Thanks for all the reviews: cancer-chris, 1treehillcharmed, charmed1979, Queen of Gabb 488, IDontBreakBonesJustHearts, Jedi Alanna, WelshCanuk, and charmedgirl-alyssaphoebe. Glad to see that people are still sticking with it.
A few comments:
1threehillcharmed: lol, no worries. Killing Piper would "kill" my story. Where would the ultimate power be without her?
WelshCanuk: I hope you were able to make that hair appointment, lol. Welcome, and I'm glad to hear you like the story so much.
cancer-chris: Welcome. Hope you continue to enjoy the rest of the chapters. Your questions will be answered as you read.
Queen of Gabb 488: You'll wait that long, huh, lol? Good, I hope that you and I are around that long because Charmed should be. Hehe.
Okay, now on with the story ...
Chapter 25: Raging Storms
Surrounded by the bright light emanating everywhere within the Elder realm, a gentleman with graying hair took frantic strides in the direction of a room occupied by elect members of the Elder Council. It was a restricted area and off limits to non-members, especially when the Council was in session. Pushing open the double doors leading into the room, he stepped inside and paused to take a breath.
"Assign them to new charges ..." the voice of Emeritus could be heard drifting through the opened doors before they closed behind the Elder who had abruptly entered.
As the new leader of the Elder Council, Emeritus was seated at the head of the long rectangular table currently being utilized by all members. Immediately taking notice of the intruder, he stood up to address the other man.
"What is the meaning of this?" he blurted out. "You do not have permission to be here! Don't you know that I can have you sanctioned for this?"
Still out of breath, the other Elder held up his hand in an apologetic manner. "Pardon me, Sir. Please forgive the intrusion but this matter is of urgent importance and requires your immediate attention."
"What is so urgent that it couldn't withstand a few more moments before this meeting was called to its end?" Emeritus accused in an irritated fashion.
"It's the Afterlife Council, Sir. It's a summons for you to appear before them. Someone has made an official accusation directed against the Elder Council and its conduct. You are to make an appearance before them immediately," the junior Elder informed him.
The posture of Emeritus stiffened as the other members seated around the table began to share whisperings of shock and disbelief amongst one another. The Elder performing the task of messenger took some tentative steps forward in the direction of Emeritus to deliver the formal written directive in the form of a summons.
"Silence!" Emeritus ordered to the other members, while accepting the piece of paper from the other Elder's extended hand. "We will have order."
The incessant chattering that had been mounting was short-lived and the members recollected themselves. Emeritus used his eyes to scan the written contents of the summons. He became more and more enraged with each passing word. Everyone in the room carefully observed his demeanor and awaited further instruction in complete silence.
"Session dismissed!" he announced. "Phalmis, Xenus, and Ramar please remain seated. Everyone else is free to disperse."
The three Elders looked to each other, confusion spreading across their faces. The other members of the Council arose and exited the room leaving the four remaining Elders behind. The Elder responsible for delivering the message was about to exit with the others but halted his movement as Emeritus called out to him.
"Kraton?"
The Elder slowly turned around to face the Senior Elder. "Yes, Sir?"
"I would like for you to summon Dimitri," came his final instruction while crumpling the paper within his hand. "Immediately!"
The piece of paper magically dissolved into nothing.
"Yes, Sir. Right away Sir," Kraton nodded his head in response before turning around to leave the room for good.
X
The intense pounding of her heart increased.
The quick steady beats were the only thing she could feel after they had received the dreaded phone call. At one point, she even blocked out Victor's voice completely. As the information finally registered, the look which had befallen her face gave rise to the panic now coming from her two other sisters.
"Prue, what's the matter?" Phoebe implored. "Tell us."
Without answering, Prue ended the phone call somewhat in a daze. The three sisters were all standing in the kitchen after Billie had finished explaining about the incantation that would be responsible for igniting the new power the four sisters would share. A power that would allow them to defeat Gideon and the rest of the Triad once and for all.
"Prue?" Paige urged. The body language coming from their sister was enough to tell her that something was definitely wrong.
"Prue, why aren't you answering us?" Phoebe demanded to know.
"Did you win the lottery or something?" Paige cracked, trying to break the tension with a little bit of sisterly humor.
After a small amount of random pacing that went back and forth in front of both sisters, Prue suddenly stopped. "We have to go!"
"What? Why?" questioned Phoebe as both she and Paige followed Prue from the kitchen, into the dining room and finally into the foyer.
"Because Piper's in the hospital. She was in a car accident," Prue stated matter-of-factly. Think and stay calm, Prue had instructed herself. She didn't want to get emotional because somebody needed to remain strong and in control of the situation.
At the shocking news, the sisters stopped walking.
"Oh my god, what?" Phoebe exclaimed, taking a deep breath and placing a hand against her chest. Her other hand covered her mouth.
Paige's eyes began to water. "But she's okay?"
"What the hell happened?" Phoebe shared a look with Paige then looked back over to Prue.
"It wasn't serious, right?" Paige jumped back in again. "She has to be alright."
Prue was beginning to feel the pressures of non stop questions being shot at her from every direction and she brought both hands to the sides of her temple.
"Who has to be alright?" Billie interrupted.
All three sisters turned to Billie who was coming downstairs. However, when she caught the solemn expressions given back at her she stopped.
"Uh-oh," observed Billie. "What happened now?"
Prue sighed. "Victor called. Piper was in a car accident. She's in the ICU and they don't know if she's going to make it," she admitted, hoping to put to rest all of their questions until they had reached the hospital.
Piper's cell phone had been recovered from the wreckage completely intact and Victor's number had been the last one on the outgoing call list. Police officers on the scene had retrieved it to contact relatives. Upon learning that the man on the other end was indeed the woman's father, they delivered the devastating news then Victor called the manor. Piper had been on the receiving end of a head on collision from the left side, leaving her in the ICU, and labeled in critical condition at Bay General Hospital.
How could this be happening?
The three sisters entered the hospital with Billie in tow.
"Piper Halliwell?" Prue announced, taking charge at the reception desk.
The nurse attending the station was on the phone and she held up her hand to signal the woman standing before her that she would have to wait until she was finished. After her conversation ended, she hung up the phone.
"Are you family?" she addressed the women standing before her.
"Yes," Prue answered a little impatiently. "She's our sister. There was a car accident." Prue was remembering her own close call from a car accident years back. She had encountered somebody named the Dream Sorcerer?
The nurse turned her attention to the computer monitor. "What was the name again?"
"Piper Halliwell," interjected Phoebe. "I think she came in a little over an hour ago? Please tell us she's going to be alright?" she pleaded in a panic.
The nurse brought up the information on the computer screen. "I'm sorry but your sister underwent emergency surgery right after she was brought in. She's been placed in ICU," she informed them. "Visitation is restricted but if you'll take a seat in the waiting area I'm sure a doctor will be along shortly to update you on her condition."
"Visitation is restricted, are you kidding me?" vented Phoebe. "Our sister could be dying and you're shoving hospital policy down our throats?"
The nurse sighed. "I understand your frustration but, like I said, a doctor will be way more informative than I can be. I apologize but that's all I'm able to give you. The waiting area is just around the corner," she pointed.
"She's pregnant," blurted Paige, fearing the worst. "What about the baby?"
"I'm sorry," the nurse offered. "I'm sure the doctor will update you on everything you need to know."
"Yeah, thanks," Prue turned around and rolled her eyes.
Billie quietly followed the sisters in the direction of the waiting area. After they turned the corner, they were greeted by the sight of Victor and the three kids. Molly came running in the direction of Prue.
"Mommy!" she squealed as she ran into Prue's arms.
Prue bent down to pick her up.
"Grandpa said Auntie Piper got really hurt," she told her mother, "and that she had to come here so the doctors could make her better again."
Prue smiled at her daughter. "Grandpa's right, baby."
It was difficult to keep up the pretenses so Prue's smile dropped as soon as Victor approached Billie and the sisters. He held Chris in his arms and carried his own somber expression that matched the women.
Phoebe rushed forward to embrace her father. "Dad!" she exclaimed.
While father and daughter shared a hug, Victor locked eyes with Prue who was standing behind her sister. She broke the stare. At the same time, Paige hoisted Wyatt up into her arms and planted a kiss on his head.
"How is she?" Phoebe broke out of the hug.
"Not sure," Victor answered with some clear hesitation.
Billie was sensing that the news probably wasn't good and reasoned that the details probably shouldn't be shared with the children present. She figured the sisters could update her with whatever the news was later on. Slowly, she stepped beside Paige and reached out to gently rub Wyatt's back in a soothing gesture. The little boy was sucking on his thumb with his head resting against Paige's shoulder.
Billie clapped her hands together. "Hey, what do you say we go get a snack while the doctors make mommy all better?" she smiled.
Wyatt perked his small head up. "Ice Cream."
"I want ice cream too," Molly spoke up and then struggled to get down out of her mother's arms. Prue put her down.
Victor and the sisters immediately sensed where Billie was going with it. Paige placed Wyatt back down on the floor and Billie reached for his hand.
"Yeah, that's probably not a bad idea," Victor agreed. "Thanks," he offered as Billie smiled as Victor handed Chris over to her.
"No problem," Billie nodded.
Prue watched Molly go to Billie with some slight hesitation. After only being reunited with her daughter for such a short period of time, it still made her nervous to let her out of her sight for too long. The recent discovery regarding Gideon and the Triad's plans to come after the kids only served to increase those reservations. Billie, sensing what was troubling Prue, tried to offer some reassurance.
"You can trust me," Billie told her. "I can handle things if they come up so don't worry."
Prue nodded with a faint smile. "Molly, don't wander off. Stay with Billie at all times. Understand?" she instructed her daughter.
Molly nodded. "Uh-huh."
"Good. I love you," Prue blew Molly a kiss. "Be extra careful," she addressed Billie.
Billie smiled back. "We'll be fine. I promise."
Billie headed in the direction of the hospital cafeteria with Chris in her arms and the two other children at both her sides.
X
"This is a disaster!" exclaimed Ramar.
The four remaining Elders were discussing the impending indictment being directed against them. It was clear that the ramifications resulting from Gideon's leadership were now in full force. In addition to Gideon, they had been the only other Elders to survive the attack made by the Titans in the Elder realm over three years ago. They were the last remaining original members from the Elder Council. All of the other members had become new appointees and weren't well acquainted with Gideon or his decisions from the past like the other four were. The new members on the Council had only known Gideon for a short period of time before his demise.
"What are we going to do?" inquired Xenus. "We shouldn't be made to pay for what Gideon did all those years ago."
"Yes but we agreed to it," Phalmis reminded them. "All of us decided it was for the best."
"But the Afterlife Council won't see it that way!" Xenus panicked. "What if they know about the Avatar?"
"Then we deny it," suggested Ramar. "There's no proof. Besides, it was Gideon who was in direct communication with him, not us."
"How will we be able to deny it?" Xenus argued. "We tampered with the original Charmed Prophecy to prevent the Ultimate Power from existing. They will seek out an answer as to how we were able to accomplish such a feat. We used an Avatar to do it or don't you remember?"
Phalmis rolled his eyes. "Of course we remember, Xenus. It's why we instituted the rule prohibiting whitelighters from being with their charges all those centuries ago. To prevent the birth of a fourth and to protect the power of three."
"And all the good that did!" exclaimed Ramar. "By the time Gideon found out about Paige's existence, it was too late. We should have taken the eldest one after her birth like we originally intended to and have been done with it."
"We couldn't take that chance," defended Phalmis. "Prue was the first-born. The first Charmed One. We needed to ensure that the Power of Three would come into existence. Patty was threatening to renounce herself as a witch. The deal had to be made."
Emeritus listened quietly to the debate bouncing back and forth. Finally, he decided to offer his own input regarding the predicament they currently found themselves in. "Which is why Gideon struck the deal with Prue after he found out about Paige," he declared before the other three. "This is all water under the bridge. We need to be concentrating on how to counter these allegations. With technicalities if need be."
All three Elders carefully contemplated the words of the head Elder.
"But Emeritus," Xenus protested with caution. "It's the technicalities that will be our undoing. Our Council is responsible for interfering with the grand-design on more than one occasion. We've broken universal codes by conspiring with an Avatar and using him to interfere. We've disrupted the mortal realm and uprooted magical destinies. Even within the immortal realm, Gideon went above the Afterlife Council by reinstating a mortal existence for Andrew Trudeau."
"Which has all been corrected," Emeritus asserted. "Andrew Trudeau is back in the immortal realm where he belongs. Prue has been reunited with her sisters so the Ultimate Power now stands a chance. We are no longer conversing with the Avatar."
"But they won't stand a chance without the incantation that was taken from the book," Ramar reminded them. "Gideon had the Avatar replace the original prophecy shortly after Melinda Warren's death. The amended version leaves out the incantation, the information pertaining to the fourth sister and the Ultimate Power."
"Gideon instructed the Avatar to destroy it," interjected Phalmis. "Didn't he?"
"Yes, but we don't really know what the Avatar did with it," Emeritus clarified. "Gideon came to suspect that the Avatar was playing both sides. Especially throughout the years with the spreading rumors in the Underworld about the coming of an ultimate power."
"But the Underworld couldn't have known about the incantation," Phalmis reasoned. "Dumain and the Triad thought Billie and Christy were the Ultimate Power. That's why they kidnapped the girl."
Emeritus listened carefully before responding. "Or so we thought!" he countered. "It's possible the Underworld may have been aware of things that we, ourselves, have been unaware. Prue was found by the Underworld and we still don't know how. We've just discovered that her younger daughter was abducted over a year ago and most likely held captive in the Underworld. We still don't know by who."
"Perhaps the Triad?" offered Xenus.
"Maybe," Emeritus relented. "We've just come to learn the truth about Billie's origins. But it still begs the question as to how her mortal sister obtained powers or how the Triad came to know about Prue or her other daughter to begin with."
"Perhaps the Underworld found out because of the Avatar?" Xenus speculated. "After all, we have no idea about his current whereabouts. Damn it, I knew using that Avatar would turn out to be a big mistake!"
"Or perhaps the Charmed Ones have figured all this out already?" Ramar spoke up. "And we would probably have the answers too if we were on better terms with them."
"Only the Charmed Ones can use the incantation, I hope," expressed Phalmis. "Isn't there some safeguard against that?"
"Not exactly," Emeritus hesitated. "Which is exactly why Gideon deemed the power to be a threat to the greater good. Evil can use the incantation. There's old dark magic rituals that will allow them to infuse themselves with the power if they recite it backwards. After constituting the power themselves, the Charmed Ones should destroy the incantation immediately."
"That's if it still exits," Phalmis reminded him. "Is there any other way for the sisters to constitute the power if the incantation is gone?"
"One," sighed Emeritus. He stood up from the table and began pacing around the table, hands behind his back. "Just one."
"Which is?" Ramar pressed.
"By summoning their dead ancestor," he answered. "Melinda Warren."
X
Victor and the three sisters sat huddled together in chairs.
Phoebe sat with her legs curled up under her. Paige flipped through a magazine in a distracted manner. She wasn't actually reading it but it was something she could do to keep her mind busy. Every now and again she would anxiously look up to see if anyone was coming with news on Piper's condition. Prue, on the other-hand, kept her attention on the bottled water in hand. She wasn't drinking it but instead used her straw to swirl the liquid content inside in a distracted manner.
"Somebody please tell me this isn't happening," Phoebe muttered. The events of the entire day left her feeling mentally and physically exhausted.
"This isn't happening," Paige tried to joke.
"It doesn't look good, that's for sure," Victor sighed. "She came out of surgery but that's all I've heard," he looked down at his watch yet again.
A thought finally struck Prue. "Hey, guys. One of us should probably find Leo and let him know."
Phoebe smacked her forehead. "Oh my god, Leo!" she exclaimed. "How the hell did we manage to forget that?"
Paige dropped the magazine to the table. "I'll go!" she offered. "He's at the Magic School and since I'm pretty sure that I'm the only one who can orb," she whispered. "I hate hospital waiting rooms anyway," she made a face.
After she got up to find a restroom and a bathroom stall that would afford her some "orbing" privacy, Paige thought back to the tragic day her parents were killed in that horrible car accident. The same accident her whitelighter heritage had rescued her from when she had instinctively orbed herself from the vehicle upon the impact. Now the same thing was threatening to claim the life of her sister only their magic hadn't been able to save her. Could the universe really be this cruel?
Victor, Prue, and Phoebe all watched Paige as she disappeared around the corner.
Shortly after their youngest sister's departure, a doctor entered the waiting area and approached them slowly. All three of them were instantly on their feet.
"Piper Halliwell's family?" the doctor inquired. "I'm Dr. Ramon. I was the attending surgeon after she was brought in."
"Yes, I'm her father," came the urgent reply of Victor. "Is my daughter okay?"
"Is she awake?" Phoebe added.
The doctor sighed. "She's still unconscious," he addressed Phoebe. "There's some good news but I'm afraid there's also some bad news. Piper was exhibiting signs of brain hemorrhaging when she was brought in. However, we were able to stop the internal bleeding quickly which means little to no brain damage. In that case, she should be able to recover full use of all mental and physical faculties."
"But?" Prue pushed.
"We needed to induce a coma. To keep her stable. Unfortunately, we have no way of knowing when or if she'll come out of it," Dr. Ramon delivered the news. "Right now, it's not looking very good."
"Well. Wait. What?" Phoebe stuttered in disbelief.
Prue was silent while processing the very discouraging news.
"A coma?" Victor repeated. "How the hell did that happen? I thought you said the surgery was a success," his voice was rising.
"It was a success, Mr. Halliwell," Dr. Ramon defended the surgery. "Most patients do come out of their induced coma all on their own without any problems," he stressed. "Unfortunately, Piper did suffer a severe trauma and these things can happen without any warning signs."
"It's Bennett!" Victor corrected. "And I don't care about your warning signs. You get back in there and do something for my daughter now, damn it!" he shouted.
"Dad!" Phoebe pleaded. "Don't." She placed her hand against his chest in an attempt to halt his forward movement and to calm him down.
Victor looked at his daughter and did his best to reign his frustration back in.
The doctor gave them a moment to process the news. "Listen, I realize that this is alot to take in. But you do have some time to consider your options."
Prue's head shot up. "Our options? Meaning?"
Dr. Ramon took a moment to consider the best way to explain. "What I'm saying is that if Piper doesn't come out of the coma on her own, there is no recovery. You might want to consider if keeping her going in this way is what she would want. If it's the best option for her or for you," he added.
"For us?" Phoebe furrowed her brows and shook her head in confusion.
Prue, on the other hand, knew where the doctor was going with it and just rolled her eyes. "Right, doctor, why don't you go ahead and explain to my sister exactly what it is you're suggesting here?" she crossed her arms and took a defensive posture.
Dr. Ramon broke the staring contest he was having with Prue. "Look," he averted his gaze to the floor. "The reality is that medical insurance isn't going to continue to cover the cost of life support for very long. Now, I don't know what position your family might be in financially, but in my experience, most families can not afford to maintain the cost of that on their own."
"Hold up a minute?" Phoebe got defensive. "We're not going to kill our sister because some damn insurance company doesn't want to foot the bill. That's crazy."
"You'd prefer your sister have no real quality of life?" came the stern rebuttal of Dr. Ramon. "I'm not the enemy here."
Prue sighed and closed her eyes. "Look, doctor, is there the slightest chance my sister can wake up and recover from this?"
"I don't want to give you any false sense of hope," the doctor was trying to be honest. "In your sister's current condition, the statistics are less than 1 percent. Not even at a half percent. It's rare. Please try to understand where I am going with this."
"Wait! But you just said it's rare. So that means it's possible. Right?" Phoebe was looking for any sliver of hope she could grab onto at this point.
"I'm sorry." It was the last thing Dr. Ramon felt like he could say.
Phoebe turned around into her father's arms and submerged herself against him as she released her tearful onslaught. Victor wrapped his arms around her fighting back his own urge to cry but he failed. Prue felt that funny feeling catching in her throat whenever you try to suppress the grief that wants to naturally break through.
"What about the baby?" Prue inquired and swallowed over it.
"The pregnancy wasn't adversely effected. We'll continue to monitor that in the meantime." Dr. Ramon paused. "I'm not here to tell you what to do. I can only offer my own professional opinion but it's entirely up to you. And her husband? Our records submitted with the help of you, Mr. Bennett, indicate Piper is married?"
"Yes, that's right," confirmed Victor.
"We'll need his permission to either continue with or discontinue the life support measures," Dr. Ramon informed them. "Maybe get together and decide the best course of action and then you can let me know."
"Well I can assure you that killing our sister is never something our brother-in-law would ever consider so you can just take your cozy bedside manner and shove it, doctor," Phoebe sniffled still clearly upset.
"Phoebe?" Prue cautioned gently but she understood the frustration.
Phoebe got the the message and backed off for the time being.
The doctor still attempted to remain cordial. "Listen, I realize that this is both extremely difficult and upsetting. Please just take all the time you need and if there is any change in her condition I'll be the first one to update you on it."
Prue swallowed. "Can we see her?"
The doctor sighed before giving in. "One at a time. But please. Try and keep it brief." He turned around to leave.
Prue turned to face Phoebe and Victor.
"Go!" nodded Phoebe.
Prue hesitated. "Uh, are you sure? You can go first, I don't mind."
"No, Prue, it's okay. Really. Go ahead. I need a few moments to collect myself before I see her anyway," Phoebe insisted.
Prue gave her attention to Victor next. "Um, Dad?"
Prue wasn't really sure what she should call him now. In truth, she felt kind of guilty about being the first one to go see Piper. Did she even deserve to? Phoebe and Paige had been the ones here for Piper the last five years: fighting demons, helping her with the boys. Sticking by her like sisters are supposed to do. Not her. All things that she had missed out on because of her obsessive need to be in control and to do things her way. Surprisingly in her absence, even Victor appeared to have taken his new found father role to heart since her "passing" and was committed to being actively involved in their lives and in the lives of his grandchildren. She was the one completely absent in their lives for so long and in a strange way it almost made her feel like an interloper.
Smiling faintly, Victor replied. "Nah, honey, it's fine. I'll just wait until you girls are done. Go in," he insisted.
Phoebe sensed her sister's hesitation. "Prue, don't think like that. Inspite of everything, she would want you to see her. You know that."
"Maybe," Prue gave in and headed in the direction of the ICU.
Phoebe was picking up that her sister had just walked away feeling unconvinced and it was small moments such as these that served as a reminder that they all had alot of mending to do before their relationship with Prue felt anywhere near normal again. If not from their side, then certainly from hers.
X
Dimitri orbed back into the Elder realm feeling somewhat on edge. He had been summoned away from the Magic School just after Paige had arrived unexpectedly and Leo had received the tragic news that Piper had been seriously injured in a car accident. Now, he pondered what was so important that he was being summoned before an Elder's Council meeting. After all, he was not a member which meant he was not of appropriate rank. Reluctantly, he stepped inside the room and was greeted by the presence of four Elders: Emeritus, the Council's leader, and three other Senior Elders.
"You've requested my presence?" Dimitri inquired.
"Yes, Dimitri," answered Emeritus. "Please have a seat," he gestured with his hand towards one of the empty chairs. "You'll be joining us shortly."
Confusion spread across Dimitri's face. However, he noticed the Elder before him stood with a smug smirk in place. "I'm not sure I quite understand," he stammered as he sat down.
Phalmis, Xenus, and Ramar stood from their seated positions to join Emeritus.
"It's quite simple really," remarked Phalmis.
"See, we've been summoned before the Afterlife Council," Emeritus shared. "And we thought maybe you'd like the honor of explaining to them how Leo was able to gain access to them without being brought there by the Council themselves."
Dimitri's body language shifted frrom being calm and collected as he began to fidget nervously. "I don't know what you mean," he lied.
"Come now, Dimitri. There is no point in keeping up the facade," Emeritus scolded. "Any summons coming from the Afterlife Council requesting the presence of any Elders or whitelighters pass through this Council first."
"And this Council received no such request for Leo," Phalmis interjected.
"So please tell us. How is that Leo appeared before them without our knowledge? And without a summons?" stressed Ramar.
Dimitri brought his hand up and coughed. "How do we even know Leo went before them at all?" he stalled.
Emeritus' anger was beginning to boil at the new Elder's lack of cooperation. The last thing they needed was for their Elders to be adopting the vigilante ways of Leo. His apparent knack of going against the established rules of conduct for Elders and Whitelighters was still a sore spot with the Elder Council. Granted, on many occasions it worked to their advantage, which was the only reason Leo had been cut some of the slack he had gotten over the years. The other reason was because he had been assigned the special privilege as Whitelighter for the Charmed Ones. Now he was crossing the line too far.
"Don't play games with us, Dimitri!" Emeritus yelled. "We're being brought up on indictment for misconduct and Leo has been named as our accuser. I happen to be fully aware that the only other way to make an unannounced appearance before them is to use a back door."
"A portal from the Mystic Realm," clarified Phalmis. "Jog your memory?"
Dimitri still opted to play dumb for as long as he could. Of course, he knew he was well aware of how Leo had done it. After all, he assisted him in researching the way to do it from inside of the Magic School but he didn't want to be the one to turn Leo in for trying to help his family. Not when he probably would have done the same thing.
"Hm. A back door, huh. The Mystic Realm?" Dimitri feigned in mock surprise. "Sorry. That's the first time I've heard of it," he lied again.
Emeritus balled up his fists at his sides. "Fine. We'll do this your way, Dimitri. I hope you don't mind missing alot of work. Indictment trials can last awhile."
All five Elders disappeared into a shimmering of gold light.
X
Prue's slow steps made their way down the hospital corridor. She passed by the other rooms in the ICU. Through some of the glass windows, she was able to glimpse other patients with their bodies attached to an assortment of machines. There were various tubes running to and from them. She had a pretty good hunch this was the same condition she was about to find her sister in. Finally, she reached her room.
"Piper."
Piper lay stretched out on the bed with no sign of consciousness. Monitors measuring her brain wave patterns, her heart beat, and breathing activity were all clearly present. There was no doubt it was the life support sustaining her sister's life. Prue noticed a long tube had been placed through her mouth and down her throat while two smaller ones had been inserted through both nostrils. Other tubing was connected to her arms. Thick long strands of white gauze were wrapped tightly around her head and there some minor signs of cuts and bruising on her face.
Prue reached her sister's bedside. "Piper, I'm so sorry, this isn't fair."
Prue gently reached out for Piper's hand taking it into her own. It hadn't been that long ago that she had been in a hospital room in New York waiting for Andy to recover from a demon attack. Now he was gone too.
Pulling a chair next to the bed, Prue sat down. "Listen, Piper. I don't know if you can hear me or not but here it goes anyway. I know that you're still mad at me for what I did and everything but I, uh, I'm trying really hard not to break down here because I don't want things to end like this between us."
"I think you know me pretty well. How hard it is for me to admit when I'm wrong about something or to ask for help when I actually need it."
Prue watched a nurse pass by in the corridor.
"But, uh, you were right," she nodded. "You and Phoebe shouldn't have been lied to. I should have come back and told both of you exactly what was going on. Faking my own death only ended up hurting everyone in the long run."
Prue sighed.
"Who knows. Maybe the three of us could have come up with some other way to save Paige. Together." There was a pause. "Only now we'll never know."
Using one of her fingers, Prue wiped against her eyes.
"I'm sorry and I really need for you to know that. I hope that you and Phoebe can forgive me one day because I really can't stand the thought of you guys hating me forever. But you need to come back first, okay?" she choked up.
Prue took a few moments to regain her composure.
"I have no idea how Phoebe and Paige would go on without you. You're the big sister they count on," she looked towards the ceiling. "And that's okay."
Suddenly, Prue was interrupted by a coughing sound that caught her off-guard. After she spun around in her chair, she saw Phoebe standing inside the doorway with her head resting against the entrance.
"How long have you been there?" asked Prue.
Phoebe entered the room. "Long enough to hear what I needed to," she answered her sister. "Sorry, I wasn't trying to eavesdrop," she apologized.
Prue stood up from her chair and Phoebe walked forward reaching out to hug her sister. Prue returned the embrace and then closed her eyes to listen to the reassuring sentiment that her sister gave.
"I love you," Phoebe told her sister. "I do forgive you. Piper will too," she offered then pulled back. "Piper's been an awesome big sister. But you'll always be the big sister who can never be can't be replaced. Paige doesn't know that yet but she will."
After they broke apart, she replied to Phoebe's words of encouragement with words of her own. "Thanks. I appreciate it but I feel far from it."
"Don't worry. We'll get through this. Together," Phoebe stressed. "If there is one lesson we keep learning when it comes to our relationship, it's never to take it for granted." She sighed and looked over at Piper. "We could lose one of us. Again."
"She's not gone, yet," Prue tried to offer up the bright side.
Both sisters were focused on Piper when orbs suddenly materialized before behind them. Leo and Paige formed from them as Leo caught immediate sight of his wife's delicate condition.
"No!" he muttered under his breath.
Instantly, he approached her bed and knelt down at her side. His hands grasped both of hers as his face became a mask of sorrow. Paige swallowed over the growing lump forming in her throat, caused by the sight of her sister before her.
"No," the denial washed over him in waves. "How can this be happening? After everything," he pleaded. "You need to come back to me. And to the boys," his voice broke.
Leo buried his face on top of his wife as the tears came. The sound of his sorrowful sobs caused Paige to step forward and place her hand over Leo's shoulder in a comforting gesture. She then looked to her sisters, their faces displaying the same grief they all shared.
"Come back.," Leo's muffled begging could be heard. "Please come back."
"Is there anything else that can be done?" Phoebe looked to Paige. "Like anything?"
Paige knew what her sister was inferring. Magic. Was there any way that magic could intervene and rescue Piper? Maybe their new power? Nope. Paige shook her head. Suddenly, Leo's demeanor changed from sorrow to anger. Raising his head to face the sisters, he demanded to know how Piper met her fate.
"Was it demons? The Triad did this to her?"
Realizing this was most definitely not the best time to break the news about Gideon, the sisters knew to stay as far away from that particular topic as possible.
"No, it wasn't demons, Leo," Prue answered.
"The driver that hit her was intoxicated. He was killed on impact," Phoebe finished explaining to him.
Prue hesitated before continuing. "They, uh, don't think Piper will make it either."
Paige shot her head up at the shocking news. "What?"
"Yeah, well, not if I have anything to say about it!" Leo declared boldly.
At his declaration, the three sisters stared at Leo. He stood back and proceeded to bring his hands up over his wife.
"Leo, what are you doing?" hissed Phoebe. "We're in a hospital. Someone might see," she made an attempt to remind him.
"I don't care!" He continued undeterred.
Prue instantly turned around to shut the door and use her body to stand guard against it to prevent anyone from walking in unexpectedly. Phoebe went for the curtains.
"Paige, I can use your help here!" Leo instructed.
Paige hesitated when she caught the unsure looks coming from both Prue and Phoebe. It was more than obvious that they feared someone would catch them using the magic and remembering the story that Piper and Phoebe had detailed to her regarding Shax's appearance and Prue's supposed death five years ago, it hadn't been a pretty day when magic had been exposed to the world. She suspected that their use with the Cleaners had also run its course. But how many times during the five years she had been a witch did they risk that same exposure time and time again with or without the Cleaners? Would one more time really make that much of a difference?
Feeling quite agitated at the lack of response he was receiving, Leo turned his head to address them. "Do you want to save your sister or not?"
This propelled Paige into immediate action as she walked around to the other side of the bed and stood directly across from Leo. Then, raising her hands, she allowed the familiar sensation of heat to generate and flow through them while Leo performed the same thing.
Despite their reluctance, both Prue and Phoebe both watched in hopeful anticipation.
Paige felt herself draining. "It isn't working! It's like before." She was thinking about the last time she tried to heal Prue but couldn't.
However, failure was not an option for Leo. Even though his own energy was beginning to drain, he refused to give up. "No, no. Don't stop! It'll work. It has to!" he affirmed.
"Leo, I can't!" Paige dropped and fell to the floor.
Prue and Phoebe rushed over to assist her. "Paige!"
Paige began brushing herself off. "No, no. I'm fine. It's not me I'm worried about."
The sisters watched helplessly as Leo completely drained himself. Beads of sweat were forming on his head and his face took on a pink flush. Suddenly, the light dimmed and then faded altogether as he was deposited to the ground much in the same way as Paige.
"Damn it!" he cursed. He lifted himself up.
Phoebe walked over to assist him. She guided him over to a chair so he could sit down. "Leo. You need to take it easy. You're not doing Piper any good by being wreckless and getting yourself exposed."
"Or injurying yourself because you pushed yourself too hard," added Paige.
Leo began remembering the time Piper became infected with a deadly virus carried by an insect that was imported through a smuggled crate of fruit. Prue and Phoebe had used an awakening spell in a desperate attempt to save her life. They of all people should understand.
"Are you okay?" Prue asked with concern.
He shook his head in denial, trying to refute their logic. "But I was able to heal her the last time. From the other side."
"This isn't like the last time" Prue tried to reason. "For starters, you're not on the other side. You're here with us." She handed him a cup of water she had retrieved from the small sink inside the room. "Here drink this," she instructed.
"And Piper hasn't died. At least not yet anyway," Phoebe sighed.
"There were also consequences to what Phoebe and I did, remember?" Prue reminded him. "And there could have been consequences for you too."
"What are you saying to just give up?" he roared in frustration. "I won't. Screw the consequences. It wouldn't be the first time we ignored them. I mean, my god, you guys can't be serious. This is your sister we're talking about and you want to just stand by and do nothing?"
Paige, becoming defensive, crossed her arms and interjected. "Leo, no! That's not what we're saying. Of course we're not giving up. But draining yourself to the point of passing out isn't helping. The healing isn't working. And I'm pretty sure magic isn't going to fix it either. At least not from our end."
Prue reluctantly agreed. "Paige is right. This wasn't a demon attack."
Phoebe placed her face within her hands and laughed. It wasn't because anything was funny. No, it was in response to the unsettling irony of the whole situation. With all the magic at their disposal, the only thing they could probably do was sit by and wait and hope that a higher power would shine some mercy and allow Piper to come back to them.
"You know," Phoebe huffed. "Is this some kind of sick and twisted joke the universe likes to keep playing on us or something?" she vented, while staring at her sister's lifeless form. "After all the good we've done, how many more times are we going to be expected to face off with death? Can't it just leave us alone for once? Haven't we been tested enough?"
"Phoebe," Prue tried to step forward to offer some comfort but was quickly rebuked as Phoebe stepped back with her hands raised up in the air.
"No. I have to get out of here. Right now. Dad's waiting with Billie and the kids."
Prue and Paige were helpless to do anything as they watched Phoebe leave the room in a hurry. Prue turned to look at Paige, who in turn, just offered a shrug in her older sister's direction to signal she felt just as powerless to say or do anything that would make it okay for Phoebe. Their attention fell back on Leo.
He released a heavy sigh, bringing his forehead down against his hand. There just had to be something he could do to save her. It wasn't supposed to end like this. However, that's when he suddenly felt it. The tingling sensation that sprung to life in his hand and then continued to work its way throughout the rest of his body.
"Oh no!" he uttered.
"What's the matter?" questioned Prue, concern gracing her facial features.
"It's the Afterlife Council, I'm being summoned. Right now."
Those were the last words that passed through his mouth as a gold shimmering enveloped his body carrying him away to the immortal realm.
The two remaining sisters were left standing by themselves.
X
The Elders stood together close by within the darkened realm. They were observing the man standing across from them.
Coop, who had been summoned from his job while in the middle of making a love connection, was the man standing alone in the opposite direction. He acknowledged that he had most likely been called here in a counseling capacity to help represent both Leo and Andy.
Turning his back to them with his hands resting against his hips, he released a low whistle. "This should be interesting."
Suddenly, everyones attention was drawn to a bright flash. Out of this flash, a brighter atmosphere replaced the darker one. Long tables supplying chairs appeared on opposite sides. Everyone also took notice of the man who appeared with it.
Andy took a quick glance around as confusion rooted itself inside of him. "What's going on?" he questioned. "Where am I?"
After absorbing his strange surroundings and patting himself down to make sure he was really standing there in the flesh, Andy then took notice of a strange man approaching him from one of the two sides.
"I take it you must be Andy?" the man's voice asked.
"Uh, yeah. And you would be?" Andy countered, furrowing his brows and remaining weary of the man standing before him.
"Well, you can just call me Coop," he answered.
"Coop?"
"Yeah, that's right. Coop. I'm, uh, engaged to one of Prue's sisters. Phoebe?"
Andy nodded his head. "Uh-huh. Well, good for you but that still doesn't help to explain what I'm doing here. Or why you're here with me."
The mention of his wife's name made his stomach lurch. He had been trying his hardest to let go of those feelings in the afterlife because he thought it would be for the best. After all, it seemed virtually impossible that he would ever be allowed to see her again.
"How is Prue?" his voice softened.
Coop observed the man with interest. "She's fine. But, I'm sure she'll be even better if we can get you out of here. Then you can see how she is for yourself, right?"
"Get me out of here?" Andy parroted. "I doubt it. Where's here anyway?"
"We're in the realm belonging to the Afterlife Council," Coop explained. "Leo found a way to challenge the Elders. Hopefully, the Council will agree with us and return you back to your mortal life."
"Is that even possible?"
"Leo seems to think so. Which begs the question, where is he?" Coop pondered looking around.
At that moment, the familiar golden glow responsible for transporting the others into the realm reappeared with Leo.
"Ah good!" A booming voice penetrated the air.
A second voice followed. "Everyone is present and accounted for. We shall proceed."
Leo angrily stepped forward to challenge their authority. "Return me!" he shouted back. "I can't be here right now!"
The Elders, Coop, and Andy all stood staring at the scene before them. Leo was so completely engrossed in his emotions that he missed Dimitri's presence.
"Pardon us?" the angry voices demanded in unison. "Was it not you who sought out this indictment hearing at your own request? You dare to display open contempt for these proceedings?"
"I don't mean any disrespect, but my wife needs me," he pleaded. "She's lying on a hospital bed dying!"
"Yes. We Know!" answered one of the voices.
Once again, Leo's temper flared back to life. "You know? Then why the hell aren't you doing anything to help her, damn it!"
"She will meet the fate she is destined to!"
"And what the hell is that supposed to mean?" Leo countered.
This time Coop stepped forward in an attempt to calm Leo down before everything he worked to accomplish unwittingly blew up in their faces. Grabbing a firm hold of his arm and pulling him backwards, he attempted to persuade him.
"Leo, this isn't the time. I'm sorry about Piper but you're just going to have to have some faith that she'll be alright," Coop insisted. "Otherwise, we may be the ones that wind up in some serious trouble here that we won't be getting out of!"
Leo allowed Coop's words to sink in as he fought to regain some composure. After all, Coop was right. He was stuck here and he knew it. He would just have to trust that some higher power, a power higher then this Council, would be looking out for Piper. Besides, the last thing he wanted was for these particular Elders to be able to just walk away without being held accountable especially after he caught the self-satisfying smugs plastered across their faces. At this point, he caught sight of Dimitri.
What was he doing here?
The Afterlife Council interpreted Leo's silence as submission. "Good. We advise that all present take a seat. We may be here for awhile."
X
Her eyes slowly fluttered open.
A bright light blinded her and was blocking her vision. She felt light headed. It was a feeling that began to course down her body until it reached the tips of her toes but it was a good feeling. A freeing sensation made her feel like she was about to float. She imagined herself simply flying away like a bird would do.
As she regained use of her sight, she sat up taking in her surroundings. The scenery sprawled out before her was absolutely beautiful. Magnificent. It brought such peace and generated feelings of warmth that pulled the observer in.
A soft substance resembling grass crinkled beneath her bare feet. The only difference being it appeared as a sparkling gold color instead of an earthy green. The sky's hue was a light orange mixed with white clouds instead of blue sky. The open plain, with it's gold-colored grass, seemed to spread out for miles. However, as she began to walk, words started to echo around her. Recognizing the voice, she called out.
"Prue?"
"Piper, I'm so sorry. This isn't fair."
"What isn't fair?" Piper asked, feeling confused.
"Listen, Piper. I don't know if you can hear me or not but here it goes anyway. I know that you're still mad at me for what I did and everything but I, uh, I'm trying really hard not to break down here because I don't want things to end like this between us."
"Prue, I can hear you fine but you're not making much sense," Piper looked around. "Where are you? Nothing is ending but why can I hear you and not see you?"
Piper could hear Prue's voice again.
"I think you know me pretty well. How hard it is for me to admit when I'm wrong about something or to ask for help when I actually need it."
Piper smirked. "Uh, yeah, no kidding. So how about coming out and showing yourself so I can gloat?" she cracked. "Either that or I'm having one hell of a dream if you're finally copping and admitting to that."
Prue's voice echoed another time.
"But, uh, you were right. You and Phoebe shouldn't have been lied to. I should have come back and told both of you exactly what was going on. Faking my own death only ended up hurting everyone in the long run."
Piper listened.
"Who knows. Maybe the three of us could have come up with some other way to save Paige. Together." There was a pause. "Only now we'll never know."
Piper felt the anger and the sadness she had been feeling rise to the surface but then it just as quickly dissipated.
Prue's apology reverberated everywhere.
"I'm sorry and I really need for you to know that. I hope that you and Phoebe can forgive me one day because I really can't stand the thought of you guys hating me forever. But you need to come back first, okay?"
Piper closed her eyes.
"Yeah, I forgive you," Piper muttered.
It was in this moment she made a conscious choice to let go of the anger and resentment she had been harboring. They couldn't change the past but they did still have the future. Prue was now going to get to be a part of it. However, first, she had to figure out exactly where she was because her memory felt fuzzy.
Suddenly, she heard another familiar voice.
"Come back. Please, come back."
"Leo?" Piper called out.
She wanted to come back but she hadn't a freaking idea where she was.
"Think you can help me out here?" Piper asked. "Where are you people?" she gazed at her surroundings but saw no signs of anyone else except herself.
Piper suddenly heard the sounds of childish laughter replace the voices that were coming from her family. In the distance, she thought she could make out two child forms running through the grass. She didn't have a close enough view but it appeared to be a little girl with a little boy. They both stopped to wave in her direction. The sounds of the ringing laughter produced an almost hypnotic effect on Piper. She began to laugh with them and walked in their direction.
X
The door to the manor swung open with Prue and Molly entering first. Following closely behind, came Phoebe and Paige with the boys. Billie was the last one to enter as she closed the door. Victor had returned to his apartment with the promise of staying in touch. It had been one of the most depressing days in a long time.
Everyone entered the living room. Billie flung herself onto the couch with a deep depressing sigh of resignation following.
"Hey, I can help you get the boys ready for bed?" offered Phoebe.
Prue, feeling very unsure about her new surrogate role until Piper or Leo's return, accepted graciously. "Um, yeah, thanks."
Nobody had any idea when Leo would be returning. The sisters had a short discussion on how to best handle the situation regarding the boys. Phoebe and Paige both had work schedules; therefore, they couldn't be there for them during the day and Billie attended her classes during the day but she had offered to move back into the manor to help. This left Prue. She wasn't working currently so she was the best candidate to step in.
Leaving the boys with Victor had been the first idea but the sisters quickly agreed to scratch the idea because of the known threat of the Triad coming after the kids. They needed magical protection. All of this was explained to Victor, who in turn, understood the situation. Prue was still readjusting but they figured some use of magical protection was better than none and they were comfortable knowing that Billie would be there to assist. Phoebe and Paige volunteered to be there outside of work.
Still feeling guilty about placing the responsibility on Prue, Paige opted to speak up. "Hey, listen, it's not a problem if you need us to take some time off from work. I mean, if this makes you uncomfortable or anything," she shrugged. "I know you don't really know the boys that well yet."
Prue smiled. "I appreciate it but don't risk your jobs if you don't have to. I'll figure it out," she reassured her sister. "Besides, Billie will be here too."
"And you know we're only a phone call away if you need us?" Phoebe reminded both Prue and Billie.
"Or an orb," Paige chimed in.
Billie nodded her head. "Right," she gave a thumbs up.
"Don't hesitate to call about anything," Phoebe stressed.
"Thanks. We got it Pheebs," Prue smirked.
The mood was very somber indeed. Depressing. The house almost felt dead without Piper's presence and the hardest part was still to come. The sisters knew they were going to have to sit down and explain to the boys to best way they could why their parents might not be coming home for awhile.
The sisters retreated to put the kids to bed before they retired for the night. However, sleep did not come easily. Not with the feelings of dread that continued to invade their thoughts each time they closed their eyes. They all dreaded the same thing.
The unknown which tomorrow would bring.
To Be Continued