Lesson Learned

The trio reappeared at the Manor in the kitchen. Leo was putting drops in Chris' irritated eye.

"Mama!" he whined, seeing Piper appear.

"Hi baby," she cooed, taking her youngest son from his father's arms.

"How's Phoebe?" Paige asked.

"Not good. Coop's with her but we don't think she can hold on much longer," Leo answered. They dragged Jordan into the sun room and towards Phoebe. She was extremely pale and her clothes were thoroughly sweat soaked. Wyatt was sitting on the floor just staring up at his ailing aunt. Piper could see tears in her son's eyes. He may have only been three but he knew what was going on. Piper set Chris down in the playpen and waved her hand at Wyatt to join him. Quietly, eyeing the newcomer, he made his way over to his brother.

"You need to heal her," Piper repeated for what felt like the millionth time. Coop moved out of Jordan's way.

"If she needs healing…I'm afraid I can't help you. You'd need Shawn Ferrell," he said with a shake of his head.

"No. You can save her. We read…you're ability. You can neutralize promicin," Paige said firmly.

"Only in those who are not original returnees," he murmured, as if stalling for time.

"Leo. Make him heal her," Piper ground out.

"Piper…what do you want me to do?" he asked, sounding helpless.

"I cannot lose another sister," Piper finally broke down.

"I lost Prue…I can't lose Phoebe too," she moaned, burying her head in her husband's shoulder. Paige, seeing that Piper was in no fit state to act, took charge.

"She wasn't a returnee buddy. She is a witch and damn good one at that. So you're going to save her life or I can guarantee you that my sister will blow you up, bit by bit," Paige threatened with surprising calmness.

"You're sure she took promicin?" Jordan questioned.

"Look the more stupid questions you ask the less time my wife has to live. So please, just heal her," Coop begged.

Jordan sighed and knelt over Phoebe's feverish and clammy body. He placed his hands on either side of her head and concentrated. Phoebe's body shook violently at his touch and she seemed not to be breathing. Finally Jordan stepped away, breathing hard. Paige peered over his shoulder at Phoebe. Her breathing, which had been ragged and shallow moments before, was now even.

"Is she going to be ok?" Paige asked weakly.

"She should be fine. There should be no trace of promicin in her system," Jordan answered.

"Now if you don't mind, I'd like to get back to my followers," he aid coolly. Piper glared at him.

"Hold it right there, Mister," she snapped, flicking her wrist at him. He froze and she smirked a little. She and Paige sat down on the floor in front of Phoebe, waiting for her eyes to open. They finally did.

'What's going on?" Phoebe asked.

"Shh. Honey, just take it easy," Paige said gently before Piper could speak.

"Why is there a man frozen in our house?" Phoebe asked with a small smile.

"He saved your life," Piper ground out.

"Saved my life? How?" she questioned.

"Look, Pheebs I'm glad you're alright but you could have killed yourself by taking that shot. And if we hadn't found Jordan Collier and dragged his ass back here…you would have died," Piper snapped at her younger sister.

Phoebe slowly sat up and looked from her sisters to the man frozen a few feet away from her. She then looked down at her feet.

"I'm sorry," she breathed.

"Piper…we should probably get him back before his followers think we've turned him over to the authorities," Paige muttered. Piper nodded, fixing Phoebe with a look that said 'we're not done here' and she and Paige disappeared. They rematerialized back in Promise City and were immediately met by Isabelle and Kyle.

"What's wrong with him?" Kyle asked. Piper eyed him but then remembered he was still frozen. She flicked her wrist and he was mobile again.

"We didn't call any cops or anything," Paige told him, preparing to take her sister's hand again.

"I hope your sister gets better. Just out of curiosity. Why did she take the shot?" Jordan inquired.

"Because she wanted her powers back; empathy and levitation. Her active powers were taken away a few years ago. All she got back was premonitions," Paige answered.

"Come on, let's get home before Phoebe thinks I was kidding about talking," Piper sighed. With an eye roll Paige orbed them home.

"Some day huh?" Kyle asked as they watched the two women disappear.

"A very interesting day, indeed. I trust everything was fine while I was gone," he replied and Kyle nodded.

"So they didn't take promicin?" Isabelle questioned.

"Those two, no. But their gifts are extraordinary to say the very least," Jordan commented as they went back inside.

The sisters reappeared once more back at the Manor. Phoebe had change clothes and was slowly drinking a glass of water. She heard the familiar sound of orbs and didn't look up.

"I know you guys are mad at me," she started to say.

"Mad? Phoebe, I'm not mad. I'm furious!" Piper exploded.

"How could you be so stupid?" she continued, starting to pace.

"Not only was taking that shot illegal but the chance of survival was fifty-fifty," she added.

"I thought I would survive ok. I didn't know it would react to my magic," Phoebe interrupted heatedly.

"What possessed you to risk your life like that? Were you trying to perpetuate the Warren death legacy?" Piper shouted.

"I was trying to get my powers back in case we ever needed them again," Phoebe rebutted loudly.

"By taking a shot! Phoebe, you're a witch! Your powers don't come from some shot. They come from your bloodline. And the Elders will give your powers back when they think you're ready," Piper shot.

"Piper…I think she feels bad enough. You don't need to guilt trip her," Leo said as gently as he could. She glared at her husband and stormed out of the room.

"Thanks for trying," Phoebe muttered.

"Phoebe…you have to understand. She thought she was going to lose you," Leo explained.

"I didn't mean to scare anyone. I just thought it was a shortcut. I guess I was wrong," she murmured.

"Yeah, I guess you were," Leo sighed and headed in search of Piper.

"I swear I didn't mean for any of this to happen," Phoebe repated, hoping someone would believe her.

"We know you didn't. It's just you really scared us," Paige said softly, pulling Phoebe into a firm hug.

"Thanks Paige," she breathed. She held onto her sister for a long time and finally they had to part.

"I'm going to go check on Piper," Paige announced.

"No…let me. I owe her an explanation and apology," Phoebe said and held up a hand to stop her baby sister.

Paige and Coop shared a nervous look as Phoebe headed upstairs. She found Leo and Piper embracing tightly.

"Piper…can we talk for a minute?" Phoebe asked quietly. Leo got up and left the two sisters alone.

"I swear I didn't mean to put you through this. I can't imagine what you must have felt," she began.

"It was like losing Prue all over again," Piper admitted. Phoebe bit her lip. It had been that bad?

"I was just trying to get us prepared for whatever else is out there," Phoebe tried to explain.

"I know you were. But you need to be patient. I know it's not one of your better qualities," Piper said with a small hiccup of a laugh.

"I guess I learned my lesson the hard way," Phoebe sighed. Just as they were about to embrace a swirl of white and blue orbs separated them and Sandra appeared.

"I'm glad to see you're better, she said, addressing Phoebe.

"Thanks," Phoebe mumbled.

"However….your actions and motivations were less than desirable," the Elder began to lecture.

"Go ahead…take my powers away again," Phoebe said firmly.

"We aren't going to take your power away, Phoebe. You didn't misuse your premonition power," Sandra said.

"I've just come to tell you that in trying to regain your other powers before you were ready by means that you knew were dangerous, we have no choice but to withhold your other powers," she explained.

"I understand. I should have just waited until they were returned. But I was afraid…I still am…that I'll never get my other powers back," Phoebe sighed.

"In time…you will get them back. But right now is not that time. You're going to need to prove to us that you can be patient as well as selfless with y our gifts," Sandra stated as she disappeared once more.

"Sheesh…you make one mistake and the whole world yells at you," Phoebe said, trying to lighten the mood.

"Don't quit your day job," Piper said, wrapping an arm around her sibling as they headed back downstairs.