Wednesday Night, 518/520

[sensethevisions]

After talking to Anders and finding out the damage that had been done to him -- and to Cole -- by the witch possessing her body, Phoebe had ran all the way back to the dorms.

After becoming thoroughly sick in the bathroom, she had rinsed out her mouth and stumbled into the bedroom. She collapsed on the floor with her back against the bed and drew her knees up to her chin. She buried her face in her knees and began sobbing in earnest.


[[OOC: For the fake boyfriend. Backdated by permission]]

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[demonbelthazor]

Cole had just returned to the room when he heard Phoebe crying. He rushed to the bedroom and knelt beside her, taking her in his arms. "Phoebe, what's wrong?"

[sensethevisions]

"You should have told me," she sobbed against him. "You should have told me what she did...how she hurt you."

[demonbelthazor]

Cole tensed. "What do you mean?" he asked quietly.

[sensethevisions]

"You mean she had sex with someone else besides Anders while she had control of my body?"

[demonbelthazor]

"I'm gonna fucking kill him," Cole growled. "I told him not to tell you!"

[sensethevisions]

"He didn't. I put two and two together with the way he was acting and the emotions I was picking up from him, plus the radio broadcast from last Thursday." She shook her head. "I asked and at first he wouldn't answer. So I pushed." Phoebe choked on a sob.

[demonbelthazor]

"Sweetheart, it wasn't you. It was her," Cole said, running his hand down her back.

[sensethevisions]

"She broke part of him and she hurt you. She used my body to hurt you." She swallowed. "How can you stand to be near me right now?"

[demonbelthazor]

"Because I know it wasn't you, Phoebe," Cole said, pressing his forehead against hers.

[sensethevisions]

"I would never have hurt you like that for anything," she sobbed. "I never would have broken a friend like that."

[demonbelthazor]

"Phoebe, listen to me," Cole said. "It wasn't you. It wasn't you."

[sensethevisions]

"It's still horrible to know what someone did to you guys with my body, Cole," she shuddered.

[demonbelthazor]

"I know," Cole said. "Believe me, I know. But you can't blame yourself."

[demonbelthazor]

"Past jealousies and possessiveness aside, How do you feel about him?"

"I. . . I like him," Cole admitted hesitantly. "He's been a good friend."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe worried her bottom lip. "I like him, too, Cole. He's been really good to both of us."

[demonbelthazor]

"Do you like him enough that you want him to be with you . . . with us?" Cole asked quietly.

[sensethevisions]

"I... I don't know." She sighed and looked at him. "You were drawn to him before the Source possessed you. What do you feel?"

[demonbelthazor]

Cole flopped back on the bed with a sigh. "Things were a lot different in my life before coming here," he said, looking away from Phoebe. "When demons see something they want, they take it, unless it's owned by someone more powerful than they are. But I know humans aren't like that, so I've had to fight against those instincts, for you. You're the most important person in my life and I don't want to hurt you. But the Source picked up on those desires and acted on them, like a demon would."

He paused a moment, then added, "And demons rarely share, unless they want to humiliate or demonstrate that they have control." Which he knew far too well.

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe sighed and lay back on the bed, too.

"You're the most important person in my life, too, Cole," she said softly, putting an arm across his chest. "I know how demons usually act about things. You've taught me that much by talking to me. But... I'm asking how Cole... the man... feels about this... about him."

[demonbelthazor]

"I don't know," Cole said, putting his hand on her arm. "It doesn't matter what I feel about him. I just want you to be happy."

[sensethevisions]

"It matters to me, Cole. Like I said, you're the most important person to me, and thus, your happpiness is important to me."

[demonbelthazor]

"Humans are usually true to one mate," Cole said.

[sensethevisions]

"Usually, yes," she nodded. "But this is not a usual situation... and you are dodging the question." She looked at him. "Cole, I'm not going to be upset if you tell me that you do care about him more than as a friend."

[demonbelthazor]

Cole closed his eyes. "I do, but I try not to think about it. I have you, and that's enough for me."

[sensethevisions]

Phoebe touched his face. "You do?" She leaned up so she could look at him. "You've been avoidy with him because you don't want me hurt?"