FIVE

Cole walked along the deserted street thinking. What use was he to Phoebe and her sisters now? Belthazor had been stripped from him, along with most of his demonic abilities. He was nearly as powerless as any mortal. When demons did attack he wouldn't be able to help them.

Phoebe had insisted that he could still be useful. He knew more about demons that all of them put together, including Leo. That was true, of course. Having lived in the underworld for nearly a century he was a virtual walking encyclopedia of demonic information.

But having knowledge about demons was only part of it. He could help them prepare for demonic attacks but for the attacks themselves he was next to useless. All he could do was stand around and make sure he didn't get in the way.

He noticed a car sitting up the block a short way. The cars' driver seemed to fussing with a young child sitting in the car seat in the back. Cole smiled to himself. Normal, every day activity for a mortal with no powers. It was something he'd have to get used to.

Cole was about to turn and walk back up the street when he noticed a man approaching the car. The first thing that he noticed about the man was that he was wearing a sweatshirt with the hood drawn. And his hands were shoved in his pocket. Suddenly the man pulled a gun out of his pocket and shoved it in the open window.

"Out of the car," the man demanded.

The woman in the car looked up with fear in her face.

"I said out of the car," the man repeated, waving the gun around wildly.

"Okay, okay, just don't hurt me. Let me get my daughter out of the car, please."

"Forget the kid. You try anything funny and she's going to be an orphan, got it?"

"Yes, I have it. Please, be careful with that gun. I'll do anything you want, just don't hurt my baby or me."

As the man fought with the woman Cole moved across the street and stepped up behind the man.

"Having a problem?" Cole asked in the cheeriest voice he had.

The man suddenly spun around to face him. As he did Cole reached out and grabbed the wrist with the gun in it. In one fluid motion he pulled the man off balance knocking him to the ground. The gun dropped from the man's hand and skittered several feet away. Cole twisted the man's arm and stepped on his neck.

"I suggest you just relax," Cole said, "or I might just have to break your arm."

The woman jumped out of the car brandishing a handgun in one hand. In her other hand she held up a police identification card.

"I'm officer Stephanie Gibbs," said the woman. "Nice move. I was taking my daughter to daycare when this slime stuck his gun in my face."

"Officer Gibbs," said Cole. "I happened to be walking by when he tried to carjack you."

"Thanks," said Gibbs. "I wasn't sure what I was going to do. You seem to have things well in hand. Can you handle this guy while I call it in?"

"Sure, no problem," said Cole. "You have your 'cuffs with you?"

"Of course," said Officer Gibbs, handing the handcuffs to Cole.

As Gibbs went to the radio in her car Cole flipped the man on his stomach. Even though his powers had been stripped he still possessed a great deal of his natural demonic strength. It was more than enough to subdue the would-be carjacker.

As Cole snapped the handcuffs around the man's wrists he noticed a slight bulge underneath the sweatshirt. He raised the sweatshirt and found another pistol shoved in the waistband of the man's pants.

Cole glanced toward Officer Gibbs. She was busy calling for a patrol unit. He pulled the pistol out of the waistband and shoved it in the waist of his own pants. Then he pulled his jacket over the gun hiding it from view. As he pulled the carjacker to his feet Gibbs came walking back over to him.

"A unit will be here in a few minutes," she said. "Thanks for the assistance. There wasn't much I could do with my daughter I the car."

"He did get the drop on you. But I don't think he'll give you any trouble now. "

Just then a car pulled up with a light flashing in the window. Cole looked on in amazement as Darryl got out and held up his identification.

"Officer Gibbs," he said, glancing at Cole. "I was nearby when I heard the call come in. I thought I'd see if you needed any assistance."

"Thanks, Inspector," said Gibbs. "I appreciate the assistance. But thanks to this Good Samaritan I think we have the situation well in hand. A unit is on its way."

"Yes," said Darryl, looking suspiciously at Cole. "Thanks for helping out. The San Francisco Police Department appreciates your help."

"My pleasure," said Cole.

"We'll need you to fill out a report for the District Attorney," Gibbs said to Cole. "I didn't catch your name."

"I'll tell you what," Darryl said. "You're going to have your hands full booking this guy. Why don't I take care of the report? You have your daughter with you and I'm sure you don't want to be tied up any longer than necessary."

"Thanks again, Inspector," said Gibbs. "I do need to get her to daycare."

"You go on," said Darryl. "You can come down to the station after you drop her off. And I'll make sure you get credit for the collar."

"Okay," said Gibbs. "Thanks again, Mr.?"

"Cole," said Cole. "My friends call me Cole. I'm glad I could help out."

"Well, thanks again, Cole," said Gibbs. "I guess I'll see you at the station later."

"I guess so," said Cole.

"What are you doing here?" Darryl asked after Gibbs had driven away.

"I was just walking by when the guy tried to carjack Gibbs," said Cole. "Just a coincidence, that's all."

"Well, you can't go down to the station," said Darryl. "Too many cops know who you are. And there's no way you'll be able to testify in court about this. But I will need the report for the captain."

"Just say I want to remain anonymous," said Cole. "You can tell the District Attorney if he really needs me you can get hold of me. But I don't think that's going to happen. We got this guy cold. He'll be wanting to make a deal before you finish booking him."

"Okay, fine," said Darryl. "You get out of here. I'll bring a report by later for you to fill out."

Cole just smiled and hurried away from the scene heading back to the house. Now he had something he could use to help protect Phoebe and the girls. If a demon attacked the gun would come in very handy. It wouldn't stop most demons but it would slow them down some.

Phoebe finished straightening up the living room just as the news came on. Paige was at work and Piper was busy with the club so that left her to straighten up around the house. They would be home soon and could she could relax then.

"In local news," said the newscaster, "an off duty police officer and her three-year-old daughter were the victims of an attempted carjacking earlier today. A man with a gun tried to force her out of her car when a bystander intervened and helped prevent the carjacking. When we called the police station about the bystander we were told by Inspector Darryl Morris that he wished to remain anonymous."

"Good for him," said Phoebe to no one in particular. "It's nice to see that not everyone is afraid to get involved."

Just then Cole came in the front door. Phoebe had sent him out to get rid of the gun he had brought into the house earlier. She had planned to have a nice long talk with him later about not bringing firearms into the house.

"Hi," she said. "Did you get rid of the gun?"

"Yes. You don't have to worry about it again."

"Good. I don't want you to ever bring another gun into the manor."

"Don't worry I won't. You made your feelings quite clear on that issue. So, we still on for our little outing?"

"Sure," said Phoebe kissing him on the cheek. "Just let me throw on something more appropriate."

"I'll wait."

Phoebe headed upstairs to change. Just as she was reached the top of the stairs there was a knock at the door. Cole said he'd get it and she continued on to her room.

"Hello Darryl," she heard Cole say.

Phoebe was about to head back downstairs to find out what Darryl wanted when she heard Darryl speak.

"Here's that report you need to fill out about the carjacking," said Darryl. "I thought it would be best if you filled it out and I took it back downtown."

"Sure, no problem," said Cole. "I'll fill it out later and give you a call."

"Thanks. I was able to keep your name out of it. My captain wasn't happy but he said as long as the District Attorney doesn't need you to testify he can live with you remaining anonymous."

"I appreciate it. I really don't want to get involved for obvious reasons."

"Yeah," said Darryl looking around. "The carjacker claims he had a second gun on him and that you took it off him."

"A carjacker with two guns? Does that make a lot of sense to you?"

"Actually, no. And ADA Jackson says it doesn't make any sense to him. Except of course to try and get a better deal. He doesn't think it's going to be a problem. We have the carjacker dead to rights. His lawyer is already talking deal."

"I told you he would be. At least I won't have to testify."

"Just try not to do something like that again. I can only cover for you so much before someone starts getting suspicious."

"I'll do my best. How are Officer Gibbs and her daughter doing?"

"A bit shaken up but they're going to be fine."

"Good."

"Just let me know when you have the report filled out. ADA Jackson says he'll need it for his file."

"I'll have it for you as soon as I can."

Phoebe heard the door close and she continued on to her room.

Phoebe changed and then went downstairs. She glanced down and saw Cole hurriedly shove the police report into his coat pocket. He just smiled at her as if nothing was wrong. As she stepped off the bottom step she reached up and kissed him on the cheek.

"What was that for?" he asked.

"Just being you," she said.

Cole looked at her in confusion as she turned and headed for the front door for their outing.