A/N: This chapter title is a play on words of Near Death Experience and the link to the website involving Family Secrets should be up in about a week so keep a look out for that. Enjoy!
Chapter: Near Death Hexperience
Piper Halliwell stalked in to the attic of the Halliwell Manor, her heels viciously clicking and tapping on the wooden flooring. Phoebe and Paige trotted in to the room looking around wildly for Piper. Piper was currently positioned in front of the oak podium, which held the infamous Warren Book of Shadows Piper began to flick through the book muttering profanities to her self as she found on nothing on what she was looking for. She let out a sigh before turning to face Paige " Are you sure there's nothing in here about Darien?" Piper asked Paige
" Yeah I'm sure I don't know why your so pissed off about him tough." Said Paige shrugging nonchalantly.
"I'm pissed of because he nearly killed me Phoebe and Billie." Said Piper her voice rising to nearly shouting proportions. " Speaking of Billie where is she?" said Piper raising her hands in an I give up manner.
" I think she went to her room, I think she was a bit upset that Darien knows about her sister." Said Phoebe lowering her face to the ground in sadness for her friend. Piper let out an angry sigh before she turned around and flicked out her hands causing a near by mannequin to explode in a shower of fabric and cotton stuffing. Phoebe and Paige both let out identical yelps before been covered in singed pieces of cotton. Piper nodded happily " That thing has been annoying me for weeks." She said brushing her hands together. Paige stood up walking over to the book but as she reached the book she let out a gasp and clutched her chest. " Paige?" said Phoebe looking puzzled. Paige groaned as she stumbled about before grabbing hold of the book, Paige gasped once more before she feel to the ground pulling the book down with her. Piper and Phoebe rushed to her side. Piper pulled Paige up a bit and began tapping her face to rouse her, a moan escaped Paige's cherry coloured lips. " Paige sweetie what happened?" asked Piper worry marring her normally relaxed face.
" It's Jack and Emma." Whispered Paige "there in trouble I can feel them. They're dying." Paige groaned as she placed one of her hands on Phoebe and the other on Piper before either of them could protest Paige had orbed them out of the Manor and to where she had sensed Jack and Emma.
Paige had orbed her and her sisters in to the Aisbett's house but the house was no longer a house full of happy memories. As the left over orbs dwindled away from the sister's the sight that greeted them, shocked them to the core. Flames had begun to consume everything; pieces of wooden furniture had now been reduced to ash while curtains had flames leaping all the way up them. Piper let out a hacking cough as smoke weaved it's way in to her throat. Phoebe squinted as her eyes began to water however the water that had begun to trickle down her cheeks had already dried up before it could get half way down her face due to the immense heat of the flames. Paige leaned closer to Piper and rasped in her ear " Freeze it." Piper nodded in understanding and flicked out her hands causing the wavering flames to freeze and the smoke that was rolling along the ceiling thickly to freeze as well. "We have to find Jack and Emma." Shouted Paige; even tough she had only known them for not even a day yet she had felt a natural bond with them. Piper and Phoebe immediately went in opposite directions to cover more of the downstairs before the fire unfroze. Paige let out a scream as she saw Emma lying on the floor the fire just beginning to creep up her trousers, burning the jeans and the flesh underneath. Piper rushed over to Paige's side steadying her sister as Paige had begun to sway on the spot. Paige ripped her jacket off and ran to Emma's side and began to beat the flames that were on Emma's legs rapidly satisfied that the flames were out Paige bent down next to Emma and gently laid one of her arms over her shoulder, Piper quickly walked over and did the same with the arm that was limply hanging to the side. Piper and Paige began to drag Emma through the living room where they were met Phoebe who was with a limping Jack. Paige slid out from underneath Emma's limp arm and rushed over to see if Jack was okay. Piper sagged under the weight of having to hold Emma up by herself " You know I aren't this strong." She grumbled to herself shifting Emma slightly. Jack had soot marks all over his face while he had a tiny burn on his arm he was currently clutching his right leg which had an oozing burn on it. Jack swiped Paige's hand away and continued to limp over to where Emma was. A thin trickle of a tear ran down his face leaving a thin trail of skin see able. "Is she okay?" he asked Piper worry etched on his sooty face.
"Yeah she's fine she's just a bit out of it at the minute." Said Piper look at Jack before beginning to walk over to Paige however at that precise moment the fire unfroze causing a stream of nova heat like fire to cut of Piper Jack and Emma from Paige and Phoebe. Piper scrambled back away from the heat causing her to stumble a bit. Jack looked around his eyes wide in panic at seeing how strong the fire he had been encircled by was. He bent over as he let out a harrowing cough. Piper began to struggle under Emma's weight however she saw a ray of hope as blue and white lights began to disappear from the over side of the inferno Piper let out a gasp as the orbs formed around her and Emma, she quickly turned and saw that the same was happening to Jack. Piper appeared next to Paige, stumbling slightly and also slightly shocked at what her sister had done. Paige grasped on to Jack as Phoebe placed a hand on Piper while she placed her over hand in Paige's hand. Paige closed her eyes and they all burst in to a cloud of swirling blue and white orbs, which disappeared through the ceiling and began to transport them, back to Halliwell Manor.
The group of sooty and smoke smelling people orbed in to the Halliwell Attic to see a nervous Billie stood over a map of San Francisco furiously swirling the crystal over the map muttering curses. She whirled around to see the people she had been looking for and ran to them to see if they were okay. Piper laid Emma down on the floor before patting Billie gently on the shoulder and saying " Billie we're fine just calm down." Piper turned around and motioned for Paige to come over next to Emma " She needs healing." Paige knelt next to Emma and began to pull out the shards of glass that had been stuck in her back after Paige had removed every piece, she placed both her hands over the wounds and let out a healing golden glow she let out a frustrated growl before exploding " Why isn't it working!" She screamed
" Paige give it time, she nearly died." Said Phoebe looking sympathetically at her sister. Paige sighed as the healing glow had begun to do its work. Paige turned her over and began to release the same golden glow on her burnt leg, the dried blood began to rewind back in to the wound while the skin began to knit it's self up leaving no scar and finally the fabric on the jeans began to mould back together before finally looking as if tough had been wrong with them. Paige was expecting Emma to sit up or at least moan but nothing happened she just stayed still not even moving a muscle. Jack sagged to his knees in disbelief " She's dead." He whispered to anyone who was listening
" No she's not." Said Paige grabbing Jack by the top of his arms and shaking him violently. " See she's breathing." Said Paige pointing at Emma's chest, which was steadily rising and falling. Jack bent over tears threatening to spill out of his hazel coloured eyes.
" The why isn't she waking up?" he shouted at Paige the tears streaming down his face now " I can't loose her she's all I've got now." He said
" You've got me as well now." Said Paige looking softly at her half brother. Who gave Paige a quick smile. Piper looked slightly puzzled before she spoke " What do you mean she's all you've got left what about your mum and dad?"
Jack let out a braking laugh " You mean the dad that's evil," he viciously spat out "and the mother that's dead." He said.
Paige gasped, " What do you mean the dad that's evil?" she asked him
" Dad's the one that tried to kill me and Emma and I'm guessing he's the one that killed mum as well." He said still staring intently at Emma for any change.
" How is that possible?" squeaked Paige to anyone who could come up with an answer.
" It was probably Darien if we've learnt anything in the past twenty four hours it's that he has way more powers than we thought possible." Said Phoebe her eyes roaming the room.
" I'll check the book to see if there's any way to see what's wrong with Emma." Said Piper walking over to the book but before she could reach the book, Phoebe gasped and let out a hurt moan as she bent over. Billie grabbed hold of her arm to steady her " Phoebe what's wrong?" she asked steering Phoebe to an available seat.
" I can feel her pain." She said tears springing forth to her eyes.
" What?" said Piper kneeling down to Phoebe's eye level.
" I think I've got empathy back, it's like she's stuck on some sort of emotional loop all I can feel is pain sadness loss and anger." she said the sadness and pain that Phoebe had felt via her empathy power had brought tears to her eyes and a sharp stabbing pain to her heart.
" Can you tell why she's not waking up?" said Jack hope springing forth on to his face.
" As far as I can tell all the revelations she's had other the past day and the associated emotions that have come along with them like your dads betrayal and him turning evil," Phoebe gave Paige a quick glance as she said this before continuing "Have some how caused an overload but I'm guessing that her power to sense danger has some how intervened causing her to be in some sort of magical coma until she deals with her feelings." She said sitting bolt right up before she rushed to the book. " I think I saw a spell in here," she said flipping through the book " to help repressed emotions come to the surface."
Piper looked up at this and said " Pheebes I really don't think this is a good idea, it sounds too much like personal gain." She said her hazel coloured eyes narrowing in on her younger sister.
"Piper if it helps bring back my sister I don't really care about the personal gain issues." Said Paige looking at Piper heatedly while Jack had a look of happiness on his face as Paige called Emma her sister.
" Fine but who's going to do it?" asked Piper looking round at everyone.
" I will." Said Jack stepping forth " I am the one that knows her best after all." He said as he walked over to the book and stood next to Phoebe.
" Fine but I'm going with you." Said Paige causing a look of surprise from everyone in the room. Phoebe moved over to allow Paige to stand next to Jack. Both of them joined hands before looking down at the yellowed page, which contained the spell they needed.
" We call upon the powers that be,
To help us in this sacred hour,
A sister in pain weakens our blessed power,
Help us two so mote it be."
Before anyone knew what had happened Paige and Jack fell to the floor h " Well that wasn't meant to happen." Said Phoebe looking shocked checking on Jack and Emma before she stood up.
" What did I tell you personal gain." Said Piper before she stalked out of the attic ranting to her self. Phoebe gave Billie an amused glance before they both followed her out of the attic.
Meanwhile Paige and Jack were slightly surprised when a set of aquamarine lights dissipated, revealing a scenic landscape before them. They were situated on a hill, which was over looking a slow flowing river that had small flowers and ivy next to it while a spattering of lily-white snow was curling round a tree trunk in a most unusual pattern. However the most unusual thing that they could see was Emma who was wearing a thin white dress even tough to Jack and Paige it felt frigid. Emma's hair was in loose curls while small flowers had been braided in between them. On her feet she was wearing sand coloured sandals, which were a large contrast to the lush green grass beneath them.
"Where are we?" said Jack turning in a full circle to get the full lay out of the land.
" I wish I knew but I think we should ask Emma over there." Said Paige pointing over to where Emma was twirling in a full circle. Paige grabbed hold of Jack's hand and began to orb out but the blue and white lights fizzled out. Paige dropped Jack's hand and began to pat her body as tough something was on her that had stopped her orbing. Jack chuckled " You know something tells me you don't have a magical hand grenade on you that's stopping you from orbing." He said staring at Paige, Paige rolled her eyes in response before walking down the hill towards Emma, Jack sighed before jogging after Paige to catch her up. However before either of them could reach Emma a familiar feeling set of in their stomach and they were once again transported by the aquamarine lights.
This time they were placed in a busy town centre each of them gasped expecting some one to comment or let out a blood-curdling scream. However people just walked idly by as tough they had never seen Paige or Jack appear. That was when Paige came to the realization that they were invisible, Paige turned around to tell Jack but apparently he had come to the same conclusion as he was currently pulling funny faces at an elderly man who was sat on a bench eating a sandwich. Paige crossed her arms and sighed before speaking aloud " You know something tells me that the spell didn't bring us here so you could annoy some old man who can't even see you." Jack turned around looking embarrassed " I was just making sure that we couldn't be seen." He said letting out an embarrassed chortle
" Sure you were." Said Paige hiding an amused look with her hand.
Jack let out a gasp as tough he had just been punched in his stomach, he ran up too Paige and quickly swivelled her around and pointed to two little children. " What?" asked Paige
" That's me and Emma when we were six." He said his mouth open in shock.
" Really you guys look so like me when I was that age well obviously Emma more than you." Said Paige. Jack gave her a not amused glance " What the hell is this?" he asked Paige
" As best as I can tell we're going through Emma's past to help get to the root of her feelings." Said Paige staring intently at little Jack and Emma.
" Well this sucks I figured we would just feel what she was feeling not this." He said pointing at his little self and Emma.
" Well if I've leant anything is that magic works in mysteries ways." Said Paige her eyes staring at the two people walking hand in hand behind Jack and Emma. " Is that you mum?" she asked Jack
"Yeah." Said Jack tears evident in his eyes.
" But who's that with her?" asked Paige looking worriedly at Jack.
" That's Stephen it was my mum's partner until Dad came back then those two decided to make a go of it again." Said Jack looking angrily at Stephen.
" I'm guessing you didn't like him." Said Paige
" It wasn't that it was just the fact that my dad couldn't be with my mum and I felt angry at him for not giving them a chance." Said Jack as Paige looked away feeling slightly jealous at Jack that he had a life with her dad and she hadn't even known her real parents. Before either of them knew what was happening they were relocated to another scene in Emma's life.
" What's happening here?" asked Paige as Jack gave a wistful smile
" Mine and Emma's first Christmas with our parents." Said Jack walking over and kneeling next to his younger self who was rolling a bright red fire engine along the floor.
" What I don't get is what all of these scenes from your past have to do with what Emma is feeling now." Said Paige looking puzzled " What do they all have in common?" she asked Jack
" Family." Said Jack not even looking up " Excuse me?" said Paige
" Don't you see in the space of one day she's lost her parents, discovered she had a sister she never knew about and now her dad's turned evil." Said Jack " If you ask me that's bound to mess you up a bit." He said looking at how happy his mother and father were together before standing up.
" Yeah I guess your right what I don't get is how that's meant to help us now." Said Paige sitting down on a vacant rocking chair however she fell right through it causing air to be forced out of her lungs " Well I wasn't expecting that." She said picking her self up.
" What do you think that mean's?" asked Jack, but before either of them could say anything else they began to fade out.
After Paige and Jack had disappeared out of the attic Piper, Phoebe and Billie had gone downstairs to brew a potion that might help summon them back.
" I just don't see how this is going to help?" asked Phoebe leaning on the island counter that was in the centre of the kitchen.
" Well hopefully with a spell which Billie is writing," said Piper nodding in Billie's direction who was currently sat at the table bent over intently writing a spell. " It should help summon Paige and Jack from where ever they went." Said Piper continuing to stir the potion, which was lilac coloured and had smoke pouring out of the copper pot. Piper turned the gas switch off and placed a pipette in the potion before drawing some of it out and placing it in a small glass vial " You got the spell Billie?" asked Piper
" Fresh of the inks." Said Billie waving a small piece of paper in the air. All three of them walked out of the kitchen to be faced with none other than Darien and Sam who were smirking evilly as the sisters and Billie walked out of the kitchen and in to the dinging room. Piper not even thinking about it hurled the potion at them but all Darien did was stare at it causing it to veer of cause and hit the wall causing a purple stain and the potion to drip down the wall. " Now that wasn't very nice was it." He said he unleashed two crackling green energy balls from his hand Phoebe empathically sent the one heading towards back towards Darien who leapt out just in time causing it to hit a vase and obliterating it. Piper snarled and flicked out her hands repeatedly causing sparks to appear on Sam's chest who just backed off smiling, he winced and then snarled before unleashing a stream of pure white fire which streamed across the dining room table causing it to set on fire and ultimately hit Billie creating a charred patch on her top and sending her crashing in to a wooden cabinet knocking her out. " Darien." Sam hissed but he didn't hear a reply but suddenly Sam froze in his tracks he looked down at his legs which were immobile he turned around as much as he could in his current predicament and looked at Piper " You think your so great Piper, Patty had the same power as you and she wouldn't be able to beat me." said Sam taunting Piper, Piper screamed and ran full pelt but Sam luckily for him broke through the freeze and send a round house kick towards Piper causing her jaw to crack and her head to spin round as she fell to the floor limp. Sam let out a barking laugh before walking away to look for Darien who was currently fighting hand to hand with Phoebe. He smacked Phoebe across the face who fell to the floor wincing slightly " You give as good as you get but still I win." He said slamming Phoebe's face on to his knee effectively knocking her out. Sam walked through the door to see Phoebe fall to the floor " You get her." said Sam nodding in Phoebe's direction " I'll get Piper." He said walking out of the living room and kneeled next to Piper he drew a familiar looking syringe out of his pocket and inserted it in to her arm and once again drawing some of her blood out. Darien walked out of the living room and waved a vial of Phoebe's blood at Sam " Now where's your half-breed of a daughter?" asked Darien
" Don't call her that!" barked Sam looking infuriated at Darien
" Don't mess me Sam I can easily kill you as well as your family." Said Darien raising his hand in a threatening like manner.
" Fine she's up in the attic." Said Sam hanging his head looking defeated.
" Thank you." Said Darien disappearing in a swirl of fire followed closely by Sam who black orbed out.
As Sam orbed in to the attic he saw Darien kneeling next to Paige and drawing blood from her arm. However both of them were surprised as a gasp escaped the near by Emma flowed closely by one from Jack not wanting to be caught Darien with drew the syringe from Paige grabbed Sam and transported them out of the attic.
Emma sat up to see Jack and Paige sitting up as well she crawled along the floor and grabbed Jack and pulled him in to an embrace with Paige and whispered so both of them could hear her " Thank you." All three of them fell to the floor laughing not knowing what had happened down stairs.