Piper ran through the halls of SFMH and quickly went up to the desk. "Phoebe Halliwell."
"One moment please." The nurse said as she looked on her computer. "She's is still in the ER. She should be out momentarily."
"What happened?" Piper asked panicked
"She will be out in a moment, the doctor and her can inform you. I'm sorry."
Piper looked at the nurse as if she was going to explode on her. Paige seeing the agitation in her oldest sisters' face pulled her away from the desk,"Piper come on. It sounds like she's ok. Let's just sit and wait for her."
Piper followed after Paige hesitantly though not taking her eyes off the nurse.
Not ready yet to wait for her sister, Piper grabbed hold of Paige's hand and made move towards the ER.
"Piper!"
"Relax Paige. Its not like I've never done this before."
"Maybe, but not with me." She said trying to keep up with her sister.
Piper rounded into the ER and was met by Darryl and Phoebe who was lying on the bed with a doctor looking down at her, checking her eyes with a penlight.
"Phoebe. Oh god honey what happen?" Piper asked as she went to her sisters' side.
"I'm ok Piper."
"Darryl? What happened?" knowing she would get an answer from their friend.
"I'm trying to find that out myself Piper."
"Doctor how much longer." Phoebe asked impatiently.
"Almost done. Then we just need you to sign these release papers and you're on your way."
Piper and Paige waited for the doctor to finish as Darryl also waited for Phoebe. To find out what had happened. He had a feeling that it was more in the sisters line of work then his. But he still needed an explanation. After all, the guy that had attacked her was dead.
Phoebe pulled her coat around her, with Pipers help, as she winced at the pain in her ribs.
"Ok stop by the nurses station and pick up these for the pain." He told Phoebe handing her a prescription. "Get some rest. It will take a few days to recover. So take it easy. You're a lucky girl."
"Thank you doctor." Piper said as she wrapped her arm around Phoebes waist, who she noticed, was unusually quiet.
Before they left the hospital Darryl followed them out. "Piper I really need to speak with Phoebe."
"Darryl not now. Meet us at home ok?" Piper sent an unspoken message to therir friend 'Let me talk to her first'
Darryl watched as Piper helped Phoebe out to the Jeep. He had seen Piper grow almost immediately before all of them when Prue had been killed. She was thrust into the role of protector unwillingly. And from what he had witnessed so far, she was handling the job perfectly.
"Paige we'll meet you at home ok." Piper said helping Phoebe into the Jeep and making their way home.
Paige watched as her two older sisters drove away. She knew that there was something that just the two of them needed to work out.
& &
Driving down the road Piper glanced over at her sister now and then. Phoebe sat quietly with her head leaning against the window, just watching as the world passed her by.
Piper reached over and brushed a strand of Phoebes hair from her face, revealing the bandage she just received. "You sure you're ok sweetie?" Piper asked gently
"Yeah I'm fine Piper." She answered though not looking at her sister. Just taking her hand in hers.
"Phoebe what happened today? You leave the Manor telling us there is something that you need to do. And the next thing I know I'm picking you up from the ER."
"Can we please just go home Piper." Phoebe said with no emotions, and still not looking at her sister.
"Sure honey. But I wish you would talk to me. We had a deal remember. No secrets."
"Yeah. I remember." Phoebe answered. You, Prue and I had a deal. Now Prue is gone. Phoebe thought to herself. And it's my fault
Piper watched as her sister didn't say anymore. So she just gave her sister's hand a gentle squeeze as they pulled into the driveway.
Phoebe walked into the Manor and went straight up to her room. She could feel the drugs the doctor had given her starting to take effect as she fought to stay awake.
Piper followed after her sister and watched as she ascended the stairs as she had many times before. She heard someone behind her and knew who it would be. "Hi Darryl." She greeted as she turned and met him.
"Hi. Look Piper can I talk to you a minute."
"Sure Darryl. What's up?"
"Look Piper I think what ever came after Phoebe was more into your world then mine. The only problem now is that I have a body in the morgue."
"Darryl I would love to help you out. You know that. Phoebe has just gone upstairs. Come with me and lets see if we both can't figure this out." She answered, "Wait. What do you mean you have a body in the morgue? If it's in our world why do you have a body?"
"I don't know. But we do."
& &
Phoebe had fallen to her bed and starred out the window. Her eyes were soon resting on a picture of the three sisters. Prue had taking it only a week before she was killed. She had developed it and given them all one, as a gift. It was one of Phoebes favorite pictures of all three of them together. And now that she was gone, it meant all that much more to Phoebe.
Taking the picture off her nightstand she traced over the outline of Prue as a tear threatened to escape. She soon found herself drifting off to sleep.
Piper and Darryl knocked on Phoebes door before slowly opening it. "Phoebs, sweetie. Darryl needs to talk to you a second."
Getting no reply Piper made her way to her sisters' bed to see her sleeping. What she didn't see was the picture that Phoebe held close to her heart.
"I'll come back later Piper. I'm sure it was self defense so there wont be a big rush for her statement today."
"Thanx Darryl. Look why don't you come by around dinnertime? If something comes up I'll let you know."
"Ok. I'll see you in a few hours."
Piper leaned against the doorframe of Phoebes room wondering what had really happened in that alley.
Phoebe tossed a restless sleep as the memory of what had happened once. She had received a premonition earlier that morning. She had decided not to share it with her sisters for the outcome was one she was trying to prevent. She had seen another sister get killed at the hands of the demon. And all she was doing was sitting on the ground doing nothing. Once again causing the death of a sister.
"That's right little Sis. It was your entire fault. And now here you are doing it all over again. Putting your own needs before others." Prues ghostly apparition appeared before her pointing an accusing finger at her. "I died because of you and now you are going to sit by while another sister is killed." She moved closer as the deathly stench almost gagged at Phoebe, "You make me sick."
Phoebe tried to move away from the appearance of her now dead sister. But every time she went to move away Prue would cut her off. Yelling at her over and over again how she had killed her.
"No. Prue I couldn't. I loved you. I love you."
"You didn't love me Phoebe. You never did."
"No..no I did." Phoebe cried out as she once again pulled herself from her nightmare.
Piper and Paige were sitting at the kitchen table wondering what happened to Phoebe. Had she really gone after a demon on her own?
"Piper you know what's bothering her don't you?" Paige asked though not sure if she tread anymore on the situation with Phoebe.
"I have a pretty good idea Paige, but I have to let her deal with this." Piper said non-committal
"That's the problem Piper. She's not. She's keeping it all inside her. It's going to eat her apart if we don't do something soon."
"Don't you think I know that Paige! I've also known Phoebe her entire life! I know when she need to let things run there course. This is one of those times." Piper yelled at Paige.
Paige looked up at Piper not saying a word.
"Paige I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell at you." Looked at her sister regretting yelling at her.
"That's ok. You're right. I just hope that she doesn't take to long." She stated, as she stood up at walked out of the kitchen.
Piper watched her leave and knew that her sister had meant well. But she also knew that Phoebe had to come to her with this. As she stood to put her cup in the sink she heard the scream. One that could remove the paint from the Manor walls, echoing throughout. Knowing the source of it Piper quickly ran up the stairs to her sisters' room.
Paige went into Phoebes room and found her against the headboard clutching her knees to her chest. All she would say over and over was, 'No I did. I do I love you.' Every time Paige went to her she would pull away.
Piper rounded the corner into her sisters' room and pulled her sister to her. No matter how much she tried to fight her, Piper held tight
"Shh Phoebs I got you know. Its ok." She soothed as she rubbed her hand on her sisters' back.
Finally getting Phoebe calmed down Piper eased her back on to the bed.
"Your ok now sweetie. It was just a bad dream."
"I love you." Phoebe said weakly as she slowly drifted back to sleep.
"I love you to honey." She replied as she kissed her sister on the forehead, "I wish you would talk to me though. You can't keep this bottled up inside of you forever." She whispered to her as she pulled the blankets around her.