"Having some trouble with your homework?"
"No. Why do you ask?"
Nancy said not even looking up from her note cards.
"Because you have enough crumpled pieces of paper to have a great paper fight."
"Right, don't worry I'll clean them up, I'm on a roll right now, I'm almost done."
"Well I'm glad you're on a roll, but you need to take a break so we can do your exercises."
"Not right now, maybe later…"
"Not later…NOW!"
"Come on Phoebe it's taken me hours to come up with stuff I actually what to use. If I stop now I'll lose my train of thought."
"I'm sorry about that, but you know what will happen if we don't do the exercises."
"I'm willing to risk it."
"Nancy, we discussed this."
"NO!"
Prue walked in, she could hear Nancy yelling all the way downstairs.
"What's going on up here? What's all the yelling about?"
"Nothing, Mom. Phoebe is just interrupting my homework."
"Nancy doesn't want to do her exercises and she knows she has to. Prue, we have to get her on the bed so I can stretch her legs for her."
"Pheebs can we talk outside?"
Phoebe followed Prue out into the hallway, closing Nancy's door once they were out of earshot and eyesight.
"Prue?"
"Can't this wait till later? I mean if she wants to finished her school work…"
"Prue do you remember when I said that sometimes one of us is going to have to be the bad guy….well tonight that's going to have to be me. She doesn't want to do the exercises, and she figures if she acts like she's too busy, we'll let it go. She has to know we won't give in. I know you don't want too…"
"No I know. You don't have to be the bad guy alone, I'll help."
Prue took a deep breath turned the knob on Nancy's door and they walked back inside.
"Alright Nancy, it's time to do as your told. Get on the bed."
"NO!"
"Don't you tell me no, young lady. Now, either we do this the easy way or the hard way."
"I don't want to do it and you can't make me. It hurts too much. Please Mom, haven't I done enough today? Just let me finish my work, we can do them tomorrow."
"Nancy, this is your last warning, get on the bed."
Nancy tried to act as if they were not longer in the room. Prue looked to Phoebe, knowing what needed to be done, but not liking it.
Prue raised her hands toward Nancy gesturing her hands upward. Nancy felt her butt leave her chair, looked around and panicked when she realized there was nothing but air underneath her.
"MOM! NO! DON'T!...STOP! THIS ISN'T RIGHT…"
Prue began to lower her hands once Nancy was over the bed. Phoebe walked over to Nancy and grabbed a hold of one of her legs. She could feel that the muscles were very tight, and knew that Nancy was trying to mask the pain from the cramps that had obviously began. Applying a lot of pressure to Nancy's legs to help the muscles relax, Nancy began to scream very loud.
"Guys, what is going on up here? Why is she screaming?"
Piper inquired as she walked in the room at first not noticing what Phoebe was doing, Prue was blocking her view of the bed.
"Nancy doesn't want to cooperate with Phoebe."
Prue answered as she stepping out of the way giving Piper a view of Nancy taking a swing at Phoebe. Nancy arms were flying in every direction trying with all her might to make Phoebe back away. Phoebe knew that Nancy was delirious with pain. She was trying her best to ignore Nancy's screams and swings, but as one of the swings made contact with Phoebe's face, it was impossible to ignore it anymore.
"Guys, a little help here, please!"
Phoebe said as she rubbed her face where Nancy had hit her and tried to stop Nancy from falling off the bed. Prue and Piper walked over to the bed tentatively, not wanting to make matters worst.
"Come on guys grab hold of her. She isn't going to hold still, she has a huge knot in her leg muscle. Until I can work it out she's going to be in a great deal of pain."
The girls each took hold of one arm trying their best to hold Nancy still. Phoebe continued to do what she had to do, messaging Nancy calf muscle for nearly twenty minutes until she could feel the muscle relax and the knot disappeared. When it was over all four girls had tears in their eyes, and sweat dripping from their foreheads.
Nancy was so tired from fighting them, that by the time they had let go, she could hardly move. Never the less Nancy came to her senses a little more and looked at Phoebes face. She could see a red mark across Phoebe's cheek and as if coming out of a daze, Nancy knew how it happened.
"OH, MY, PHOEBE , I'M.. I'M..."
She lost control and started crying not believing what she had done. Phoebe walked over to the bed and stood there for a moment. Although she knew that Nancy had not meant to hit her, she couldn't help but be upset. Her face felt like it was on fire, Nancy had taking a really good swing at her.
"Pheebs?"
Prue turned away from the bed where Nancy was still crying and covering her face so she didn't have to make eye contact with Phoebe.
"You alright?"
"Yea, it's just I can't help but be a little hurt…I mean she hit me."
"Listen little sister, I know how you feel, but right now she needs to know you aren't going to hold this against her…"
"I know your right…"
She replied cutting Prue off and walking over to the bed again. Sitting on the side of the bed she took a hold of Nancy's hands and pulled them away from her face.
"You need to calm down kiddo…"
"I can't…"
"Yes you can. It's alright, I'm fine, and so are you."
"I know what it feels like….I should know better, I'm sorry. If you want to hit me back, it's alright, I'd deserve it."
Now Phoebe's big sister instincts really kicked in. She grabbed hold of Nancy, which made her jump. In the back of Nancy's mind she was preparing herself for the blow to come. She was surprised when Phoebe simply held her tight, and began rocking her back and forth, trying to make her calm down.
"Guys, why don't you go to bed? I got her."
Prue and Piper looked at their sister and started to walk to the door,
"Are you sure, Pheebs?"
Phoebe nodded and they left the room. When they got to the hallway, Prue took hold of Piper and the two of them hugged.
"That was so bad Prue. I hated that."
"I know, so did I. I hated hearing her scream but it will get easier, don't worry."
"No not that part…I mean that was bad too, but, I can't believe she thinks Phoebe should hit her for punishment. I thought she was past all that."
"So did I, but I think after she talks with Phoebe, and realizes she isn't going to get hit, she'll know better."
"I hope so. I mean what if someone was to get mad at her and hit her, she might think it's alright."
"I wouldn't go that far Piper. Listen why don't you go and take a shower, and get some sleep. Our little sister is on the case, she can handle it."
"Alright if you say so."
The two of them released and went to their room. Prue had to admit, Piper did have a point, but she had to have faith in Phoebe that she could help rectify the situation.
Back in Nancy's room, Nancy began to calm down. Her breathing had slowed, but she was sweating and her face was really red from all the crying. Phoebe moved to get up.
"Don't go just yet, please."
"I'll be right back. I just want to get a wash cloth, to wash your face a little."
Phoebe got up and headed toward the bathroom. She could hear the shower on and knocked on the door. After hearing Piper say come in, she walked inside approaching the mirror. Grabbing a towel off the counter she wiped away the steam that had formed on the mirror and looked at her own face. The red mark wasn't so bad, she hoped it would be gone by morning.
At that moment Piper turned off the shower, reached for the towel hanging off to the side, and wrapped it around her body. Opening the shower curtain she stepped behind Phoebe.
"How are you?"
"I'm fine."
"Let me take a look. You should probably put some ice on that so it doesn't turn into a shiner."
"My face just stings a little, I'm alright. I'm more worried about her, what should I say."
"You'll figure it out. Just think back to when we were kids."
"We were never in this kind of situation."
"Sure we were. I remember one time that you got so angry at Prue because she wouldn't let you stay outside and play. You through your baseball glove at her and it hit her in the head."
"I don't remember that."
"Well you were only five. You hid for three hours thinking that she was going to spank you. Prue and I searched the house for hours. We found you hiding in the crawl space next to the basement…."
"Wait…I do remember. When I came in the house I ran into your room begging you to help me hide. You wouldn't help me hide, you just told me to go and say I was sorry…."
"Right, but you were afraid that she would hit you so you went and hid instead. Do you remember what Prue said to you?"
"Yea, I do."
"Good, just think about that, and find a way to communicate it to Nancy. You're the big sister now, so it's up to you to make Nancy feel safe and not afraid to do something wrong."
Phoebe gave Piper a kiss on the head, thanked her for the advice and returned to Nancy's room. Sitting back on the bed, she took the cloth to Nancy's face.
"Now, you just take it easy, it's all over."
"Phoebe, I'm sorry I hit you. I know I hurt you."
"It didn't hurt that bad…"
"Don't lie to me. I know it must have hurt because my hand still hurts."
Phoebe smiled at Nancy,
"Alright, I'll admit it didn't feel the greatest, but it's alright. I'm used to being the punching bag in this family, just not literally."
"So I'm ready for my punishment."
Nancy turned her head away from Phoebe so she didn't have to watch what was coming. She flinched when Phoebe took hold of her chin pulling her face back.
"Now you listen to me…I am not going to hit you."
"But…"
"No buts. Violence should never proceed violence, well unless it involves a demon. Now you hit me yes, but I know it was an accident. Should you be punished? Yes, but not for hitting me, just for disobeying me."
"When did I…"
"This wouldn't have happened if you had not disobeyed me when I told you to get on the bed. It also may not have been so bad if you had told me your legs were starting to cramp up."
"They weren't…"
"Nancy you had a huge knot in your calf, that doesn't happen in seconds. Now here is your punishment…no stereo for one week. Is that understood?"
"Yes Phoebe."
"Good. Now, as for the hitting, and telling me you deserve it."
"Well I do…"
"NO ONE, AND I MEAN NO ONE, has the right to hit you. Not even me, or Piper, or Prue. It does not matter how bad you are, or what you do, no one should ever hit you. Do I make myself clear."
"Yes.."
"Good. Now I want you to close your eyes and get some sleep."
"I have to finish my work."
"You don't have to present it tomorrow do you?"
"No…but I was on a roll."
"I know, but your in no shape right now. Now go to sleep."
"Alright, but will you stay with me for awhile."
"Sure."
"Thanks. Love you Pheebs."
"I love you too."
Nancy smiled as she snuggled under the covers. Phoebe put her arm around Nancy and didn't move again until she knew that Nancy was sound asleep. Getting up she was about to head off to bed herself but decided she should put some ice on her face.
Her cheek was still very red, and she was concerned that she would develop a black eye. Nancy felt bad enough, if there was any kind of lasting mark in the morning Nancy would probably avoid her for days. Grabbing an ice pack out of the freezer, she wrapped a towel around it, then headed off to bed herself.
Waking up the following morning Phoebe noticed that there was only a small bruise on her face, and was grateful that she was able to cover it up with makeup. She was even more grateful when Nancy didn't seem to notice.