Messages From Limbo

Chapter 5: Where To Go

By: Dragonstar

Authors Note: Sorry for the long delay I am working on this story while on others and that between homework and real life kind of tends to catch up with me sometimes. Thanks for your patience and I hope you enjoy. This story is almost done (I hope)

on to the story....

Halliwell Manor

Cole Turner still sat with Leo Wyatt who was fading in and out of sleep. The two men had stayed up talking all night since Cole couldn't sleep but he could see how tired Leo now was. A sense of admiration fluttered inside himself when he realized that Leo valued him as a friend more then he had realized in the past. Cole didn't want to go as far as to say that Leo was heartbroken by Cole's betrayal in the past, but he was most likely just as hurt as his two sister-in-laws had been. Leo had always considered Cole a friend after he proved his desire to be good and that still flared in how they were around each other now.

"Thank you Leo. You can go to bed and I will gladly work problems out on my own from here," Cole commented and Leo waved a hand while yawning.

"No it's fine..." Leo began to reply but Cole cut him off.

"Go to bed guardian angel. I have someone I need to visit and discuss things with anyhow."

"Alright." Leo answered finally without questioning that Cole had someone to go see when he had not been out of Limbo for more then a day and a half. The shorter blond man walked slowly up the stairs before turning and waving a final goodbye to Cole then returning to bed.

Cole picked up the piece of paper he had seen Piper's writing on up in the attic. It contained the spell to send him back to Limbo and he hoped that he would be able to recite it as well to send himself to his own plane. He knew he would have to reword it a bit and hope for the best.

Taking a deep breath he stared at it for a few moments then closed his eyes and focused on his inner-core. The part of himself, he hoped, that had dormant magic left. "Here it goes," he started out at a whisper then his blueish-green eyes opened and looked back down to the paper. "Spirit from another plane here to visit, from the realm of living I wish to exit. Return me to my rightful place,let me go without haste." the first few seconds that passed after he had finished the spell seemed to lag by. Then in a swirl of red and black shimmering lights he disappeared from the room then reappeared but knew he was now on his own plane. But he could also sense that he was not alone.

"I had a feeling you were keeping an eye on me." He now turned to the small window seat in the foyer. A lithe blonde woman sat with her legs crossed and her hazel eyes filled with mischief. She smiled up at him.

"You have a keen sense Mr. Turner." Telane replied and then stood from the seat and smiled up at him as she closed the space between where he stood and herself. "You also have good friends. Leo Wyatt is a good man."

"I know that. How long have you been watching us and why?" Cole let out a in low tone to show his agitation. Telane rolled her eyes.

"In my line of work your temper hardly scares me. I am keeping an eye on you to see if you really are ready for this."

"Ready for what?"

"The task of being a Soul Guardian of course." She smiled now and stepped closer to him "Maria is the one who oversees your, punishment if you will, and has bartered with the Elders."

"What?!" He cried out in half surprise, half anger. "You made them aware that the sisters have been bringing me out of Limbo?"

"No!" Telane spit back in a fiery yell. "Shut up and listen." Her hazel eyes met his and he finally took a deep breath to calm himself. "Sit down and listen!"

"Fine what did she barter?" he questioned.

"She is still working out details. But with the agreement of one of the sisters, you can be a soul guardian. As long as you promise to not interfere with the world of magic outside of your job." Telane began to explain. "Do you think you can handle that?"

"What makes you think I could do something like that."

Telane pointed to the figure of Piper coming down that stairs "Because you guided her soul back to her body. We need more guardians with that finesse." Without waiting for an answer Telane shimmered from where she stood and Cole was left watching Piper walking in the direction of the kitchen. He then disappeared in a blur of an ashy looking substance and reappeared in front of the Mausoleum. Once inside he sat down and for the first time since he had first been sent to this void of the in-between, he felt tears running down his cheeks.

---

P3's

The oldest Halliwell sister now sat at the bar of her club going through the planner and marking different day events. The club was booked solid the following week with business lunches and then a party on Friday. She had a hot cup of coffee setting on the counter next to her, it was her fourth cup that day, she was stressed and finally gave up slamming the book shut. She took a deep breath and called in a whisper towards the ceiling "Prue, I hope your plan works."

Prue had kept them up late last night with her visit, luckily after Cole returned Leo had taken him out somewhere for a drink and away from Paige. The youngest sister was probably still fuming in anger at the other three but after Prue had explained it in a different way Paige seemed more willing to meet Cole today or tomorrow and talk to him. She wanted to see for herself if this new Cole Turner was really so different before she agreed to work with the other three sisters to free his soul. Piper felt a tingle go up her spine before she turned and looked behind her, but no one was there.

Help him.... a soft voice reverberated off of the walls of Piper's club and she rolled her eyes "Oh this just keeps getting better!" She yelled out before the chill disappeared and her manager looked at Piper with concern.

"Who are you talking to?" Craig asked Piper and she just smiled at him.

Piper then responded quickly, used to having to cover up so many times before "These books, this party planning. They want another theme but something business oriented. It is ridiculous." Craig then nodded in understanding before he put his stuff under the counter and began to get things ready for the band that P3's was hoping that night. Piper finished cleaning up the books and papers, placed them in the back office then headed out the door. She had to make a stop at the restaurant before heading to Magic School to find the resources Prue said they would need.

---

The Cupid-Halliwell Condo

The early day light danced through the balcony windows, Phoebe had called Elise early that morning and arranged to work from home that day. She needed to clear her mind and think about what was at stake in her life. The current situation was catching up with her and she needed to start making decisions instead of picking the easier ones. With the hope of Cole being able to get a second chance becoming more real, her marriage hitting the rocks, and what is best for her daughters she had a lot to contemplate. Phoebe smiled at the thought of Cole getting the chance to play with her daughters and her reaction surprised her.

"The decisions been right in front of me this whole time!" Phoebe yelled out in to what she thought was an empty Condo, but a figure walked up behind her and she turned to see Coop watching her.

"Are you sick? Weren't you supposed to have work today?" Coop asked with genuine concern and Phoebe smiled weakly at him shaking her head.

"I am not sick, just a lot on my mind." She responded

"What decision did you make that was right in front of you?"

"You heard that?" Phoebe now questioned with concern.

"Yes I did. I think you have some explaining to do." Coop said with his patience wearing thin.

"I have explaining to do? ABOUT WHAT?" Phoebe's temper was matching and her nerves were still worn thin from their last three days of arguing.

"What is up with you lately? Why are you blocking me out and always trying to fight with me?" Coop asked her and she could see the hurt in his eyes. Phoebe's brown eyes teared up at his face and she shook her head to clear her thoughts before responding.

"Coop why do you have to use your powers to read my emotions? You are my husband and I thought you promised not to use that on me. You said you got to know me the human way. YOU PROMISED! I just, I don't know where to go from here." She admitted.

"From where?" her husband continued to question and stay on the defensive.

"You are a Cupid before you are a father and husband. I get that, usually. But it's not enough Coop. I don't know what to do about us and I am tired of trying to make it work." Phoebe said with a deep sigh and Coop shook his head at her.

"We were married by an angel of destiny Phoebe, we are meant to be together. So you have to try and help me find a way to make it work."

"Destiny changes Coop. You said that yourself when you first came in to my life." Phoebe shot back, throwing her husband's words back in his face. Coop for the first time looked more angry then hurt and hearted out not wanting to argue and lose his temper. Phoebe sat back in her seat, wrapped her arms around herself, and let the tears fall.

---

Piper,

I need time to think, so I returned myself to my own plane. When you are ready for me call me back. Until them I will be at the Mausoleum.

Sincerely your friend,

Cole.

Cole looked down at the note and double checked it before posting it on the fridge and hoping for the best that Piper or Leo would find it before Paige did. He still was unsure of what to do, but he knew it would involve talking to Piper and being honest about his new visitor. Perhaps Piper or Leo would know about this Telane Scylla and why exactly she wants to make him a Soul Guardian.

To Be Continued-

Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, as always I am in school and working at several stories at the same time :). I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter although I have to admit it made me sad writing it. The parts of Cole and Phoebe shedding tears. But it is realistic to how relationships and making decisions work . I wanted to write it to fit how we would have actually seen it on the show :). I promise in the next Chapter Prue will return and you will see how a few things are connected. Hopefully it will end some confusion. If you want comment and let me know what you think Prue's idea of role in this might be .