Disclaimer: Obviously, I don't own Charmed. I'm almost positive it's illegal to do what I'm going to do with these characters...ah well, don't sue. It's only fun and fiction!

Huge thanks to: Missy-Paige, chazza, Piperfan882, C.C McKenna, line100, versatilecutie, Abbie Carmichael, Timeless Deception, psychokitty3, Starring Piper, and Raya Sparrow for your reviews. I hope you're all still reading after the LONG wait. Thanks again guys.

Chapter 16

"My god, Paige, don't you even want her to live?"

Paige faced Phoebe defiantly, her eyes screaming of her anger. Phoebe crossed her arms, cocking her head to the side. She was ready for Paige's answer. This fight was long overdue. Silence stretched between them. Paige fought for composure. Tears sprang to her eyes, but she pushed them back forcefully. What could she say?

"You and I both know that I do," she said softly, with a surprisingly normal voice, "She is my sister."

"Then act like it," Phoebe challenged explosively, "You won't even go into her room, not even when the doctors said the only hope she had was if we were pulling for her. Why can't you talk to her?"

"I just can't. Don't you get it? I put her in there. Maybe not literally, and certainly not intentionally, but it's my fault all the same. And what gets me... What really gets me is that everyone seems to think that I could make a difference. Well, excuse me, but I doubt Piper will ever want anything to do with me. Not after what I did to her."

"What do you mean? You had nothing to do with why Piper is in the hospital," Phoebe argued, some of her anger melting away.

"Oh, no?," Paige shot back venomously, " I was in the house that day, just upstairs. She had been trying to convince me of my own selfishness not minutes before, and without even really listening, I walked away and left her to the cruel intentions of a psychotic man. I could have stopped it if I'd sat down to really talk to her, instead of turning my back as always."

"So, basically, you're letting your own guilt stop you from trying to help your sister now, when youtruly can do something about her situation?," Phoebe asked, "Seems to me like you have a chance to atone for your imagined offense, and you aren't even taking the opportunity to do so. I never would have counted you for so selfish, Paige." Phoebe gave Paige a long, pointed look, and then stalked away.

Paige stared after her sister and sighed. Phoebe always knew how to get to her. Over the past few days, Paige had lurked in the hallway just outside the door to Piper's room, hoping she would somehow gather the courage to face her oldest sister. Phoebe had been her anchor, forcing her to the Manor when she could no longer handle the sorrow, squeezing her hand when she saw the pained expression Paige now always wore deepen. Paige could never have survived a single day without Phoebe, and that just made her feel even more guilty. Phoebe had enough to deal with without Paige's guilt.

With another sigh, Paige squared her shoulders and marched into Piper's room before she lost her nerve. The sight stopped her, and she sucked in a breath. "Piper," Paige breathed, running to the side of the bed, "Oh, god. I've missed you."

Phoebe left the room to give Paige some privacy. Paige barely noticed Phoebe's departure. She only gripped Piper's lifeless hand and sobbed. "You scared me to death, Piper. We thought you weren't coming home...and now... Piper, can't you wake up?"

Piper didn't move, and Paige bit her lip, pausing to collect her thoughts. "Look, sis, here's the deal... I know I was a terrible sister. I was never there for you, I took advantage of you. The worst part is... I never told you I love you. And I do. God, I do. The truth is, Phoebe and I... well, we just assumed you'd know we cared. You had to have felt left out, but I didn't intend to exclude you, I... I've never been good at relationships. It's not like I had much practice growing up, and when I met you guys, it was as though I had to break into this secret code just to be your sister. And Phoebe seemed more open to having another sister, so I tried it out with her. You know? After a while, I got so caught up in having her there, in having a sister I could share everything with, I kind of forgot to try with you, too. God, that sounds terrible."

Paige stopped, looking away. She didnot like this honesty thing. Part of her had known how much she and Phoebe were hurting Piper, but she was just realizing that, for the most part, she just didn't know how to reach Piper. "I guess I did what I always do," Paige continued, voicing her thoughts, "I saw an obstacle, and I ran. I'm not good with emotional boundaries. I'm always afraid I'll step on them, or over them. Instead I stay away from them completely. You were a challenge, a challenge I was afraid to approach. Prue was so much a part of you...and I was terrified of her. Amstill terrified of her. But mostly, I was afraid of rejection... And I let my fear push you away until... Well, look at you. I did this to you. And I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry."

Paige backed away, trembling. There. The truth was out there. All she had to do now was wait to be struck down by lightning, or something. As she rightly should be.

When Piper's eyelids fluttered, Paige nearly jumped out of her skin. "Piper...Oh my god," Paige whispered, rushing back to her sister's side. Piper groaned, opening her eyes into slits, then closing them. "Come on, sweetie," Paige coaxed, "You can do it. Come back to us." Piper opened her eyes once more, confusion clouding her face, then elation.

"Paige...hoping to see you...when I died," Piper said in a hoarse whipser. She licked her dry, cracked lips and forced her eyes completely open, ignoring the harsh pain that flickered through her head because of the bright lights. "Wh-where's Phoebe?"

"I'll get her. And the doctor. Piper, oh god, I'm so happy you're alive," Paige said excitedly, "I'll be right back. Just...Please, stay awake, ok?" Paige practically sprinted out of the room, leaving a bewildered Piper to assess her situation.

"Alive?"