Messages From Limbo
By Dragonstar/Lunara
Chapter 4: Is It Possible...
Author's Note: Well apparently I am on a writing spree this last week. Updated Guardians, and now the next chapter for this story. Enjoy and as usual I do not own Charmed in any way, shape, or form. For those who are reading that series Telane makes an appearance in this story briefly as well.
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Phoebe was awoken by a shaking feeling as her husband tried to get her to sit up. He was talking to her about something but she couldn't make out the words. They had argued two nights in a row now and this was the third day she was waking up in the guest room of their condo. "What is it Coop?"
"Have you seen Patricia? She isn't in her room." Coop questioned to her. Phoebe rolled over and looked up at him now.
"Coop. It's Friday. Leo and Piper always take Patricia to Magic School on wednesdays and fridays. Penelope just goes on wednesdays. Remember?" She shot back with annoyance. Coop shook his head that no he did not remember.
"Of course you don't." She pulled herself out of bed while mumbling. "I need to go to New York. Will you take me there or should I get Paige to take me?" Phoebe asked her husband. Coop now looked at her with confusion. That was her answer without him verbally speaking.
The middle charmed sister stood from the bed, leaving Coop in the quiet aftermath, and left the room. She went to get her daughters and take them to Paige's with her.
---
Cole Turner had been warned from hanging around the Manor today. If Paige found out he was back without either Piper or Phoebe there, she could easily kill him. He was afraid to test whether or not his powers worked in this realm or not. A flurry of smoke rose from the skillet as he made himself some eggs. He scooped them on to a piece of toast then walked out of the kitchen, towards the front door. Where he would go was unclear to him.
Cole saw a note scribbled for him sitting on the table in the foyer by Piper's front door.
Cole,
Here are the keys to Leo's truck. Try not to end up in jail again please? Darryl is not there to bail you out this time.
-Piper
Cole rolled his eyes and mumbled in to the silence "You do that one time and she never lets you forget it!"
Cole then headed out the door taking the keys. He decided to take the back roads and drive to San Francisco Bay to watch the water. Leo had talked to Cole a few nights ago and gave him a huge thing to think about. Cole needed to decide whether or not it was really his fault if Coop and Phoebe split up. It has been a long time coming since the cupid ignored his wife for long periods of time.
Cole steered the truck carefully along the roads until he ended up at the coast. With the truck parked, Cole walked out on to a pier at San Francisco Bay and looked out watching the water. He was near where he had summoned Phoebe to the beach when she almost lost herself because of him.
Cole was lost in his thoughts when a blonde woman approached him. She stood shorter then him, but not by more then a couple of inches. She looked like she was of greek descent and her hazel eyes stood out as well. She leaned on to the pier railing and stood in silence not acknowledging him for a few moments. He enjoyed the silent companionship that lasted for some time.
Eventually she broke the silence "Cole Turner?"
He looked at her with bafflement "What? Who..." He stuttered because he had never seen this woman before. "Who are you?" He finally spit out.
She stepped a bit closer sticking her hand out to shake his hand. "My name is Telane Scylla. I am here on behalf of your predicament."
"Well you get right to the point don't you?" He said to her keeping an unreadable demeanor in front of the woman. He hesitated before shaking her hand.
"I have an offer for you. If you would like to go somewhere more private."
He then looked around them. "There isn't anyone here."
---
Magic School
Piper Halliwell had taken the day off to scan the books in the magic school library. She was on a mission. "There has to be something!" She yelled out in to the quiet library. Leo looked up from his book.
"What is the matter?" Leo questioned.
"Cole can't be the first being to ever be caught in Limbo. You would think there would be more information here!" Piper replied with frustration. Leo laughed a bit but kept silent avoiding the subject all together. Piper looked at him.
"Leo. I know that look. You know something."
"What are you talking about?" Leo glanced at his watch "Oh look at that. I need to start getting ready for my next class."
---
New York
"Tell me again why we are here visiting your ex-boyfriend?" Paige asked.
"Because Paige I need to find where I have gone wrong. My relationship with Coop is not what I expected it to be..." Phoebe began to answer when Paige held up a hand.
"I know. Piper filled me in a bit a few days ago. Honey, why didn't you come to us sooner?"
Phoebe froze unsure how to answer. She looked down at her hands in her lap. She was in the waiting room to talk to Jason Dean. He had been married for a year now and she hoped that it wouldn't be awkward. "It's just so embarrassing. I am married to a Cupid and still I am failing. I think it worked better with a Demon then it is with Coop in some ways."
"Come again?" Paige's attention snapped in to being fully alert at the mention of Cole.
"Well you know what I mean Paige. I was never afraid to be myself with Cole. He never judged me, or doubted me. Even in the end." She whispered back to Paige then shrugged. The secretary then signaled Phoebe that Jason was ready to see her now.
Once in Jason's office he sat in silence staring at paper work for a few minutes before finally clearing his throat. "Phoebe, I must admit I am surprised to see you. It's been awhile."
Phoebe smiled "Yes it has. How are you?"
"Fine. You look great." Jason replied making small talk. They exchanged words about kids, Jason had his first one on the way with a woman named Stacey. They were expecting a daughter. She told him about her three daughters and how happy they made her.
She even went on to tell him how well the paper was doing and that she actually kind of missed having him there to cool Elise down when she went on her worried rampages. "You two ran that paper so well."
"Thank you Phoebe. But may I ask what this visit is for." Jason asked cautiously. "I mean if you wanted to catch up we could have had dinner."
Phoebe nodded "Are you sure you aren't the empath?" She joked about the one reason they broke up. The major reason. Jason looked back down at his desk. He cleared his throat again while he tried to think of his response to that. Phoebe continued "I am actually here because of us. As in what happened?"
"What do you mean?"
"Well I know why we broke up. But do you think if I had been more open with you from the start and eased you in to...the whole magic thing; Would it have ended the way it did? Do you still hate me?" Phoebe said to him then tried to explain "Things aren't going well with my husband. I am just going to be honest with you about that. I am exploring past relationships that meant something to me to figure out what I am doing wrong."
Jason flashed the smile that she had first found attractive. "Phoebe I never hated you. But it is true it was just to much for me to handle. I'd like to think if I was prepared it would have worked out better. But we can't ever be sure about that."
Phoebe mumbled in response "That's what I was afraid of. I indirectly pushed you away because I was to scared to open up to you." Jason didn't know what to say to that.
---
San Francisco Bay Pier
"So let me get this straight?" Cole said in surprise now. "You want to offer me a job?"
Telane smiled at Cole briefly "I do not want to. My mentor and boss does. You are perfect for what we do."
"Oh really and what's that? I don't do haunted houses and I refuse to return to the Underworld. I'm dead what else can I do?" Cole spit back at her. Telane laughed at that before shaking her head.
"Cole it isn't that kind of job. You would be given your mortality back and some of your abilities that you took to the void of the In-Between." Telane responded.
"Oh really? Who would be willing to do that?" Cole was finding all of it unbelievable.
---
Magic School
Piper was unable to stop Leo from leaving. She glared at the few books she had in front of her. It was as if every reference book in their assortment of books were chosen to avoid the direct subject of lost souls. They spoke of mortal souls that were lost or held on to life. There were plenty of books on that, but she could have learned all they said from her own Book of Shadows. The little she had found spoke only briefly and they all pointed to one thing. Someone or something controlled the void that Cole had been sentenced to and the best way to change it was to talk to the Elders.
"Well they are always so helpful. I am sure they would be willing to change his sentence." She muttered in defeat.
---
Halliwell Manor
Time had passed and now Paige and Phoebe sat with Piper in the attic as she thumbed through the pages. Phoebe glanced at Paige with uncertainty. "Do you think we should tell her?"
"Tell me what?" Paige questioned and Phoebe could feel Paige's curiosity as well as her worry. She had to learn to block her sisters' feelings out again.
"Now why'd you go and do that? I wasn't ready to rip the band-aid off." Piper shot at her sister with annoyance. She then focused her deep brown eyes on Paige. "First let me get some of my own questions answered. Then we will break it to you."
Paige shrugged her answer "Well whatever it is I don't know. As long as it won't kill me I think I can wait a little longer."
Phoebe laughed at her answer but didn't explain the laugh. "So what questions is it that you want answered?"
"I want to know about lost souls that are punished to live between life and death. Did you know not one book exists at Magic School with even one direct answer." Piper said in complaint then she turned to gather some candles and began to set them in a ring. Paige smiled and waved her hands as the candles disappeared in blue and white lights before reappearing in a perfect circle.
"Thank you. I know the Elders won't answer my questions." Piper then looked up at the ceiling "So anyone watching up there. When I cast the spell you better bring someone who can answer me."
"Oh so you are calling for Grams?" Phoebe questioned with a laugh. She felt the knot in her stomach as she tried to ignore it. It was not what she should be feeling. But she knew it all to well. It was hope. Hope that they could bring Cole back, hope that her sister could receive the answers they needed, hope that Grams would be willing to break this rule with them.
Piper shrugged "Not necessarily. Anyone who is willing to help us break a few little rules or something of that nature." She then began the spell "Hear these words, hear my cry. Spirit from the other side, Come to me I summon thee. Cross now the great divide."
In the ring of candles yellow spherical lights danced around slowly brightening the room before a spirit stood before them, but who they saw was not anyone they thought would answer.
The whisper came out slowly, barely leaving Piper's lips "Prue?"
---
San Francisco Bay Pier
Cole had now been arguing with Telane for more information as the two were walking away from the pier. Telane finally tried to change the subject "Will you be returning to the Halliwell Manor now? I can save you some time and take you there myself."
"Don't try to change the subject! Who is responsible for this job offer? Besides Leo would kill me if I left his truck here. It is no matter that I am already dead!" Cole laughed with sarcasm. He added "He is after all the husband of a Charmed One. They'd find a way to kill me again if they set their minds to it."
Telane smiled before nodding her head in agreement. "Mr. Turner all I can tell you is that the job offer will give you the second chance you deserve. Even with Phoebe Halliwell."
"Why does everyone keep telling me that? Listen as much as I want it to be true I doubt if I can handle the guilt that will..." Telane held a hand up to cut him off.
"That right there is why you can be the man she has always deserved." Telane said with a smile.
---
Halliwell Manor
They were all unsure how it was possible but when they called for help, the spirit of Prue had answered. She still looked the same with the dark ebony hair and bright blue eyes.
"How?" Phoebe finally asked. Prue just smiled at her sisters.
"It has been almost ten years since I died. I figured it was time I got to answer one of your calls." Prue answered with the similar tenderness she always held with her other two sisters. "Paige I am so glad to finally meet you although I had hoped it would be under different circumstances."
Paige nodded and Piper continued to wear a smile. She then continued "Don't worry the Elders have lifted that ban on me coming here. You two have mourned my death and moved on. Piper you have done such a great job picking up the pieces of this family and you are continuing to do that."
Piper looked at Prue with worry now "What do you mean?"
Prue laughed "I admit I was reckless the last year of my life. But if I had not been, I wouldn't have died and we would never have found Paige." She said with a light hearted tone. But then her face became serious "As much as I disliked the soul in question when I was alive I have to say you get a much different perspective when watching events unfold from up there."
"What soul in question?" Paige asked Prue finally finding her voice.
Prue looked at Piper "Someone who should have stayed in the family but we failed him in so many ways, including myself. Cole Turner." Paige's face fell in to one of anger at the mention of his name. Prue quickly added "The human Cole Turner. Not Belthazor and the Source was never his fault."
Phoebe also muttered "Neither was his going crazy in the end."
---
Cole now turned around the corner's with some anger being released in the speed. If he wrecked Leo's truck he would have to find a way to fix it. Telane had answered his question but not with what he wanted to hear.
She had said that the person who would get him out of his prison, was the one who ultimately agreed to put him there in the first place. He now felt angry and bitter at this new idea. But under that was hope and that was what made him the most upset.
"Getting my hopes up never turned out well before. How is it possible that it will be any different this time?" Cole said with frustration as he pulled the truck up in to the driveway, shifting it in to park, and heading towards the manor. He hoped that Paige was gone by now.
To Be Continued--
End Note: I promise to those reading that this time I will not have Prue be reckless, I plan to write her the way she was in seasons one and two. I hope I succeed with it and she will only be in the next chapter briefly to. Also I hope you can catch (If you have read A Half-Breed's Redemption) what the "job offer" is that Telane has for Cole.