Phoebe turned her head away, pulling Piper close to her and cringed waiting for the blow that she knew was coming…
Her head jerked back up as she heard the expected explosion but not where she had expected it.
She was shocked to find that there, standing in front of her flinging energy balls at the demon, was Cole.
His energy balls appeared to be having an effect, and the demon seemed honestly bewildered over the fact that he was being hit with energy balls in the first place. The demon glanced over at where Phoebe still lay on the ground and growled "I'll be back witch, and next time I won't fail" And with that he shimmered out.
Cole instantly turned and lifted Piper off of Phoebe and held her in his arms so that Phoebe could get up, looking faintly indecisive about what to do now that he was holding her.
"Cole" Phoebe said "What are you doing here?"
"Well, I can't totally say. It was kinda like the last time I came to your rescue, something in me, I'm gonna make a slight guess and say my heart, pulled me here. Only this time it was much much stronger, it felt like my heart was breaking when I did not come immediately. I figured it was probably you again and in trouble, so I came. Just in time too it appears, what the hell happened? And where is Prue, we need her to heal your sisters, they aren't looking so good" Cole said.
"Well, I don't even know if Prue's alive" Phoebe said with a sob "The demon threw her through the front door, and she was not moving last I saw."
Phoebe had barely finished saying that when Cole put Piper down and shimmered out.
"Hey!" Phoebe yelled out.
Cole was back seconds later, this time carrying Prue. "She's alive, but barely. I did not think that white lighter could be this hurt" Cole said sounding worried "This is bad Phoebe, very bad. All three of them need medical attention, like now. And actually you're bleeding too, did you get hit too?"
"Not exactly, he threw me into a wall, but I'm the least of our worries. God, what do we do now?" Phoebe said sounding panicked. She started to cry softly. Cole slowly came over and put his arm around her, awkwardly trying to comfort her. She turned and started sobbing on his shoulder. And seconds later she was curled up in his lap with her arms wrapped around him crying her heart out. She seemed almost oblivious to what she was doing.
Finally Cole said "As much as I like holding you, and don't get me wrong I do, this really is not that constructive right now."
"You're right, we should at least get them to a hospital or something" Phoebe said.
"Alright, so let's shimmer them over there" Cole said.
"Okay, but how are we gonna get them all there?" Phoebe asked.
"Okay, lets see, do you think you could manage to kinda drag Paige? I think I can manage to carry Prue and Piper" Cole said.
"Ya, I think so, I have to be able to, there's no other choice" Phoebe said.
"Alright grab her and grab hold of me" Cole said as he picked up Prue and Piper, and put one over each shoulder "It's a good thing I'm a demon with demonic strength" he muttered.
"Ya" was all Phoebe said and she grabbed hold of his arm, holding Paige up with the other one.
Cole instantly shimmered them into the alley behind the hospital. "Alright, you got Paige?" he asked.
"Ya, lets go, we can't waste time" Phoebe said "They are still loosing blood fast."
"I know, but we need to get our story straight, believe me with wounds like this they are gonna ask questions. I was thinking we tell them that Prue does some scientific work with highly explosive chemicals and that she was having Piper and Paige help her with something and Paige misunderstood what she was supposed to put in and an explosion went off" Cole said.
"I guess, it's as believable as anything will be." Phoebe said as they dragged the three girls in to the emergency room, where the nurses, seeing the state of the girls, immediately rushed over yelling for some rolling beds to be brought.
"What happened here?" the nurse asked.
Phoebe exchanged a look with Cole that told him that he could tell the story "Well these are my… umm girlfriends three sisters; Prue, Paige and Piper. Prue does some scientific work with highly explosive chemicals and that she was having Piper and Paige help her with something and Paige misunderstood what she was supposed to put in and an explosion went off. We don't know exactly what they were mixing or doing since we were downstairs and only came running when we heard the explosion. Whatever it was it was bad, the explosion was huge, the attic is mess and the girls are even worse. They are loosing blood fast" Cole told her.
The nurse looked slightly skeptical, but nodded and said "alright well we'll do what we can. They are all three going into immediate surgery. While you wait there are several forms you need to fill out."
Phoebe nodded and took the forms and went back into the waiting room and sat down. Cole followed her and sat down beside her.
"Your girlfriend?" Phoebe commented.
"Ya, sorry about that, I panicked, and did not think ex-husband would make a lot of sense, most ex-husbands don't hang out at their ex's houses and help out. I thought it made the most sense, sorry" Cole said.
"It's alright, I'm hardly in a position to be yelling at you, since as you said, most ex-husbands wouldn't be helping" Phoebe said.
"No worries, I'm hardly the typical ex-husband" Cole commented.
"No, that your not" Phoebe said with a laugh, but instantly stopped looking worried and said "Do you think they will be alright?"
"I don't know. I hope so. Prue was the worst hurt, but at the same time, she's the one who can take the most hurt and live. Piper the next worst hit, she looked pretty bad, but she hadn't been hurt as long as Paige so she hadn't lost as much blood. And Paige I think will be okay, as long as she did not loose too much blood. All in all I think that the chances are good that they will be okay" Cole said.
"Trust you to not just say, ya they'll be fine" Phoebe said.
"Well I figured you'd rather hear the truth" Cole said.
"I would, its just that most guys don't do that, they shield you from the worst of it, its nice to have someone be straight with me, particularly since I'm sure the doctors won't be" Phoebe told him.
"Ya, well doctors never are, they don't want to cause panic I guess" Cole said.
"Ya, I understand the motive, but I still don't like it. I really wish that I could get ahold of Leo" Phoebe said.
"Glad to see that you're tired of my company already" Cole joked hoping to lighten the mood.
"Its not that, I just think he deserves to know what's going on, and I'd like to have his moral support too" Phoebe said "But he's in magic school, with all the kids, so I guess its best that he stays there, someone has to watch the kids after all."
"So Phoebe I have a question for you" Cole said.
"Oh ya, what?" Phoebe asked dreading the answer.
"Well, how is it that two times now, I've been practically dragged against my will, by my heart, to your side when you are in danger? Is this some spell or something?" Cole asked her.
"Well… umm it's not a spell. I'm not totally sure what it is" Phoebe said awkwardly.
"So you have no idea whatsoever?" Cole asked.
"Well, Prue kinda had a theory, but I did not totally believe it. She told it to me before, after it happened the first time. And now that it's happened again, I'm rethinking my opinion on her theory" Phoebe said.
"So what's the theory?" Cole asked.
"Well... umm... she thought, I mean it's just her opinion but she thought that we were kinda soul mates and that caused some connection…" Phoebe trailed off awkwardly.
"Soul mates?" Cole said.
"Umm ya, that what she thinks" Phoebe told him.
"I see, and here I thought your whole family thought that I did not have a soul" Cole said irritably.
"Cole, we know you have a soul, we've just had questions as to whether it's a good or bad one" Phoebe said.
"Is it even possible for the soul mate of one of the charmed ones to have a bad soul, I'm not sure the universe would allow that" Cole said.
"I really don't know. I haven't given it too much thought" Phoebe said.
"Well do you believe it?" Cole asked.
"Believe what?" Phoebe responded.
"That we are soul mates?" Cole asked.
"Well, I don't know. I mean at this point even I can't deny that there appears to be some kind of connection between us, so I really am not sure. I guess, I guess it's a possibility" Phoebe finally said.
Cole looked shocked and said "So what does that mean, for us, I mean where does that leave us?"
"Oh god Cole, I really don't know. I just can't think about that kind of thing right now, all three of my sisters are in surgery under critical condition, and tomorrow I go finalize my divorce, right now is not really a great time to be asking me about being soul mates" Phoebe snapped.
"Phoebe, in your life there is always something going on. Every time I've seen you there has been some huge event or disaster going on, that's just your life. You can't put this off forever, even if you don't like it, we have to figure something out about this connection, because I'd like to know how often I'm going to just be dragged to your side and such" Cole said.
"I know, I know. It's just too much right now. Cole, give me time, I can't deal with this right now. It's so easy for you, you know what you want, the same thing you have always wanted, but it's not so simple for me. I have kids and a life, people who depend on me; I can't go making snap decisions and such. I just got out of an eight year marriage, and I'm still dealing with that. I really don't know what I want at this point. And after all the heartache that Coop brought me, I just don't know how much more I can take. And with you it has always been some kind of heartache, I just don't know if I want to deal with it all right now" Phoebe said.
"But what if you don't have a choice. I mean this connection exists, even you admit that, and it's not going to disappear, so like it or not you'll have to deal with it. And if what Prue said is true and we are soul mates, I mean how can you turn away from that. Surely that guarantees that in the end we will be happy" Cole said.
"There are never any guarantees to happiness Cole. And yes, you're right I'm gonna have to deal with it, and probably soon. But one thing at a time, I'm gonna deal with my sisters and finalize my divorce before I go thinking about soul mates and such. Just give me some time, please" Phoebe said.
"Of course, I've waited for you for about twelve years now a few weeks or a month won't kill me" Cole said.
"Thank you" Phoebe said.
"Excuse me, is there a Ms. Halliwell here?" a nurse called out.
Phoebe and Cole both jumped up and rushed to the nurse. The Nurse gave Cole an odd look and Phoebe found herself saying "Oh that's just my boyfriend; you can talk freely in front of him."
"Alright then. Two of your sisters, a Mrs. Piper Halliwell and a Mrs. Paige Matthews, are out of surgery, and both surgeries were successful. They are on the way to a full recovery, particularly Mrs. Matthews, she is doings splendidly, she will be healing fine. And Mrs. Piper Halliwell is doing well too, she will take longer to heal, but she'll be fine" the nurse told them.
"But what about Prue?" Phoebe asked worried.
"Well, umm I'm sorry to tell you this…" The nurse said.
Phoebe bit her lip and reached back grabbing ahold of Coles hand in panic, with a death grip.
"…she is out of surgery too, but well her condition is still unstable, so we really don't know what's going to happen. She appears to have slipped into a coma" the nurse said. "I'm so sorry."
Phoebe looked ready to faint or cry and Cole said "Can we see them?"
"Oh yes, they are in rooms 234, 246, and 228" the nurse told them.
"Okay, Phoebe, come on calm down for me, come on Hun, breathe" Cole told her as she started to hyperventilate. "Dammit Phoebe, don't do this, Prue needs you."
"What do you mean?" Phoebe asked.
"She needs you there, to talk to her. Often times that pulls people out of a coma. And neither of your sisters can go to her. You have to go to her, she needs you" Cole told her.
"You're right. But what about Paige and Piper?" Phoebe asked.
"I'll go check on them. I'll even go pick up flowers. I'll tell them about each others conditions too. And once I've done that I'll go to magic school and tell Leo about what has happened" Cole said.
"I don't know if you should tell Leo, I mean someone has to stay with the kids, and he'll die knowing Pipers hurt and he has to stay there. But having him here would make Piper heal faster I'm sure, I don't know" Phoebe said indecisive.
"Alright, its okay. I'll tell Leo about what happened. But first I'll pick up your friend Billy and bring her to magic school to watch the kids, okay?" Cole said.
"How do you know about Billy?" Phoebe asked.
"That's a story for another day, there is not time right now. You just go concentrate on Prue, I'll handle the rest" Cole said.
"Thank you" Phoebe said "I don't know what I would have done without you today" And quickly she leaned up and kissed him on the cheek. And then she hurried off to see Prue. Cole stood for a moment, bringing his hand up to his cheek where she had kissed him and he smiled. Then he rushed off to the gift shop to get two bouquets of flowers.
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"Prue?" Phoebe said sitting down on the edge of Prue's bed, and taking her hand. "Come back to me Prue. You can't go leaving again. And what were you thinking doing something so suicidal like that! You should have been more careful, you don't always have to throw yourself in front of danger to protect us. Oh Prue, we just got you back and we are barely beginning to catch up. There is so much I want to tell you and show you. You have to come back; there is still so much you have to know. You can't leave me now, you just can't. I need you, we all need you. We can't take loosing you again. I love you, please come back. I love you Prue. Please don't leave me Prue" Phoebe said crying softly. She slowly got up on the bed too and curled up next to Prue and slowly drifted off the sleep, her last words being "Don't leave me Prue."
Several hours later Phoebe awoke to find eyes meeting hers. "Prue" she whispered as though afraid she would disappear if she blinked.
"Ya… I heard you, I could hear you. You told to com back, that you needed me." Prue said.
"Thank god, I was so scared Prue, I thought we were gonna loose you again." Phoebe told her.
"Don't worry, I won't leave you. I love you" Prue said.
"I love you too" Phoebe said. And slowly she got up, making sure to give Prue as gentle hug before she got off the bed. She saw a piece of Paper on the chair next to the bed and picked it up and read it out loud "Phoebe, we saw that you were asleep and decided to leave you with Prue. Cole and I took Piper and Paige home. Call me once you wake up. Love Leo."
"Well you better call them and tell them I'm awake. And while you are at it, ask the nurses when I can leave" Prue said.
"Wow, you aren't even awake ten minutes and already you're acting all bossy, good to see that your injuries to the head haven't changed you" Phoebe said jokingly.
"Oh you, go do as I say, I want to get out of here" Prue said.
"Alright, I'll be back in a bit" Phoebe said and went in search of a nurse.
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A few days later Phoebe, Piper and Paige all sat downstairs for the first time since the attack.
"I'm so glad you two are up and about again" Phoebe said.
"Ya, me too, although I still don't totally understand what happened. So tell us what really happened? " Paige asked "After I lost consciousness I mean, how did we manage to make it?"
"Well our survival can be placed in the hands of two people, neither of which you like" Phoebe said.
"Oh really, so how did we get away?" Paige asked again.
"Well right after you lost consciousness we were trying to get you up the stairs and it was an impossible task, we never would have had the time, if not for Prue. I have no idea what she thought she was doing, I mean I do, but I can't believe she did it. She threw herself at the demon and hung onto him, to buy us time. She had to know what he would do to her" Piper said starting to cry "But she did it, she held him just long enough."
"What do you mean she had to know what he was gonna do to her?" Paige asked.
"Well, she doesn't have her real powers now, she did not have a chance of actually fighting him, she was just trying to give us time to get away to the book, she knew she did not have a prayer of hurting him, and that he would hurt her. It was a fool's move, she shouldn't have done it" Piper said crying.
"But what happened to her?" Paige asked.
"He threw her through the front door, I thought she was dead, she was not moving and there was so much blood" Piper said sobbing.
"If she knew he would hurt her why would she do something so suicidal, she has to know that even white lighters can die from blood lose or sever enough wounds" Paige said horrified.
"Well she did it because she's Prue, and that's what she does. She's always done that, why do you think that she was the one to die. She always put our safety before hers and put herself in the path of danger to keep it from us" Phoebe said also sobbing.
"I don't understand why you both are crying" Paige said.
"Its just that, seeing her sacrificing herself again, seeing those actions of such love, it makes me feel so guilty that we let her and that we lost her. And it's also just that she loves us that much, it's just astounding the way she gives and gives to us, and she always has, it's kinda a realization of it all. It's probably why she was chosen as a white lighter, because she gives freely and without reserve to those she loves and I feel so blessed and loved by her. Its almost half sad tears and half happy" Phoebe told her and Piper nodded in agreement, seeming moved to the point of speechlessness.
"Oh" was all Paige said.
"Paige it's just that you don't see her like we do. I don't know why you dislike her so much, but I know whatever your reasons are they are just in your head and are insubstantial. I know this because there really is not any reason why you shouldn't love her as much as we do. She's one of the best people I know. She has always looked out for Piper and me, since we were kids. She practically had to give up her own childhood to raise us, and she did it, without complaint. And although she and I fought like cats and dogs when we were younger, if I needed her she would still be there in a moment. She took care of any bullies that might dare mess with us and held us when we cried. She was practically both mother and sister to us. And once we became charmed, she was always there protecting us. Stepping in front of whatever was oncoming to keep us from having to. She was always leading the way, first to be there when something went wrong. She held us together, and kept us alive. Without her there we wouldn't be here now. She loved us, probably more than anyone else ever has. I don't know what you are seeing when you look at her, but its wrong. Because that's what I see, and there's nothing there for you to hate" Phoebe told her.
Piper nodded and said "She was our best friend; the three of us were beyond close. I think I can speak for both Phoebe and I in saying that when she died, we wanted to go with her, and nothing in our life has been as hard as loosing her, not loosing Grams, or even mom. She was so much of our lives, every memory is associated with her, she was always there supporting us whether she liked what we were doing or not. She kept herself from living a life and going after her dreams to make sure that Phoebe and I could do so. She was so selfless and we wouldn't be where we are today without her. We love her more than anything and having her back is the greatest blessing and miracle that could ever occur."
They all turned when they heard a choked sob from behind them, and there stood Prue, clearly struggling not to cry.
"Oh you guys… god, I just missed you guys so much" Prue sobbed and Phoebe and Piper leapt up to wrap themselves in a tight three-way hug, all of them not ever wanting to let go.
"Guys, I don't know what to say. I just love you guys so much. I'm so sorry that I was not here for everything, all your important moments" Prue sobbed.
"Do not apologize, never apologize for that. And besides, you were here, you were always with us in our hearts, and especially during our important moments" Phoebe said also sobbing.
"Ya, you've been with us every moment, and we've always always hoped and prayed you'd come back to us" Piper sobbed.
"I know, I'm so sorry for not coming earlier. Not a week went by when I did not ask to be allowed to visit. I think that may be why they gave in and made me a white lighter to get rid of me. I missed you guys every minute, but I watched over you, all the time" Prue said continuing to sob.
"It's alright" Piper said still crying "We always knew that is was not your fault that you did not come, and knew you wanted to. We're just so glad that you finally are here. For that I can forgive the elders anything."
"I love you guys…" Prue said between sobs, "and I promise never to leave you guys again."
"That's good, since I don't think we could survive loosing you again" Phoebe told her.
"Ya, we couldn't bear it again" Piper said softly.
"You won't ever have to" Prue promised.
They all slowly turned as they heard Paige say "Umm…" and trail off unsure of what she should be doing. She looked very uncomfortable and awkward with all three sets of eyes on her.
"Oh Paige, I'm sorry, we did not mean to just ignore you" Phoebe said.
"Its ok, I mean you guys still probably have a lot of things to sort out and talk about, I don't belong here, so I'm just gonna go" Paige said.
It was Prue who finally asked "What do you mean you don't belong here?"
"What, oh nothing. I mean its just you guys are all… but never mind its nothing" Paige trailed off again.
"Paige, this is your home and family as much as any of ours" Phoebe told her.
"Is it?" Paige asked.
"Of course, how can you even ask that?" Piper said.
"I don't know. I guess I've just been scared. Scared that now with Prue back you won't need me anymore, that I'll lose you, that you will forget me" Paige said sadly.
"Paige, that will never happen. You are a part of this family, whether you like it or not, and there is no changing that now. Nothing will change that, not the entrance or exit of any number of family members. We love you, as you, we don't love you because we need you, and even if we stopped needing you, which we haven't, we'd still love you and want you around. I'm really sorry if our paying so much attention to Prue has made you feel left out or slighted, that really was not our intention. We were just so thrilled to have Prue back we never considered that you might feel like this or feel left out" Phoebe told her.
"Actually, it had nothing to do with what you've been doing lately. This fear has kinda always been with me. While you were praying for Prue to come back I was praying for the opposite, having her come back was my worst fear. And now suddenly it's been realized" Paige said.
"Why? Why am I your biggest fear? You hadn't even met me" Prue stated.
"I know, and that was part of it probably, the fear of the unknown. But basically I knew that you were the only possible person who could make them forget me or get rid of me" Paige said.
"But why would you think I would do that?" Prue asked.
"I don't know. I'm not even sure that it is that I think you will do it, its just that you could, and the fear of knowing that, that suddenly on a whim you could destroy my life, that's probably where its based off" Paige told her.
"But I'd never do that" Prue responded.
"Wouldn't you?" Paige asked "You've made your dislike of me quite clear, I just figured it was just a matter of time. I may not have liked you, but you did not like me either."
"It was not that I did not like you, it was that I was jealous of all the time and experiences that you got to have with our sisters. And you were being so antagonistic; and that was what led to the dislike, you always being so bitchy" Prue told her.
Paige paused looking unsure of what to say now. "I've always been afraid of you Prue and resentful. I was afraid that I'd never be as good as you and resentful that I had to fill your place and live up to your name. I was afraid that you'd take everything away from me, and so resentful that you could. I was so afraid that they loved you more than me and that I'd never get them to love me as much. I hated you for that, for having them love you so much when you were gone and I felt like somehow they loved you even dead more than me. I always felt that I just was not as good as you and that because of that I'd always be second in their hearts. And I hated you for it, I hated you and was so afraid of you and honestly wished that you'd never even been born, that I could have been here the whole time" Paige said starting to cry.
Piper, Phoebe and Prue looked beyond shocked; they looked and felt completely speechless. What could you say in response to that? Piper started to say something, but Prue shook her head, no.
"Paige, I'm sorry that I caused you so much pain. You have to know that I never meant to and never knew I did. You don't need to try and fill my shoes or my place, you never did. You aren't expected to be me, I'm the only one who can do that, and you shouldn't try, it's not right, and not fair. You are allowed to be who you are, you never needed to change or mold yourself into my image, and you shouldn't try to hold yourself up against me. I'm just one witch, and other than being a charmed one, I'm nothing extraordinary. This just is not coming out right. Let me try again. You are an individual Paige, an amazing individual who has gone through so much and come so far. You are an amazing witch who has done wonderful things. You have nothing to be ashamed of or feel unworthy about. You are a charmed one, by your own right. You have earned your place, as the third charmed one, as Paige. That's third spot in the charmed group belongs to you now, as yourself, and it will always be your place. You earned it and deserve it. I'm never going to take it from you, it's yours, forever whether you like it or not. I had my turn and now it's yours. The charmed ones were broken, you did not come in and replace me, you came in and rebuilt the charmed ones with our sisters, it's a different charmed ones than it was with me. And that's ok, that's how it's supposed to be. And I'm proud of you. You did an amazing thing; you saved our sisters and so many others. You should be proud of yourself and what you have done, you are in no way inferior to me, and you never were. You're just different, and that's how it's meant to be, things are just how they are supposed to be. And I'm happy where I am now, and I'm so glad that you are here to be a charmed one with our sisters. I'm truly proud of you, of all of you, of all you've done and accomplished. You've done so much and I'm so proud to be your sister. I always felt jealous while up there, but still proud. I always wanted to be a sister to you and to know you. I was terribly hurt at how you acted when I met you and I lashed out and that started a terrible pattern that prevented me from getting to do what I had always planned. If it is possible, and if you are agreeable. I'd like to start over, and try being your sister, and actually getting to know you" Prue said, slightly teary eyed.
Paige on the other hand was not just teary eyed, but crying. "Thank you, it means so much that you are proud of me and think that I deserve to be a charmed one. I'm so sorry for being so horrible, you did not deserve it, and I don't deserve another chance, but I'd still love to have one. Phoebe and Piper love you so much, and I'd love to get the chance to get to know the person that they know and love so much."
Prue smiled and took a step nearer to Paige, hesitantly opening her arms. Paige walked into them and the sisters embraced, both crying softly.
They looked up to see that Phoebe and Piper were both crying too.
"We're just so glad to see you two like this, we always hoped that we'd be able to be one big happy family" Phoebe said.
At that Prue opened her arms wider motioning them to come over. And within seconds Piper and Phoebe joined in the group hug, feeling, finally, for the first time ever, like a real happy family.
Finally after they all got a chance to calm down Paige said "So wait, you said that there was another person involved in our rescue, I assume it was Cole, since when I woke up at the hospital he was sitting in my room."
"Ya, it was. I better explain how it came about so you don't freak. So Piper and I dragged you up the stairs and Piper put stuff in front of the door while I looked in the book. I found the demon and saw that he was upper level and required a potion of his flesh to be vanquished, just like Belthazor I said to Piper. And then the demon broke through and just as Piper was hit with an energy ball she told me to call Cole. And so, with the demon standing before me with an energy ball in hand, I did just that, just in time might I add. And then Cole hit him with energy balls until he left" Phoebe said "And then he shimmered me and you guys to the hospital and helped me out. Actually he was a total lifesaver, keeping me calm, going to get Leo and Billy and taking care of all the details and paperwork, I was not very calm and rational at the time, so I couldn't have managed without him."
"Well, that's surprising" Paige said.
"Ya, I thought so too, but he was great. He defiantly left me with a lot to think about" Phoebe said.