Chapter 7Sisters

She could feel her hands shaking as they pulled up to the station. Phoebe sat beside her, a protective arm thrown around her shoulders. Prue and Paige had rode up front, the drive was so quiet Piper feared her sisters may actually hear her thoughts. Prue slowed down she pulled into a parking place. "You can do this." She said as she looked at Piper through the rear view mirror.

"Thanks." Piper said in almost a whisper.

The four sisters walked together though the double doors. Paige felt a little out of place but knew she needed to be there. She had read in the file about everything Piper had gone through. If this really was her sister she wanted to be there, she wanted to be by her side.

"Piper." Andy walked up to her giving her a soft hug. "You sure you're up for this."

She looked back at her sisters who were standing there behind her. Turning to face Andy she tried to smile. "As sure as I'll ever be."

He led them to a small room with chairs lined up. Darryl stood there talking to another policeman. Each sister took a seat except for Piper who stayed close to Andy.

"Ok." Darryl turned as the policeman exited the room. "We can see through this glass, but the guys on the other side can't. There's nothing to be afraid of, you're perfectly safe here."

Piper nodded almost like a small child. She wanted to be strong. She wanted to do this with no fear, but her heart was now racing inside her. She swallowed hard trying to make the lump in her throat disappear.

Darryl nodded his head at Andy who reached up and flipped the switch, cutting the lights off. He flipped the one beside it, which lit up the other side of the glass. There in a row stood several men. All of which looked as if they weren't friends with anyone who had a shower. Piper's eyes didn't have to go far before she felt her heart sink. There he was. Standing dead center of the bunch. He even looked as if he could smile at any minute.

"There, that's him." She pointed to the glass. Prue, Phoebe and Paige all stood up, hatred lined Prue's face the most.

"Which number is he?" Darryl asked.

"Number 4." She heard her voice as it cracked.

"You're sure?" He placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"Yes." She felt an arm slide around her as Prue turned her around pulling her into a tight hug.

"He can't hurt you anymore Piper." She could hear her sisters muffled cries, which made her blood boil.

"Thanks Piper. That's all we needed to know." Darryl walked out leaving Andy there with the girls.

"I think you should get her home." Andy looked at Prue who nodded at him.

She took her keys from her purse and handed them to Phoebe. "Take her to the car, I'll be there in a minute."

Phoebe and Paige walked beside Piper, who was now leaning on Phoebe, as they started for the parking lot.

Prue waited until they were far enough down the hallway not to hear her. "Thank you Andy." She leaned up and hugged him.

"No problem."

"So what happens now?"

"Well, he'll be charged with rape as well as assault. From there we have to see how he pleads. If he pleads guilty, then it's over. He'll go to jail."

"And if he pleads not guilty?" Prue knew the answer to that question, she just hoped Andy could tell her something different.

"Then it goes to trial."

"Andy, she can't testify against him. You saw her, it tore her up just seeing him again."

"I know, I promise I'll do everything I can to make this as easy on her as possible." He looked down and met her gaze. The two were inching closer and closer to each other, just air separated them from kissing.

"I better go." Prue pulled away from him, his face showing he was slightly hurt.

"Ok." He released her from his hug. "I'll call you tomorrow." He watched as she walked down the hallway, disappearing out the double doors.

Paige sat in the back next to Piper now. "You ok?"

"I just want to go home." You could hear the tears in Piper's voice. She thought she had put the attack behind her. She really thought she was improving. She felt now just as she had a few months ago. The fear now took the place of the peace she had finally started to feel again. She was relieved when Prue got in and started the car. All she wanted to do now was go home and take a shower. She wanted to wash away the memories that now came flooding back into her mind.

Piper was the first one out of the car as Prue pulled into the driveway. She didn't even wait for her sisters to get out. She was in the house with door closed before Paige had even opened her door.

"Do you think she'll be alright?" Phoebe asked, looking very worried at Prue.

"I don't know Pheebs." Prue's heart ached for her sister. The three got out of the car and walked into the house. They could hear the upstairs shower going. "I'll make some coffee." Prue went to the kitchen.

"I'll help." Paige followed behind her.

Phoebe let out a sigh as she started up the stairs. She had made up her mind she was going to wait for Piper. She wanted to make sure her sister knew she wasn't alone. She opened Piper's door and sat down on her bed. Piper's room was so nice and neat. Nothing was out of place, everything was always so organized. Phoebe's eyes wandered around the room until they landed by the picture frame that was on the nightstand by the bed. She smiled as she picked it up. There sat the three of them, Prue couldn't have been more than 10, they were all piled up on Gram's bed. Smiles covered each of their faces, Phoebe's smile revealed a gap where two teeth were missing.

"That's my favorite picture." Piper said quietly as she walked into the room. Her skin was a bright pink. The effects of a steaming hot shower. She had on a tee shirt and a pair of pajama pants.

"I like it. I think this one was taken when we actually got along."

"Nah, you and Prue never got along. I always had to get between you two just to keep you from killing each other." Piper sat down on the bed next to Phoebe. "She always protected you though, I did to."

Phoebe looked over at Piper. "I'm just sorry we couldn't protect you." She felt the tears that were now welling up in her eyes.

"It's not your fault Pheebs." Piper turned her head from her sister. She didn't want her to see her cry, not again.

In the kitchen Prue was now fixing Paige and herself a cup of coffee. She finally looked up at her and broke the silence. "So you're a social worker?"

"Yea. I've been one for almost a year now."

"So you deal with this kind of thing a lot?" Prue was hoping she had.

"Unfortunately, yes. Why do you ask?" Paige took a sip of her coffee.

"How do we help her?" Prue's voice was now shaking.

"Has she talked to you or Phoebe about it?"

"No."

"She needs to talk to someone. It's the only way she can deal with what she's been through." Paige sighed as she saw the look on Prue's face. "That is actually why I had her file. I know a friend of Andy's, he asked me to make a stop by here, to see if I could help."

"I don't know if she can talk to us about it. I mean, I know I'd feel weird telling them if it were me. I know I wouldn't want them to worry. That's how Piper is too."

"Well, I know I'm new to this family, but I'm here if it helps any."

"It does help." Prue smiled warmly at Paige. "You being there tonight help a lot. Think we should go check on those two?"

"Sure." Paige stood up and followed Prue up the stairs. As they entered the doorway the sight was one that made your heart melt. There in the bed lay Piper and Phoebe. Piper was curled up on Phoebe's arm, her hair still damp from the shower. Phoebe's other arm was around Piper, it looked as if she was holding on to her.

Prue walked over taking a blanket from the hope chest and covered the two up. She leaned down and gently kissed Piper on the forehead. After walking outside she turned to Paige. "You're welcome to crash here. Looks like Phoebe's room will be empty tonight."

"You sure that's a good idea?"

"Yea. Like it or not, looks like this is your house too." Prue smiled at her. She could defiantly get use to having Paige as a little sister. She showed Paige to Phoebe's room. "Good night."

She turned and walked to her own room, stopping one more time to look in on Piper. "We'll get you through this, I promise." She walked past the door and into her room. She hoped they would all get a good nights sleep tonight.