reading Black Orbs by Dream.Of.Rainy.Days-x

Chapter 8: Phone Call

Piper walked carefully through the front door of the manor, hoping beyond hope that Jeremy wasn't awake. He'd never believe her about Prue. She looked at her watch, 5 AM, he' be home. The bars all closed hours ago. He'd be waiting for her. Then…. She froze in fear, not wanting to think about what he would do next. She walked into the front room, and there he stood, facing the wall above the fire.

"Where were you time whore?" Piper could smell the alcohol on his breath from the other side of the room.

"Prue's been in a car accident, I've been at the hospital." Piper told him carefully

"You expect me to believe that?" Jeremy spun around, he hadn't shaved for days and his eyes were blood-shot, "You've been cheating on me, with your little sex boys haven't you?"

"No Jeremy, Prue really is in hospital."

"Do you scream for them?" oh god!

"I'm not cheating on you Jeremy! You know I love you!" No you don't! No you don't!

"Do you?" Jeremy asking, walking slowly towards her.

"Yes!" NO!

"Liar!" Jeremy lunged forward and Piper welcomed the darkness surrounding her.

-oxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxo-

Piper awoke on the floor again, covered in deep purple bruises; she looked up at the clock on the wall, 4 PM. She really should be getting back to the hospital, Prue could be awake by now, or she could be… More tears fell. No, she couldn't be. How would she go on without her big sister? Don't think about it Piper! Prue's going to be fine! She wiped her tears away fiercely and stood up.

Her whole body ached with the aftermath of Jeremy's punishment. She walked painfully over to the phone and punched in Phoebe's number.

"Hello?"

"Phoebes! How is everyone?" Piper asked hurriedly

"I'm doing better, Andy's not so good, and Paige is starting to fall apart back here." Phoebe told her, her voice dripping with tears.

"Is Prue awake yet?"

"No." Piper could hear Phoebe choking up again

"Right, I'll be right there Phobes."

"Kay."

Piper slammed the phone down and dashed to her car, it was then she remembered Leo Wyatt. She would call him tonight.

-oxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxo-

Leo was close to tears, which was odd because he had never cried in his life. It was just, Jeremy, if it was the last thing he did Leo would kill him, regardless of what the elders said or did. He had hurt Piper. Then again, so would he, after the time game. Leo would kill her. He looked down at his hands, and he almost couldn't bare the sight of them. He would kill Piper with these very hands. And in that instant, for the very first time, Leo Wyatt hated himself more than anything else. More then he hated Alec, more than he hated goodness, more than he hated the world, he hated himself.

He shook his head. She would have to call him for the plan to go ahead. And if the plan went ahead it would mean killing her. And for the first time ever, Leo wanted the plan to fail, he didn't want her to call. Please don't call!

-oxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxo-

Piper rushed into the waiting room and saw everyone sat on the chairs. The triplets were sat in row next to Andy. They were silent for once. Confused and disoriented. Hell, I would be too! Piper thought as she sat down next to Paige and Kyle.

"Any change?" Piper asked her and Paige burst into tears and Kyle pulled her to him.

"No, but the doctor said she's stable." Kyle told her and kissed Paige's head.

Just then a nurse with blonde hair and glasses walked up to them.

"Prue Halliwell's family?" she asked

"Yes"-said Andy, snapping into attention, "can we see her now?" he asked, a fresh film of tears over his eyes

"Yes, she's just woke up and she's asking to see her kids." The nurse told them

The triplets stood up and Andy took hold of Jemma's hand with his left, James with his right and lifted Jake up onto his shoulders.

"Can we see mommy now?" little James asked, looking hopefully up at his dad

"Yeah." Andy told him and walked off toward Prue's room

"You can see her soon, we don't want too many people in her room at once." The nurse explained

Phoebe looked at Paige and smiled.

"Can you go get the kids please Cole? I'm sure Sheila and Darryl have had enough of them by now and plus, I think they'd want to see aunty Prue" Phoebe asked. Cole nodded and kissed her forehead quickly and left.

-oxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxo-

Piper stepped through the front door, confident that Jeremy wouldn't be home yet, it was 11 PM, all the bars were still open, that's were he would be. She walked quickly over to the phone and reached into her pocket and pulled out the small scrap of paper, with 11 little numbers on it. She picked up the receiver and punched the numbers into the pad, quickly with slightly shaking fingers. It started to ring…

-oxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxo-

Leo heard the ringing and his heart sank. Dammit Piper! He hesitantly answered.

"Hello."

As soon as Piper heard his voice her heart jumped into her mouth, what would she say?

"Hello? Leo? It's Piper"

"Hi."

"So I was wondering…" oh god "If you're free to talk tomorrow night?"

"Sure," Leo smiled as he spoke and Piper could hear it, "Pick you up at around 7?"

Piper panicked; no it had to earlier, so Leo could get her back before Jeremy was back.

"Could it be around half 5/6?" she asked, some panic in her voice that Leo picked up on

"Sure, where do you live?"

"The manor on Prescott Street. Do you know it?"

"Yeah, I'll be there."

"Ok, Bye then."

"Bye."

Leo put the phone down; he would see her tomorrow and HOPEFULLY her legs…"