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Chapter 20 - Wave on Wave ~*~*~*~ And it came upon me wave on
wave ~*~*~*~ "Ms. Halliwell?" Phoebe looked from where Leo was walking to the police officer addressing her, "Yes?" she asked. Her brain wasn't working. Hadn't been since she had realized that Mrs. Seer was the same woman that had shot her sister. She had been self destructing slowly ever since. She had known deep down that this was all wrong. She had been forcing herself to be normal happy-go-lucky self, but deep down she had known that at some point it was going to explode. Now one of her sisters was dead, the father of her baby had orchestrated it, and a police officer wanted to speak with her. "Ms. Halliwell?" the police officer asked again, Phoebe shook her head and gave the police officer her focus. "I was told to tell you that Mr. Turner was released a half hour ago." Phoebe should have been shocked. She should be feeling something right now, but she wasn't. She just nodded her acknowledgement and moved her head back to where Leo was walking. "Leo..." Leo shook his head. It was just his imagination, but still he lagged behind. "Come on sir." one of the EMT's urged. Still Leo walked slower not really ready to face the facts, but then he heard the plea again, "Leo.." she called. He wanted to dismiss it. Blame his damn head and heart for torturing him, but as he turned one last time to face the fire that had consumed his life he saw something. Near one of the doors on the outside of the house was a bright blue something. The same bright blue that Piper had been wearing... He broke free and started running. The EMT had tried to stop him, but Leo pushed him out of the way knocking the man over and ran as fast as his legs would carry him. He was there in an instant pulling her up off the ground. He couldn't hear anything over the roar in his ears, but he knew she was alive. Before he could do anything further she was taken from him by the EMT that had been helping him and he watched as she was being moved further from him. One of the other EMT's came and got him and escorted him to one of the vehicles. ~*~ They would tell him later that he fought like hell to go to the hospital with Piper, but he couldn't remember that. Hell, he didn't remember anything after seeing the blue that Piper wore except the elation at finding her alive. They would also tell him after raising so much hell at being separated from her that he was allowed to be in her room. Further more they would tell him he growled at anyone he thought was a danger to Piper, but Leo couldn't remember any of that. And frankly it didn't matter to him. He didn't care that the media had been there to see his "dramatic " rescue. Or how romantic they thought him because of it. He didn't care that Dan had been consumed in the fire. He didn't care that there we so many questions unanswered and would remain so until Piper woke up. None of that mattered to Leo. What mattered was that his wife was alive. What mattered was that although there was damage it was nothing extensive and could heal quickly. What mattered was that despite everything his wife had gone through his child still lived. And what mattered the most was that they were all back with him. That was what mattered and no amount of prodding or hounding by the media would get Leo to say or do anything for them. He would growl and then move away never answering their questions. Prue, Andy, Paige, Phoebe, and Darryl had all visited Piper and Leo, but each gave them space. Except for Paige who didn't know what was going on. Didn't understand what had happened and as much as Prue and Andy had tried to explain it to her, she wouldn't listen because she wanted Uncle Leo to explain. That was the only time that they had seen Leo soften or appear more than some fanged animal. They could barely get him home just to take care of normal hygiene. Leo didn't care though. It wasn't until Phoebe told him that if he woke up and smelled the way he did Piper would have a fit. That got Leo to take a shower. Granted it was in the hospital, but everyone was thanking God for small favors. It had been seven days, eleven hours, and twenty-one minutes since Piper had been taken and Leo counted every second. Everyone had finally left and it was just him and Piper. The sounds of the machine were calming to Leo because they were counting her heartbeats. A steady assurance that all Piper had to do was wake up. It was in the quiet times of the evening that Leo liked best. No one was there save a doctor and a few nurses all of whom left him alone. This was when he got rest. He knew he looked terrible, he still felt terrible, but he couldn't manage enough to care. At least not until Piper woke up. He sat down in his chair and took Piper's hand rubbing it. He would talk softly to her and would rub her hands, arms, and tummy while softly encouraging her to wake up. He generally fell asleep at two and this morning was no different. His head laid on Piper's pillow next to her head while his hand rested on her stomach. That was how Piper found him when she first woke up. ~*~ Prue found Phoebe making one of the guest beds at Piper's house. "Phoebe." she said gently. Phoebe didn't say anything so Prue walked further into the room, "Phoebe honey." Phoebe finally turned to her sister. She had wanted anyone to see the tears. She hadn't wanted anyone to know that she was crying, but to be honest she wanted the comfort. Prue gave her a small smile and Phoebe collapsed into Prue's open arms. Prue sat them on the bed and let Phoebe cry while she held her. Talk about a cluster. One sister had been kidnapped during her six month of pregnancy. The other sister found out that the man she loved was behind it all and to top it all off she was pregnant. When had life turn so sour? "Prue it's not right." Phoebe finally said. "I know honey. None of this is right." Prue agreed. "No. I mean everything that I've done these past few months. I don't know when I stopped being me!" Phoebe corrected. "What are you talking about?" Phoebe had known that at some point she was going to have to face up to her behavior. Face what it was that had driven her to ride over her common sense and heart these past few months. "You know that I date a lot...You know that my career has been sliding for a couple of years now... well it started to affect me. I thought that I was loosing my appeal. That I was loosing everything I had worked for. I knew when I started this business that my looks would fade. That they wouldn't last forever, but for the past few years it's really been hitting me. That's why I started Shadows, Inc. When I saw Cole I knew it was my chance to add some edge back into my life. I had heard of his reputation from some people and I thought that this would be my come back. Then I started making one bad judgment call after another. Soon I was sleeping with him.. which I know didn't use to bother me, but with you and Andy and Piper and Leo surrounding me I started looking for that with someone. Since Cole was the closest person I think I just pushed myself to fast. Now I'm pregnant and I don't want to be and the guy that I thought myself in-love-at-first-sight with is the one who is making my life hell...Okay at least your guys lives hell." Prue processed everything for a moment and knew there was only one thing she could give her sister, support. "Well we can't change the past no matter how much we want to. We and I do me WE are going to get through this. The situation isn't ideal, but it's not hell either. You have your sisters to help you and we will get through this and move one. Who knows it might make one heck of a book later on." For the first time in a long time Phoebe smiled. ~*~ Leo woke up with a crick in his neck. "Good morning sunshine." her voice greeted. Despite the crick Leo's head snapped at the sound of her voice. There she was. Alive. Her eyes sparkled at him and her lips were smiling at him. He didn't say anything he just crushed her to him. "Happy to see me?" she asked. "Happy to see you alive." he corrected. She tried to push back so she could look at him, but he wouldn't let her. "What happened?" she asked him. That was when Leo pulled back, "You don't remember?" Piper saw the tears in Leo's eyes and her eyes started welling up as well. "I remember Dan taking me, but I don't remember anything after that." Leo shook his head. It didn't matter. What mattered was the fact that she was alive, "I'm just glad that you're awake." he told her. She took him into her arms not know what he had been through but understood the fear that was displayed in his eyes. "I love you." she told him. "I love you too." he whispered. Just then both felt the baby kick. "Looks like he or she loves us too." Leo smiled. Piper turned her head and captured his lips. They were still kissing when Prue, Andy, Paige, and Phoebe walked in. Prue cleared her throat and the couple turned to face their visitors. Everyone smiled at them and Paige came rushing toward them. "Aunt Piper!! You're awake!!" she exclaimed. Piper picked her up and hugged the little girl. "How are you?" she asked. "I was scared at first because you weren't there, but Momma and Daddy said that you would be coming back. Then I got scared because Uncle Leo was very scary. Then when we came here and you weren't awake and that made me sad. Now your awake!" Paige explained. This made the room smile and Piper gave her favorite niece a huge hug. The others came and surrounded the couple and Paige. "We're so glad that your awake." Phoebe said. "Yes." Andy agreed. "How are you doing?" Prue asked as she brushed Piper's hair out of her face. "I'm okay. I don't remember anything other than Dan taking me though." she told them. Andy nodded his head, "Well you get better at the moment and Darryl or I will be by again to ask a few questions." Andy told her. "Thanks." she replied. They hung around for a little until Piper started to get drowsy again. "Well we'll let you sleep. Maybe you can convince Leo to go home and take a shower." Phoebe teased. Piper laughed, "I was going to talk to him about that." Everyone said good-bye and left except for Leo. "We're going to have to talk about what happened." Piper told him. "I know but right now let me just be thankful that you're alive." She smiled and scooted over as far as she could and patted the space next to her. "Nothing kinky." she warned. He laughed, "Wouldn't dream of it." He slipped in the bed next to her and wrapped his arms around her. "We do need to discuss you taking a shower though..." Piper started, but stopped when Leo kissed her. ~*~ End of Chapter 20 * "Wave on Wave" is by Pat Green. If you've never heard of Pat Green you either have never been to Texas or don't listen to Country. Either way he is awesome and I encourage everyone to listen to him. |