A/N: The last chapter I posted was in April. That's what, eight months now::looks around the room innocently: Anyways, the story is practically over, just this chapter, and one more. Which is already written. And will be posted sometime early next week. I wanna give a little time for this chapter to stand on its own. Just for a bit. Anyways, to everyone who has read this story, those who have written reviews and not, thank you ever so much for reading it. It means the world to me that you gave my story the time of day. And this is gettin lengthy isn't it? And to everyone who's reviewed, you guys are why there is a chapter six, and seven, all the way to ten and eleven. and that rhymed. ha! Right, so thank you so so so so so so much for pushing me, however unknowingly, to finish this story. You guys rock! Right, so nobody read this author's note, but that's okay. The chapter's the part that counts, right:o)

Chapter Ten: Train Wreck

•••••

Prue's eyes shot around the room. She looked down at her legs and saw the fresh wounds that were dripping blood. She didn't remember tearing up her shins, but when she saw the razorblade on the floor beside her, she knew she had. She looked over in the direction of the toilet but there was no toilet paper. She looked through the cabinets, but she had no luck there either. She decided she had no other choice but to try to use a washcloth or two to stop the bleeding.

She pulled them out of the cabinet and pressed them down on her wounds. The two rags were quickly drenched in blood and she threw them in the trash can. She grabbed two more and with more than a little pressure, the bleeding subsided. While breathing a small sigh of relief, she heard a sharp pounding and recognized it as someone knocking at the door.

"Prue, are you okay? You've been in there for twenty minutes."

"Yeah. I'm fine." She muttered and threw the rags in the trash can and pushed her pant legs down. She taped the blade back to the sink then checked her clothes for any possible hint of what she had been doing. When she found none, she jumped up and opened the door revealing a worried Piper. "See- fine."

"What were you doin?" She asked, cautiously looking around the bathroom for any unusual activity. When she found none, she glanced at her sister who was strangely silent. "Well?"

"Nothing." Prue answered defensively. She pushed past Piper and hurried into her bedroom, closing the door behind her. Piper watched her go and shook her head. She silently turned, and went up the stairs and into the attic.

Phoebe had opened her bedroom door and peaked her head through the crack when she heard Piper pounding on the bathroom door for what she thought was the fifth time. She watched as the door opened and Piper carefully looked at the bathroom. And she winced when Prue looked like she was about to pounce on Piper. And when Prue walked away, Phoebe's gaze unconsciously drifted down to her legs. She noticed a small stain on the back of the leg of Prue's jeans and became curious. After Piper left, she eyed Prue's closed door and wondered what was going on with her eldest sister.

•••••

Prue heard the door open behind her and sighed. She knew it was Piper. Because Piper just couldn't leave well enough alone. She continued to stare out of her bedroom window, carefully studying the landscape before her. She heard her sister take a few steps towards her and inside she snapped.

"Get out," She said threateningly, her tone dangerously low. She refused to turn around though. She didn't want to see Piper. Didn't want to see what she was doing to her. She didn't care. At least, that's what she told herself. She heard a few more steps behind her, coming closer. She turned around sharply and harshly looked her sister square in the eye. What she didn't expect to find was Phoebe. She was stunned but still refused to back down.

"What's happening to you?" She asked quietly, her voice full of concern. Phoebe looked Prue up and down nervously. She hardly recognized the woman standing before her. Prue used to be so vibrant, so full of life. This woman was bitter, silent where Prue would've been fiery. And angry when Prue would have been loving. Phoebe looked into Prue's eyes and saw nothing, no spark, no anything. Phoebe shuddered, thinking she had caused Prue to fall apart. She felt guilty, shocked, and angry, although with each look into Prue's eyes, her anger faded just a bit more. But most of all, she was scared. Prue was in trouble. And that was uncharted territory for all three of them.

"Nothing," Prue answered nonchalantly.

"Prue," Phoebe started in the soft, sweet voice she hadn't used with Prue since before.. the incident happened. Prue flinched.

"Don't talk to me like that." She said, now refusing to meet Phoebe's gaze. She found a spot on the wall over Phoebe's shoulder and kept her eyes fixed on it.

"Prue, look at me. Please." Phoebe begged softly. Her sister was crumbling right in front of her and she was afraid there was nothing she could do to fix it. She took a step towards her. Prue took one step backwards, away from her.

"Would you please just leave? You shouldn't be here." She shifted her focus nervously, this time she looked over towards her bed and prayed that Phoebe would just leave.

"I think we need to talk, Prue." She kept her voice calm, but inside she was screaming. Alarms were going off in her head, screaming Prue is in trouble over and over and over again. Prue took another step backwards and her eyes shot up to look at Phoebe, but only for a moment. She was terrified.

"No, we don't." Her breathing was beginning to become ragged and her heart was beating wildly in her chest. She inwardly cursed herself; this was not the time to be having a panic attack. "Please, leave me alone." She looked at Phoebe again, except this time she was out of focus. Prue blinked a few times, and saw her sister clearly again.

"Why? Prue, what's wrong?" Prue shook her head no firmly. "There is something wrong, I can see that. Why won't you open up to me?" Prue refused to answer her. It was growing harder for her to breathe, and the pressure her sister was putting on her wasn't helping. She needed a way out. And fast.

"I have to get out of here." Prue said hoarsely. She bolted, running right past Phoebe. She flew down the stairs and out the front door, very aware of the footsteps echoing her own. When she got out to the street, she made a sharp right and ran as fast as her legs could carry her to the only place she could think of as being safe.

•••••

"Phoebe, let her go!" Phoebe heard from behind her as she was about to run outside to chase after Prue. She stopped in the doorway and watched her oldest sister run down the driveway and down the street until she was out of her sight. She felt someone beside her and looked to see Piper looking out the open door as well.

"Shouldn't we go after her? I'm not sure she should be alone." Piper shook her head no, silencing her sister. Phoebe wanted more of an answer than that. The simple movement definitely didn't calm her nerves about Prue. "Are you sure?"

"I know where she's going." Piper said as she shifted her gaze to her younger sister. "Besides, I think a little time out of the house for Prue is a good thing... I'm really getting worried about her."

"You're not the only one." Phoebe muttered. Piper raised an eyebrow at her.

"Why are you worried? I thought you were angry at her?"

"Not anymore. I'm just scared." That earned a very worried look from Piper. Just an hour ago, Phoebe was flaming mad at Prue, and now she's worried about her. Piper couldn't imagine what caused the change. So she decided to ask.

"What happened?"

Phoebe didn't answer. Instead, she turned and jogged back up the stairs. Piper decided to follow and when she made it upstairs, she found Phoebe in the bathroom giving the whole room a very thorough examination. She watched as Phoebe looked from the bathtub to the shower. Both were dry. Phoebe turned to the sink and found nothing.

"She was in here for a half an hour doing something. And whatever it was has to be at least a part of why she's changed."

"So that's what you're doing?" Phoebe nodded. "Maybe she was crying. With the way today has been, I wouldn't be at all surprised..." She stopped when she noticed the sad expression that formed on Phoebe's face. "Sorry."

"I shouldn't have yelled at her. Whatever's going on is my fault." She took in a deep breath. "But what was she doing in here?"

"Crying."

"But I didn't hear any sobs." Phoebe said as she turned towards her sister.

"Check the trashcan and you'll see the tissues. Prue's good at crying quietly." Phoebe nodded and opened the cabinet door underneath the sink. She pulled out the trashcan and looked curiously at the contents. Piper studied her sister. "What is it?"

"Bloody washcloths." She said softly and looked up at Piper. She watched as a look of terror spread across Piper's face and Phoebe shook her head no. "You don't think that Prue would..." She said slowly and stopped when Piper started nodding. "She would never."

"Then how do you explain that?" Piper said, pointing to the trashcan. Phoebe stood silent for a moment, trying to pull another piece of the puzzle out of thin air, but it wasn't there to grab.

"But you can't just assume that she would... there could be another explanation." Piper nodded slowly.

"Let's hope so. But now I think we better go make sure Prue's safe." Phoebe nodded and put the trashcan back where it belonged and walked over to her sister. Piper gave Phoebe a quick hug and they walked down stairs together, on their way to a conversation both of them were dreading.