Just Breathe

I couldn't bear to look as Grams carefully carried Piper over to the couch. I knew Grams would blame this all on me. It seemed to be her favorite past time lately. Phoebe finally let go of me and walked over to the couch, kneeling down at Piper's side.

"Is she going to be ok, Grams?" I heard Phoebe ask in a whisper.

"I…I don't know," Grams answered, sounding scared. I kept my distance from them, just watching Piper. Her chest rose and fell sporadically as she fought to breath. I slowly walked out of the room. Grams didn't seem to notice. I headed for the attic and paged through the Book of Shadows.

"There has to be something in here," I murmured to myself as I flipped through the book. I reached the end and found nothing, absolutely nothing that could help Piper.

"Damn it! What good is magic if it can't even help heal my sister?" I shouted in frustration. The book suddenly opened to the page with the vanishing spell.

"How will that help?" I asked aloud. I knew I wouldn't get an answer. I stood there in the silence it came to me. I could at least fix the clock.

I walked back downstairs. I found Grams and Phoebe still tending to Piper.. It was like I was invisible to them all. It felt strange but I focused my attention on the shattered clock.

"Let the object of objection become but a dream, as I cause the seen to be unseen," I chanted softly. Before my eyes the clock repaired itself. The sound of the magic tore Grams' attention from Piper.

"How could you let this happen?" she asked sharply. I knew this was coming.

"I didn't attack her, Grams. A demon did," I replied as calmly as I could.

"She's your sister, Prue. You're supposed to protect her," Grams continued.

"I tried, Grams!" I shouted back at her. I knew she was my sister. I didn't' her telling me that.

"I think we should take her to the hospital. I already checked the Book. There is nothing in there that can help," I said, fighting back tears.

"Should we call an ambulance?" Phoebe asked, her voice so soft I could barely hear what she was saying.

"No. We will bring her in ourselves," Grams said sternly. I watched as she slowly picked Piper up and headed for the front of the house. Phoebe and I followed at a distance. I sat in the back with Piper, her head cradled in my lap and Phoebe sat in front. I stroked her hair, still trying to fight off tears. I knew Grams wasn't done yelling at me.

I vaguely remember hearing her tell us that we had arrived at the Emergency Room. She climbed out and a nurse walked right up to her.

"My granddaughter fell and is injured," Grams said, trying to be as vague in her story. I saw the nurse flag down a couple of EMTs with a gurney and they started towards the car. Phoebe climbed out and opened the other side door. I tried hold on to her as long as I could as they loaded her on the gurney, wheeling her away in seconds. I didn't want to move. If I just stayed in the car then maybe everything would be ok.

"Prudence, get out of the car," Grams ordered. I could hear the anger in her voice.

Biting my lip I climbed from the car and we headed for the entrance doors. We sat in the waiting room for what felt like ages. I didn't look at anyone. I couldn't. I know Piper being here wasn't my fault. I didn't attack her but part of me seemed to believe that it was; that because I couldn't control my powers she was hurt, barely conscious. I chanced a look at Phoebe. She had her knees drawn up to her chest and was resting her head on her knees. I couldn't imagine what was going through her mind right now.

"Miss Halliwell?" the doctor called. Grams stood up and Phoebe followed suit. I tried to stand but my legs refused to cooperate.

"How is she? Is she alright?" Grams asked, her tone laced with panic.

"She's stable. She has several broken ribs and a fractured wrist," the doctor reported.

"Thank God," Grams breathed a sigh of relief.

"She's still unconscious. We're monitoring her and hoping that she wakes up. You can see her for a few minutes," he answered. Grams' face fell instantly. Piper was in a coma. She nodded numbly and we walked down the hall and peered into Piper's room. She looked so pale compared to the sheets. Her chest was rising and falling more regularly now and she had a tube hooked up around her nose.

"We're here, Piper," Grams breathed, squeezing Piper's hand. I watched it closely and it looked like Piper squeezed back.

"Did…she squeeze back?" I asked, my voice hoarse. Grams turned to me and nodded.

"Com on, Piper. Fight this," I whispered, walking over and kissing her forehead.

Solemnly we walked out of the hospital and climbed back into the car. The ride home was silent. No one said a word as we walked into the kitchen. Finally Grams couldn't hold it in any long.

"You had better hope your sister gets better and fast," she spat at me.

"Why are you putting this on me? I'm not the one that threw her into the clock," I shouted, the chairs at the table skittering around.

"But you should have stopped the demon before he could hurt her," Grams bellowed back.

"I tried. I feel horrible that she's in a coma and in the hospital but there was nothing I could do to stop it from happening. I'm sorry that I can't be perfect at everything," I spat and stormed out of the room.

"Prudence we are not done!" she shouted at me.

"Yes we are!" I replied, slamming my bedroom door as loudly as I could. I sat down on my bed and pulled my knees to my chest. How had life gotten so fucked up? I finally let the tears fall that I'd been holding in . I watched it happen in my mind over and over. I just stood there and let my sister get hurt. Grams was right, I didn't do everything I could. As the tears rolled down my cheeks I couldn't help but think about that night. I didn't want to think about it but it was like my subconscious wouldn't leave me alone.

"Just stop" I sobbed, curling up into a ball. I fell asleep. I'm not sure for how long. I woke up to feel my stomach churning. I got up and rushed to the bathroom. There was nothing to puke up, just dry heaves. I hugged the toilet bowl for a while, just needing something to hold on to. Some time later there was a knock on the door.

"Prue," Phoebe called out. Before I could answer she walked in. I'd forgotten to lock the damn door.

"Are you ok? You've been in here a long time," she said, sitting down next to me.

"I just need to be alone, ok, Pheebs?" I replied, rubbing at my eyes. They were probably really bloodshot.

"I don't want to be alone. I'm scared. I'm scared Piper won't wake up," Phoebe whimpered. Reluctantly I opened my arms and she crawled into my lap.

"You didn't see anything did you?" I asked. She just shook her head.

"No…I'm afraid to see anything. I don't want to lose a sister," she sniffled.

"I don't either," I breathed, holding her close. We sat there for a while until she finally untangled herself from me.

"Are you hungry?" she asked.

"Not really," I lied. I was hungry but I didn't want to throw up again. I had a sneaking suspicion as to why I had been so sick lately. I had been hoping it was just stress of life finally catching up with me. But it was starting to make sense.

"Ok," she said, seeming to buy my fib. I stood and shut the door, rooting around in the medicine cabinet until I finally found an old pregnancy test. It wasn't opened.

"Do these things expire?" I muttered as I examined the box. It didn't seem to. I opened and read the instructions. Taking a deep breath and took the test. I set it on the counter, pacing back and forth anxiously. I finally picked it up. It was pink. What the hell did pink mean? I grabbed the box and looked again.

"Oh God," I gasped. My knees buckled beneath me and I sunk to the floor once more. It couldn't be real. I couldn't be pregnant. It had to be a mistake..

"Think Prue…think," I told myself as I still clutched the test in my hand. I couldn't go to Grams. She'd ask too many questions. She'd freak out if she knew Andy and I were having sex. But maybe I could talk to a nurse at the hospital tomorrow. With that in mind I took the test and box and went back to m y room and collapsed on my bed for the night.