Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! To those of you who are keeping with me through this story and leaving your reviews! You guys are so wonderful!!!

A/N: I know you guys are being patient as this story develops. I try to write my fanfics as if they were an episode. This chapter is a bit longer because it is setting everything up for the big event in the next chapter. I am going for suspense and drama. Please let me know if you think I succeeded. Next chapter I hope to pull on your Piper/Leo heartstrings.

Leo crouched low just as an energy ball came buzzing over the top of him. He had been attempting to make his way over to his charge. The young man lay lifeless a few feet away. An unsightly burn mark on his left shoulder needed immediate attention. Leo heard Piper's call, but he had been in the middle of healing another fallen charge. There were so many calls going on in his head, he was having trouble keeping them all straight. He hazard a quick check and sensed for his wife. Sensing only concern and nothing life and death, he breathed a sigh of relief. As much as he wished he could go to them, there were just too many other more pressing needs. There was such a flurry of activity buzzing around in his brain, he didn't even process why things were so out of control. Calls after calls were coming in and it was not information calls but calls of dire emergencies. The only thing keeping him sane at the moment was that at least the Charmed Ones seemed to be exempt from whatever was going on. Had he had a free minute to ponder that fact, he might have realized that in itself was suspicious. As it was, he barely had time to see to the urgent crisis in front of him. There was a break in the action and he took full advantage, rushing over to his injured charge. Placing his hands over the wound, a pale yellow light coming from them, bringing the man back to the living.

Two hours later found the Charmed Ones still hold up in the attic. Paige continued to study the book, willing it to yield anything that would shed light on her uneasy feeling. Phoebe took a small break from her pacing, but then began again with renew vigor. The oldest sister stationed herself in an uncomfortable antique chair, staring out the window lost in her own troubling thoughts. Leo has still yet to make an appearance and she gave up calling for him. Her anger had soon turned into worry. Concern that he was not ignoring them, or really busy, but something really bad had happened to him. The latter causing a tight knot to form in her stomach.

The routine of the room was shattered as Cole shimmered in gasping for air. Phoebe immediately hurried over to him. "Oh my god, are you okay?"

Taking a long, deep breath, he stood up straight. "Yeah, just tired. Being stealthy means a lot of shimmering." Making his way to a nearby chair he flopped down into it.

"So, what did you find out?" Asked an anxious Paige.

Cole held up a hand, letting himself recoup before he filled them in. "Well, you were right. From the little bits of conversation I was able to pick up on, there is an upper level demon who has resurfaced. Didn't get a name, seems he's been out of the demonic loop for quite a while. Anyway, he is the one sending demons after witches, however, and this is the interesting part. He does not want anyone coming after you three."

"Okay. That's not good. He's obviously up to something." Observed Phoebe.

"I agree." Piper said as she moved from her perch by the window. "Why not attack us as well. It doesn't make sense."

"I told you something was up!"

"Noted Paige, you were definitely on to something."

"So what now?" Asked Phoebe.

"I know where this demon has set up shop. I'll sneak in and see if I can get a read on him."

"No Cole, it's too dangerous and you've risked enough already. Just tell us where he is and we'll take care of it from here."

Cole was not about to willingly put Phoebe in harms way, and he was not about to spend the next hour debating with her. He was still the mighty Belthazor, even though he was desperately trying to suppress that side for Phoebe. Still, he could bloody well take care of himself, and he had a better chance getting the information they needed without a lot of fuss.

Sending her a confident grin, he said, "Sorry honey, I'm not in the mood to argue. See you soon." And he disappeared.

"Ohhhh, I hate when he does that! Cole you get back her right now, do you hear me!" She knew he'd just ignore her, but she felt as if she had to say it to save face in front of her siblings. One did not make Cole do something if his mind had been made up. Throwing herself into the chair he had vacated, she let out a disgruntled 'huff'. "Well Piper, looks like we're both mad at our men."

Her sister had no pithy comment. She was no longer angry with her man, she was just plain worried.

Cole shimmered in on the far edge of the cemetery. Peering into the thick wooded area to the right, he cautiously entered. A barely visible path wound deep into the dense trees until it opened up to reveal a small entrance to a cave. Casting his eyes side to side, making sure all was clear, he ventured into the opening. "Caves." He thought to himself. "Demons and caves always seemed to go hand in hand." He mused. There was no light, however being half demon himself he could see perfectly. The long narrow passageway led into a large open room carved out of rock. It was completely empty as he peeked around the corner. It looked as if no one ever step foot inside. Giving the area one more quick survey, he quietly entered the room.

He didn't sense the danger until it was too late. Before he could react, he was completely encased in a clear glass bubble cage. Raising his hand he armed himself with an energy ball. He threw it against the glass wall, hoping to shatter it. Instead the ball simply melted into the glass. Stunned, he turned in a circle, scanning for a weak spot.

A voice came out of nowhere. "Please, do not attempt to escape my friend. The bubble cage in quite impenetrable."

Cole swiveled on his heels, trying to locate where the voice emanated from. "Who are you? What do you want?"

"Ah, the mighty Belthazor has questions." When Cole started at the sound of his demonic name, the voice continued amused. "Yes, I know who you really are, but fear not my demon friend, I am not a bounty hunter. I have much bigger plans for you."

"Oh yeah, like what?" Cole demanded, trying to keep the anger and fear under wraps.

"Quite simply, you are the bait."

Cole's fear turned to panic. He could be bait for only one thing. The Charmed Ones, or more importantly, Phoebe! They were now in danger and it was his fault. Phoebe would come for him, he had little doubt of that. He wished vehemently that he could warn her, tell her to stay away, but it was not an option. He was trapped. Closing his eyes he tried to think.

As the day turned to evening, Phoebe's fear for Cole's well being intensified. Something was wrong, she could feel it. He had been gone for far too long. When she voiced her anxiety, her sisters had agreed.

"Maybe we could scrye for him." Suggested Paige.

"Might work." Agreed Piper.

"Right, scrying. I'll scrye for Cole." And she ran out of the room for supplies.

"She's really scared." Noted Paige. "She always repeats herself when she's scared.

Piper hesitated in her pacing. "I know the feeling."

Phoebe returned a few moments later, scrying tools in hand and one of Cole's ties hung from her arm. "All right, I've got his favorite tie, I hope this works."

Laying out a map of the city, she took out the scrying crystal, which dangled from a thin silver chain. She held it high above the map, while clasping the tie. With slow sure hands, she let the crystal sway and weave over the map. Agonizing minutes ticked by as three sets of eyes were glued to the crystal's continuous movements.

"Come on Cole, tell us where you are." She jumped and let out a tiny "Yelp." When the crystal dropped suddenly.

"Nice going sis." Encouraged Paige.

Piper studied the area with a slight frown. "Looks like the woods by the old cemetery."

"Figures."

Phoebe ignored her younger sister's remark and asked, "Can you get us there?"

Paige had just recently learned how to orb, and had very little practice orbing others. She was getting better, but it was still dicey. She wished for not the first time, that Leo was here, then she'd be off the hook.

Not wanting to let her sisters down, she put on a brave smile. "Of course, no problem."

The three held hands tightly as Paige concentrated. After a brief hesitation they began to disappear in a glow of blue lights. Unfortunately the take off was smoother than the landing. They reappeared too close to a group of threes. Piper gave a grunt of pain as she was knocked into a large elm and her arm scraped the rough bark. Phoebe ended up in a shallow mud puddle.

"Sorry."

"It's okay honey. At least you got us here." Phoebe comforted as she scraped the mud caked on her brand new boots.

Scanning the surrounding area, they discovered the narrow pathway just as Cole had done. Unlike Cole, they were not able to see in the dark, so as they made their way inside the dank cave, they had to use their hands to help guide.

Cole paced like a caged animal inside the small circumference of his bubble. He hated feeling helpless. It was not an emotion he had a lot of experience with, and he did not like it one little bit. His mind kept going back to Phoebe and the danger he was putting her in. A sound from just outside the entrance drew his attention.

Phoebe carefully poked her head around the corner and instantly spied Cole trapped inside some sort of transparent bubble. He was yelling out to her, but she could hear nothing.

"No! Pheobe stay back. It's a trap!" Cole screamed at the top of his lungs and then watched horrified as she ignored his warnings and the three sisters stepped into the room. Moving toward him, Piper's hands outstretched, ready to blow up anything that got in their way. Didn't they hear him, he thought, and just as that thought surfaced he realized the truth of it. His prison must have some sort of soundproofing.

The witches had only gone a few feet before they too were swallowed up in a glass bubble of their own. Stunned, they looked around franticly. Piper, the first to react, threw out her hands, only to have her exploding power absorbed into the glass, just as Cole's powers had done.

Paige took her sisters' hands and tried to orb out. The white lights simply melted into the bubble. It was not use, their powers were useless inside the round cage.

Cole threw his hands against the glass, frustration filling every inch of his body. His eyes sought Phoebe's, each relaying their growing despair at the rapidly deteriorating situation.

Melodic laughter filled the room, reverberating around it and setting the four prisoners on edge. All of them struggled to discover where the sound was coming from.

Soon the laughter was replaced by a smooth and cultured voice. "My, my, we've got quite a little party don't we. How many people, or demons in my case, can say they captured not only the mighty Belthazor, but the famous Charmed Ones as well."

"Go a head and laugh now buddy, but when we get out of here we're going to blast you to pieces." Piper called out boldly, hoping to appear more confident, since that was far from what she was feeling.

"Oh you must be Piper. You're the feisty one." The voice chuckled.

Piper hated when demons said that. It just pissed her off more.

Paige took up the conversation, hoping to keep her older sister's temper in check. "Fine, you know who we are, who doesn't. Who are you?"

"I'm not quite ready to let that little secret out yet."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Don't tell us. Bet we know you're plan though. You capture us, then kill us, kiss up to the source, thus elevating your status in the Underworld, ect, ect, ect. God how many times have we been through this."

"Paige!" Phoebe muttered under her breath. "Let's not put ideas in his head thank you very much." She was more than a little panicked with not only their current dilemma but Cole's as well.

Another chuckle followed Paige's brave words, along with the sound of clapping hands. "Bravo my dear. So bravely spoken, however so very far from the truth. I have absolutely not desire to rise up in the hierarchy of the Underworld. Nor do I particularly care to, as you so elegantly put it, kiss up to the Source. In fact this really has very little to do with you at all."

Phoebe's heart raced a little faster, if not them, then the target must be Cole. This demon wanted to destroy Cole. But why capture her sisters and her?

As if reading her mind, the voice said, "Ah, I see you think this is about Belthazor." And Phoebe's eyes darted to Cole in response. "Again, you are very much mistaken. He was just the bait to for the three of you. This is all about the sweet taste of revenge."

"Wait." Paige said confused. "Why would you need Cole to get us, if us is not who you want?" Rolling this around in her head, her eyes got wide. "Does that mean we're bait as well?"

"I applaud your quick grasp of the situation my dear." His tone dripped with heavy sarcasm, which irritated her to the bone.

Piper had remained silent through all of it, trying to fit the pieces together, to understand what all was at stake. When the demon spoke of them being bait, it all clicked. It was so obvious! "Oh my God. Leo." She whispered horrified.

Again, the sound of clapping sounded around them. "Yes! Good job, took you a while, I expected more from the Charmed Ones. Although in your defense you are working under diress. Leo is indeed my quarry and you my dears are the means to getting him here. He won't be able to resist. I've not only got the Charmed Ones, but his lovely wife as well." The last he cooed with pride.

"Glad you're so happy." Quiped Paige without humor.

"Paige! That's not helping." Chastised Phoebe. She then glanced at Piper. Her sister's face was sickly pale, her eyes glazed with fear. Fear not for them, but for her husband. Phoebe could only imagine the multitude of emotions raging inside. The demon was right. Leo would come. He would come because the sister's meant everything to him.

Oh my God, Leo. The same thought just kept circling around in Piper's head. He was the last person they thought they had to worry about. They were use to demons coming after them or Cole for that matter. But Leo? Piper fought to keep herself together. Falling apart was not an option and it would help no one, especially her husband.

When she felt she could speak in a even tone, she asked, "Why Leo?"

"As delighted as I would be to tell you the long gory details, I'm afraid I must resist. We must wait for the star of this show to arrive, then all can be revealed. I'm confident we will not have long to wait. Right about now, the demons I've been sent out, will have stop their assault on certain witches, thus leaving Leo time to come play with us."

Piper's eyes narrowed at this revelation. "So you were behind all of it. Leo's charges constantly needing him, us not being attacked."

"Yes, as well as the extra bounty hunters for Belthazor. I needed key people to be busy while others were not. You all did extremely well I might add, and I thank you."

Piper wanted to wiped the smug look, she knew the demon must be wearing, right off his face. "You son of a bitch!" She spat out instead.

"Now, now, such language from such a pretty lady. I expected more from you. Well as much as I've enjoyed our little repertoire, I'm afraid I must leave you to your own company for a bit. I must prepare for the big scene which has yet to unfold."

The room became instantly silent and they knew the demon was no longer hiding in the shadows.

Phoebe took the opportunity to see if she could communicate with Cole. "You okay?"

Surprised showed on his face as he was able to hear her question. "Fine. Can't believe I fell into the trap. Must be loosing my touch." He grouched.

A smile spread across Phoebe's lips. Her Cole was one of a kind. "So any ideas how to get out of this mess?"

"No. I've tried everything, but this bubble absorbing powers limits the options."

"Any idea who our mystery demon is?"

He leaned a shoulder casually against one of the glass walls. "Not off the top of my head. The voice is faintly familiar, just can't put my finger on it."

"I guess Leo could tell us." Stated Paige, as she rubbed her fingers over tired eyes.

Piper, her arms folded across her chest, eyes closed, leaned her head back against the cage. "Leo." She thought in her head. "Don't come for us. Please just stay away." She knew even as she said it, even if he could hear her, he wouldn't listen. He would come and her chest tightened until she thought she couldn't breath.

"Come on guys!" Phoebe attempted to rally the troops. "We've got to stay positive. We have three powerful witches and a demon at our disposal. We should be able to come up with something."

Her comments were met with quiet defeat. They were really in a jam this time, and didn't look like they'd get out of it any time soon.