[Room #412] Locked To Piper --- NFB

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe was curled up in her and Cole's bed.  He had made her come back here from Ethics and she couldn't say that he was wrong in that she really shouldn't have gotten out of bed. Valkyrie was in the headboard keeping watch and Seraphim was at the foot of the bed.

She wasn't feeling well at all. She had once again started throwing up. Her fever had spiked and she could tell because she was feeling cold and shaky again.

Of course, she didn't know if it was from the flu or from the conversation she had just had with Cole in Tara's class.

Comments

[absolutesnark]

Piper stands outside Phoebe's dorm and knocks on the door.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe looks up from the bed.

"It's open."

[absolutesnark]

Piper wandered into the room, closing the door behind her. She smiled sympathetically at her sister. "Hey, Pheebs. How are you feeling?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe smiled at her sister. "I'm miserable and think that some new monster is trying to kill me."

Valkyrie hissed at those words and Phoebe grinned. "Valkyrie feels very fierce over the very idea."

[absolutesnark]

Piper nervously smiled at the kitten. She didn't want Phoebe to see how upset she was.

"Are you sure you aren't hallucinating?" Piper joked.

[sensethevisions]

Valkyrie hissed again and this time Seraphim raised his head to look at Piper.

"No."

Phoebe blinked at Seraphim and then looked at Piper. "I have no idea." She frowned at Piper. The emotions radiating off of her sister concerned her, as did what she had heard Piper say in Ethics.

"Talk."

[absolutesnark]

Piper ignored the cat and looked at Phoebe. "You're concerned about what I said in Ethics, aren't you? It's really no big deal. I was in a bad mood. Didn't sleep well last night..."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe coughed.

"Piper, you don't lie well."

[absolutesnark]

Piper sighed. "I'm not lying... much. I was in a bad mood and I didn't sleep well last night. That's all true."

She wasn't sure she could tell Phoebe the complete truth.

[sensethevisions]

"Veronica?"

[absolutesnark]

Piper nodded solemnly. "I'm worried about her."

[sensethevisions]

"You mean besides the fact that people are drwaing lines and blaming her for the set-up?

[absolutesnark]

Piper blinked at Phoebe. "You actually believe it was a set-up?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe sat up against the headboward and pulled the covers around her. Her teeth worried her bottom lip.

"Do I believe Veronica set him up? No. That's not something she's even capable of doing. He was either set up or..." Phoebe's breath hitched. "A good friend murdered one of my best friends."

[absolutesnark]

"He wasn't set-up," Piper said quietly. "Veronica says there is evidence. I know she wouldn't lie about that."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe's face fell. She stumbled from the bed to the bathroom and proceeded to throw up. After she was finished, she quickly brushed her teeth and returned tot he main room She went to her desk and opened a drawer. She took a bottle out and returned to the bed. After getting back under the covers, she opened the bottle and took a very long drink from it. She screwed the cap back on the tequila and looked at Piper.

"Veronica isn't a liar. Could...could evidence have been planted to make her believe it was Angelus?"

[absolutesnark]

Piper peered at Phoebe. "Um, Pheebs, are you sure it's a good idea to drink that when you're sick?"

She continued to answer Phoebe's question. "I don't think so."

[sensethevisions]

"I don't know if it's a good idea or not...probably not. However, if we don't do something to keep me calm, I'm liable to go into hysterics and go looking for someone to hit...and that definitely would make me worse, physically. Especially if the wrong person got ahold of me."

A tear slipped down her cheek. "Do you think he did it, Piper?" Phoebe's voice was soft, part of her begging her big sister to fix this nightmare.

[absolutesnark]

Piper shrugged. "In that case, can I have some, too?"

She sat beside Phoebe, placing her hand on her shoulder. "I do think he did it, yes. I'm sorry."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe handed Piper the bottle and laid her head on her sister's shoulder as tears started sliding down her face.

"Tara does, too."

[absolutesnark]

Piper took a sip and it felt good after the crappy day she had.

Now her sister was in tears. Piper hated seeing anyone she cared about in pain, especially her sister. "I wish I could everything better."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe took another drink of the tequila.

"Is that why she won't talk to me...or even look at me?"

[absolutesnark]

"Veronica?" Piper sighed, not wanting to tell Phoebe about the threats. "I think it's because she's trying to avoid anyone in the JA... including Belthazor."

[sensethevisions]

"As everyone loves reminding me when it suits their purpose...I'm not JA. And why does she think Cole will hurt her?"

[absolutesnark]

"I know you're not JA, but you're always around him," Piper said, taking another sip of the tequila. "I think the whole demon thing scares her. Plus, he's close to Angelus."

[sensethevisions]

"Angelus is his best friend and he looked out for him," Phoebe said softly taking another long drink. She sighed. "Whether I think Angelus did it or not...we have to protect Veronica from the others in the JA."

[absolutesnark]

Piper agreed. "Yeah, she's an innocent. Our first?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe took another drink. "That's what I'm thinking."

[absolutesnark]

Piper took another sip. "I'm glad we talked."

[sensethevisions]

"...and glad that this talked did not include suggestions that I vanquish my boyfriend." Phoebe sighed. "Cole and I talked today..."

[absolutesnark]

"I would never suggest such a thing," Piper said quietly. "Talk about anything interesting?"

[sensethevisions]

"Thank you..." Phoebe sighed. "We talked about how difficult things are going to become. He's worried about someone hurting me to get even with him."

[absolutesnark]

Piper frowned. "Am I going to have to keep an eye on you now, too?"

She took another sip.

[sensethevisions]

"I don't think anybody would be that stupid. Do you honestly think they'd fight Beka?" She shook her head, taking another drink.

"We have to protect Veronica. She's our innocent."

[absolutesnark]

Piper laughed. "No, probably not."

She turned to Phoebe. "Agreed. Protect Veronica."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe had a coughing fit. When it was over, she looked at Piper. "You need to convince her that I will protect her, Piper."

[absolutesnark]

Piper nods. "Well, I trust you. So it shouldn't be too hard to convince Veronica to trust you, too."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nodded. "I hope not, Piper. I still care a great deal about her. She's a friend...and now our first innocent." She swallowed. "Should we call Grams and Prue and get suggestions or try this on our own first?"

[absolutesnark]

"You know what? We should do this on our own. It's the only way we will learn this whole magic thing. That's probably what Grams would say."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nodded. "I agree." Then she frowned. "What about Paige?"

[absolutesnark]

"I would hate for Paige to get hurt," Piper frowned.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nodded emphatically. "Yes, we want her safe and unaware, They can't hurt her if she's not involved."

[absolutesnark]

"So we're agreed on this?"

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe nodded weakly as she drank from the bottle. It was half empty.

"We're agreed." She closed her eyes, taking a shaky breath.