already blinding migraine.

"Thank you." Grateful that she understood what he was doing he allowed her to lift Cole up just enough for him to slide his arm under his friend, Cole's left arm now trapped between their bodies and his head rested against his shoulder. Darryl had never let go of Cole's hand; he simply tightened his hold making sure that he didn't interfere with the IV in Cole's hand or the oxygen mask that was still in place aiding his friends breathing. Darryl looked down at Cole's face, checking to make sure that he was still all right. Cole's eyes were still starring at the wall but he had felt some of the tension leave Cole's body as he relaxed into his embrace, almost as if he was seeking comfort from him, comfort that Darryl was more than willing to give him.

"I'm not sure that he won't wake up at some point Darryl. Either way he is going to feel this whether he remembers it or not." Dr. B wanted Darryl to be prepared in case Cole started to try and fight him in an effort to escape the pain. "Cam would you prepare the syringes while I put the feeder in place please. Simmons why don't you help Darryl hold Cole please."

While Cam moved to prepare the syringes Simmons moved to stand behind Cole.

"Boss what if he starts panicking? What do you want me to do then?" Simmons wasn't sure how best to help so he simply decided to ask before he did something that might make the situation worse.

"If he gets to much for Darryl to handle alone then simply grab him from behind and restrain him until Cam or I can sedate him." She hadn't been looking at Darryl as she spoke or she wouldn't have bothered to finish issuing the directions at all.

Darryl had taken extreme exception to what Dr. B had just said and he had no problems telling them so. "Simmons if you even think about it I promise you that you will be so very sorry. As for you Dr. B and Cam if I see either one of you with a needle other than the one you are using to give him the antidote then I also promise you that Simmons won't be able to stop me. Do you all understand me? No one touches him so just back off Simmons and before you say anything Dr. B I am perfectly capable of taking care of him." The look on Darryl's face brooked no argument. He had meant every word he said and they knew that he would follow through on his promises.

"Darryl, under normal circumstances I would readily agree with you but in his condition right now Cole might hurt you trying to escape the pain, he wouldn't be thinking clearly and so he might not recognize you right away. Also with the pain from the migraine I know you have you might not have the strength to hold him for long. You are also lying on your back and if he starts to fight you it will also cause severe pain in your back from where I performed the Tap on you. I simply think." She never got the chance to finish as Darryl's low but very hard voice cut her off.

"Dr. B I understand that you are his Grandmother and that Cam and Simmons are his friends and have known him longer than I have but you will understand my words. I will protect him no matter what even if it is from the three of you. I am his friend and I made him a promise and I will keep that promise for as long as I breathe. I let him down before, never again. Do you understand what I am saying?" Darryl didn't mean to offend anyone but he was determined to help Cole no matter what it took. He had spent his adult life as a cop; a protector of the innocent and the man lying in his arms was just that, an innocent, a victim of his own birth and circumstances, all of which had been beyond his control yet all of which he was still paying for both with his blood and his pain. If Darryl could help him even in such a small way as holding and comforting him through the next half hour than he would do just that and anyone who got in his way would find coming between him and his friend a very painful place to be.

Dr. B, Cam, and Simmons simply looked at Darryl and then at each other. They knew he had meant every word he had said. Cam however felt the need to remind him of one important fact.

"Darryl, if Cole panics he might accidentally use his powers and you could get hurt. If Simmy is close he can help hold him and Dr. B or I can get him sedated before anyone gets hurts, like you." Cam was trying to be reasonable but one look at Darryl and she knew that her words had fallen on deaf ears.

"Cam you said it yourself, he has to be awake for the antidote to work. He is awake right now and it is just plain luck that he is as zoned as he is. I will not let you put him to sleep, it will make the antidote worthless and he doesn't have time to wait around for my system to replace what was already taken so you can make more. Yes this will hurt him but better when he is like this than fully awake and tracking. Now would you please just get on with it, the longer we stand around talking about it the greater the chance is that he will come around." Darryl looked to each of them carefully, weighing their looks. When he was satisfied that they now fully understood his words he relaxed a little though he never loosened his hold on his friend. "Now let's do this and get it over with."

Cam looked to Dr. B and silently asked what to do; from the look she received she knew the answer, nothing. She was so very happy that Cole had found his Guardian but she also suddenly realized that their lives would never be the same again. When her eyes met Simmons' she knew he had thought the same thing. The three didn't even need their Nation Bond to know or agree, their looks were enough.

"All right then let's begin." Dr. B had re-numbed the same area on Cole's back that she had used before while Cam had tried talking to Darryl; thankfully the original injection hadn't completely worn off. As she picked up the large bore needle she was going to have to use she said a silent prayer to whichever Gods and Goddesses might be listening, a prayer for her Grandson and his Guardian. As she slowly pushed the needle in he didn't move and she started to hope that he was simply too zoned to really feel anything. That hope died quickly though as she saw the muscles in his back begin to tense up. She called a warning to Darryl but he had already felt what was happening.

"I've got him Dr. B. He's not going anywhere but all the same just hurry." Darryl's grip on his friend had tightened the second he felt Cole begin to tense up again.

"Are you sure you have him Darryl because I am going to start injecting the antidote now?" She waited till she got an affirmative before proceeding. At first there didn't seem to be any reaction at all but she could tell that Darryl hadn't let his guard down and this was a good thing as it turned out.

Almost a full minute had passed and Cole still hadn't moved when all of a sudden his whole body tensed and he began to whimper. Darryl could handle just about anything but listening to his frightened friend whimper while he began to try and wiggle away from him cut straight to his heart. Even though Cole's eyes were still glazed and zoned Darryl could see the terror in them, the pain. He suddenly realized that his face was wet with tears as Cole's tears began to soak his shoulder. It was hard to make out what Cole was saying, his voice distorted by both pain and the oxygen mask but Darryl understood non the less and he responded to the almost silent pleas.

"Shhh my friend. I'm right here and I'm not going anywhere. I know it hurts but it will be over very soon and then you will get better." Darryl realized that he had spoken to Cole as if he were a child, but when he felt Cole try and curl up around him his face burrowing into the crook of his neck he realized how true his thought had been. He was protecting a child plain and simple, an abused child at that. He had promised Cole that he would never hurt him and here he was holding him down while someone hurt him, he could only hope that Cole would be able to one day forgive him for what he was doing.

Cole's whimpers began to take on a keening kind of sound, the sound a wounded animal makes when it is hurt or dying and it wasn't helping Darryl's feelings of guilt in the least. Just as Darryl didn't think he take the sound anymore it stopped. The ensuing silence lasted only a few seconds though before Cole's whimpers resumed.

"Okay that was the first one so just two more to go. How are you doing Darryl?" She could hear both heart monitors above her and Darryl's sounded almost as bad as her Grandson's. "Darryl you need to calm down."

"I am calm." His words were clipped and his tone quiet, he was anything but calm and the three sets of eyes that turned to him said as much. He never saw the looks though; all of his concentration was on the man in his arms.

"Okay then." It was a chorus of three and earned them each a death glare from Darryl. Once he silenced them he returned his full attention to Cole whose whimpers had not stopped nor had the tears that were still flowing freely from his glassy and terror filled eyes.

Dr. B was halfway through the second dose when Cole's heart monitor went wild; the beeping so rapid that it was almost one continuous tone.

"Cam." She called keeping her voice quiet and even.

"I'm on it." Cam had matched her Aunt's tone as she responded while retrieving the preloaded syringe, the sedative it contained the same as the one her Aunt had used on Cole earlier. She didn't want to do it but they had to, they couldn't be sure that he wouldn't accidentally use his powers and hurt Darryl without realizing it. They had to take the chance that Cole could hold on long enough to make another batch of antidote. With this thought running through her head she squared her shoulders and quickly made her way to her friend's bedside. Darryl seemed so concentrated on keeping his hold on Cole that she didn't think he even saw her. She was wrong as a hand suddenly shot out and grabbed her wrist, stopping the needle before it could even get close to her whimpering friend. Slowly she raised her eyes to meet Darryl's and she knew that if looks could kill she would most assuredly be pushing up daisies right about now.

Cam and Simmons came back to the present with a jerk, their trip down memory lane stopped abruptly by a sound coming from Cam's nurse's station.

"Cam?" Simmons voice was almost calm as he asked. almost.

"Don't worry it's just the timer. It just means that it's time for his meds." Taking a deep breath Cam moved to the tray table on the right side of her sleeping friends bed. She first checked the readouts from the ventilator and then carefully measured out the three meds in accordance to those readouts. Carefully she moved to the bed, fully aware that if she moved to fast Darryl was likely to knock her through the wall. A smile formed on her lips as she remembered that it wouldn't be the first time.

"What's so funny?" the curiosity was plain to hear in his voice.

"I was just remembering what happened the first time I did this for him. I moved to the bed a little too fast for Darryl's liking and he put me through the wall remember." She snickered but stopped quickly when she saw Darryl twitch, if she hadn't been keeping one eye on him she wouldn't have seen the warning movement. Silently she finished administering the meds through Cole's IV line and just as quietly tossed the used syringes. Making one last check on the vent readouts, logging the readouts on his chart before moving back to her station. She motioned Simmons to the seat beside her. "We have a few very long days ahead of us so I suggest you catch some rest while you can."

"You can say that again." Simmons wearily settled himself into the offered chair fully aware of the ordeal that awaited his two friends. Unbidden an image of the Charmed Ones made itself known in his minds eye and he could only hope that Raven would be able to make them stay away, at least until Cole's sight returned and they caught Slater. He himself would prefer that Slater meet with a stray bullet and he knew that Darryl felt the same way. Who knows maybe between the two of them an accident could be arranged. This very thought lifted his spirits and as he settled in to wait a smile forming on his lips. As he looked over to his sleeping friends he never knew that Darryl was also reliving that first day, the day Darryl saved Cole's life for the first time.

Darryl's mind was replaying the very memories that Cam and Simmons had just relived, but unlike his friends his memories were directly linked to Cole's memories and it was through this link that Darryl saw the darkness that was his charge's childhood. It wasn't the first time he had relived these memories but that didn't make them any less painful for either himself or his charge.

When Darryl had reached out to grab Cam's hand Cole's head rolled away from his shoulder. He had expected Cole to try and take advantage of this but he didn't, his body was still rigidly tense but he simply lay there with his head now resting in the crook of Darryl's arm. Startled Darryl dropped his eyes to his friend's face; Cole's rapid and shallow breathing filled his ears as he met his friend's eyes, eyes that he found himself once again falling into. Briefly he wondered what part of Cole's past he was about to stand witness to, what old horror was holding his friend hostage in his own mind this time. When he finally stopped falling and opened his eyes he dearly wished he hadn't but he knew that even if he were to close them again the image that was before him would still remain, forever burned into his own memory. The nonsense words Cole had muttered earlier as his tears had started to fall now came rushing back to Darryl, the true meaning behind them now crystal clear. It was a clarity Darryl wished with all his heart he could banish as his own tears began to flow freely once again, tears for the innocence that he was about to see ripped from his friend, his 8 year old little friend.

Through his tears Darryl watched as a demon brought the whip he had in his hand down across an 8-year-old Cole's bared back. He heard electricity crackle as it added another deep slice to the tender flesh of the child's already blood encrusted back. Little Cole's arms were chained to twin columns of stone on either side of him, his wrists shackled so far above his head his feet were barely touching the floor of the cave they were in. Blood coated his arms as the shackles cut deeply into his small wrists. There was movement to Darryl's left and as he brought his eyes to it he saw Cole's mother, if one could even call her that, pushed against the wall of the cave by another demon. The male demon had her by the hair as she wrapped her legs around his waist. Darryl couldn't believe what he was seeing. Little Cole's mother was practically having sex in front of her son who was being whipped mercilessly not seven feet away. An anger Daryl never knew himself capable of began to rise within him, one that would soon be replaced with a cold fury as he began to understand what she was doing.

Her moans began to mix with little Cole's screams, the two sounds crashing into one another creating a grotesque melody of pain. The male demon looked over to little Cole and smiled. Darryl shuddered, he had seen that look before on the job; it was the look the predator gives his prey before he strikes but only a certain kind of predator. Now Darryl's rage began to turn to cold fury. He wanted to move, to go to the child and snatch him away before anything more happened but here he was just a spectator, he could watch and listen but couldn't intervene.

The male demon suddenly let go of Cole's mother and turned to face little Cole. Slowly he walked over to the boy, stopping right in front of him and waving his hands over the chains that were, by this time almost all the was holding little Cole upright. Suddenly his little feet were firmly planted on the ground, his shoulders sagging a little with the sudden give of the chains. The male demon laughed as he abruptly shimmered, reappearing behind little Cole and kicking the child's feet apart, new shackles quickly appearing around the small ankles, the chains attached to the bottoms of the stone pillars. There was no give in the new chains. The demon then waved his hand and the last of little Cole's tattered clothing vanished. Darryl saw little Cole's body begin to shake. Little Cole didn't know what was happening but he knew enough to be scared, of that Darryl was positive.

As the black robe the male demon was wearing fell to the ground, pooling around the male demons ankles, Darryl noted that the demon's skin bore almost the same red pigment as Belthazor's did. There were black marking over every inch of his body some distorted by scars running through them others simply by the demons own anatomy. Darryl now understood why the pillars Cole was chained to were set on a raised platform at the center of the room; the height the platform was at was a calculated one, one that placed little Cole in the most vulnerable position, a position the male demon soon took full and horrifying advantage of.

Darryl's position afforded him an unobstructed view of the child's face and what he would see would stay with him for the rest of his life.

The male demon pressed himself along Cole's bare back, his arms reaching around the now squirming body of his captive. Little Cole whimpered, the shackles cutting deeper into his wrists as he tugged on the chains as he tried in vain to move away from his tormentor. Fresh blood flowed down his upraised arms causing the demon to smile. He stroked his left hand across Cole's stomach while bringing his lips to the blood on Cole's right arm. His tongue flicked out, lapping at the red substance with a hunger Darryl didn't understand. Shudders ran through little Cole's body as the demons left hand circled lower, running his clawed fingers over the child's genitals. Tears began to flow freely from the child's eyes as he looked across the room at his mother.

"Mommy.. Please." Darryl's heart was breaking as he heard his little friend call out to his mother, a mother who then strode forward, a cold look on her face. She grabbed little Cole around the throat and jerked his face upwards, little Cole giving a cry of pain as his shoulders were wrenched. She never said a word, simply looked at him but it was enough. His tears increased as the knowledge that she wasn't going to help him, wasn't going to save him began to crush his little heart.

"I have a meeting with Raynor in a few minutes so when you are finished here you may go." Her voice was hard and cold as she spoke, but the demon never stopped licking at little Cole's blood, never acknowledged her words at all. "Do I need me to repeat myself Braitis?"

"Mmmmm human blood, powerful human blood." Braitis never stopped fondling Cole as he spoke. "How long?"

"However long you want I don't care." She said as she straightened up, wiping her hand on her robe to get the tears off of it.

"Then I shall be a long while with this. What shall I do when I am finished with it?" As he spoke, Braitis repositioned himself behind little Cole. His right arm wrapped around little Cole's chest, his clawed hand spilling more blood as it dug into the child's left shoulder. As soon as his little victim was completely immobilized he thrust forward, forcing all of himself into the small body he held. Little Cole screamed in pain, a sound Darryl knew he would never forget no matter how hard he tried.

"My father wants it returned to its cell. He has something else planned for it later." She had to raise her voice to be heard over little Cole's screams. "Now if you will excuse me I have an important meeting to attend remember." She turned and casually walked out of the cave, her own child's screams following her.

Darryl had never known the hate that he was feeling at this very moment, a hate that threatened to consume him if he let it. His blood boiled, his heart pounded in his chest as his hands clenched into fists at his sides as he watched her leave her own child to be raped and brutalized. Darryl knew the type; he knew Braitis wouldn't stop with simple rape. No, demon or human his type never did. What he saw when he turned his eyes back to the center of the room confirmed this.

Braitis continued to thrust into little Cole, the child's screams music to his ears. As the demon's movements became smoother Darryl saw the blood beginning to run down little Cole's legs as his screams continued to echo off the cave walls. Darryl had worked too many rape cases, he knew what was happening, Braitis was working himself into a frenzy, his movements increasing in speed and power. Soon Braitis shifted his hold, wrapping his claws around little Cole's waist. He used this new hold on his victim to pull little Cole back to meet each of his forward movements allowing him to ram himself even deeper with each new thrust. He smiled as little Cole's screams increased, the child's blood now coating the front of his own legs as his thighs made contact with the blood slicked thighs of his victim.

Darryl's tears were flowing freely as he watched the killing of innocence happening before him. He had resigned himself to the fact that he couldn't do anything about it but that didn't mean he couldn't mourn the death, the death of his friends innocence. He thought it couldn't get any worse for his little friend. He was wrong. He watched as Braitis threw his head back and with one final thrust roared out his climax. His final thrust though was so brutal that it wrenched little Cole's shoulders out of their sockets, little Cole's scream of pain drowning out Braitis' own. If he could have he would have fallen to his knees but Darryl knew that wasn't possible, he had learned that from the last time he had entered Cole's memories, so he simply stood there.

As Braitis pulled himself free he grabbed little Cole by the hair, yanking his head back causing little Cole to scream again as his injured shoulders protested the movement. Darryl looked into his little friend's eyes and watched as something inside shattered and disappeared turning the once bright blue eyes dull and lifeless. Darryl didn't know which was worse knowing that this wasn't really happening now or knowing that this was a memory that his friend had silently lived with all of his life. He shuddered at the very thought of what else his little friend might have had to suffer at the hands of the woman he called mother.

He watched as a single tear made it's way down little Cole's cheek as Braitis bent down and began to lap at the blood still running down the backs of his legs. As the tear fell to the ground Darryl saw what was left of little Cole vanish inside of himself, his body unable to escape so his mind ran away instead. Suddenly the lifeless eyes he was staring into turned black as Belthazor emerged in a rage. Darryl saw the chains break as if they were made of paper. Once his arms were free little Belthazor swung them upwards popping his shoulders back into place, then he gave each leg a swift pull breaking those chains as well. Braitis barely had time to stand up when the found the chains wrapped around his neck with little Belthazor pulling them tight. With one swift and vicious twist from little Belthazor, the chains sliced right through Braitis' neck. Darryl watched as his head fell to the ground and rolled away, hitting the cave wall before the rest of the body could even hit the ground. Quickly both the head and the body burst into flames, disappearing as if they had never existed.

If only the memories could be vanquished as easily Darryl thought to himself as he looked at the little red demon who was simply standing in the middle of the room. Fresh tears rolled down Darryl's face as he heard little Belthazor talking to little Cole.

"You are safe now Cole. No one will ever hurt you like that again, not as long as I live. I promise you." Little Belthazor picked up the black robe that Braitis had been wearing and wrapped it around himself before making his way to the cave entrance that his mother had left through.

The next thing Darryl knew he was back on the bed looking into adult Cole's eyes, eyes that fell shut as his head rolled forward. He took notice that his friend's body had lost the rigidity he had felt in it before and a smile formed on Darryl's lips as Cole once again nestled his face in the crook of his neck. Suddenly he realized that Cole had fallen asleep but before he could fully panic he heard Dr. B's voice and what she said calmed him immediately.

"Take it easy Darryl, he's fine and it's perfectly all right for him to be asleep now. As a matter of fact it was my doing." She smiled down at him as she gently ran her fingers through her Grandson's hair.

"Then he's all right? The poison." Darryl felt lightheaded with relief, the look on her face reassuring him that his friend was indeed all right.

"The poison has been neutralized." She noticed his slightly confused look and couldn't help but smile as it reminded her of her Grandson. "You have been zoned out with him for almost 45 minutes. The antidote only took 30 minutes to neutralize the poison so we have just been waiting for you to get back before doing anything." She held up the now empty syringe for his inspection. "He'll sleep till at least," she paused as she looked up at the clock that read almost 6PM and did a quick mental calculation before bringing her eyes back to Darryl's, "6 or 7 o'clock tomorrow night. And the same goes for you. Cam, if you would please."

Darryl had been so intent on Dr. B that he had failed to notice Cam come up on the other side of the bed until she spoke. He was further startled to see her insert a loaded syringe into an IV that had somehow ended up in the back of his left hand. His first instinct was to pull away but he didn't get very far as Dr. B reached across the bed, grabbing his wrist and holding it still. His other hand was still trapped under Cole, which left him no way to get lose. "Dr. B, what are you doing? Let me go. I'm fine and I don't need."

"Darryl you are not fine. You are tired and in pain and before you say it it's written all over your face, not to mention all over your vital signs as well. I knew you wouldn't go for it on your own so I did what I had to do. Cole is going to need you and you need rest if you are going to be in any shape to help him." Dr. B had been relieved when she had been able to set up an IV on Darryl while he had been zoned with Cole, she hadn't wanted to have to fight with him to sedate him and this way there was no fight. His vitals had wavered just as Cole's had as the antidote did it's job, Darryl's vitals were still slightly off and that was because of the pain she knew he had to be in, between his head and his back she was surprised he could even think straight. She watched his eyes start to lose their focus as Cam withdrew the empty syringe from the IV port.

"That was just. so sneaky. Dr. B." Darryl's voice slurred as he tried to keep his eyes open, fighting the drug they had just given him. He quickly realized though that it was a lost cause and decided his only option was to simply go with, to that end he let his eyes fall closed. He used the last of his strength to grab Cole's right hand wanting to make sure that his friend knew he was still there, knew that he hadn't gone anywhere and left him.

"That's it Darryl just go with it. You're safe here and so is Cole so rest now." Dr. B knew when he had closed his eyes that he had stopped fighting the drug and for that she was glad. Darryl needed the rest, especially if he is going to be in any shape tomorrow to help Cole.

Vaguely he heard Dr. B's voice but he couldn't make out what she was saying as he let the darkness carry him away. He thought he would be worried but somehow he knew that Dr. B would keep them both safe. I'm going to need some answers soon he thought to himself, it would be his last thought until many hours later.

Cam watched as Darryl snuggled down with Cole and couldn't help but smile, the image of a pair of puppies snuggling down to sleep flashing through her head. She knew that they would be all right but she also knew that it would take time, she was simply happy that Cole, her old friend, had finally found his Guardian and with Darryl they would both find their rightful destiny. "Yes everything is going to be all right," she said to herself as she pulled the chair that Darryl had been sitting in earlier over to the bed and sat down, "yes soon everything would all be all right."

Darryl smiled as the memory of that first night faded from the dreamscape. He hadn't even realized until this very moment that he had heard Cam. The very thought of that night was a painful one for him and even now he found his tears falling as his emotions ran the roller coaster that always came with this particular memory. His hand had started rubbing comforting circles on Cole's back, his charge still curled up around his right leg, head resting on his thigh. Cole wasn't asleep, but he was at least resting, Darryl made sure of that. He had come close to losing his friend that night, so very close and he thanked the Goddess every day that Dr. B had been there, for both of them.

"Okay now how about some happy thoughts there my friend?" he asked. Cole never said a word but suddenly the scene around them changed as his friend brought some happier memories to life around them. The scenes that were playing out around them were happy and laughter filled and for that Darryl was grateful. Even so his tears still silently fell as the image of little Cole's dull and lifeless eyes refused to leave, refused to fade away. He knew that they would eventually but it would take a while just as it had before when he had relived that horrific piece of Cole's past for the first time. No the eyes would remain for a time but until then he would comfort himself by comforting his friend, this simple gesture calming himself as much as it did his charge. Settling a little more comfortably against the wall he watched the many happy memories playing themselves out around them. Yes they would both be all right he thought to himself, in time everything would be all right. He smiled as he felt Cole sigh against his leg, knowing that his friend was also losing himself in the happiness that now surrounded them, happiness by the name Anita and Julianna.

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