The Hidden Page
Men Sulk Too
Chapter 18
Evening Time
Cole sat on a deserted dock throwing stones into the dark water and pondered his options. He didn't have a heck of a lot of cash left but he guessed he had enough to check into a fleabag motel. He'd go back to the Manor eventually but not tonight. He was too teed off.
It wasn't that he resented Phoebe, Piper, and Paige having private sister time at all, as Phoebe seemed to be implying. Cole was just damn sick and tired of having his own motives questioned constantly. How many hoops was he going to have to jump through to prove he'd changed? It was bad enough when it came from Piper, Paige, Leo and Darryl but it really cut like a knife when Phoebe was the one voicing the doubts.
His cell phone rang. He grabbed it from his pocket hoping it was Darryl. It may have taken some arm- twisting but he finally convinced Morris to check out Paige's story about the ex-boyfriend. Cole knew he was angrier with Phoebe than he'd ever been but that didn't mean he was going to sit by and let someone hurt her. Not as long as he drew breath. Of course if she ever found out about what he was doing, she'd probably be pretty ticked off herself.
The caller identification showed him that someone was calling from P3 on Piper's private office line. The club was closed tonight, as it had been last night due to some continuing problems with the sound system. Cole debated for a second whether or not he wanted to answer. Maybe sulking was immature but he was feeling pretty wounded right now. Of course it could be an emergency and so he knew he didn't really have the option of ignoring the call.
He punched the green icon and practically shouted, "Turner," into the phone. "Cole, it's Leo." "Leo are the girls okay? Cole demanded before Wyatt could say anything else. "They are fine as far as I know. Piper temporarily kicked me out of the house too," Leo said. "She suggested I come over here and hang out for awhile. The sound system is still down but she sent along some food and the bar is fully stocked so you're welcome to join me."
" Hey, Leo, I appreciate the sacrifice you're willing to make for the girls and all but I won't foist myself off on any of you tonight." "Cole, I'm the first one to admit you and I haven't exactly Riggs and Murtaugh in the friendship department. Then again family life isn't always smooth sailing and even though it may not seem like it to you at this moment you are a valued member of the Halliwell clan. Not to mention the fact that I owe you for helping me out during that whole mule crisis thing yesterday."
"You don't owe me a damn thing, Leo," Cole replied. "That's not why I was doing it." "I didn't say it was. Wow you're really feeling defensive aren't you? I think talking about things might help and I'm willing to listen. We men who love Halliwells are out numbered so we have to stick together after all."
"I don't know Leo, I'm not sure talking does any good. I think I should just stick to my original plan for tonight which is buying myself some corrosive booze and crashing in some dive. It's not like I haven't done it before."
"The difference is you don't have to do that anymore. Piper has plenty of fine scotch in stock and it's on the house. You can get drunk and crash on the couch in the office if that is what you really want to do. Besides if your instincts are right and trouble does arise, you'll be close at hand."
"Oh alright. I'll be there. It might take me a little while though," Cole said on an exacerbated breath. "I have to go places on foot these days remember. Not only did I loose the power to shimmer but I had to sell my damn car as well." He then hung up before Leo could respond.
A little while later Cole found himself at the back door of P3. He knocked and Leo let him in. Darryl was there too. "Well did you find anything?" Cole asked the Inspector before even saying hello. "I've got some calls out but haven't heard anything back yet," Darryl answered.
"Are you still checking up on Paige?" Leo sighed. "Yeah call me a suspicious evil bastard if you want to because I really don't give a damn any more. If I'm wrong I'll take my lumps and apologize but I'm not going to pretend that I trust her because I don't and I refuse to take chances where Phoebe's safety is concerned."
"Holy cow, someone's in a foul mood," Darryl commented. "Well I can always go out the way I came in, if you don't like it," Cole shot back. He knew that he sounded like a bastard but he was wound too tightly to care. "You'll have to forgive him, Darryl, he and Phoebe got into a bit of a tiff earlier and now he's like a bear with a sore tooth," Leo explained. "Why don't I go pour you guys some drinks and we can advise this poor man on the do's and don'ts of marriage?"
Cole scowled. At this rate he wondered if he and Phoebe would even make it down the aisle. He still wanted too but he wasn't so sure of her anymore. What if she listened to Paige and gave up on him? He took a deep breath and tried to get a hold of himself. Being completely human was more difficult than he thought. Struggling to control emotions was a bitch.
Leo went around the bar and began pouring their drinks. "So if you don't mind my asking what was the tiff about?" Darryl wanted to know. "Well I do mind people discussing my personal life with my fiancée, but you're the detective so guess," Cole goaded.
"Alright my money is on Paige. You've been sharing your suspicions with Phoebe, causing the protective older sister mode to be activated in her and she's taking you to task for it. How am I doing?"
"Dead center," Leo confirmed. "I was just trying to be honest. I thought that's what the good guys were suppose to value," Cole said shaking his head. "Yeah well there are certain things and situations in which telling the truth can be suicidal especially in a relationship. Criticizing the sister is a definite no-no. I remember one time I made what I thought was a harmless observation that my sister-in-law was being too permissive with her son! I ended up sleeping in the guest room for a week and a half," Darryl said.
"This is all so confusing," Cole sighed, banging his head down on the bar. "Stick with us we well try and tell you the rules as best as we can," Darryl reassured him. "Mind you, however, we can't be held responsible if not all of them are fool proof. Wives like to change them every once in awhile just to make sure you're paying attention. Am I right Leo?"
"Again right on target, friend! Let me go heat up the dinner Piper sent with me and then we can get started with educating our friend here." "Sounds good to me," Darryl replied. "Cole?" Leo asked. "Might as well, what else have I got to do?"
Just then Darryl's beeper went off. Leo looked surprised. "I thought you said you were off duty?" "Technically I'm supposed to be but the other day I busted one of the higher up's kid for dope dealing and I guess my but is getting busted for it in exchange. I've been getting paged for more emergencies than an ambulance."
" See it's things like that which makes me wish for oblivion," Cole informed them. I mean being on the side of evil sucks but sometimes it doesn't seem like the pay is any better for the good guys." "Well on that note, I will leave to see what the cop shop needs. Talk about women I can handle, but this deep philosophical stuff is your department, Leo," Darryl commented. "See you later." He turned to Cole and patted him on the shoulder, "hang in there!" Then he left.
Leo went back to the kitchen to retrieve the meal and Cole moved to a table to nurse his scotch. Maybe oblivion wasn't with in reach but a good stupor sure was. Leo came back and set out one of Piper's specialty soups on the table. "Here's the first course, eat up." Cole didn't think he was hungry but the smell was too appetizing to resist. Both men started to eat and within a few seconds both were oblivious and it didn't have anything to do with the alcohol.
Men Sulk Too
Chapter 18
Evening Time
Cole sat on a deserted dock throwing stones into the dark water and pondered his options. He didn't have a heck of a lot of cash left but he guessed he had enough to check into a fleabag motel. He'd go back to the Manor eventually but not tonight. He was too teed off.
It wasn't that he resented Phoebe, Piper, and Paige having private sister time at all, as Phoebe seemed to be implying. Cole was just damn sick and tired of having his own motives questioned constantly. How many hoops was he going to have to jump through to prove he'd changed? It was bad enough when it came from Piper, Paige, Leo and Darryl but it really cut like a knife when Phoebe was the one voicing the doubts.
His cell phone rang. He grabbed it from his pocket hoping it was Darryl. It may have taken some arm- twisting but he finally convinced Morris to check out Paige's story about the ex-boyfriend. Cole knew he was angrier with Phoebe than he'd ever been but that didn't mean he was going to sit by and let someone hurt her. Not as long as he drew breath. Of course if she ever found out about what he was doing, she'd probably be pretty ticked off herself.
The caller identification showed him that someone was calling from P3 on Piper's private office line. The club was closed tonight, as it had been last night due to some continuing problems with the sound system. Cole debated for a second whether or not he wanted to answer. Maybe sulking was immature but he was feeling pretty wounded right now. Of course it could be an emergency and so he knew he didn't really have the option of ignoring the call.
He punched the green icon and practically shouted, "Turner," into the phone. "Cole, it's Leo." "Leo are the girls okay? Cole demanded before Wyatt could say anything else. "They are fine as far as I know. Piper temporarily kicked me out of the house too," Leo said. "She suggested I come over here and hang out for awhile. The sound system is still down but she sent along some food and the bar is fully stocked so you're welcome to join me."
" Hey, Leo, I appreciate the sacrifice you're willing to make for the girls and all but I won't foist myself off on any of you tonight." "Cole, I'm the first one to admit you and I haven't exactly Riggs and Murtaugh in the friendship department. Then again family life isn't always smooth sailing and even though it may not seem like it to you at this moment you are a valued member of the Halliwell clan. Not to mention the fact that I owe you for helping me out during that whole mule crisis thing yesterday."
"You don't owe me a damn thing, Leo," Cole replied. "That's not why I was doing it." "I didn't say it was. Wow you're really feeling defensive aren't you? I think talking about things might help and I'm willing to listen. We men who love Halliwells are out numbered so we have to stick together after all."
"I don't know Leo, I'm not sure talking does any good. I think I should just stick to my original plan for tonight which is buying myself some corrosive booze and crashing in some dive. It's not like I haven't done it before."
"The difference is you don't have to do that anymore. Piper has plenty of fine scotch in stock and it's on the house. You can get drunk and crash on the couch in the office if that is what you really want to do. Besides if your instincts are right and trouble does arise, you'll be close at hand."
"Oh alright. I'll be there. It might take me a little while though," Cole said on an exacerbated breath. "I have to go places on foot these days remember. Not only did I loose the power to shimmer but I had to sell my damn car as well." He then hung up before Leo could respond.
A little while later Cole found himself at the back door of P3. He knocked and Leo let him in. Darryl was there too. "Well did you find anything?" Cole asked the Inspector before even saying hello. "I've got some calls out but haven't heard anything back yet," Darryl answered.
"Are you still checking up on Paige?" Leo sighed. "Yeah call me a suspicious evil bastard if you want to because I really don't give a damn any more. If I'm wrong I'll take my lumps and apologize but I'm not going to pretend that I trust her because I don't and I refuse to take chances where Phoebe's safety is concerned."
"Holy cow, someone's in a foul mood," Darryl commented. "Well I can always go out the way I came in, if you don't like it," Cole shot back. He knew that he sounded like a bastard but he was wound too tightly to care. "You'll have to forgive him, Darryl, he and Phoebe got into a bit of a tiff earlier and now he's like a bear with a sore tooth," Leo explained. "Why don't I go pour you guys some drinks and we can advise this poor man on the do's and don'ts of marriage?"
Cole scowled. At this rate he wondered if he and Phoebe would even make it down the aisle. He still wanted too but he wasn't so sure of her anymore. What if she listened to Paige and gave up on him? He took a deep breath and tried to get a hold of himself. Being completely human was more difficult than he thought. Struggling to control emotions was a bitch.
Leo went around the bar and began pouring their drinks. "So if you don't mind my asking what was the tiff about?" Darryl wanted to know. "Well I do mind people discussing my personal life with my fiancée, but you're the detective so guess," Cole goaded.
"Alright my money is on Paige. You've been sharing your suspicions with Phoebe, causing the protective older sister mode to be activated in her and she's taking you to task for it. How am I doing?"
"Dead center," Leo confirmed. "I was just trying to be honest. I thought that's what the good guys were suppose to value," Cole said shaking his head. "Yeah well there are certain things and situations in which telling the truth can be suicidal especially in a relationship. Criticizing the sister is a definite no-no. I remember one time I made what I thought was a harmless observation that my sister-in-law was being too permissive with her son! I ended up sleeping in the guest room for a week and a half," Darryl said.
"This is all so confusing," Cole sighed, banging his head down on the bar. "Stick with us we well try and tell you the rules as best as we can," Darryl reassured him. "Mind you, however, we can't be held responsible if not all of them are fool proof. Wives like to change them every once in awhile just to make sure you're paying attention. Am I right Leo?"
"Again right on target, friend! Let me go heat up the dinner Piper sent with me and then we can get started with educating our friend here." "Sounds good to me," Darryl replied. "Cole?" Leo asked. "Might as well, what else have I got to do?"
Just then Darryl's beeper went off. Leo looked surprised. "I thought you said you were off duty?" "Technically I'm supposed to be but the other day I busted one of the higher up's kid for dope dealing and I guess my but is getting busted for it in exchange. I've been getting paged for more emergencies than an ambulance."
" See it's things like that which makes me wish for oblivion," Cole informed them. I mean being on the side of evil sucks but sometimes it doesn't seem like the pay is any better for the good guys." "Well on that note, I will leave to see what the cop shop needs. Talk about women I can handle, but this deep philosophical stuff is your department, Leo," Darryl commented. "See you later." He turned to Cole and patted him on the shoulder, "hang in there!" Then he left.
Leo went back to the kitchen to retrieve the meal and Cole moved to a table to nurse his scotch. Maybe oblivion wasn't with in reach but a good stupor sure was. Leo came back and set out one of Piper's specialty soups on the table. "Here's the first course, eat up." Cole didn't think he was hungry but the smell was too appetizing to resist. Both men started to eat and within a few seconds both were oblivious and it didn't have anything to do with the alcohol.