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Chapter 16: Lying in Wait
The hospital room was silent except for the steady beep of the heart monitor. Leo hid behind the door, waiting for McGunther to come it. He had no clue how long it would be, but he was will to wait forever if he had to.
Phoebe, who they had put in lots of gauze and bandages on to disguise her as Piper, laid on the bed, breathing evenly to feign sleep.
He heard motion in the hallway, but it was only a doctor or nurse walking past.
He only had to wait a few more minutes before the door slowly creaked open. In the darkness it was impossible to tell if it was McGunther or not. Leo prepared to jump out at the person if they tried to hurt Phoebe.
The person loomed over Phoebe and Leo soundlessly stepped out from behind the door. The person reached in his pocket and withdrew something long and flexible, perhaps a piece of rope.
He was just about to tackle the person when Phoebe's hand shot out from bed and grabbed the man's arm and gave it a twist until it made a sickening cracking noise.
The man screamed in pain and Leo tried to get his arms behind his back, but the man kicked him and sent Leo crashing to the floor.
Pissed and determined, Leo went back to where Phoebe now had the man's arm safely behind his back. "What the" She gave it another little twist and Leo heard another crack.
"Phoebe, take it easy."
She gave it another little twist. "You don't mess with my sister and get away with it."
Leo didn't try to stop her as she gave his arm another twist.
But McGunther wasn't going to have any of it. He elbowed Phoebe in the face with his free arm and kicked Leo in the solar plexus. He then sprinted out of the room.
Leo, once he regained his breath, ran out of the room after McGunther. Phoebe, holding her bloody nose, took off after them.
Leo chased McGunther through the maze of hospital hallways. Leo was fast, probably faster than McGunther. But McGunther was running on adrenalin, on fear of getting caught. Therefore, he managed to stay just out of reach.
Leo pumped his legs faster and harder. McGunther was almost in his reach.
A nurse, pushing a cart, came out of a door in the hallway.
McGunther, turning his head to see how close Leo was, didn't see her.
He ran right into her cart and flipped over it. The nurse, surprised, gave a small scream of surprise.
Leo wasted no time. He pushed the cart out of the way and kneeled on his back. "Scoot McGunther," Leo said, slapping on the cuffs, "you are under arrest for breaking and entering, kidnapping, and attempted murder." Leo read him the rest of his Miranda rights.
Darryl, finally catching up, took McGunther off his hands.
"He's all yours, Darryl."
"Nice work, Leo. You too, Phoebe."
"Glad to help," she said, holding her nose. "Maybe I should become a cop."
McGunther growled at them. "I hope the bitch dies. I hope she and the baby die and rot in hell."
Leo went forward to punch McGunther, but Darryl handed the situation beautifully. He kicked his foot out and knocked McGunther off of his feet, face-flat on the floor.
"Oops. Not very coordinated are you, McGunther?"
Leo and Phoebe both gave a laugh.
They walked back down to ICU, where Darryl's squad car was waiting outside. Darryl took McGunther away and Phoebe went to go change out of her hospital gown and get her nose checked.
Meanwhile, Leo called Prue. After talking to her for a few moments, Laurie managed to wrestle the phone away from her aunt. Or maybe Prue gave it up willingly. Either way, Leo was just grateful to hear his daughter's voice.
"Daddy!" Laurie squealed excitedly.
"Hello, Sunshine."
"Is Mommy coming home yet?"
Leo hesitated, not wanting to tell Laurie the truth. Hell, he didn't even know for sure. "I don't know, Laurie. I don't know."
"Oh," was all she said, sounding dejected.
"Don't worry, Sunshine. Aunt Prue will bring you to the hospital soon so you can see her. Alright?"
"Okay. Bye, Daddy. I love you."
"I love you too, Sunshine."
Leo hung up and leaned against the wall, thinking of all that happened. They may have gotten McGunther, but now it depended on whether or not Piper and the baby made it through the night.
If Piper didn't make it, he would have no clue what to do. When he had dated her the first time, he hadn't realized how deep his love was for Piper. Deep enough to create a wonderful child like Laurie.
Laurie. What would she do with out her mother? Sure, she loved Leo dearly, but she hadn't been raised by him. She had Phoebe and Prue to help take care of her, but she was so close to her mom. Leo didn't know if Laurie would be able to take losing Piper.
"Leo!" an excited voice called. He looked up to see a nurse motioning to him.
"She's awake!"