A/n: Thanks to Charmed123, anarra, cocoa, versatilecutie, sci fi fan, sweetoliloquise, line100, Piperleo4eva and bob-the bear for reviewing the last chapter. Hope you like this one; it's one of the longest I've ever written!!
Chapter 18
It was Sunday morning and Piper was in bed. She turned comfortably in Leo's arms until she was facing him. He smiled down at her, his eyes warm and loving.
"Morning," he said as he lent in for a small kiss.
"Up, up, up!" The happy voice of Melinda floated through the open bedroom door, as she announced to her parents that she was ready to get up.
Piper moved to get out of bed but Leo beat her to it.
"I'll get her. You stay here"
As he went to walk out of the door, a small boy raced into the room and clambered up onto the bed.
"Hi ya mommy!"
"Good morning sweetie" she reached out her arms and grabbed her son, tickling him as his giggles erupted and filled the room. Leo returned, carrying Melinda, and climbed back into bed whilst Wyatt earnestly began talking to Piper's stomach; telling his new bay sister all about what they'd do when she was born.
"Piper" the voice cam from outside the room. It was distant and piper couldn't recognize it.
"Piper!" One by one Leo, Melinda and Wyatt faded away. Piper was left alone and the walls began to age and wear away until only bare blue- grey stone was left.
"Piper!!" The voice was close and the temperature dropped several degrees as devastation and harsh realization hit Piper and she finally regained consciousness.
"Like I said, we don't want to hurt you, Piper." The man carried on as though no time had passed since he last spoke to her. "But if you leave us with no choice, then we will do what is necessary."
Now she thought about it, Piper wasn't sure how much time had passed since she was taken. There were no windows where she was now and she'd slipped in and out of consciousness so many times that it was impossible to know how long she'd been away for. It could have been minutes, hours. Even days. How ever long it had been, she felt herself getting weaker each time she resumed consciousness, and, as much as she tried not to admit it to herself, she knew that she wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer. She also knew that her kidnappers were in way over their heads; they just hadn't realized it yet.
"We're going to untie your gag now and if you even think about shouting for help or pulling some crazy stunt then you will regret it- understand?" the first man she'd seen spoke as he unforgivingly pulled the knot out of the bank of the cloth that was stretched over her mouth.
His own mouth was set firm and seemed to be permanently turned down. His eyes were cold as they stared at her suspiciously and his voice was continually hard. From what she had gathered from the interaction of the two men, his name was Carter. The second man was larger than his companion in both height and complexity. He was built so that he could inflict physical pain upon somebody but Piper knew he never would unless he believed it completely necessary. She'd seen him be understanding and almost gentle, but he was guarded and that, for the most part, meant he was brisk, regimented and distant. His name was Rees.
"So," Carter looked distastefully directly at her, "what are you?"
"Excuse me?" Her voice was barely a whisper; faint and hoarse.
"I said, what are you?!" She recoiled on instinct as he pronounced each word vigorously. He didn't wait for an answer this time; instead he began to walk back and forth in front of her, thinking and explaining aloud. "I've seen the footage, hell most of the world has seen it. I've interviewed eye witnesses and I've made records, definitions and commentaries as experts and analysts have theorized about what exactly you are. I've heard it all- good or evil, sorceresses or witches, or even just one big hoax. I've done all that, just like all the other reporters have, but not any more. Now I'm doing what no one has, I'm talking to one of you...creatures directly and I will not let your insolence get in my way." He glared expectantly at her.
She tried to talk; to respond so that she could be heard. But she couldn't. All of her energy was being spent on just staying aware. If she opened her mouth, she knew no sound would come out. She knew he spoke but the words took longer to be absorbed by her than they should have, and their meaning took even longer to register. She knew she should be outraged that he didn't even consider her a person, but she just didn't have the strength to care.
Carter was sick of waiting for a response. He raised his hand and Piper's body braced impulsively. Quickly, but calmly, Rees held Carter's arm fast from behind and the smaller man swung around.
"Think about this Carter. You hit her and the whole thing gets worse."
Carter knew his companion was right and lowered his arm. Rees continued "She's hurt. She's too exhausted to talk." He finally let go of Carter's arm, now he knew he wouldn't do anything stupid.
"So what do we do?" Carter asked.
"She needs a hospital." Rees stated
"Grate idea" Carter mocked, "we take her back and we're busted."
"I said she needed one. I never said that's what we'd do" Rees snapped.
The cold roared through Piper again and she tried desperately to fight it. Her body was numb and she tried to will herself not to slip away. She focused on Rees and Carter talking but they seemed far way-their voices echoed and soon she couldn't hear them. Her head throbbed and her grip on herself loosened as the inevitable came and she fell into unconsciousness once more.
The event had not gone unnoticed by Rees and Carter.
"It's happening faster. She'd only just come around." Panic was rising in Carter's voice.
The words had barely come out of his mouth when the screech of tires could be heard outside followed by the slamming of vehicle doors.
"This is the SFPD" a policeman's voice was heard inside the stone room. It was distorted by the megaphone and echoed, but everything it said and implied was uncomfortably clear. "We urge you to release Piper Halliwell and give yourself up to police custody. For everyone's safety"
Carter and Rees exchanged glances. Carter's alarm was evident on his face and in his stance. Characteristically Rees, at first, appeared unaffected, but he knew the ramifications of what had happened. He knew that somehow they'd not been as careful as they had thought. He knew that there only option was to realize and admit that or the situation would worsen. Unfortunately, he also knew that Carter was not in a state to negotiate-and that is exactly what could be their massive weakness.
What followed was an uncomfortable and long period. More vehicles could be heard pulling up outside and more people could be heard arriving. As the minutes crawled on, the police made several attempts to persuade Carter and Rees to release Piper, and Rees himself tried to Persuade Carter to do the same thing.
Carter was panicking. He'd got himself too far into this and he desperately wanted to get out, but he didn't know how. he had never meant to injure someone' he had never meant for it to get this bad. In the end he did the only thing he saw possible, he reached deep into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a jet black revolver. He extended his arm and took aim.
Outside a single gun shot rang through the air. There was a moments silence then all hell broke loose.
A/N: hope you liked and review please!
Chapter 18
It was Sunday morning and Piper was in bed. She turned comfortably in Leo's arms until she was facing him. He smiled down at her, his eyes warm and loving.
"Morning," he said as he lent in for a small kiss.
"Up, up, up!" The happy voice of Melinda floated through the open bedroom door, as she announced to her parents that she was ready to get up.
Piper moved to get out of bed but Leo beat her to it.
"I'll get her. You stay here"
As he went to walk out of the door, a small boy raced into the room and clambered up onto the bed.
"Hi ya mommy!"
"Good morning sweetie" she reached out her arms and grabbed her son, tickling him as his giggles erupted and filled the room. Leo returned, carrying Melinda, and climbed back into bed whilst Wyatt earnestly began talking to Piper's stomach; telling his new bay sister all about what they'd do when she was born.
"Piper" the voice cam from outside the room. It was distant and piper couldn't recognize it.
"Piper!" One by one Leo, Melinda and Wyatt faded away. Piper was left alone and the walls began to age and wear away until only bare blue- grey stone was left.
"Piper!!" The voice was close and the temperature dropped several degrees as devastation and harsh realization hit Piper and she finally regained consciousness.
"Like I said, we don't want to hurt you, Piper." The man carried on as though no time had passed since he last spoke to her. "But if you leave us with no choice, then we will do what is necessary."
Now she thought about it, Piper wasn't sure how much time had passed since she was taken. There were no windows where she was now and she'd slipped in and out of consciousness so many times that it was impossible to know how long she'd been away for. It could have been minutes, hours. Even days. How ever long it had been, she felt herself getting weaker each time she resumed consciousness, and, as much as she tried not to admit it to herself, she knew that she wouldn't be able to hold on for much longer. She also knew that her kidnappers were in way over their heads; they just hadn't realized it yet.
"We're going to untie your gag now and if you even think about shouting for help or pulling some crazy stunt then you will regret it- understand?" the first man she'd seen spoke as he unforgivingly pulled the knot out of the bank of the cloth that was stretched over her mouth.
His own mouth was set firm and seemed to be permanently turned down. His eyes were cold as they stared at her suspiciously and his voice was continually hard. From what she had gathered from the interaction of the two men, his name was Carter. The second man was larger than his companion in both height and complexity. He was built so that he could inflict physical pain upon somebody but Piper knew he never would unless he believed it completely necessary. She'd seen him be understanding and almost gentle, but he was guarded and that, for the most part, meant he was brisk, regimented and distant. His name was Rees.
"So," Carter looked distastefully directly at her, "what are you?"
"Excuse me?" Her voice was barely a whisper; faint and hoarse.
"I said, what are you?!" She recoiled on instinct as he pronounced each word vigorously. He didn't wait for an answer this time; instead he began to walk back and forth in front of her, thinking and explaining aloud. "I've seen the footage, hell most of the world has seen it. I've interviewed eye witnesses and I've made records, definitions and commentaries as experts and analysts have theorized about what exactly you are. I've heard it all- good or evil, sorceresses or witches, or even just one big hoax. I've done all that, just like all the other reporters have, but not any more. Now I'm doing what no one has, I'm talking to one of you...creatures directly and I will not let your insolence get in my way." He glared expectantly at her.
She tried to talk; to respond so that she could be heard. But she couldn't. All of her energy was being spent on just staying aware. If she opened her mouth, she knew no sound would come out. She knew he spoke but the words took longer to be absorbed by her than they should have, and their meaning took even longer to register. She knew she should be outraged that he didn't even consider her a person, but she just didn't have the strength to care.
Carter was sick of waiting for a response. He raised his hand and Piper's body braced impulsively. Quickly, but calmly, Rees held Carter's arm fast from behind and the smaller man swung around.
"Think about this Carter. You hit her and the whole thing gets worse."
Carter knew his companion was right and lowered his arm. Rees continued "She's hurt. She's too exhausted to talk." He finally let go of Carter's arm, now he knew he wouldn't do anything stupid.
"So what do we do?" Carter asked.
"She needs a hospital." Rees stated
"Grate idea" Carter mocked, "we take her back and we're busted."
"I said she needed one. I never said that's what we'd do" Rees snapped.
The cold roared through Piper again and she tried desperately to fight it. Her body was numb and she tried to will herself not to slip away. She focused on Rees and Carter talking but they seemed far way-their voices echoed and soon she couldn't hear them. Her head throbbed and her grip on herself loosened as the inevitable came and she fell into unconsciousness once more.
The event had not gone unnoticed by Rees and Carter.
"It's happening faster. She'd only just come around." Panic was rising in Carter's voice.
The words had barely come out of his mouth when the screech of tires could be heard outside followed by the slamming of vehicle doors.
"This is the SFPD" a policeman's voice was heard inside the stone room. It was distorted by the megaphone and echoed, but everything it said and implied was uncomfortably clear. "We urge you to release Piper Halliwell and give yourself up to police custody. For everyone's safety"
Carter and Rees exchanged glances. Carter's alarm was evident on his face and in his stance. Characteristically Rees, at first, appeared unaffected, but he knew the ramifications of what had happened. He knew that somehow they'd not been as careful as they had thought. He knew that there only option was to realize and admit that or the situation would worsen. Unfortunately, he also knew that Carter was not in a state to negotiate-and that is exactly what could be their massive weakness.
What followed was an uncomfortable and long period. More vehicles could be heard pulling up outside and more people could be heard arriving. As the minutes crawled on, the police made several attempts to persuade Carter and Rees to release Piper, and Rees himself tried to Persuade Carter to do the same thing.
Carter was panicking. He'd got himself too far into this and he desperately wanted to get out, but he didn't know how. he had never meant to injure someone' he had never meant for it to get this bad. In the end he did the only thing he saw possible, he reached deep into the pocket of his jacket and pulled out a jet black revolver. He extended his arm and took aim.
Outside a single gun shot rang through the air. There was a moments silence then all hell broke loose.
A/N: hope you liked and review please!