The search teams circled again where they had last seen anything on the radar on the small private jet, carrying the two passengers and its cargo.

"Still nothing Bill?"

"Not even a glimmer of metal for miles." Bill said from the back, as he continued to stare down to the waters and small islands below. The search plane ready with the necessary equipment it would need if they found the plane or any remains of it and its passengers aboard.

"I'm going to circle around again see what we can find. Maybe some of the islands brush is covering it up."

"I hope so. I also hope, if that is the case, she landed upright. I would hate to think what would happen if it didn't. That's pretty dense brush down there. Would totally cover them up and flip that plane."

The pilot turned his plane gently back towards the islands they had flown over. He knew what his partner meant: If the plane had tipped, then it would have killed the passengers and the pilot as it slammed back down into the ground.

The buzz around the search and rescue center was non-stop. People coming and going as they got more updates from the planes searching for the one missing, but one man had the worse job of anyone there. He was the one that had to inform the family of any progress they had made, if any at all.

Paige sat in the corner of the sofa still trying to get her mind around what had happened at the airport. She hadn't seen or heard Piper since they got home and she didn't blame her sister either. Today of all days for them to lose Phoebe, was more then anyone should be able to have to deal with.

The sparkle of the blue and white lights caught her attention as she looked up at her brother in law and their Whitelighter. "Well?"

"Nothing. They have no idea what happened or where she is. And I've been trying to sense her, but I can't."

Paige turned away and held her gaze towards the window. "You go tell her."

Leo knew he would have to tell Piper but he wasn't sure even where to begin.

"She's been upstairs since we got back." Paige told him as she got up and headed out to the back patio. She didn't want to deal with it any more then Piper or Leo did. She had just found her family less then two years ago, and now it was falling apart right before her eyes. And all her powers as a witch there was nothing she could do to stop it.

Each evening she found herself in the same place in their backyard. Sitting under the stars in the chair. It was something that Phoebe had gotten her into, just sitting there looking up at the sky. Paige knew what Phoebe was looking at, or more so who. It was her way of talking and holding on to Prue

The phone rang beside her and at first she just looked at it, afterall it was every time it rang she hoped it would be news. But each time it was Darryl or a friend who had just found out and was giving them their condolences and wishes that they would find her.

How long had it been? Three days? Four? She didn't know any more. But she knew, each day that passed by her big sisters chances of surviving where slim to none

Paige answered the phone and her heart stopped when she heard the voice at the other end.

"Ms. Halliwell?"

"Yes, um, Paige." She wasn't sure why she said yes. It just came out.

"This is Lieutenant O'Connor. I am leading the team that is searching for your sister." His words went through her as she felt herself tighten, fearing the news he held.

"I just wanted to keep you and your other sister informed that so far we have found no trace of the plane. But also that if we don't find anything in the next few days the search will be called off."

Paige felt her heart stop as he spoke. Nothing found. Search called off. Those where the only words she heard.

"Ms. Halliwell?" All he was getting was silence from the other end. He hated delivering this kind of news, but it was part of his job.

"Um. I'm sorry."

"No I'm the one that is sorry. But if you or your other sister need anything please call me. I'm sorry it has to be this way. But the chances of survival..."

"Are slim. I know. And thank you for calling." Her voice held no emotion. Just the emptiness that her heart also felt.

She placed the phone on the arm of the chair she was sitting in, as she didn't move. It was as if she was afraid to.

"Still nothing?" Paige lifted her head at the sound of Pipers voice. It was soft and quiet. And Paige could tell she had been crying again.

"No, and if it stays like that much longer, they are going to call off the search." Paige held Pipers eyes as she spoke with sadness.

Piper didn't move. She felt the tears breaking through again, but made no move to stop them. Everything in her world was tearing her apart and she just wanted it to stop.

Paige could see the emotions playing on Pipers face and stood up making her way to her sister. She wrapped her arms around her holding Pipers as her damn broke, sending the cascade of tears rolling down her face.

She had recalled Prue's words. "I have her now. Just find her and let her have peace."

"We need to find her Paige. I can't let her lay in some unknown place. She needs to be with Prue and Mum."

Paige was surprised, was Piper giving up just like that.

"Piper they'll find her." she said with more belief then she thought she had left. But she did have that belief and she was going to hold on to it until she saw Phoebes body.

Piper pulled away from Paige and walked a bit further into the backyard. "Paige you don't understand. She's gone. I've known for a few days now."

"What? How can you say that? She isn't gone. I won't give up." Paige wasn't sure where Piper was coming from, but she was not giving up on Phoebe, "She's resourceful, she isn't dead."

"Prue told me." Piper said quietly.

Paige had barely even heard what Piper had said. But as she played the words in her mind again she understood some of what Piper was saying.

"She came to me that first night when I was in my room. She said that she had Phoebe and that we needed to find her and let her have Peace."

"Piper that doesn't mean she is dead. It might mean that Prue is protecting her until we find her."

Piper turned around to face her younger sister. She reminded her so much of Prue and Phoebe it scared her, "You don't understand Paige! She is gone. I can't keep believing anymore. I have to let it go and move on with my life. For us and Wyatt. I can't keep doing this, waiting every day and jumping at the sound of every phone call that comes in here." Her voice was raised as her tears fell freely. "I can't deal with this right now. I can't lose another sister now. I won't." Pipers words came out as she felt her knees weaken "I can't do this. Not again."

Paige listened to Pipe,r but was getting confused, as it sounded like Piper was letting Phoebe go, but at the same time she was hanging on. She placed her arms around her sister, as they both sat on the ground. The youngest easing some of the pain the oldest was feeling. A feeling that Paige knew she was reliving from two years ago when she had lost Prue.

She tossed another log on the fire as she watched the person beside her sleeping. How long had it been, three days? Or more. She looked back when she woke.

Pain was all she felt. Everything hurt too much to even move. She knew her arm was broken and quietly did a mental check of everything else. She looked around and saw the inside of their small plane strewn everywhere. The windows smashed out as the thick brush found its way inside the planes windows.

Looking around she spotted the one person she was looking for. She lay slumped on the floor with a pool of blood around her. A pool that looked like it was getting larger.

"Phoebe?" Julia called out trying to get herself free from the debris around her and to get to her friend. She could tell that something was wrong she just hoped it wasn't what her heart feared.

Julia finally managed to get free of the debris and slowly made her way to where Phoebe lay. Reaching her, she quickly felt for a pulse. At first there was nothing there. But then she felt one, weak but it was a start.. "Phoebe? Honey come on. Hang on kiddo."

She had managed to move her friend from the plane with some difficulty and splint her own injury. Seeing where Phoebe was hurt, Julia attended to that she hoped was not too much blood.

She had heard the planes several times circling over head, but she had no way of letting them know they were there.

She looked over at Phoebe who was yet to wake. But the crack of the twig behind her startled her to spin around. She stood protectively in front of her sister witch, as the figures moved from the tree line. She saw the guns from the soldiers, but before she could protest she felt the hit to the back of her head as her world turned black. Her last thoughts of her friend and her family back home.