She sat up as her scream echoed throughout the passages. She felt the perspiration on her body as she shook with the cool air on her skin.
She closed her eyes to images that had been in her head. Her mind drifting to those she loved. It was at that moment that she felt the arms wrap around her, giving her comfort. She felt safe and that was all she needed as she buried herself into the warm arms, her tears running freely.
Prue spun her head around and stared at him. Piper stopped dead in her tracks on the stairs and Leo was to stunned to even move.
"Yes you heard me right. I took Phoebe when the demon attacked. I knew Leo could heal the two of you, so I took my chance in getting Phoebe back to the Forefathers."
Everyone still held their ground. Had he raelly said what they had heard.
"You? You took her?" Prue finally managed to get out. Though she could feel her anger inside starting to rise higher then it already had been.
He cast a glance at each one in the room. "I am sorry. When the two of you went down, I had to save Phoebe. I was sent here to retrieve her anyway. She is safe for now."
"For now!?! How dare you stand there and tell us what is best for our sister!" Piper yelled as she made her way back into the living room.
"Piper. They needed to heal her mind and body after what she went through with Roger. I am sorry. I tried to find another way, but they would not have it. But you must understand that they did this for all of you."
"I want my sister back and I want her back now!" Piper nearly growled at the man before her.
Prue was still stunned but stood beside Piper to back her up. Her younger sister spoke the words she was about to.
"It's not that easy." He finally said.
Leo saw the explosion about to happen and quickly stepped between his boss and the sisters. "Look. I think I understand what is going on," He said to the Elder, "Can you take them to her? It may help Phoebe as much as them."
"That is forbidden."
"I don't give a crap what is forbidden. If you have the ability to take us to Phoebe, take us." Prue now let her own anger out.
He looked at Leo knowing that the whitelighter would understand.
"He can't." Leo finally said holding the gaze of his boss, "He can only go when he is summoned."
Piper tossed her arms up in the air in defeat, "Great. So Phoebe is up there somewhere going through god knows what, alone! This is so typical of them," she said aggravated that they had once again meddled in their lives.
She felt the warmth of the blanket on her skin. But everything was still confusing to her. She recalled things that she didn't feel were possible. But somehow she knew were real. She blinked her eyes open and shut as she felt the pain in her body and mind. But she felt the comforting hand on her arms.
"Rest Phoebe. It will be all over soon." The voice came from the darkness but yet it was right there.
She opened her eyes and focused on the voice and the darkness. "Grams?"
"Rest my darling. It's almost over." She said as she ran her hand over her granddaughters' head.
He watched them from the door, "She isn't ready."
"She needs to be back with her family now."
"It is not time yet."
"You know I don't care what you think. Either you send her back to them. Or I will go down there and bring them to her. The choice is yours. But do not think for one moment that I am not serious." Penny raised her voice enough to make her point, but not enough to wake her grandchild.
He looked at her face and saw her determination.
"Maybe it would be for the better if they saw her and her them. It could make the healing process quicker for her." He finally gave in, "Take her. The rest the three of them can handle together. But do not tell them of what is to come."
Penny looked at him defiantly before making her way back over to Phoebe. She placed her arms under her and carefully lifted her up. Phoebe, luckily for her, was always the light one of the family, and she was glad to see that that had not changed. Giving him one last glare she disappeared in a bask of light.
"This is ridiculous." Prue shot back at him. She knew they were getting nowhere, but yelling at him made her feel a little better.
He went to say something but heard the call in his mind. Like Leo, he turned to the heavens answering an unheard voice.
They all recognized the sign of him talking to someone in his mind. Leo had done it enough times for them not to see it.
"Things are moving faster then they are suppose to. Be prepared for trying times. But know this. You requested the duty before you." He finished as he suddenly disappeared.
"Ok and you tell me they are not cryptic. What the hell was that?" Piper turned and questioned Leo.
Prue placed her hand on Pipers arm wanting to diffuse the situation. She was as mad and angry as Piper was, but she knew aiming that anger at Leo wouldn't help. "Piper."
"No Prue. You cannot stand there and tell me you are ok with this crap. They took Phoebe from us. And when we finally got her back they took her again." She felt the tear well in her eyes.
All Prue could do was stand up and wrap her sister in a warm hug. But it was then, she saw the golden sparkle in the living room. Thinking it was the elder coming back she turned her fury on him.
"What you forget to take the knife out of our backs? You can not keep ruining our lives like this. We are through you hear me? You get your elder ass back there and …" Prue stop in mid sentence when she saw who was standing before her, "Grams?"
Penny caught her granddaughters eyes, "I'm sorry to be a inconvenience Prudence." She said as she placed Phoebe on the couch.
"Grams?" Piper looked at her grams and then made her way to Phoebe.
"I'm sorry my darlings. I did what I could for her. The rest of the road is hers."
"Grams I'm so sorry."
"It is ok my dear. Just wait next time till you see who is appearing in your living room." She said a she pulled Prue into a hug. "I have to go my dears. Take care of each other."
"No Grams wait. What about Phoebe?" Piper asked hoping her sister was going to be ok.
"I can not say Piper. But everything will explain itself sooner rather then later." She finished, as she disappeared in her golden lights.
Prue joined Piper near the couch as she ran her hand over the top of her sleeping sisters' head. Everything was getting more complicated in her mind then she cared to want. First her sister was dead. Then she was back. Then she was gone again. Now back. If she lost her again she swore to herself that she would just stop. They could fight their own battles with evil.
Piper held Phoebes hand in hers and then all she could do was stare at her baby sister as she slept.
--- ----
She felt in a daze, but she also felt the loving touch she had before. But somehow this was different. This touch was more intense then the one before that she had felt. She lifted the heaviness from her eyes and opened them. The only thing she saw was the intense love in the blue eyes above her.
"P..Prue?"
"I'm here sweetie." Prue answered as she brushed her hand along Phoebes cheek, cupping her face inside her hand. Holding to that moment in her mind. "I love you."
Phoebe held her eyes for a moment longer, "I love you too."
Piper felt the tears well in her eyes as she watched and listened to her sister. "I love you Phoebe." She said, as she reached over and looked down on her baby sister.
Piper heard the start of an answer but before she knew it Phoebe was gone. But when she went to say something to Prue she too was also gone.
"Leo!" She cried out as fear and panic ripped at her heart. But before she could even move her world went black and then she felt nothing.