Chapter 6- Too much stress
'Piper walked outside down to the mailbox. She opened it and felt someone walk past her. She turned to see who it was. It was Leo!
"Leo!" She caught up to him. She threw her arms around him. "I thought I'd never see you again."
"Do I know you?" A very confused Leo asked as he stepped back a few steps.
"What? It's me, Piper…Leo." Piper outstretched her arm.
"Sorry, lady." Leo shook his head then walked away.
"Leo wait…." Piper called. Her voice sounded faint. Almost like it echoed. "Leeeooo!" She called.
"Piper! Piper!" She heard someone calling her.
"Piper!"
Piper shot up. She was back in her room. She was covered in a cold sweat. Phoebe was sitting next to her in the dark.
"Piper, it's okay, it was just a dream." Phoebe assured her.
Piper started to cry. She shook her head. "Leo's not coming back."
Phoebe hugged her. "Shh, of course he is sweetie."
"No-no he's not, he's gone been gone for two months and it's all my fault!" Piper said in a cracked voice.
"It' not your fault. Leo loves you so much that he was willing to break the rules just to be with you for one night. That's not your fault." Phoebe whispered. She held Piper tighter.
Paige sat at the kitchen table flipping through the Book. She and Phoebe had stayed up all night trying to think of some kind of plan. They had been through the same routine for the past 2 months and all they could show for it was some dark circles under their eyes. Piper was doing all she could do to help, which wasn't a lot because of all the stress it carried. Phoebe walked in.
"Was it the same nightmare?" Paige asked as Phoebe put on some more coffee.
"Yea, although I think it's getting worse. I couldn't get her to stop crying. Phoebe answered as she sat down.
"Well maybe I could make some kind of potion…" Paige suggested.
"Piper wouldn't do it. Plus I don't think we should be filling our niece or nephew with magical drugs."
"We gotta do something," Paige flipped another page.
"What do you think we've been doing for the past 2 months?" Phoebe questioned as she put her head in her hands.
"Not getting squat that's for sure." Paige muttered.
"You can say that again. Well Piper's upstairs right now getting ready for her doctor's appointment. Which one of us should go?" Phoebe closed her eyes and massaged the lids.
"I'll do it, you're tired. Get some rest." Paige offered.
"Yea but you're more tired than I am Paige." Phoebe objected.
"We're both too tired to fight, trust me, and when I get back we can started again."
"I really don't think there's anything left to try. I mean we tried calling him, summoning him." Phoebe started.
"Don't forget orbing. I couldn't get up there. The Elders must have put some kind of magical road block to keep us from getting to Leo." Paige added.
Piper walked in with Wyatt in his stroller.
"Hey," Phoebe greeted solemnly.
"Hey, so um, who's coming with me?" Piper asked.
"I am, but you wanna eat something first?" Paige motioned to the fridge.
"I'll grab something on the way, I've been craving some fried chicken." She smiled. It was a weak smile though, but it was better than nothing.
"Okay," Paige nodded.
"Bye," Phoebe waved. The three of them left.
Up There…
Leo sat in a tall straight-backed chair in the main room with the other Elders. They were talking about something but Leo wasn't listening. He had had this strange feeling for the past couple months that there was something that the others weren't telling him. It was driving him crazy.
He looked down blankly at his left hand and noticed something on his ring finger. A small band of his skin was lighter than the rest, almost like there had been a ring there.
"Did you get that Leo?" Odin asked.
Leo snapped out of his trance. "Huh? Oh sorry my mind drifted off."
"That's all right, we were discussing whether or not we should have Elders as Whitelighters. There has been a shortage of people with Whitelighter potential. There are only so many charges one Whitelighter can handle." Ellen explained.
"Oh, well I think that would be a great idea. I mean I never really got what the difference between the two were anyway." Leo half-smiled. No one else did. They were too serious, how could the world's most-powerful good be so serious?
"It is settled then, Odin and I will decided who the first candidates are. We shall return shortly." Ellen said as the two of them got up and left.
At the doctor's office…
Piper and Paige sat in the waiting room as they waited for Piper's doctor. It was just going to be a routine check-up. Piper was playing with Wyatt and Paige flipped through a magazine.
"Piper Halliwell," The nurse called, signaling that Piper was ready to be seen.
"Okay," Piper and Paige stood up. She felt like she just had a major head rush and had to steady herself. Paige immediately grabbed Piper's elbow to help her.
"Piper, are you okay?" Paige's tone sounded worried.
"Uh, I don't think so," Piper felt herself falling backwards. Then she blacked out.
"Paige she's waking up!" Phoebe said. Piper opened her eyes. She was lying in a hospital bed. She had IV's sticking in her.
"What happened?" Piper moaned.
"You blacked out sweetie," Paige said as she sat down on Piper's bed.
"Is the baby okay!" Piper put a hand on her stomach.
"The doctor is waiting for the results." Phoebe told her.
"Where's Wyatt?"
"He's in the waiting room, one of the nurses is watching him. He got kinds freaked out when he saw you pass out." Phoebe answered just as the doctor walked in carrying Piper's chart.
"Mrs. Halliwell, good to see you're awake." The doctor said.
"Good to be awake, so do you know what's wrong with me?" Piper tried to cut right to the chase.
"Yes I do, in fact it seems you've had this condition before, Toxemia." He told her.
"Oh no," Piper shook her head. Paige and Phoebe took her hands.
"But we caught it early, so you should be fine. All you need is…" Paige cut him off.
"No salt, no stress, and bed rest; we know." She flashed him a fake smile.
"Right, so if you'll just fill out this Release Form you can be on your way."
"I'll sign it," Phoebe took it from him and quickly filled it out then handed it back.
"Alrighty then, you can go now Mrs. Halliwell." The doctor smiled.
"Thank you," Piper replied. The doctor nodded then left. "I can't believe it."
"Sweetie, you heard him, you're going to be fine." Paige said.
"I know, it's just that I wouldn't be having this conversation if Leo had been here. If the Elders hadn't taken him away again. Ooh I could just…." But before Piper could finish things started blowing up. First the window, then the pictures on the walls then finally the light.
All three women's jaws were wide open. "I-I didn't do that." Piper stammered.
"Then who did?" Phoebe was still wide-eyed.
They all looked at Piper's stomach.
"No, na ah," Piper shook her head.
"Well it would make sense, after all your powers are tied to you emotions, it seems true that it would be the same for the baby." Paige said.
"I don't wanna deal with this now. You two go get Wyatt then we're outta here." Piper ordered.
The Elders walked back into the room.
"We've made out decision. Leo and Nemar." Ellen said.
"Leo, your charge is a new witch named Jamie, she is new to the craft. Nemar, yours is a man named Mitch; he is more experienced. You now were to find them." Odin said.
The two men nodded then orbed away.
"Is there anything else you need?" Phoebe asked as she propped up Piper's pillow.
"I'm fine Phoebe," Piper said, a little annoyed.
"Are you sure?" Paige checked.
"Yes now will you two please go so I can't rest, please?"
"Alright, if you need anything just call." Phoebe said.
Piper nodded then looked at her wedding picture sitting on the nightstand.
Paige saw it and picked it up.
"You don't need anymore stress today." Paige said as she picked it up. They both kissed Piper on top of her head then walked downstairs.
"Here I'll put the picture on the table." Phoebe stuck out her hand. Paige handed her the framed photo.
She felt a sudden rush that she always got when she was having a vision.
She saw Leo standing what looked like someone's apartment. Then a blonde-haired woman walked out. Leo smiled then the two started kissing.
Phoebe gasped and opened her eyes. She looked at the picture.
"What'd you see?" Paige quickly asked.
"I saw Leo kissing someone, and it definitely wasn't Piper." Phoebe said blankly.
TBC….
Oh man, that sucks… anyway hoped you liked it.
Cya!
Nicole!