"What the hell is wrong with you?" Piper sputtered. "Don't you know who he is? Don't you know what he's done?"
Kevin sighed. "I knew you would be difficult about this. Trust me, he's the best man for the job. Just...go with it."
"You're crazy!" Phoebe exclaimed. "He's a demon! He's evil!"
"Unfortunately, you're not going to find too many angelic lawyers," Cole said, a bemused look on his face. "Most law firms tend to be on the demonic side."
"We don't need your help," Phoebe fumed. "We can handle it ourselves. Why don't you just crawl back under whatever rock you came from. Get out of my life and stay out!"
"Given your method of proving a point tends to be taking off your clothes, Ms. Halliwell," Cole said disdainfully, crossing his arms across his chest, "I think I'm better qualified to defend Leo."
Phoebe's jaw dropped. "Oooh! You...! I should've known you'd find a way to watch me, pervert," she snapped. "I suppose you watch me in the shower, too."
"Actually, that's your former Whitelighter who does that," Cole said. "Personally, you're too scrawny these days for my tastes. Trust me, if I was going to indulge in any voyeuristic tendencies, it wouldn't be with you."
"All right, enough!" Piper held up her hands threateningly, though she knew her power wouldn't work on her sister, and the last time she'd fought Cole, he'd been resistant to her powers, too. "Okay. If we're stuck with you, then do your job and get Leo out of here, then get the hell out of our lives."
"Straight to the point, as ever, Piper," Cole said. "I'm here for one reason -- to defend Leo. After that, you don't have to worry about me." He glanced at Phoebe and Paige. "You two should put something less...revealing on."
Paige rolled her eyes. "When did you turn prude?"
"Showing off your cleavage may get Elders like Kevin here on your side," Cole said.
Kevin blushed. "I wasn't looking, honest!" he protested.
"But I think you'll find the ones actually sitting in judgment are a little more conservative," Cole finished. "It's called knowing your audience, Paige. Take every advantage you can. I couldn't care less how you dress, but if you take a few tips from Piper, the judges may show you a little more respect. You wouldn't wear that to a job interview, would you?"
"Got a point there," Paige said. She used her powers of glamour to adjust the length of her skirt and the neckline of her shirt. Phoebe glared at Cole but nodded at her sister, and Paige similarly altered Phoebe's outfit.
"Much better," Cole said approvingly. "Now, Piper, Paige, Ms. Halliwell -- if you ladies would care to take a seat, Leo will be brought in shortly."
"Stop calling me Ms. Halliwell," Phoebe said. "You know my name."
Cole fixed her with a cold stare. "Phoebe is the name of the woman I loved. You, Ms. Halliwell, are most assuredly not her."
Phoebe took an involuntary step back, her hand coming up to her throat, as Cole turned away from them. "Phoebe?" Piper asked, concerned.
"My empathy isn't working on him," Phoebe said in a low voice meant for her sisters alone. "I can't feel what he's feeling. But that -- that I just felt. Like...like someone stabbed me in the heart."
"Oookay," Piper said. "Sit down. We'll worry about that later." She looked at Kevin. "Where's Leo?"
"He'll be here in a minute," Kevin said. "Let me tell you about the judges first. They're the oldest Elders. The two below are Darban and Esttai." He indicated the man first, then the woman. "Above them is Briel. She's the ranking judge." He pointed to the two Elders on the opposite side of the room. "They're in charge of prosecuting Leo. The taller one is Serris. The other one is, uh, George."
"George?" Paige snickered.
"Some of us do have normal names," Kevin said, making a face at her.
The woman on the upper part of the dais spoke. "Bring in the accused," Briel said.
Moments later Leo orbed in. "Leo," Piper whispered, rising and taking a step toward him. Kevin shook his head, and she reluctantly sat back down.
"His crimes?" Briel questioned the prosecution.
"Leo Wyatt is guilty of grave crimes against the Elders," Serris said. "He turned his back upon his duties and sought to help the Avatars remake the world. This blatant theft of free will goes against what all the forces of good stand for. In addition, he is responsible for the death of Zola, one of our own."
Briel nodded to Cole. "Your response."
Cole stepped forward. "Leo Wyatt is indeed guilty of these crimes."
Piper stood up. "You son of a bitch! You're supposed to be helping him!"
Esttai turned icy eyes to Piper. "Silence, or you will be removed from these proceedings." Piper scowled, but obeyed.
"As I was saying," Cole continued, "Leo Wyatt is indeed guilty of these crimes. However, he is not entirely responsible for his actions. I will show how he was manipulated by forces demonic and otherwise into committing these crimes."
Darban looked back to the prosecution. "Is there anything else?"
George nodded. "Yes. We intend to show the Charmed Ones have abused the powers granted to them and no longer deserve them. They have neglected their duties -- in fact, gone against what good stands for -- and are no longer responsible enough to bear the title of The Charmed Ones. Their powers should be stripped and given to those worthy to bear them."
Now Phoebe leapt to her feet. "Wait one minute! We've already been through this! This isn't fair!"
"Perhaps you have failed to learn from the first time," Esttai said coolly. She looked to Cole. "Your response?"
He hesitated. "I was not brought here to defend them, only Leo."
"Your response?" Esttai repeated.
Cole paused for a moment, gathering his thoughts. "The Charmed Ones," he said slowly, "may also be guilty of what they are accused, but it is due largely to the removal of their Whitelighter from their lives and the subsequent actions of the Elders. Rather than working with the Charmed Ones to mend the division between them, the Elders have driven them further away, and as a consequence, their attention to their duties has suffered."
"Strong words, demon," Darban said, settling back in his chair. He looked about the room. "Very well. Let the trial begin."