Faded Fragments
part 23
"So. You must be the Alexandra I've been hearing so much about these days."
"My dad usually just calls me Ally," Alex Turner whispered, as she hesitantly took another step forward, her tiny hands somewhat nervous, as they lay fumbling helplessly at her sides. A brief wave of a smile crossed her pretty face, her green eyes widening ever so slightly as her gaze followed Phoebe's.
"I'm Phoebe," Phoebe Halliwell proclaimed softly.
"Yeah," she continued whispering. "Daddy says you might really know who I am now...for real. I really hope you do, because there are some really bad men after us, and Daddy needs your help. I don't think he's gonna be able to take care of all of them by himself."
"Is that right?" Phoebe found herself smiling in spite of the situation, as she gently held out a hand, beckoning to the little girl, the Book of Shadows calmly being set at her side.
"You went to Miss Franklin's grave with me," she added, "and we were going to tell her goodbye, but the bad man came. He wanted to hurt us, but I knew you wouldn't let him."
"Bad man..."
"Mr. Kellerman," she concluded. "Daddy doesn't like him very much, because he came after us like that."
"So he played me," she murmured. "I didn't- all this time I'd met him, and I couldn't...damn it."
"Don't feel that way, Mommy. We still got away, and Daddy went after him because of what he did. He taught them a lesson."
"Alex, I'm not so sure that was a good idea."
"What do you mean?" the little girl responded, her eyebrows arching themselves in confusion.
"I think it means that she hasn't exactly been telling us everything," Cole countered, his voice somewhat hoarse, as he slowly lifted himself up, his blue eyes a mask of unreadable question. The athame was still embedded in his hand, laying dormant on his right, the silver lining reflecting the deep spectrum of light that peeked through the old attic. He briefly cocked his head towards her, a small smile flitting across his handsome face, full of tired and bewildered amusement.
"Has he gone nuts?" Paige quipped, murmuring to herself, as her hand barely even grazed the sleeve of his sweater, losing her quick attempt to yank him back down. "Have you gone nuts, Cole? Because I'd say your therapy bill is gonna fly sky high after this, if you don't get your butt in gear. Now."
"What?"
"Have you lost your mind? Few marbles, maybe? Phoebe's got nothing to do with this. Hello? She's one of the good guys, remember?"
"I'm not so sure about that anymore."
"Then what the hell are you sure about? Because that's one hell of an accusation," his wife spoke up, her eyes touching his, as they quietly narrowed themselves into tiny slits. Her entire demeanor had grown tense and rather forced, as she proceeded to urge Alex to the side of her.
"You're one to talk," he surmised, shrugging.
"Do you really think I'd actually consider betraying you, after we- after all we've done together?" she breathed, her eyes hinting at the vaguest sign of collapsing, as she tried her best to maintain her composure. Instead, her heart had begun to hammer wildly against her chest.
"The question is, would you still want to?"
"Oh, c'mon, Cole, this is crazy-"
"Paige, I'd advise you to stay out of this if you still want to be left breathing."
"You can't do this to her. She's been with us every step of the way, trying to figure this thing out. She's been fighting this thing just as much as we are. Just because she had a little brain lapse, isn't any reason..."
"You called Clay," he whispered, his blues falling over Phoebe again, "didn't you?"
"You have no idea what you're talking about," she roughly snapped.
"You gave me up," he retorted simply, his blues crinkling slightly.
"That's ridic-"
"They already know we're here, so it's only logical that you tipped them off, Phoebe. C'mon, I wasn't born yesterday, and I think I'd know a thing or two about playing the other side of the game. Tragically, you seem to have found yourself on the losing end."
"Logical? What's logical, Cole, is the fact that I've become loyal to you in more ways than you could imagine. If you want to sit there and question that, I don't thi-"
"It suddenly occurred to me that he must really not give a damn about you, if he was so damn eager to leave you all alone with me," he continued, nearly laughing at the sound of it. "See, I'm supposed to be the bad guy in all this, right? You heard Kellerman. I'm the guy who isn't supposed to be interferring with his Goddamn plans." He sighed. "Oh, sure. I mean, it was convincing at first, wasn't it? You had it all worked out, and you really did sound like you were finally warming up to me. You probably had me fooled in more ways than one. Hell, I've always had a weakness, Phoebe, and I think you always knew what that weakness was." He smiled painfully then. "But the truth of it is, you couldn't have been more scared in your life. And I'd bet my life on the fact that Clay and Kellerman have been using you at my expense. In fact, I'd just about swear on it."
"No."
"No?"
"You've got it all wrong, and you know it."
"Then what? Because nothing is ever what it seems, and God help me, I sure as hell regret that more than words can say right now."
"You have to trust me."
"I can't trust what I still don't have the slightest idea of knowing, Phoebe. Any minute now, we're going to be ambushed by Rickman and his little band of merry men, and Clay's going to be bringing up the rear. So it's your choice. You can either stay here and join them, or you can help us fight. It's not a tough decision, and quite frankly, I wouldn't be surprised either way."
"You think I'd join them and leave you?" she choked, nearly at a loss for words then, her throat tightening with just the briefest hint of disgust. "Then I guess you never even knew me at all."
"Mommy, what's going on? Why's he saying all that stuff about you?"
"So I guess this makes me a traitor," she continued, "a real Benedict Arnold to your egotistical Clark Kent, aka Superman. Newsflash, buddy. I resent being called anything of the sort, and I'm going to be the first to call your bluff on that."
"I'm not the one changing faces," he quipped, raising a brow.
"Mommy?" Alex pleaded.
"Not now." Swallowing hard, she finally got the courage to pick herself up, her slender frame shaking with the smallest hint of fragility, as she began to walk toward him, her eyes staying on his. The silence between them was both excruciating and undeniable, as it wove itself around the room like a giant black hole advocating the point of no return. He was about a foot taller than she, and his presence bore down on hers with a rather manacing approach, as his mouth continued to remain in a surprisingly straight line, his gorgeous complexion making no signs of movement in revealing expression. She quietly opened her mouth again, taking a deep breath. "For a man who claims he was so much in love with me, you sure know how to break someone in two without even trying. I put my heart and soul on the line for you, and now you're going to crush them where they stand. But hey. I shouldn't mind, right? I'm a stupid woman who doesn't have the slightest inkling as to what real feelings are, and you're under the impression I'm still a slave to a former boyfriend who's done nothing but imprison me since I met him. I've seen the future, Cole. Through you- because I looked at you. You've shown me what I was capable of becoming, and you showed me you're worth a thousand times more than all the world's Clays, who pride themselves on my inability to see right through them. I have a beautiful daughter with you, and I've got a life- more importantly, a man who cares with every fiber of every being for me, and loves me with every shred of his beating heart. That's the man I wanna be with, and that man is you. So I guess you can either take it or leave it, because it looks like I'm all you've got."
He was speechless for a moment, his eyes grazing hers, as he hesitantly but gingerly reached out a single hand, trailing a thumb absentmindedly down her cheek, considering. "What am I supposed to say to that?"
She took his wrist in one of her own hands, grasping it firmly, as she held on. "I guess you don't have to say anything." A single tear unexpectedly trickled down the cheek he'd fingered only seconds earlier, rolling off the curved plane of her chin, as she quickly blinked, thrown off by the briefest surrender of weakness. "Maybe it makes me wish we'd never met, if this is how it's going to end."
"Who said there was an ending for us?" he professed softly, his lips inching closer to her own, as he bent his head ever so slightly.
"There has to be," she whispered. "To this world, to everything we've made in it, because it's not real. I'm going to wake up a few hours from now, and go back to my job, a boyfriend who could care less, and a kick ass attitude. You're going to have the woman you left behind, and the life you started without me."
"You're that woman," he breathed, his lips calmly brushing her cheek now, his eyes shutting themselves tightly, as he felt his own pain course through him, stabbing him straight through the heart. "And I wouldn't change that for any world that comes between us."
"Can somebody please hand me a tissue? Because I'm just not sure I'll ever be the same after such an emotionally charged experience."
Cole reluctantly pulled away, shutting his lids out of pure annoyance, as he lightly gritted his teeth. "Paige, one more word, and I'm going to leave you here."
"At this point, I'm almost looking forward to it," she scoffed, taking a deep breath. "So, okay. Reality check, please? Prue, Piper, and Nick are downstairs awaiting our next move, and I say we give it to them. I'm sick and tired of hanging around here, waiting for these guys to show their faces. We clear on that?"
"Since when are you in charge?" he challenged, turning around to face her.
"Since now, because you've apparently been reduced to a blubbering idiot in the process."
"Paige-"
"I mean, now that we've established for the hundredth time that Phoebe is on the side of good, we need a plan of action here. You said they're on their way, right?"
"Daddy, what do you want me to do?" Alex beckoned eagerly from a short distance away, her eyes dancing with excitement, as she beamed proudly in his direction.
"This isn't your fight, Ally."
"And Miss Franklin isn't here to save us anymore," she quietly reminded him, her eyes still hopeful.
"Do you think Kellerman's gonna show with Clay in tow?" he asked Phoebe.
"I don't know. I...I mean it's possible, but I really don't see how he'd be that smart if-"
"Doesn't matter," Cole cut in, quickly. "Because it's Rickman we need to worry about, and whether or not he's brought along any of his little pals for playtime. Kellerman can't be far behind, and as much as I hate to say this, it'd be my pleasure to take the son of a bitch out myself, while you take on the big guns."
"So in other words, you're leaving Rickman to me," she finished fondly, shooting him a gaze.
"Yes, and I think Ally would love to have a moment or two alone with Clay to show him how much we appreciate his...disloyalty. I hear fire works real well. That okay with you, sweetheart?"
"Clay?" she questioned, scrunching up her nose.
"See? She hates him already. That's my girl."
"You don't even know he's involved. He's always been a man out for himself, Cole, but he also has feelings."
"Feelings that don't exactly include love, but are extremely fond of betrayal," he finished, throwing her a winning smile. "And I think we can both agree on that."
"Are you implying that you'd like to take me back to New York?"
"I'm not discounting it for a future vacation," he added, "but for now, let's just remind him what happens to those who end up selfish and less fortunate, hmm?"
"It's personal for you," she murmured.
"Yes, I thought we already established that about a minute or two ago."
"But with him, it shouldn't have to be. Kellerman took him out the same way he probably planned to do with me, if he even messed with that prospect at all."
"It's personal because it's about you," he confessed. "You heard Ally. He went after you first. Unfortunately, he never anticipated what I'd go through to rectify that."
"Oh, I think I've got an idea," a voice promised. "But, please, don't let me stop you. This whole warrior redemption thing you've got going for you is really quite amusing. Oh, and by the way, Clayton couldn't make it. But trust me, he sends his deepest regards in my stead."
"What did you do to him?" Phoebe demanded, feeling Cole's hand come down forcefully upon her shoulder, giving it a small squeeze. Offering her a quick glance, he calmly shook his head.
"And to think, I never knew what the hell he ever saw in you," Seth Kellerman offered, his lips cleverly curling themselves into a twisted smile. "Either one of them, actually, because I should've broken your fragile little neck when we first met, you ungrateful little bitch."
"Go downstairs," Cole told her firmly. "Go downstairs and help Prue, Piper, and Nick. Paige, you're with me."
"Excuse me?" the Charmed One squeaked. "I- no. You know what? I think I'm just gonna go down and see if they need any help too, because I-"
"You're staying," he repeated, his blue eyes folding themselves into dangerous slits, as he turned back to the man who now stood directly in front of him, his handsome face coated with implacability.
"I've given your friends an ultimatum," Seth retorted smuggly. "I mean, here I was, lying on my damn deathbed, and I thought to myself- I mean, I often think to myself when I'm contemplating all you took away from me...but I sat there....just thinking. See, with all due respect, I created this Godforsaken world, Turner. I created it, and nothing is going to stop me from making my own rules in it, no matter what price I have to pay."
"Your poor excuse for an assistant did, but I'd wager he's already out of the picture."
"Rickman," Kellerman shrugged. "The woods are lovely, dark and deep, But I have promises to keep, And miles to go before I sleep, And miles to go before I sleep."
"You've lost it," Cole quipped. "Strike up the Goddamn band."
"I'm proposing an ally if you want to spare their lives," he stated deliberately.
"Yeah, and could you speak into my good ear?" he returned.
"You heard me. I want an alliance, Turner. You, your wife, your beautiful, albeit terribly annoying sister-in-law and your lovely little daughter, or I'm afraid my men are going to have the time of their lives ripping Mr. Merrick and the other two women to pieces right before our very eyes."
"Who'd you piss off this time? I mean, wow- it's just so damn hard to keep track these days, isn't it?"
"You don't seem to understand what I'm telling you. You may not think you need my help right this very minute, but when he walks through that door, when he starts terrorizing you and everyone you care about, you're going to damn well need it, you stubborn son of a bitch. He's got tricks up his sleeve that have built up well over a century, and he's good at using them."
"Oh, and now he's sunk to name calling. Did I really look that gullible that day in your office, Seth, or did your friend have that little accident in his pants because I was just so charming?"
"Take it or leave it."
"He's lying," Paige countered. "He'd never team up with us- not even if his life depended on it. You can't actually-"
"My life does depend on it," Kellerman whispered, his voice menacingly low. "More than you know, because I didn't come here to fight. But if that's what it takes, I'm more than happy to oblige."
"Keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer?"
"On the contrary, witch, I prefer to think of it as you help me, I'll help you."
"You threaten my wife and my little girl, and now you're begging me to take it all back because of a petty little rivalry you brought on yourself?" Cole challenged him, his arms crossing over his chest. "Gee, I don't know what's more pathetic, Seth. That fact that I'm still standing here talking to you, or the fact that you just can't seem to find out where your damn loyalties lie anymore. You must have done a number on Rickman to cut off all those ties."
"We've got a chance to do some real good here," he pressed. "To go home."
"Yeah, see, that's funny coming from you, because I'm still not inclined to believe a damn word you say. Given your previous interests and endeavors, your word still means nothing to me. Time's up, try again."
"I'm giving you a shot at victory here, son. Why the hell won't you take it?"
"Forgive me for being so slow in putting all my faith in a killer."
Seth grinned, wickedly arching his eyebrows, as he gestured briefly toward him with an outstretched palm. "Hey, speak for yourself. After over a hundred years, I'd say you could damn well write me a book on all the helpless victims you've done away with against their will."
"Yeah, and you don't just do something for nothing and expect nothing in return," he responded lazily. "C'mon, Seth, give me something good, I'm falling asleep here."
"Rickman knows I screwed up, and Rickman also knows he's not about to let me out of this thing alive."
"Pity," Cole murmured, "I had such high hopes."
"Kellerman and Rickman have closed up shop. There's nothing left of us that's worth saving, and as bad as that is for me to contemplate right now, I'm turning to the one man who's always made it work for himself. The one man I could never beat, no matter what the hell I did to sway his concentration. I need your help, Cole, or we're all dead."
"Is he seriously for real?" Paige deadpanned. "I mean, we side with him, and the next thing we know, the entire underworld will be searching us out."
"That's one way to think of it," Kellerman mused quietly. "But I highly doubt there'll be anything left once Tom gets his day in the sun. Source is gone, and someone else wants power. There's no telling what he could do with who he is. The possibilties are endless. Do you think it's coincidence he's been laying low this long?"
"And while I'm just so unbelievably glad we're actually talking about this like civil human beings here, it doesn't change what you and Patrick put me through. When you really think about, I don't even think you have a future, Seth. So just cut the crap, and let's get this over with. I want your blood, you want mine. What'd you say we call truce and get to it?"
"Dammit! Are you really that dense, Turner? Can you really not see where this is going?! He is going to wipe the floor with your little girl and your wife. He's going to massacre them in cold blood, unless you stand up and do something now. It won't be your blood, it'll be theirs. There's no way around it, and he's going to win."
"You're pitting him against us," Phoebe told him, "which is why you're-"
"This no longer has anything to do with my stupidity in failing to properly execute my plans. I no longer have any use for them, sweetheart."
"Call me that again, and you're no longer going to have use for something else," she whispered, her eyes slicing into his.
"She's touchy," he commented, shooting Cole a wink.
"She's mine," he added, throwing a wink of his own that wasn't the slightest bit friendly.
"Yeah, and good guys working with mastermind villains isn't your typical bedtime story," Paige drawled, rolling her eyes. "Next thing you know, we'll be working with those butt ugly grimlocks to get the job done."
"Actually, you will," Seth noted, an abrupt laugh escaping his lips. "I happen to know a few who'd give anything to give Tom a big bad vanquish, no strings attached."
"Great," she muttered. "Just great."
"I've already given them their instructions, and I'm not going to question-"
"I want to see my family out of this alive," Cole sided.
"And you'll have that, I assure you."
"This isn't every man out for himself."
"I can respect that."
"Good, because I wasn't giving you a choice." He slowly extended a hand to the other man, the gesture a bit hesitant, his feet initiating a single step forward.
The other man gripped it tightly, as they shook on it, brief and to the point. Cole's blues met with one final look of warning, his expression focused and intense.
"One false move, and I guarantee you there won't be enough of you left to properly identify by morning."
"Got that."
"Then let's get down to business. Paige- get the others. This alliance just bought itself three new members."
"Hey-"
"Seth, I'd advise you to be quiet, or else I might make good on my promise a little early."