Cole looked around the next corner and motioned for Leo to follow him. They had been looking for Phoebe for almost a full day now and still no luck.

"Cole we have to find her fast."

"I know Leo. Hang on." He pushed Leo back against the wall as demons went by the corridor they were in. But it was just their luck that the demon leading the way was Crause.

"Crause." Cole whispered as he watched the demon wind his way through the passages.

"Let's follow him." Leo said as she stepped out from behind Cole.

"Hang on. Crause didn't get where he is by being careless or less cautious. He is as powerful as Belthazor and he got that way by being smart. He'll hear you if you get within ten feet of him." Cole explained as he kept his eyes on the back of the demon. "Come on and whatever you do don't make a sound." Cole ordered as he stepped away from the wall.

He felt the rage building inside of him, as he recalled his conversation with his Master and what he had said to him.

"Kill the witch now."

"But.."

"No but's Crause. Shax only killed one sister. The other lives. Even as two they are very powerful. I want her dead, and I want her dead now!" he bellowed

Now as Crause closed in on the cavern that held the witch he felt his anger. He would do as ordered, but that didn't mean he couldn't make her death slow and very painful.

He stepped up to her and lifted her head with his hand as he applied just enough pressure to her battered rib cage to cause her to cry out in pain. "Hello witch."

Phoebe glared at him through her swollen eyes. She was determined to beat him. In just the way that he would not break her spirit. She hung on to the hope that her sisters would come for her.

"Well the Source has changed his mind. Seems he wants you dead now. But don't worry I'll make it nice and slow for you." He almost laughed at her. "I know just where to place a knife to cause the most pain and yet not kill you."

She felt the searing pain enter her side as he laughed at her. She cried out in pain knowing what he had done. She could feel the warmth of her own blood running down her side. Then she felt him remove the knife as one of the other demons ran his fist into her side. Right on the spot where he had just stabbed her, causing her to scream out again.

--- ----

Cole stopped in his tracks as the high piercing scream ran his blood cold. "Phoebe." He whispered to himself. He quickened his pace to a near run as he ran into the cavern. His heart stopped beating when his eyes rested on the broken and beaten form of his love. "Oh God."

Crause turned quickly as he locked eyes with Cole. He could see the rage inside his once friend. "Belthazor. I was wondering when I would get to see you again. I knew you wouldn't leave your witch behind."

"Get away from her Crause."

"Oh no I don't think so. See the Source wants her dead, and unlike you I am still loyal to the Source." He said as he pulled back the astheme and ran it into Phoebes other side as he had before. Sending her into another crying scream. "The Source likes to hear her screams."

Cole couldn't take anymore as he threw an energy ball at Crause though missing as he stepped behind Phoebe.

"Careful Belthazor. Don't want to hit your witch now do you?" he laughed.

The other demons advanced on the man before them, letting their leader complete his work, but it was not to be.

Leo had stood just out of site from the cavern entrance. He had wanted to run in there and grab Phoebe the second he saw her, but he knew that if he did Crause would kill her right then and there. He knew that he was just toying with Cole.

He saw the demons advance towards Cole as he threw energy balls at them. Striking some and missing others. The rumble each time one hit the wall made Leo wonder if the cavern would collapse around them.

He watched Crause laugh as he removed the astheme from Phoebes side. He watched as her lifeless body hung from the hook like a slab of meat in the meat coolers. He had to get her out of there or he was going to lose her as they had Prue. Orbing in quickly behind Crause he slammed his elbow onto the back of his neck, knocking him to the ground.

Cole seeing Leo, he quickly threw an energy ball at the rope that was holding Phoebe up, cutting her lose and into Leo' arms.

Crause quickly recovered from the blow that Leo had given him and his rage increased as he saw the whitelighter disappear with the witch. "You'll pay for this Belthazor!" he yelled at the half demon before him, as he returned an energy balls of his own.

Cole countered with a volley of his own. Having killed the other demons in the cavern it was now just Crause and Cole.

"But not today." Cole said as he threw another round before shimmering out. Leaving, before Crause had a chance to kill him. And at that moment he just wanted to be with Phoebe.

Leo orbed into the Manor right into Phoebes room.

"Piper!" he yelled out to the rest of the Manor as soon as he materialized and quickly placed Phoebe on her bed he held his hands over her body to heal her. "Piper!" he yelled out as he concentrated on his task at hand. It was taking longer then he hoped as he could feel her life slipping away from him. "Come on."

--- ----

Piper sat at the table moving bits of her pancakes around her plate. She didn't know how long she had been starring at the breakfast her Dad had made she didn't care.

"Piper. You ok." Victor looked at his daughter from the doorway to the kitchen. He knew she wasn't, but he had to ask.

"I. I don't know Dad." She said not looking up to him. But her head shot up when she heard the familiar voice of her husband.

Getting up from the chair she ran past her Dad and rushed up the stairs. She had heard the panic in Leo's voice and it was that tone that scared her more then anything. "LEO!" she cried out not sure where he was.

"Phoebes room." He answered though still concentrating on healing the youngest Halliwell.

Piper barged into her sisters' room and saw Leo standing over her, his hands glowing in the familiar golden glow.

She rushed over to the bed and gasped at the site of her baby sister. She bent down before her and took one of her hands in hers. "Come On Phoebs. I need you. Come back to me." She begged as she felt the tears running down her cheeks. It was a feeling that she was getting all too familiar with. "Why is it taking so long Leo?"

"She almost died." He stated as his own emotions where running wild.

Cole shimmered into the corner and watched helplessly as Leo tried to heal Phoebes broken body.

"Come on Phoebe. You can do it." Piper said as she brushed the hair off her sisters' face. "I can't lose you too." She cried.

The next sound was relief to all of them as Phoebe let out a small cry and then took in a gulp of air.

"Oh God Phoebe!" Piper pulled her sister into a hug never wanting to let her go. "I thought I lost you."

Phoebe wrapped her arms around Piper as they both just cried. Piper for having at least one sister left and Phoebe for her memories of what had happened to her.

After a few moments they pulled away as Piper wiped away her sisters tears.

"You ok sweetie?"

"I am now." Phoebe answered. Turning to Leo, "thank you."

"Anytime."

Phoebe saw Cole standing in the corner and her Dad at her door. There was something in their faces that gave a solemn feeling to her room. "Where's Prue? I kinda need a hug from her too," she said as she looked to Piper.

Piper felt a wave of nausea run through her. She had dreaded this moment from the time she sent Leo to get Phoebe back.

"Piper."

"Well leave you two alone." Leo he said quietly as he stood back and left the room. Taking with him Victor and Cole.

"Piper what's going on? Where is she?"

"Phoebe. I heard what you did. And I'm not sure if I should be mad at you or thank you."

"I couldn't let you die Piper. Or Prue. I love you two so much."

"I know you do sweetie. And that is why what I have to say hurts me as much as you hearing it will hurt you."

"Ok now you're scaring me Piper."

Piper took a deep breath and took Phoebes hands in hers. Locking eyes with her baby sister "She's gone Phoebe."

Phoebe looked at Piper not really understanding what she had just said.

"Gone. Like what? Gone to the store?" some how Phoebe knew what Piper meant, but she couldn't wrap her mind around the idea.

Piper shock her head gently as she locked eyes with Phoebe. Her own tears once again building behind her eyes. "She's dead honey. Leo didn't get back in time." Piper said as gentle as she could. But how do you tell your youngest sister that her protector, her mother was gone. There was no gentle way. As her tears escaped over the damn that had been holding them there as her heart shattered into a million more pieces that it was already in.

Phoebe tried to process what Piper had just said. Dead. Prue was dead. "No. There's some mistake. She isn't. You're lying " Phoebe denied hearing what she had as she pulled away from Piper.

"I'm sorry Phoebe. I wish it was a lie." Piper stood from the bed and went to Phoebe.

She wrapped her arms around Phoebe as her baby sister went weak in the knees. As they both glided to the floor, Phoebe let all out.

"No. She can't. She can't be dead." Phoebe cried into Pipers chest as she just held her. Held her tighter then she had ever held anything before.