Disclaimer: I do not own Charmed! Brad Kern and other TV execs and such do! Not me! However, I do own Tomika.

Yay! More readers! gives Tessalynne a cookie You have increased my motivation to write tenfold! Or at least twofold, anyways. Sorry this is such a short chapter, I'll write more soon....if you review! Muahahahaha! Please?

Cole awoke to a ferocious headache and a mouth drier than the Wasteland's deserts. The world shifted in and out of focus and his stomach churned as he tried to sit up. He slumped back into the chair as a bout of dizziness made the world spin. He futilely massaged his temples in an effort to banish the stabbing pain behind his eyes. The fire had long since died and the air was chilled, making Cole shiver involuntarily. Stray bits of memory floated around in his mind as his eyes adjusted to the darkness. He remembered sitting in this chair, drinking himself into oblivion in front of the fire. He tried to concentrate, groping blindly in his mind for what had happened before that. How did he get here?

"Good morning!" A girl's face suddenly appeared in front of his eyes, so close that her nose was practically touching his. Cole jerked back, nearly cross-eyed at the sudden apparition. The face came back into focus and Cole caught a glimpse of green eyes and blond hair before the girl ducked out of sight. She reappeared with a tray of steaming mugs and continued to chatter as Cole's beleaguered brain fought to keep up.

"It's good afternoon, actually. You slept through most of the day." She looked at him expectantly.

Cole simply gaped as his memory returned. He managed to speak on his second try, rasping through a parched throat. "Thursday."

She beamed at him. "You remembered! Wow, I'm impressed. You drank like a horse last night." She took in his haggard appearance and bloodshot eyes. "You must have the worst hangover ever right now."

Cole snorted. "I've had worse." He wasn't sure if that was exactly true. At the moment, his brain felt like it was trying to claw its way out of his skull. Thursday smiled and shoved a warm mug into his hands.

"Drink. This should help."

Cole stared at the dark liquid dubiously. It looked like hot chocolate, but still... It's not like you can poison a dead man, anyway. He shrugged and took a sip. Sweet chocolate eased down his throat, soothing his roiling stomach. He took another gulp and was surprised to notice his headache fading away. He gulped the rest of the mug quickly, scorching his tongue in the process.

Thursday watched with a hint of amusement. "It's a special recipe," she offered as he drained the mug dry. "Specifically designed to cure hangovers, sore throats, and broken bones." She frowned speculatively. "I'm not quite sure how it works, actually. Tomika makes it, not me."

Cole set the mug down and licked his lips. "Tomika?"

"You'll meet him soon." She impatiently waved at him. "Come on then, let's go."

Cole stood up, feeling refreshed and strong. "Go where?"

"You'll see." Thursday set off into the maze of chairs at a brisk pace.

"Wait!" Cole growled in frustration and jogged to keep up. The chairs seemed to be set up in a haphazard manner, with no pattern or order that Cole could see. He eased between chairs and end tables as quickly as he could without knocking anything over. Thursday seemed to have less difficulty and slipped in and out of sight between the stockades of furniture. Most of the chairs were empty, but Cole noticed a few shadowy occupants as he passed by. A bright light glimmered up ahead and Cole stepped out onto an open ballroom floor with checkered black and white tiles.

Thursday was waiting at the far end, standing next to the source of the light. It looked like a mirror, except instead of glass it held a shimmering silver liquid that swirled slowly.

"Last night you said you'd explain everything." Cole's voice echoed in the room and the silver liquid seemed to shiver in response. As he got closer, Cole could just make out delicate etchings on the white frame of the mirror- like object. The entire thing was twice his height and as wide as a doorway. It looked like a stable portal to another dimension.

"Did I really say that?" Thursday shook her head. "I can't explain everything. That would take too long."

"We will tell you what you need to know." A bass voice rumbled firmly, issuing from behind him. Cole turned and saw a gopher sitting on its haunches, staring at him intensely.

"Cole, meet Tomika. Tomika, Cole." Thursday casually made the introductions, seemingly oblivious to Cole's disbelieving stare. Tomika briefly bowed his head and Cole fought back a sudden urge to burst out laughing. He had just been vanquished, gotten dead drunk, met a crazy girl and been introduced to a talking gopher. He was feeling slightly unhinged as a result. Enough is enough.

He summoned an energy ball and turned back to face a startled Thursday. He stalked towards her, carefully gritting out each word. "What is going on?"

Thursday quickly recovered from the shock and smiled brightly as he glared down at her. "Closure." With unnerving speed, she grabbed his free arm and swung him off-balance. The energy ball extinguished and Cole had time for one brief shout before Thursday shoved him headfirst into the portal. There was a blinding flash of light and he disappeared.

Thursday dusted herself off and met Tomika's disapproving glare. "What? It worked!" She protested indignantly. "Not the way we had planned, but he'll be okay." She gazed into the silver portal worriedly. "I hope."