Shadows Of the Night
part 17
"Has he been able to get him to talk?" Paige whispered, her eyes steadily focused on the elderly man who nervously sat at the table within their cabin, arms outstretched in a fairly desperate attempt at conversation.
"It's really hard to say at this point," Phoebe whispered back. "What we've got on our hands- aside from everything else? Is a true Rip Van Winkle."
"But if memory serves, he was still able to have free reign of his thoughts, wasn't he? He was just trapped."
"For over a century," she commented briefly. "Either way, he still thinks Cole is the bad guy here."
"And I wouldn't say he was entirely wrong," Paige offered, shrugging.
"But the scary thing is, she'll be able to- well, let's just say we won't be getting any prizes for keeping him hidden now. He's still mortal without powers, and if she finds him..."
"If she finds him, we may as well just give ourselves up too. There's no sense in running anymore, once she's taken control of everything."
"But it must be hard for him, you know? To be fully aware of the fact that he lost someone close, and can't do a damn thing to convince her of good. The poor guy was cheated out of getting to watch his only son grow up. He missed out on a lot of great memories in Cole's childhood, you know?"
"Maybe it would have been better if he hadn't- I mean....never did."
"What?"
"Well, look what Cole was before he met you," she pointed out. "He was probably just as much a monster as she was. The Brotherhood must have seen some kind of potential in him. And for him to continually execute a good kill, he was extremely well versed in the art, don't you think?"
"Cole is trying to do what he can to regain Benjamin's trust. We need him to help us. We need him to get inside her head somehow."
"But hey. If we take him to the past, don't you think they'll recognize him? Maybe just a little bit?"
"This is the Crimson Star," she reminded her. "Technically, they weren't at all a part of it. It just so happened that Sterling was in need of a sidekick to do some of his bidding, and Elizabeth accepted, becoming partners in crime. The rest, no pun intended, is history."
"You know, we could really use another sister right about now. I mean, I just hate the fact that Piper can do absolutely nothing to help us out in this. She would've been so great at it."
"And you don't think I am?"
"I'm not implying that."
"Then what are you implying? I mean...if you have a problem here, Paige, I want to hear it. Seriously. Because far be it for us to be hundreds of years away, and you suddenly decide to have fear kick in," she stated rather abruptly, hands perched against her hips. "So what gives?"
"Look, I agree with what Cole said, okay? I'm totally on board with that. I just feel like this all happened at the wrong- I can't explain it, okay? I just don't feel anything good."
"Then why don't you leave the premonitions to me?"
"But you haven't gotten any as far as we know," she pointed out.
"Which doesn't mean anything....yet," she argued. "Right now, Ben is the only link we have to getting her to face what she left behind."
"Don't you mean purposely left behind? Because I wouldn't exactly consider Mrs. Turner droning on about the path of unrequitted love here. She wants to finish him off once and for all, and she's most definitely not going to let her reformed son stand in the way to do it."
****
"Dad, look, I'm not asking you to directly put yourself in harm's way, but I need to know if you can do this. I need to know if this is making any sense where you are. I'm not the guy who wants to hurt you- I'm the man who wants to at least try and save these people from what she's going to put them through. And you're....you're better than anyone for that job. And the irony of it is, I think you already know that."
"I don't even know my own son," he murmured. "In fact, I'm beginning to think I never did. You say you're a good man now, and yet you've shown me no proof of this. You talk about wanting to save innocents, but the person you should be saving is yourself."
"I'm sorry?" Cole countered, a pained expression clouding his handsome visage, as he winced ever so slightly. "I think I've done more than enough to compensate for my past. I mean, I-"
"We have the same eyes, you know," Benjamin noted carefully, as he studied Cole for another brief moment, his blues meeting the former half demon's. He then shook his head, almost absentmindedly, as he folded his hands in front of him rather tightly. His lips parted then, his gaze growing dim. "But yours are filled with years of torture on the behalf of others. Of these...innocents you speak so highly of, yes? I honestly did not catch it before, but it's become clear to me now. I'll bet those humans begged for their lives, didn't they? I'll bet they cried out for you to spare their families, and their friends' families. Didn't they?"
Cole offered a low sigh in his throat, as he gently slumped down into the chair next to his father's. He closed his eyes, as his past began to claim the hold it still possessed within him, willing the memories to come flooding back. "I only did what I was told. I knew nothing about any of-"
"Of course you didn't. Someone like you only embraced the strategy of the kill," Benjamin replied forcefully.
"They were threats- the Source viewed them as a threat. If I wanted to be accepted, I had no choice."
"There's-"
"But that was before I met Phoebe. That was before I knew how to love with my human half. She taught me that, and she's been the reason why I'm still doing my damndest to be somebody that matters- someone who had to fight to redeem himself. And you know what, Dad? I've honestly gotten to the point where I'm tiring of it. I can let you in on everything I've worked so hard for, and you still wouldn't even be the slightest bit fazed by it. Because you were trapped inside a crystal ball that I kept safe all this time. One that I almost lost Phoebe to, in getting back the little respect Raynor still had for me- in his welcoming me back with open arms. But you know something? I'd already learned that if it's one thing you can never change- if you've truly and completed experienced it at all....it's love. My love for her grew, and not even Raynor could hope to destroy it- even in having her try and lose faith in me. It never worked. I later lost my demonic half for her, and no matter how helpless I was, I knew she'd be there, helping me get through it. Because that's what love does. It prevails." His blue eyes had since fallen to the ground, as he tried to sustain the tears he hadn't wanted to let fall. Continuing to cast a downward glance below, he shrugged to himself. "I have a little girl now. She means everything to me, and last year I went through hell itself to try and save her. I know that she's never asked me about her grandfather, but I always thought it'd be nice to tell her something for you, you know? Something to have shown you would've cared? Her name is Alexandra. She's five years old now, and she tells me I'm her hero." He laughed. "She never picked Spiderman or Superman, or even Scooby Doo. She picked me, Dad. Her father. A man who has made so many mistakes, but still devotes all of his time to her, because he just loves her so damn much- that his heart would literally break if anything happened to her."
Benjamin stared at him in pure awe, as his entire face seemed to suddenly light up with a previously hidden glow, his blue eyes widening in response. His legs crossed in front of him, his arms silently spilling across his chest. A slight grin replaced the troubled frown, as he let his frame of vision travel over to Phoebe and Paige in the distance, their means of conversation drifting through the walls of the cabin. "Will I get to meet her?" he finally asked, a full smile taking shape on his profile.
"Ally?"
"Both of them," he sided, his words filled with meaning. "If I can't hope to find the love I could have hoped to last me a lifetime, I can always dwell on the fact that my son has. Maybe it's just not meant to be, and truth be told- I should probably be dead right now, for all its worth."
"I thought you were," he admitted. "I really did. I mean, when Phoebe attempted that spell, I didn't even know if-"
"She has great power," he observed. "I could sense that about her right away."
"She's a Charmed One," he explained softly. "Her and sisters have faced some of the most powerful demons this world has known the likes of."
"I trust they've tried to vanquish you before as well?"
"I was hired by The Triad to see if I could do away with them. But you know, fate stepped in, and I guess the rest you probably already know. I just...I let down my guard- I couldn't kill her. I fought off enough bountyhunters to know that fighting on this side has its advantages. I'm actually recognized as a man. Before I encountered The Charmed Ones, all the Source viewed me as was some kind of hired hand to get all of his dirty work done. The kinds of things few demons would attempt. But I had it in me. Though if anything, I was able to use that strength to do some really great things. I know you may still not fully own up to that fact now, and that's beyond my control. But if you come back with us, you can probably have the closure you wanted. If anything, you can see exactly what she's turned into since she left you, and accept the fact that you'll never make peace."
"I loved her once," he whispered. "I would have given everything for her to have left all of that evil behind us. But she wouldn't have it, you know. She insisted her son be raised with the same beliefs- cause to do harm. I could never condone something like that. It wasn't in-"
"Your nature," Cole finished, offering a short smile. "Yeah, I think I can relate to that. More than you know."
"What do you- is there anything else you do?"
Cole raised an eyebrow, his expression a bit confused. "I'm sure I-"
"Other than saving these people?"
"Well....I'm a lawyer. It's kind of always been a profession I've come back to, in a sense. And actually, I'm pretty good at it, you know? I've won some cases, lost some. But it's all in the game, right?"
"Speaking of games," Phoebe interrupted, as she reluctantly approached them, "I don't think we're going to be good here for too much longer."
Cole looked up at her, nodding, as his expression turned to one of complete seriousness. "I know," he agreed. "I was just filling in Dad on what we're going to-"
"Mr. Turner," she offered, shakily holding out a hand, as she tried to keep her composure. She nervously placed her other one inside her jeans pocket.
He softly grasped it, covering it with his left on top, encasing it a small squeeze. "Miss Halliwell, it's truly a pleasure. I am familair with you and your sisters through your line. Very impressive."
"Yeah, well, we try. Seems like the job is never done though, right? I mean, everytime you think you're safe, a new demon makes his way into the world, and threatens to destroy your family. Can't say I haven't had my full share of that at this point."
"So tell me. Is...this guy as good as he says he is?" he inquired, indicating Cole, as his face filled with a deep warmth.
"Maybe you'll just have to see that for yourself," she answered quietly, shooting her husband a quick grin.
"That, I suppose I will."
"You know, rumor has it, this guy is about to save the world yet again," Phoebe continued. "Maybe you don't see it now, but he's the most honest man I know. When he says something, he means it. It all comes from his heart."
"Your little girl," Benjamin started. "I hear she's quite fond of him."
"Oh yeah. Those two are completely inseparable," Phoebe stated, laughing. "Trust me, he just loves her to death."
"Is she here?" he finally asked. "I mean, I have never had- are you sure she will know who I am?"
"You knew who I was, didn't you?" Cole questioned, offering him a glance.
"I mean, I don't want to see her too soon," he confessed worriedly. "I've been away for too long, and I don't even know-"
"Just relax," Phoebe assured. "Sit tight, and I'll be right back."
"But-"
"She really takes to Victor," Cole explained. "But I don't quite think they connect as much as he and Melinda do."
"Melinda?"
"My niece," he cleared up. "She's Piper's daughter- Phoebe's older sister."
"Oh."
"They've got quite the complicated- well, more forbidden romance...to be honest. Leo's a whitelighter. The Elders refused to support the love he had for Piper, and those two fought like hell to be together. Eventually, they were finally allowed to marry. It's a rather long story, and one I'd like to get into only when we have a little more time."
"And you and Phoebe? Did you have to-"
"Phoebe and I have been at odds, probably more often than we'd like. But it's always brought us closer together, I think. I mean, I don't know if she feels the same way, but I also that letting Ally keep her powers was a good decision too. We certainly needed them here."
"Daddy, Daddy! I finally beat Melinda at fish without cheating! You should have seen it," Alexandra Turner proclaimed loudly, as she came running out the small room, located in the very back of their cabin. "Isn't that great?"
Cole caught her in his arms, laughing, as she gave him a quick hug, throwing her tiny hands around his neck ever so lightly. "Since when have you been cheating, sweetheart?"
"Well, back home when me and you always play, I sometimes never tell you stuff I should," she added, smiling.
"Didn't I tell you not to lie when you don't have to?"
Phoebe gently crossed her arms over her chest. "Since when did you tell her it was alright to start making these things up?" she asked, rather sternly.
"Mommy, it was only with the fish game. I never do it, usually."
"Usually? Sweetie, it's not a good habit to get into. I think your father would know enough about that to confirm it too."
Cole rolled his eyes. "It's harmless, trust me."
"So what are you doing?" Alex asked curiously.
"Well...I happen to have someone very special here for you to meet," he whispered into her ear, as she offered a low giggle.
"Who?"
"Do you know who this man is?" he asked her softly, finally showing her Benjamin for the first time.
The little girl eyed up the stranger quite suspiciously, as her arms tightened a bit, her small frame moving closer to Cole. She turned her head briefly to the side, shaking her head. "No, Daddy. I don't know him."
"That's because you two have never seen each other before. But he's a big part of me, and....well, he's also a big part of you too," he explained. "He's come here to help us defeat the bad lady."
"Who is he?"
"This is my father, Benjamin. He would be your grandfather."
Alex's eyes lit up ever so slowly. "Do you mean like grandpa Victor?"
"Yes, like grandpa Victor. Only, this is my dad, and not your mom's."
"Where did he come from?" she asked confused. "He wasn't here before. Did he shift-shape?"
"Shapeshift. And nope. Let's just say your mother was brushing up on her magic a little bit. And now- well...here he is."
"Are you magic too?" Alex asked Benjamin, biting down absentmindedly upon her lower lip. "Because my daddy is magic. He can do lots of stuff."
"Is that right?" he returned. "Well, I'll have you know I know a few tricks, but I'm definitely not as good as your father- or...so I've heard," he concluded, smiling at the little girl, as he reached out a hand to her.
"It's okay. You can go to him," Cole urged. "He won't bite."
"At least not that I can recall," Benjamin tried, making an effort at a joke.
Alex studied him once more, as she calmly began to take the old man's hand, her tiny print falling into his. She looked into his eyes, and yet she didn't hesitate any longer, or try to take a step back. She smiled rather suddenly, her petite face lighting up with a deep glow. "Grandpa?" she whispered.
"That's what they're calling me," he added, smiling back at her.
"Are you a bad man?" she then asked him, narrowing her eyes.
"No," he told her quietly. "But I understand someone very bad is after you."
"She turns into people, and tried to hurt Daddy," she confirmed, nodding. "I don't want her to hurt me."
"And I'm sure your father will take care of that, won't he?"
"He's the best," she told him excitedly.
"So I hear."
"Why were you gone away? Why don't you ever visit?"
"Because he was out of town," Cole quickly told her, offering a slight wink in Phoebe's direction. She just looked at him and frowned, shaking her head. "Grandpa took a trip to one of those exotic lands, very far away."
"Really? Well...will you be around a lot now?"
"I'm not sure," he admitted. "But you've certainly grown, haven't you?"
"Do you tell stories too, Grandpa?"
"What?"
"Stories. Like the kind Daddy tells me before I go to sleep. I'm sure you know some, right?"
Benjamin shot Cole a very troubled expression, as he was truly at a loss for words. He shrugged, as he carefully placed a hand atop his chin, scratching it ever so briefly. "Well. There may be some pretty good ones about some not so nice characters I ran into a few hundred years ago.... Maybe have to brush up a bit though on my technique."
"Hundred years?" she echoed, wide-eyed. "Wow."
"Okay, why must you two insist on teaching this poor child such awful things? She's going to have nightmares, you know. And I refuse to take the blame for this," Phoebe told them, clearly miffed.
"Honey, believe it or not, they actually help her get to sleep," Cole offered, bringing her close to him.
"Oh, really? Well, I'm sure you wouldn't approve if I told you a separate bed would help me get to sleep back home, would you?"
"Mmm...you know, I still love you when you're angry."
"I'll bet you do."
"Phoebe...guys....looks like we've got trouble- now!" Paige ran frantically into the room, her eyes darting rapidly toward the doorway, a worried expression spilling across her face. "They're coming. I don't know why. But they're coming. We have to do it. Right now."
"Paige what are you talking about?" her sister returned. "How do you-"
"Trust me, my hearing's top notch. We have to go. We- look, I know if Sterling finds us he's going to have a lot more questions than we're willing to say just yet. Best plan? We go feet first into that past, without knowing what we're getting ourselves into. I have it right here. All we have to do is say it. Then we're home free."
"You'd hope," Cole pointed out. "Look, where's Melinda?"
"Over here, Uncle Cole. I'm ready."
"Dad?" Cole asked, his eyes finding his father. "Do you think you're up to-"
"Whatever it takes," he concluded, nodding. "If I'm not anymore safe here than I am there, it makes no preference necessary."
"Yeah, and I think we're going to have to work on your vocabulary when we get back too," Paige observed, making a face, as she scrunched up her nose.
"Take him, and whatever you do, do not harm the witches and the girl," a familiar voice sounded from the hallway in the near distance. "Leave them to me."
"Paige, the spell, dammit!" Cole yelled.
"Did I fail to mention some drawbacks in this? See, we're not exactly entirely prepared, we're not-"
"Now!" Phoebe echoed. "Just do it!"
"Waking moments, cease to be, take us on the journey, I cast unto thee!" she screamed. "Waking moments, cease to me, take us on the journey, I cast unto thee!"
"I think once is enough!" Cole shouted over the smoke that began to swirl around them, covering the entire room in a deeply embedded haze. The wind grew stronger, and a portral could be seen, slowly emerging in front of them, a rainbow of colors spitting out a series of brief sparks. Melinda and Alex were the first to jump through it, taking hold of one another's hands. Benjamin followed, baring an expression of pure surprise, as he walked directly into the mist, his hands feeling for safety around him. The space to grow dimmer though, just as fast as it had started out fairly large in size. The air around them was getting to the point of uncontrollable.
"Phoebe, go, you're next," he told her. "I'll follow you! Go!"
"What?!" she yelled back, struggling to be heard over the roaring blast of wind.
"Go!" he called back to her once more. "I'll be right behind you!"
"But what about-"
"Dammit!" Paige watched as the piece of paper spun out of her grasp, sailing halfway across the room, her hands frantically trying to grab hold of it.
"I've got it!" he assured her. "Go! I'll get her!"
"The paper! We need it to get back!" Paige screamed. "We need that paper....dammit!"
"Forget about the paper. There's nothing that can be done about it now. Come on!"
"Cole, I am not leaving it here!"
"Paige, if we don't go through it now, we'll lose our chance! Why the hell are you being so stubborn?!"
"Do you even understand what could happen if we-"
"Look, I probably hate you more than anybody, and even more so right now! But this is not going to help us! We have to...look, did it ever occur to you that I am sick of saving your-"
"Cole, I'm going back for it! I'll get back! I just need-"
But he had immediately taken hold of her hand, yanking her directly through the sphere that was near to closure, it's opening nearly fading to a mere nothingness, as he pulled her through.
"We're too late!" a sharp voice responded, as he struggled to catch his breath. "They've gone, and you idiots did nothing to catch them!"
"Look, boss, you never said anything about going after any-"
"Well, obviously that was before I knew who they were, wasn't it?"
"Now, now gentleman. Please. Cool down a bit, would you? There is still a way in. And, you know, I think our little super witches may have left something here that may prove useful afterall."
"Your powers did nothing but lose us an entire-"
"I think they've already released him," she pondered. "But it just made it easier for me. We'll follow them. But you stick to your agenda, and I'll stick to mine. We must not ever cross paths though. It's important we follow this through with caution."
"And what make you so sure you're still in charge, Lizzie? You've done nothing but wait. You knew about him, didn't you?"
"Oh, now, c'mon. How obvious do you think I am?"
"If you let your son get in the way of The Taker, I may just decide to kill you myself," he hissed.
"A word of advice, Mr. Sterling. Don't...ever....give me orders." She brought her face closer to his, as her eyes began to glow, her lips pursed with a prolonged attentiveness. "Or else? You're going to end up just like Crane. Got it?"
"Then a word of advice to you, Mrs. Turner. Mr. Crane is still very much alive. In fact, I'd say Orin's evil side has finally come out to have a little bit of that fun he left behind on the Crimson Star."