Chapter Seven

"Where are the boys?" Piper asked as she sat next to Phoebe on the sofa.

"The attic I think," Paige answered, following Darryl into the living room.

Piper was about to rise but Phoebe restrained her. "Phoebe, I've told them to stay away from the Book today. I don't want them practicing their reading on it with all this stuff going on. Lord knows what could happen."

"Don't worry," Phoebe assured her older sister, "Cole's with them. He won't let things get out of hand."

"And that's supposed to me feel better?" Piper glared at her.

"Wait a minute," Darryl exclaimed. "Cole? As in Cole Turner?" Phoebe nodded. "The same Cole Turner who went crazy and was vanquished years ago in some other reality? That Cole Turner?"

"The very same," she shrugged. "It's a long story but, trust me, you don't have to worry about him."

Paige indicated to a chair, "You'd better sit down for the rest."

Darryl glanced suspiciously at each sister, "What rest? Does he have something to do with the murder?"

"Of course not," Phoebe retorted.

Darryl stared at her, "You do remember what he put you through before he was vanquished. You told me he killed someone."

"He had nothing to do with what happened last night," she insisted. "He was with me the whole time."

"With you where?" he questioned.

"Here and the doctor's office," she replied, feeling very much like a suspect.

"Doctor? Are you okay?"

Phoebe nodded, relieved for his concern. He almost seemed like the old Darryl. "Just had a bit of a scare."

"Backfired spell," Piper explained, "which also brought Cole back."

"Is it such a bad thing?" Phoebe asked.

"Well of course you've forgiven him for everything," Paige rolled her eyes.

"Not everything," Phoebe argued. "We still have a lot to work out." She shook her head, "If that's even possible now." She looked at her sisters, "Can't you give him a break? It's been six years and he's had a shock. And...and he won't be here for much longer."

"Must've been awkward," Darryl considered, "what with you, the love of his life, being pregnant and all."

"Not half as awkward as it is for us," Paige muttered. "Demon boy's the father," she revealed.

"Father of what?" Darryl saw Phoebe gaze down at her belly and caress it. "You're kidding. How the hell..."

"Long story short," Paige sighed, "Phoebe was thrown back in time six months ago and slept with Cole, comes back here, discovers she's pregnant, and lies about it to everyone. Spell yesterday backfires and Cole's brought forward in time."

"You guys make my head spin," he complained. "Look are you sure Cole wasn't involved?"

"If he wasn't with Phoebe, he was with one of us," Piper reluctantly admitted. "There's no way he could've done it."

"I had a premonition last night," Phoebe told him, "and Cole thinks she was from a New York coven."

"Lisa Aldrich from Albany," Darryl confirmed. "Her cousin reported her missing this morning after Lisa didn't return back to her apartment."

"We checked the alley," Piper said, "but came up empty except for Lisa's necklace."

"What alley?" he asked in surprise.

"The alley from Phoebe's premonition," Paige replied, "where Lisa was killed. But we were too late because all we found was her necklace and a lot of blood."

"Damn," he uttered, "I was hoping you'd know more. The body was left on the doorstep of a local precinct and the way it was torn up, I figured a demon had to be involved."

"And naturally," Piper realized, "you thought of us. We're being honest here, Darryl, we don't know anything."

Darryl nodded uncomfortably, "Look, I know our jobs cause some friction and I'm sorry for that, I really am. But I had to consider that you were involved."

"Does this mean Inspector Pagetino's about to ring our bell?" Phoebe criticized. "Sorry," she immediately apologized, "I know it's not your fault we tend to attract attention from your visiting superiors. It's just, well, you know how it is. Hey, Paige, looks like your boyfriend's gonna be paying us a little visit."

"I hate it when you do that," Paige glared at her, "I don't like him any more than either of you do."

"Sure..." Phoebe grinned. "Six-foot three hottie like that, we're only imagining the way your eyes light up when he's around..."

"Phoebe..." Piper tried to stifle a chuckle, "Don't listen to her, Paige. You know we're very grateful you're the one who deals with him on the one-on-ones."

"Because you're both conveniently occupied...The guy's relentless," Paige complained, "and you know he won't let go of this until he's solved the case or has us thrown in prison, whichever comes first."

"Well, he does look like a man," Phoebe teased, "who knows how to make use of a pair of handcuffs."

"Look," Darryl interrupted the bantering, "the guy makes my life just as miserable whenever he blows into town on some witch-hunt but my hands are tied. So if you can just tell me what's going on or, even better, that you got the demon, Pagetino won't be around long."

"I wish we could," Paige honestly commented, trying to ignore her sisters, "but we came up zero with scrying. And the witch we spoke to from Lisa's coven was too scared to be of any help over the phone."

Now serious, Piper added, "Believe me, it wasn't easy finding the coven to contact them in the first place."

"Word spreads quickly when a witch is killed," he remembered.

"Whitelighters are pretty good at spreading news quickly," Phoebe sadly nodded. "But it doesn't mean people talk."

"Okay, I guess there's not much else we can do right now," he said, turning to go. "Feel better, Phoebe, and give Sheila a call if you need anything," he added before Paige accompanied him to the door.

"There was a time," Phoebe wistfully recalled to Piper, "when he would've stuck around to talk."

"I know," Piper nodded sympathetically, "but he put up with a lot from us over the years, can you really blame him?"

"I suppose not," she answered, not really happy. "I guess I still miss the way things were with him. I mean, sure, we still see him, y'know with Sheila and the kids, and there're times I know he enjoys being with us but..."

"But he's found a way to balance his job and our job, the only way he knows how," Piper told her, "and we have to be grateful for whatever help he does give us. And it certainly doesn't mean he doesn't care about us."

"He still puts his job on the line for us," Phoebe acknowledged, "in spite of everything."

"Look who's here," Paige announced when she led Alicia and Frank into the room.

Alicia hurried over to Phoebe and bent to give Phoebe a hug, "Oh, Phoebe, I'm so glad you're okay! I never would've forgiven myself if anything'd happened to the baby because of me."

"Just a little scare," she patted Alicia on the back. "We're okay," she assured her friend. "Frank," Phoebe smiled, "you seem a little tired today."

"Had some trouble sleeping," he responded, winking at Alicia. He kissed Phoebe on the cheek and handed her a small gift box, "A thank you for saving me from certain doom and bringing me back to where I belong."

Phoebe began to cry, unsure how she could tell Alicia that they had to send him back.

"It's not your fault," Piper patted her shoulder, "but you have to make it right."

"Make what right?" Alicia wondered, nervously stepping closer to Frank.

Phoebe sniffled, "We didn't think your plan all the way through, Licia. We thought we'd be bringing Frank back from the dead, not from right before he died."

"So? It's still a good thing," Frank stated.

"There are consequences when you mess with the timeline," Piper told them all. "Consequences that can change history."

"Not to mention the added surprise your spell caused," Paige added when the doorbell rang.

"What's she mean?" Alicia asked when Paige left the room.

"A second portal opened last night," Phoebe replied, "and Cole came back."

"Your Cole?" Alicia uttered. "But that's impossible, the spell wasn't created for that purpose."

"Think about it, Licia," Phoebe requested. "Think about the wording. We may have been thinking of Frank but the words and our combined blood weren't specific enough for him alone. Cole did come forward in time and now we have to send him back." Her eyes filled with tears again, "We have to send them both back."

"No!" Alicia cried out just as Paige returned.

"Am I interrupting?" Inspector Pagetino asked, knowing full well he was doing just that. It was always intriguing being in the Halliwell home.

Alicia grabbed Frank's arm, "Look, Phoebe, I'm sorry about last night but I can't do what you ask, I just can't."

Frank also apologized when Alicia suddenly bolted from the room and he ran after her.

"Something I said?" Inspector Pagetino uttered with curiosity.

Piper hugged a distressed Phoebe and told him, "This isn't a good time."

"That's what you always say," he retorted. "So if, for once, you give me some straight answers, I'll be on my way."

"Right," Paige rolled her eyes.

"I know Morris was here," he frowned, "because I passed his car coming up the block. So I'm sure he's filled you in on last night's murder."

"Which," Piper stated, "as we told him, we know nothing about."

Paige nodded, "We had a bit of a family crisis with Phoebe and were together the whole night."

"A crisis?"

"With the baby," Phoebe quietly replied, stroking her belly. "But she's okay, we'll be okay."

"I'm glad to hear that," he sincerely commented.

"Sure you are," Paige accused. "Look, why don't you just tell us what you want and leave us alone."

"Why, Paige," he said with a hurtful look on his face, "I haven't seen you in months, maybe I missed you."

"When pigs fly," she retorted.

He couldn't help but laugh. "Maybe I did," he insisted with a chuckle before he turned serious. "Pretty brutal what was done to the body. Last time there was an incident like this was a little more than a year ago. Three women. Three days apart." He saw the surprise register on the sisters' faces and continued, "That was the case that brought me to town."

"And into our lives," Paige grumbled.

"You have a history of being involved in the wrong place at the wrong time," he reminded them. "And you always manage to worm your way into the case and --"

"Are you here to chat about old times or to tell us about this murder?" Paige requested. "Phoebe doesn't need any stress right now."

Inspector Pagetino considered Phoebe's pale demeanor and agreed, "Then how about you come with me and --"

"Me?" Paige exclaimed.

He shrugged, "Phoebe's not up for it and I'm sure Piper wouldn't want to leave Phoebe the responsibility of babysitting." A bit out of character, his voice softened, "Please Paige, I could use your help."

Taken aback, Paige glanced at her sisters, "Could we have a minute?"

"Sure," he replied, "I'll be on the porch."

"What's wrong with this picture?" Paige asked her sisters as soon as she heard the door close. "Why's he being so nice?"

Phoebe rubbed her belly and leaned back into the cushions, "He's sincere, Paige. He really hopes that we can help."

"Maybe if we do," Piper considered, "he'll stay off our case in the future."

"How am I supposed to be any help and keep our secret?" Paige sighed. "You know how nosy he is."

Piper glanced at Phoebe before she focused on Paige, "Maybe you should tell him."

"Tell him what?"

"Tell him our secret," Phoebe answered. "Maybe it's time."

"Great," Paige muttered as she grabbed her bag, "just give him one more reason to lock us up." She pointed at Phoebe, "You, be good and stay off your feet. I'll be back soon."

"She likes him," Phoebe smiled as soon as her younger sister left, "and I don't need any empathic power to know it."

"But she's scared," Piper nodded in agreement. "She's been hurt too many times before."

"Maybe this time'll be different," Phoebe suggested with a yawn.

"Maybe..." Piper glanced at her sister, "For you, a nap. I'll --"

"Where is he?" Cole asked as he rushed down the rest of the stairs and into the living room. They looked blankly at him and he clarified, "The Targalus demon. Where is he?"

"There was no demon here," Piper stated. "And how would you know?"

"Targalus demons have a distinctive odor," Cole wrinkled his nose in disgust, "I could smell it from the stairs. They're upper level demons so they have a human form. They also have three or four other demonic forms they use. They prefer preying on witches but, depending upon which form they choose, they have been known to kill a demon or two. Their human forms are their most vulnerable but it's a challenge to get them into that form."

"Inspector Pagetino?" Piper shook her head, "This's really gonna mess Paige."

"It's not him," Phoebe whispered in shock.

"Of course it is," Piper told her. "It can't be Darryl or Alicia and we know Frank's human so Cole's wro--"

"Do we?" Phoebe interrupted.

"Of course we do," Piper stated. "Now, I'm gonna check the Book for any vanquishes. You should --"

"Piper," Phoebe tugged on her sister's arm, "it's Frank." She wiped away a tear, "Inspector Pagetino was completely sincere. He wants to catch this killer and he wants our help. And I know he likes Paige."

"We've known him a year and he spent most of that time trying to put us in prison," Piper frowned. "You know Frank and Alicia."

"You know I try not to read my friends' emotions," Phoebe reminded her, "and Licia was already with Frank by the time I met her. Frank never gave me reason to doubt his feelings."

"Didn't he cut his hand replacing the window in her shop after that break-in two years ago?" Piper asked. "We would've known if he was a demon."

"Upper level demons bleed red," Cole told her.

"And, he'd know all about the Charmed Ones and their powers," Phoebe added. "He'd know how to act around me."

Piper considered all their words and turned to Cole, "I guess you weren't the time portal demon Leo referred to."

"I guess not," he replied simply, accepting her awkward apology with a nod.

Piper stared at him a moment before she announced, "Great, well, I'll be in the attic." As soon as she stood, she questioned, "Where are the boys?"

"In their room, playing," he replied. "They needed a break from the attic and magic."

Piper sighed and turned back to Phoebe, kissing her sister on the forehead, "You have to get Alicia to come back here alone."

Cole watched Piper climb the stairs and then sat next to Phoebe, pulling her into his arms. "She'll do the right thing, Phoebe. If she's half the witch you are, she'll do the right thing."

Phoebe pressed her ear to his heart and tried to focus only on the strong rhythmic beat. "And it'll be the worst thing she'll ever have to do," she whispered, wrapping her arms around him.

"I love you, Phoebe," he cradled her chin and tilted her head back before kissing her. "Never forget that. Never let her forget that," he added as he caressed her belly.

"Never," she promised amidst the tears as she hid her face in his chest.

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