Disclaimer: I don't own anyone, don't sue me.
A/N: Wow, thanks for all the reviews. I was pleasantly surprised to know so many people have been reading. Hope this next chapter is as enjoyable. . .
"I think we underestimated how powerful he is." Paige said, glancing around the room.
"That's my fault." Cole said, pacing the room. "I haven't been doing what I came here to do. I've been sitting around doing nothing."
"Just like the rest of us." Leo added. "There's no point trying to rationalise what happened. All we can do now is prepare ourselves as best we can."
"And what?" Piper questioned. "Hope we win when he comes after us?"
"There's nothing else we can do." Phoebe said softly.
"I can't just sit here and do nothing." Cole muttered. "If we give him enough time. . .he'll muster up all the support he needs. We can't let him do that."
"The Underworld is in chaos. Going down there now is too dangerous, even for you." Leo said. "We don't have an option. We'll go through the book, find out the best--"
"What? Throw a potion at him?" Cole asked incredulously. "We both know that won't work."
"Well, what do you propose?" Paige asked, crossing her arms.
Cole paused. "You stay here. . .do as Leo says and wait."
"And you?" Piper questioned with a frown. Cole glanced up at her.
"I'm going to find him. Before he can find you." He said.
There was a moment's silence. "It's too dangerous." Phoebe said softly, looking up at him.
"I'm not going to wait." Cole stated firmly.
"Then I'll go with you." Phoebe said.
"Phoebe. . ." Piper began.
"No." Cole said, shaking his head. "I'm going alone. No one's coming with me. . .not this time." He glanced at Piper. "You almost got killed last time. I'm not going through that again. . ." He faced Phoebe. "Especially not with you."
"So what? You're just going to go and get yourself killed?" Phoebe questioned incredulously. "And how exactly is that going to help?"
"I don't intend to get myself killed, Phoebe." Cole said with a wry smile.
"You can't guarantee that." Phoebe replied. They held eye contact for a long moment until Leo spoke.
"Cole may have a point." He said. "If he can go down there unnoticed, he might be able to scope out the situation. Give us an idea of what we're up against."
"I'll leave tonight." Cole said, glancing thankfully at Leo.
"Great." Phoebe said sarcastically. "I'll just get started on dinner, then. . .shall I?" She strode out of the room. Cole sighed.
"I always seem, somehow, to get on her bad side." He said. "Any clue as to how that is?" He asked, turning to Piper and Paige.
Piper smirked slightly, before shrugging. "It's a gift."
Cole silently entered the kitchen, leaning against the doorframe as he watched Phoebe noisily place a tray in the oven. She closed the oven door firmly, and stood up straight. She paused, taking in a deep, shaky breath, before turning towards the counter. Her eyes fell on him immediately, and they held eye contact for a moment, before Phoebe glanced down at the carrots that were ready for slicing.
"I have to do this." Cole said, stepping away from the doorframe and standing on the other side of the counter. Phoebe picked up the knife and started slicing the carrots slowly.
"Fine." She finally said, seemingly nonchalant.
"Phoebe. . ." Cole started, concerned.
Phoebe placed the knife down, realising that the way she was shaking, it would be a safer option. "I'm not going to deny what happened in my room ten minutes ago. I can't." She said, taking in a breath. "But you can't. . .", she hesitated, "you can't make me do that, make me feel like that. . .and then just leave."
"I will come back." Cole said gently.
"And like I said before, you can't guarantee that." Phoebe stated.
"Phoebe. . .If I knew I had something to come back to. . ." Cole said, gazing at her. "If I knew that you were here waiting for me. . ."
"Cole. . ." Phoebe breathed out, shaking her head slightly. "I don't know. . ."
"I know you don't." Cole said with a small smile. "I know your confused." He reached out and took her hand in his, relieved when she didn't pull back. "I can't guarantee that I'll come back, any more than you can guarantee that you'll be waiting for me when I do." Phoebe looked up and met his gaze.
"So I guess we'll work this out eventually." She said. "When you come back." She smiled slightly.
"Absolutely." He stroked her hand gently, before releasing it. "I need to go talk to Leo about all of this. . .make a few plans." He said.
"Go, I'll be fine here." She said, her breathing significantly less ragged.
"You won't throw anything at me when I see you next?" Cole questioned jokingly. She gave him an exaggerated smirk.
"Don't push it." She said, smiling as he exited the kitchen.
"Cole, I think my respect for you peaked tonight. . .not that that's saying much. . ." Paige started.
Cole smiled. "Thanks, Paige. . .I think." He replied, taking a sip of the water in front of him.
"That's a good thing, Cole." Piper said with a smirk. "I think we all underestimated how far you were willing to go to protect us. Especially after everything that's happened."
"Well. . .it's not really us he's protecting, Piper." Leo said, smiling at Phoebe over his empty plate.
"Now you see. . .that's only half true. . ." Cole said, placing down his glass. "Despite any problems that we've had. . .and we've had a few. . .I still have this. . ." He paused, "annoying inclination to protect you guys when the opportunity comes around."
"Yeah." Paige said, frowning jokingly. "But that's only because you know Phoebe would kick your ass if you didn't."
Cole let out a laugh, glancing at Phoebe. "That's probably true, too." Phoebe returned his smile genuinely, before standing up.
"I should get started on cleaning up." She said, gathering the plates. Cole followed suit.
"I'll help." He stated, leaving no room for objection.
"Well, you guys look like you have it under control. . .so I'm going to bed." Paige said, pushing back her chair. She hugged Phoebe from behind. "Thanks for dinner, Phoebe." Then, advancing on Cole, she offered him her hand. "I'm sure I'll see you again, Cole. . .but in case I forget, thank you."
Cole hesitated before taking her hand. "No problem." He replied, somewhat taken aback by her gratitude.
"I'll second that." Leo said, standing and slapping Cole on the back softly. He placed his and Piper's plates on the kitchen counter.
"I'll save my 'thank you' for when you get back." Piper said, clearing the last of the table. "Right now, I'm dead on my feet, so I'm going to hit the sack. . .good luck with it all, Cole. I have a bad feeling you'll need it."
"Thanks for the vote of confidence, Piper." Cole said with a smirk.
"You can always count on me." Piper said, returning his smile and heading out of the kitchen, Leo following suit.
"Yeah, well. . .I'll see you tomorrow, Phoebs. Cole. . .bon voyage." Paige said, orbing out of the kitchen amongst a swirl of blue light.
Cole met Phoebe's gaze and smiled awkwardly. "That was weird." He stated.
"Tell me about it." Phoebe said, laughing lightly as she stacked the dishes into piles. They working in silence for a few minutes, Phoebe filling the dishwasher and Cole placing the leftovers in the fridge. As he closed the door for the final time, he glanced at the clock on the wall.
"I should get going." He said, sighing slightly as he turned to face Phoebe. He was surprised to find that she had completed her task and was leaning against the counter gazing at him, seemingly deep in thought.
"Yeah, I know." She said finally, somewhat reluctantly. There was a moment's silence between them. "Cole. . ." Phoebe began. She was cut off abruptly when Cole stepped towards her, cupped her face gently in his hands and kissed her lightly on the lips. He pulled back reluctantly, but only so he was a breath away from her. Phoebe brought her hands up to cover his. They remained still for a few seconds, before Phoebe glanced up to meet his gaze. "Just come back." She whispered, her throat tightening uncontrollably. Cole hesitated, before nodding slightly. He bent his head and brushed his lips against hers lightly one more time, before shimmering out of the room. Leaving Phoebe behind, feeling more lonely than she'd ever felt before.
So. . .what'd you think? Please review. . .let me know if you loved it. . .or hated it. All are welcome.