Chapter 16 – Bad Day.

"Baby, you still love me! That is such great news…"

"No, it isn't! Its horrible news; and it makes me the guilty one because, whichever way you skew it, I'm the one cheating!" She jumped up and started pacing. "My God, where does this leave me?"

"Come and live with me in San Francisco! Bring Grace, we can start our own little family… we could be happy together, like we always wanted. And she's a demon, Steffi; how do you think Phil would react if he saw little three year old Grace torching a pot-plant with a fireball? Or shimmering into your bed because she's had a nightmare? Or conjuring her pacifier out of nowhere? If it was you and I, we could tell her that it's normal for her to do these things, and we wouldn't overreact if she accidentally blew her bed up." Steffi looked torn, between her fantasy and her reality.

"But Phil would accept these things, I know he would…"

"Why haven't you told him about your powers before, then?" Cole asked gently.

"There hasn't been a right time… you need to pick your moments carefully you know. It's not like I can say during sex, 'hey baby, guess what? I've got magical powers!'"

"I accept that, but at the same time you need to tell him, sooner rather than later."

"But… but… I can't do that to him, Cole."

"Then come with me; you don't have to explain anything that way. I already know."

"Phil means more to me than that, he deserves more than that. I couldn't just skip out on him!" There was a sudden wailing from Steffi's room, and she ran into her room. "Gracie? Shhh its okay honey… it's all okay… Mommy's here…" Cole sat down, listening to Steffi's attempts to calm her daughter. He thought how great she sounded, and heard Grace start to calm down. Then, Steffi appeared in the doorway looking panicked.

"What is it, Steffi?"

"Grace… she's burning up. Oh God Cole, what if she's sick?"

"Calm down honey, I'm sure she's fine." He went into the room and put a hand on Grace's forehead, his brow furrowing as he felt the heat coming off her.

"I'm taking her to the hospital… don't frown like that! What is it?"

"When did she get this rash?"

"Wh-what rash?" Cole showed her the cluster of purple dots on Grace's little arm. "I haven't seen that before… Jesus, what's wrong with her?" Steffi ran over to Grace and picked her up. Cole conjured a glass and pressed it against the rash. The spots did not fade.

"I think… it might be meningitis."

"What? How could she… I've got to call Phil." She picked up the phone and dialled the number.

"NYPD, how can I help?"

"Nadia, get Phil for me! It's urgent."

"Umm okay…" There was a click as Nadia put the call through.

"Cammy? What's up sweetie?"

"Gracie's sick!" Steffi's voice broke as she began to cry. "I-I think it might be meningitis… oh God Phil, what am I gonna do?"

"Calm down honey… where are you?"

"A-at home."

"I'll be there in ten." He slammed the phone down and started to leave. Before he could even get a foot out of the door, his commander yelled,

"Gregory! Where do you think you're going??"

"Sir, my four day old daughter is sick and my wife is quite rightly panicking. We have to get her to the hospital, but Carmella is getting hysterical and I've got to be there for her sir, I've got to!" There was a wolf whistle from the back of the room.

"Carmella hysterical? I wouldn't mind being there for that, especially if she started ripping her clothes off!" Amidst the jeers and whistles, Phil slipped out of the office and jumped in his car. He was at the apartment in seven minutes.

As soon as Phil opened the door, Steffi ran up to him and sobbed as he held her close. After a minute, he said softly,

"Where's Gracie now?" Steffi pointed wordlessly at the cot, and watched through teary eyes as Phil checked on her. "Let's go," Phil said, looking serious.

"She's really sick, isn't she?" Steffi said worriedly as they sprinted down the stairs to the car.

"It's not looking good, I know that much."

"After I lost the first baby… I can't lose Gracie, I just can't."

"We're not going to lose her," said Phil as he strapped the bawling Grace into her car seat. "Not if I can help it, anyway." Steffi got in the car and bit her thumbnail nervously.

"Drive, Phil," she murmured when he clambered into the driver's seat. "Drive as fast as you can."

Cole watched as the car drove off, and bit his lip. He hoped that they got there in time, for all their sakes. As he faded out, he pocketed the precious little cotton bud.

A/N and Disclaimer: Nope I don't own copyright to Charmed or Cole.

Well that was a bit dramatic. I mean, how plausible is that? Good thing this is fiction.