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Chapter 17: Attempted Escape
It took a few moments for the nurse's words to sink in. 'She" must mean Piper. Piper. Awake. Awake. Piper.
Finally, the nurse's words hit home. Piper was awake! He began sprinting down the hallway, passing the nurse. He didn't stop until he was outside of Piper's room.
He took a deep breath, bracing himself for the worst. He opened the door and slowly walked in. Piper was lying on the bed, deathly pale with an oxygen tube in her nose and her eyes were closed. Leo thought she was asleep so he began to leave the room when her weak voice called out, "Leo?"
Leo went to her bed, tears in his eyes. "Piper. Thank god you're okay."
She nodded her head and swallowed, but didn't say anything.
"We caught him."
"Who?" she asked. "What happened to me?"
At first Leo panicked, thinking she had amnesia. But then he realized she had been unconscious for the last twenty-four hours, so she probably didn't remember anything. "We were coming out of the doctor's office and McGunther shot you. The bullet when through your left shoulder and tore up the surrounding tissue. You had a collapsed lung, but they were able to reinflate it. Lucky, the bullet missed your heart. But we caught McGunther. Just a few minutes ago, actually."
"The baby…?"
"He's fine. Both of you are." Leo smiled and the tears of joy streamed down his face. He slipped his hand into her and gave it a small squeeze.
"Laurie…?"
"She's with Prue and the manor. She's perfectly fine. A little scared for you, but fine."
Piper nodded her head and closed her eyes. "Phoebe flew in from New York to see you. I'll go get her."
He stood up, but Piper held on to his hand. "Please don't go."
"Okay," he said and sat down in the chair next to the bed.
And there he stayed until both of them were fast asleep.
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Leo didn't wake up until he felt Darryl gently shaking him. Leo opened his groggy eyes and looked at him. "What?"
"Sorry to wake you. I just thought you should know that McGunther is dead."
All the sleepiness left Leo. "What? How?"
"He tried to escape custody when we got to the police station. He hit an officer and was shot as he was trying to escape."
"Who shot him?"
"I did."
Leo nodded at him. "Are you okay?"
"Strangely, yes. When I shot him, all I could think was of how many people were safe now. How are you holding up?"
"We're fine," he said, holding Piper's hand.
"The baby?"
"Going to make it if she takes it easy."
"Good. You two deserve this kid."
"Thanks, Darryl."
"No problem. Take care of her."
"I will. Don't worry about that."
Darryl patted Leo on the back and left. When Darryl was out of the door, Leo turned back to Piper, who was peacefully sleeping. He laid his head on her uninjured shoulder and put one hand on her stomach. Piper was alive and so was their baby. Every thing was going to be fine.
Piper opened her eyes and gently squeezed his hand. "Hey," she said, her voice stronger than it had been the day before.
"Hey. Feeling any better?"
"A little. Where's Laurie?"
"Prue's going to bring her by later."
Piper smiled at him. "You're a really good father, you know that?"
Leo smiled back. "Thanks." He was silent before adding, "You really had me scared, Piper."
"I had me scared too." She shifted positions on the bed, making room for Leo. He carefully sat on the bed, careful not to disturb Piper's injured shoulder. She leaned against him. "I'm glad we met again, Leo. I don't know what I would have done without you."
"We belong together, Piper."
"Yeah, we do. You, me, Laurie, and Christopher."
"Christopher?"
Piper nodded her head, placing a hand on her stomach. "He needs a name, doesn't he?"
"Christopher. I like it."
"I'm glad you do."
"You know this means we should get married."
"I know."
"Would you like that?" Leo asked, somewhat nervously.
"I'd love it," Piper said, smiling.
"Love what?" Prue asked, coming into the room followed by Phoebe and Laurie.
"Mommy!" Laurie cried, running to the bed. Leo helped Laurie up and she hugged her mother tightly. "I missed you."
"I missed you too, Sunshine."
"When are you coming home?"
"Soon. I'll be home soon." She gently rubbed Laurie's back, glad to hold her daughter once again.
Piper looked around at the smiling faces around her. Prue and Phoebe, her closer-than-close sisters, Leo, her soul mate, and Laurie and Christopher, her two darling children. Her family was right here with her, just as it should be.
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Author's Note: I would like to thank all of you who have reviewed. You guys totally rock! There is only one more chapter left, an epilogue. I'm going to thank everyone personally at the end of the next chapter. Thanks again for all of your great reviews.