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Chapter 23: Reunion
Leo watched as the jeep spun into the tree. With a sinking feeling in his stomach, Leo knew Piper was in that car and not the warehouse.
His suspicion was confirmed when a voice on the radio said, "The warehouse is clear. No one's here."
The squad car pulled over to the side of the road where the jeep was a wreck. Leo hopped out of the squad car and headed towards the passenger side. He looked through the illegally tinted windows and saw Piper slumped against the window. Not knowing if she had a head or neck injury, Leo hesitated to take her out of the car.
His hesitation was abolished when one of the officers's called out, "There's smoke and I see something leaking from the engine."
Leo opened the door and tried to gently lift Piper out of the jeep, but her knees were jammed under the dashboard. It was a little difficult, but he was finally able to maneuver her out with the help of Andy.
He took a look at the left side of her face and saw the huge purple bruise. He wondered if it was from the accident, but then he saw the ligature mark on her neck. No ay she had gotten those in the accident. Leo was ready to kill Wong if he wasn't already dead.
"I'll call an ambulance," one of the officers said after getting Wong out of the vehicle and handcuffing him in the squad car. He was semi-conscious and cussing out the officer every chance he got.
"No, it'll be quicker if we drive them," Leo said. He laid Piper in the backseat of the squad car. "It'll take the ambulance at least twenty minutes and we can be there in ten."
Leo got in the back seat with Piper and put her head in his lap. He smoothed the hair away from her face, careful to avoid the bruise.
He thought he saw her open her eyes, but they closed so quick he wasn't sure.
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Piper could hear movement and voices, but she couldn't tell who they belonged to. She was guessing the police, but there was not way to be sure. She felt herself being moved, but she couldn't tell who it was. She was laid on something soft and her head rested in someone's lap.
She strained to open her eyes and look at her rescuer. She saw green eyes before darkness enveloped her.
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Leo waited outside the hospital room with Andy, Prue, Phoebe, Darryl, and Shelia. The doctor was getting Piper situated. According to him, except for a concussion, a cracked rib, and bruising, she was fine. They had her on oxygen to ease her breathing. It appears she was choked during her time held captive.
Leo wanted to strangle Wong. Good thing he wasn't at the station house. Wong wouldn't live to see the inside of a jail cell.
The doctor finally allowed them in the room. Phoebe and Prue immediately sat next to their sister, each holding one of her hands. Leo stood by the foot of the bed, one hand on the blankets covering her feet. Andy, Darryl, and Shelia hung back towards the wall. The room was a little crowed with six visitors.
Piper was still on the bed, only the beeping of the heart monitors ensured Leo she was alive.
They sat there for hours, talking once and a while. It grew dark outside and Darryl and Shelia left. An hour later, Andy convinced Prue to leave with him, and she consented only because Leo agreed to stay. Phoebe left to visit Eric for a while, so Leo was alone with Piper.
He sat next to her, holding her hand, until he fell asleep.
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When Piper awoke, she was lying on a soft bed, darkness all around her. For a brief second she panicked, thinking she was back in the warehouse. She looked around, her eyes adjusting to the darkness. She felt something holding her hand and she looked down. In the darkness, it was impossible to tell who the hunkering form with their head on the bed was. Piper lifted her hand and put it on top of the person's head.
The person felt her hand and looked up. "Oh my God. Leo."
"Piper," he said.
"I thought you were dead," she said, tears breaking into her voice.
"Me?" Leo asked as if it were the most ludicrous thing.
"They threw you over the railing… you hit that table… I called your name but you didn't move…" Piper was openly crying now. "I was so worried."
Leo kissed her forehead. Tears were now leaking out of his eyes. She had been through hell and back, but she still worried about him the whole time.
Piper scooted over in the bed, making room for Leo. Leo sat down and the bed sagged beneath his weight. He put his arms around her and she laid her head on his chest. He held her close, thankful to have her back.
Piper yawned. "Leo, when I leave the hospital can I stay with you? I won't feel safe at the manor any more."
"Of course."
"I love you," she said as she drifted off to sleep.
"I love you too," he replied to her already sleeping form. "You have no idea how much."
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Leo was still awake when the night nurse came in to take Piper's temperature and blood pressure. Leo started to get out of bed but the nurse stopped him.
"You stay right where you are, peach." Leo had no clue where she got the nickname 'peach'. "You're a doll, you know that," she said as she gently slid the thermometer into Piper's mouth. "She loves you so much."
Leo was beginning to wonder if the plump, jovial nurse was psychic. "How do you know?"
"Look at the smile on her face. That's the first time I've seen her smile since she's been here."
Leo looked down at the slightly smiling Piper and smiled himself.
"See? And she makes you smile."
"Yeah, she does."
The nurse finished up. "I'll see you later, peach." She bounced out of the room.
Leo just smiled and shook his head. But the nurse was right. Piper did make him happy. He just hoped he made her happy too.
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Leo walked down the hallway towards Piper's room, soda can in hand. She was going to be released in a couple of hours and Prue was on her way to fill out paper work.
"Code blue, room 216, Code blue, room 216." Leo knew code blue meant someone was crashing and they needed doctors to revive them. 216 was the room number. Leo knew Piper was in the wing of the hospital with rooms 210-224. He feared it was her.
Leo dropped the can and ran to Piper's room. He sprinted down the hallway and didn't stop until he was in her room.
He let out a sigh of relief when he saw Piper sitting up in bed, perfectly fine. Leo went to her and wrapped her in a tight hug.
Piper was surprised. "What was that for?"
Leo didn't explain the code blue to her. "Just making sure you're okay."
"What's really wrong?"
"Nothing. Just wanted to let you know I love you."
"I love you too."
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Piper left the hospital later that day and stayed at Leo's. During the night she was plagued by nightmares, by the thought of being back in that warehouse.
At one point during the night, she woke up in a cold sweat and was forced to swallow back a scream as not to wake Leo. She untangled herself from the covers and his embrace. She went to the bathroom and splashed cold water on her face. She grabbed the edge of the sink, shaking. She looked at her bruises in the mirror. They were beginning to turn yellow around the edges. Her split lip finally stopped bleeding every time she talked.
When she returned to the room, Leo was sitting up in bed, waiting for her. "Are you okay?" he asked, concern in his voice.
"Yeah," she said, climbing back in bed. "Just a bad dream."
Piper laid on her side and closed her eyes. Leo laid behind her, holding her close. He loved how she fit perfect.
Leo gently touched her split lip. "He's in jail, you know. He can't hurt you anymore."
"I know," she said, turning to face him. "But that doesn't stop the nightmares."
Leo gently traced the yellowing edge of her bruise. "He won't hurt you anymore. I won't let him. Neither will Andy or Darryl. You've got San Francisco's finest watching out for you."
"Then San Francisco's in trouble, isn't it?" Piper asked with a hint of teasing in her voice.
Leo looked hurt, so Piper said, "I'm just kidding. You are San Francisco's finest and I'm thankful for that."
Leo still looked a little hurt, so Piper kissed away his hurt expression.
Little did she know, her comment wasn't too far off.
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Author's Note: This is one of the last chapters! I'm sorry. I know how much you loved this story. I want to thank all of you who reviewed. There is one more big surprise for Piper before the story ends. I hope you like it.