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Chapter 9 Awake
Charlie watched as Cole paced back and forth in front of the doorway to Phoebe's room. He hated him, if it hadn't been for him, he would have Phoebe right now, instead of standing back in the shadows. He had his plan already, once they left, once he had his chance, he would make a break for Phoebe's room. If he couldn't have her, no one could.
Prue sat there in the waiting room alone, thinking about Andy. Piper had gone with Leo to see if they could track down Dr. Harris. Kyle had fallen asleep in a chair in Paige's room. He hadn't left that room yet. Cole sat in a chair in the hallway. They had made him move earlier, just so that he wouldn't be in the way. Prue's thoughts wondered, back to the warehouse. If Andy hadn't stopped her she wouldn't be sitting here right now, worried about wether or not Charlie was close by. She looked up to see Piper talking to Dr. Harris, making their way past Cole in the hallway. Quickly, she stood and made her way to them.
"Basically Ms. Halliwell, your sister's a fighter. She's improved tremendously over the past few hours."
"When can we see her?" Prue asked as she joined by her sister.
"She can have visitors now. I need to warn you though, she is still hooked up to machines. We have one monitoring her heart and another helping her breath. She won't be able to talk to you, but she can hear you." With that he led the way to Phoebe's doorway.
The room was quiet except for the occasional beep coming from the large monitor beside her bed. Prue looked down at her sister, the same girl she had argued with just weeks earlier, the same girl who was always so full of spirit and laughter. That same girl just lay there now in front of her. Her body was motionless except for the rise and fall of her chest. That was in unison with what looked like a filter in a tube. He eyes were both bruised and her nose swollen. She looked oddly peaceful.
Piper reached down and took Phoebe's pale hand into her own. "Hey Pheebs, it's Piper." She watched as Phoebe's eyelids twitched for a minute before opening slightly. "You're in the hospital honey."
Phoebe pulled her hand from Piper's and gestured for a pen. Prue handed her a pen and a note pad that was sitting by the bed. She waited as Phoebe started to write with a shaky hand. With tears in her eyes she turned it around to Prue. The paper simply said Paige?
Prue smiled a little. "She's going to be fine, she's right down the hall."
You could see the relief in her eyes, she placed the pad down and began to write again. Turning the pad around for them both to see this time...I'm sorry. A tear rolled slowly down her pale cheek.
"It's not your fault Phoebe." Prue came closer and sat on the edge of the bed. "The police are taking care of everything. I promise you won't ever have to worry about Charlie again."
Piper leaned down and hugged her sister gently. "There's someone waiting to see you." She turned to the door and motioned for Cole.
He smiled as his eyes met with Phoebe's. "Hey."
Phoebe reached her hand out and took his.
"We'll leave you two alone." Prue turned and walked out with Piper. "We should tell Paige."
"Wait." Piper reached up and caught Prue by the arm, stopping her. "You didn't tell her about Charlie."
"She doesn't need to know, at least not right now." Prue's face was stern as she turned to walk again.
"Prue." Piper called out, stopping her once more.
"Yea."
"Are you mad at me?" Piper's voice almost sounded child like.
"What?" Prue asked.
"I didn't mean what I said, about you not being mom. I know I screwed up with Leo..."
Prue cut her off. "I'm not mad at you Piper. I'm happy you've found someone. It's my job to be overprotective. It's my job to keep you guys safe." Prue felt like breaking down, but she knew she couldn't. She had to stay strong. She stood there feeling like she had let everyone down.
"It's ok to admit you're scared Prue." Piper reached up and placed her hand on her big sister's shoulder. "I'm scared too. You may be the oldest, but that doesn't mean you're not human."
Prue turned away before Piper could see the tears in her eyes. "We need to tell Paige about Phoebe."
Piper followed behind her, not wanting to push the subject. They both couldn't help but smile as the walked in. Kyle was sitting in the chair with his head leaned back resting against the wall. With his mouth wide open an occasional snore would escape.
"At least I have something on him now." Paige smiled at her sisters as they walked closer to her bed.
"How are you feeling?" Prue asked as she sat on one side of the bed while Piper plopped down on the other."
"Pretty good, hungry, but good."
"We have some good news." Piper looked over at Prue who nodded, giving her the ok to tell Paige. "Phoebe's awake."
"Really?" Paige couldn't hide the excitement in her voice.
"Yea, we just left from her room." Prue looked out the window and saw Leo motioning for her.
"I'll be right back." She walked out side looking at a very worried Leo. "What's wrong?"
"Andy called, he's on his way back here." He pulled Prue away from Paige's door just in case they could hear him. "They have officer's searching the building now. Charlie's car was spotted about a block from here."
"Are you kidding me?"
"I wish I were. Andy wants us all to stay together. I talked to the nurse about having Paige moved in with Phoebe. She's suppose to talk to Dr Harris and then let us know. There are officers posted by every elevator on this floor."
"He can't possibly be stupid enough to come here." Prue threw her hands up and started to pace.
"What's going on?" Piper asked as she walked out.
"Explain it to her." Prue motioned for Leo as she started to walk down the hallway. Just as she saw Cole coming from Phoebe's door a fire alarm began to ring. Doctors, nurses and security guards started pushing them down the hallway away further and further from Phoebe's door.
"You'll have to evacuate miss."
"My sister's in there." Prue tried to fight her way through but was helpless against the weight of people coming her way.
"You're sister will be fine. The staff knows what to do." The guard continued to push Prue and Cole down the hallway.
Prue couldn't help but think that something wasn't right. She watched as a group of nurses went into Phoebe's room. A guy walked in behind them. Prue didn't think it was Dr Harris because of his build. She watched trying to catch a glimpse of him. Charlie looked up with a crooked smile. He winked at Prue as she continued to get pushed further and further down the hall.
"No!" Prue screamed and started to fight harder.
"What is it?" Cole asked.
"Charlie!" Prue pointed down the hall.
Cole looked up, he didn't see him. He didn't have to see him. Just the tone of Prue's voice made him believe her. He started fighting with her until the guards started to loosen their hold.
Prue caught a glimpse of a familiar face going through the crowd. "Andy!" She screamed.
He turned to her. Between the chaos of people and alarms going off her couldn't understand what she was saying. He watched closer.
"Charlie!" Prue screamed and pointed down the hall to Phoebe's room.
Andy turned to look and saw nurses coming from the room. They almost looked afraid. He watched as what looked like a doctor came from the room pushing Phoebe in wheel chair.
Charlie looked up and directly at Andy. Quickly he turned and started pushing Phoebe down the hallway in the opposite direction.
Andy gave chase pushing past nurses and patients. He watched as Kyle looked up confused from behind the wheelchair Paige was now in. "Get her out of here." He ordered as he continued to run. He came to an opening at the end of the hallway just in time to see the back of Charlie's coat turning the corner. "Stop!" He screamed as he began to run again, taking his gun out and pointing it down the corridor. He turned the corner to see Charlie standing there, trapped. There was no way out of this hallway. "Just let her go." He held his gun steady, aimed at Charlie.
"You don't understand." Charlie began. "Phoebe's my girl."
Andy could see how pale Phoebe was. The tube was gone from her mouth as she weakly tried to call for help. "Last time Charlie, let her go." He walked closer now able to see the gun that Charlie held in his hand.
Charlie lifted the gun up, now aiming it at Andy. "You can't stop me."
Prue turned the corner with Cole on her heals just in time to hear the shots fire. She watched in horror as Andy fell to the ground. Down at the other end of the hallway Charlie stumbled backwards until his back finally came against the wall. He left a blood trail there as his body slid down the wall, coming to rest in a sitting position.
Prue slid down on her knees, lifting Andy up into her lap. "Andy."
He looked up at her, smiling through the pain. "Aren't you glad they make us wear these?" He unbuttoned his shirt revealing the bullet proof vest.
Prue let out a sigh of relief as she wrapped her arms around him.