A/N. Thanks for the reviews.
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Chapter 11Jake didn't come around until he was in the back of an ambulance, surrounded by paramedics. He could feel a warm hand clasping his, willing him to wake up. He had to let this person know he was okay.
Slowly, he lifted his eye lids and immediately pain flooded his senses. The light. The light was so bright. But the action hadn't gone unnoticed by his mother, who was sitting next to him, frantic with worry.
"Jake! He's awake!" Mrs Ellison cried. "Come on baby, open your eyes," she urged.
How could he comfort her without opening his eyes? Jake tried to move the hand gripped with his mother's, but a shooting pain travelled up his arm, mingling with the dull ache all over his body.
"It's okay honey, you've broken your arm. Try not to move it." Mrs Ellison released her son's hand and smoothed his floppy black hair back from his forehead. "Do you remember what happened?"
Jake prised his eyes open and blinked several times, finding the light more bearable. "Yes." How could he not? The accident had been his fault. If only he'd listened to Phoebe. Oh God, Phoebe! "Phoebe…"
"She's in the ambulance in front."
"Is she okay?"
Mrs Ellison sighed and tears clouded her vision. "They don't know."
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Piper paced the waiting room floor, her boots clicking on the tiles. "How long has it been now?"
Under normal circumstances, Prue would have smirked, but somehow she couldn't muster the energy. "Five seconds after you last asked."
Piper ran a hand through her hair. "She's been in there for ages."
"She'll be fine. She has to be fine." Penny's voice held a little quiver and her hands trembled as she held a cup of cold tea.
"But the doctors didn't know what injuries she had."
"She's in great hands." Prue chuckled lightly, but it came out false, unnatural. "Besides, Phoebe's faced countless demons, she wouldn't let a car accident stop her."
"I don't understand why Leo can't heal her," Piper said.
"His powers are restricted to demon only injuries," Prue replied.
"What I don't understand is how she could've been so stupid," Penny suddenly exploded.
"Grams, Jake was driving, not Phoebe," Piper reminded her.
"Don't mention his name in front of me," Prue hissed. "If I ever get my hands on him…"
"Doctor!"
"Prue looked up as the doctor came walking briskly over. She and Penny rose while Piper stopped pacing and joined them.
"Is she going to be okay?" Penny demanded.
"Miss Halliwell has suffered heavy blood loss, cracked ribs and a punctured lung, which could prove to be fatal."
"You… you mean," Penny stuttered, not daring to say the word.
The doctor nodded, understanding. "Miss Halliwell is being prepared for theatre as we speak." Dr James looked down at the three witches. "There could be some risks involved."
Prue swallowed back her frightened tears. "Just make sure she comes out alive."
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"How are you feeling son?" Mr Ellison asked, walking into Jake's hospital room.
"Sore. Any news of Phoebe?" Jake dropped the magazine he was trying to read and pushed him self up in the bed.
"I just met her family, asked how she was. Her oldest sister…"
"Prue…" Jake interrupted.
"Told me I had no right to ask. Eventually the new one…"
"Piper…"
"Told me Phoebe had a punctured lung."
Jake's already pale face grew whiter. "But that's bad, isn't it? Serious? It's all my fault!"
"Maybe you should've thought of that before speeding," Anne, Jake's mother snapped.
"Mom, I'm sorry."
Tears formed in Anne's eyes. "Sorry would not have helped if you or Phoebe where killed."
"But we weren't." Jake reached out with his good arm to comfort his mother, but looked up at his dad. "Can I see her?" Jake needed to say how sorry he was.
"She's in theatre at the moment, and then I think her family should spend some time with her," John, Jake's dad, replied.
Jake nodded in agreement. He didn't know what he's do if Phoebe didn't make it.
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Penny sighed wearily and rubbed her tired eyes as she slumped in a chair in a private hospital room. Phoebe had returned from the operation, which had been successful, and now she was still asleep. Prue was resting with her head on Phoebe's bed, snoring softly, while Piper had gone to get some fresh air.
But Penny couldn't sleep or leave the room. She didn't want to take her eyes off Phoebe, in case there was a sudden change. They had came so close to losing Phoebe, Penny didn't want to ever let her go.
"Grams?"
Penny jumped out of her seat and dashed to Phoebe's side. "I'm here sweetheart. Everything's okay."
Phoebe blinked hard and her eyes travelled around the room. "Where am I?"
"You're in hospital," Prue replied, grasping her little sister's hand.
"Why?"
Prue and Penny glanced at each other, both concerned. Wasn't forgetfulness a bad sign?
Penny smoothed back Phoebe's hair. "You were in a car crash."
Prue looked at the nurse who was checking on Phoebe's drip. "Is this normal?"
"Slight memory loss is common in car accidents. She should regain it gradually," nurse Smith replied. "How are you feeling Phoebe?"
"Woozy and sore. And a little breathless."
"The breathlessness will be because your left lung was punctured. It's perfectly normal with injuries of that kind. Just rest and some will be back to check on you in an hour." Nurse Smith smiled brightly and trotted put the room.
"What's the last thing you remember?" Penny asked.
Phoebe screwed her face up in concentration. "Feeling scared… being a car… Jake going too fast." Phoebe's eyes widened. "Was Jake in the crash too?"
Prue nodded. "He has a broken arm."
"Phoebe sunk back in relief. So he's okay?"
"Unfortunately," Prue muttered darkly.
"What do you mean?" Phoebe wondered.
"Jake was driving the car. He caused the crash," Penny explained gently.
"No. Not deliberately," Phoebe said firmly. "He wouldn't."
"That's not what it looks like," Prue said.
"You've just never liked him. When will you give him a break?" Phoebe demanded angrily.
"Girls, this is not the time to argue," Penny told them. "Phoebe, you need to rest so Prue and I will go get some coffee."
As Penny and Prue wondered over to the door, it swung open and Jake walked in.
Prue glared at the male witch. "What are you doing here?"
"I came to see Phoebe. To apologise."
Penny nodded and took Prue's arm. "Come on, let's get that coffee."
"Fine," Prue agreed. "But he'd better not be here when we get back."
Penny tutted and led Prue away.
"So, how are you?" Phoebe asked as Jake took a seat.
"I've been better you. You?"
"I'm okay. Just as bit sore."
Jake just nodded, unsure how to put his guilt into words. "Phoebe…"
"It's okay," Phoebe interrupted. "You don't need to apologise."
"I do. I could've killed you. I can't believe I was so stupid.
Phoebe grinned. "You were pretty stupid. But it was an accident. The main thing is neither of us were killed." Phoebe leant forward, ignoring the pain, and kissed Jake. "I just hope you've learnt from it," she added after pulling away.
"I have," Jake assured her. "In future I'm going to think before I act."
"Good. So, what did your dad say about his car?"
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Piper leaned against Leo's chest, breathing in his scent, which she had came to find so comforting in such a short time. Tears dribbled from the corners of her eyes as stained his shirt as they stood in the hospital courtyard. "I was so worried about her," Piper sobbed. "I couldn't have coped. Not after Mom and Dad."
Leo leant his chin on Piper's head and rubbed circles in her back, wishing he could heal Phoebe. Being able to help witches was amazing, but not being allowed to heal their non-magical injuries could be frustrating. Especially if that hurt some one you loved. "You would have coped. You're so strong."
Piper stepped back and wiped her eyes. "I wish I believed that."
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Prue wrapped the pay phone cord around her finger. "She has a few cracked ribs and needed an operation for a punctured lung."
"Oh Prue," Andy sighed on the other end of the line. "Why didn't you call me sooner?"
"I didn't want to disturb you, and I was so bust comforting Grams and Piper."
"You're amazing," Andy told her. "Always protecting other people."
"Well, it is my job," Prue joked. "Any way, I was wondering if Jake would be punished. Legally, I mean."
"Do you want him to go to prison?"
"I want him to suffer for what he put Phoebe through." Prue sighed. "But if he goes to prison, or a juvenile delinquent centre, Phoebe would be devastated. So no."
"Okay, that shouldn't happen because Jake has a license and the car technically wasn't stolen, so unless Phoebe decides to press charges there's no need for the law to get involved."
"But he was speeding," Prue protested.
"There's no evidence of that."
Prue sighed again. "That makes sense."
"Is Phoebe allowed visitors yet?" Andy asked.
"Just a few at a time. Why?"
"I was thinking of coming to see her tomorrow. She's like a sister to me too."
Prue immediately brightened at the idea. "I'll see you tomorrow then."
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Three weeks laterPiperpushed the door open and stepped inside the foyer, leaving room for Phoebe to shuffle through. Behind her came Prue and Penny.
"It's good to be home!" Phoebe cried, flopping onto the sofa with a yawn. Immediately she winced at the jolt, which sent pain everywhere.
"Look at these flowers!" Penny held up a bouquet of beautiful, deep red roses.
"Jake dropped the off yesterday," Prue said.
"Along with another teddy bear," Piper added.
"Another?" Phoebe couldn't count how many bouquets and presents Jake had given her over the weeks. The gesture was sweet, but unnecessary. Phoebe loved Jake, and he loved her. Even Prue had realised and accepted it.