And You Take Me Over Again

AND YOU TAKE ME OVER AGAIN

DISCLAIMER: None of the characters in this fan fiction are mine. They are the property of Spelling Television Inc.
WARNINGS: Rape, sadism.
AUTHOR’S NOTE: This takes place sometime after the Season 4 episode Saving Private Leo.


CHAPTER THREE – FALLING INTO PLACE

For the next few weeks, Paige was constantly on edge. Cole would appear to her at almost any time, always seeming to know when she was alone. If the others were at home, he would make painful but fleeting visits. If she was the only one home, he would draw out his assault, always forcing her to climax before he finished with her. Some days he would be relatively gentle with her, others he would show the full force of his sadism. All the while, he would play the perfect husband in front of the others while Paige had to force herself not to seem like too much of a nervous wreck.
A couple of months later, Piper arrived home from work early, only to be greeted by the phone ringing. “Hello, Halliwell residence, Piper speaking.”
“Ah, Miss Halliwell.” The voice at the other end sounded very formal. “I was wondering if I could speak to your sister Paige.”
“I…I’m sorry, but she’s at work right now. Can I take a message?”
“Nice try, honey.” The other woman didn’t sound impressed. “This is Paige’s work. She’s been very…selective with her appearances here lately.”
“Oh really?” Piper tried to make herself sound calm. “Well, I’ll have a word with her and get her to call you.”
“Please make sure you do.”
As Piper hung up, she saw Paige come out from the kitchen. “Ah, just the slacker I wanted to speak to. That was your work.”
“What?” Paige sounded almost hysterical. “What did they want?”
“Strangely enough, you. Apparently you’ve been pulling quite a few no-shows lately.”
Paige looked down guiltily. How could she explain that the reason she’d been missing work was because Cole’s assaults left her ruined for the rest of the day?
Piper sighed. “I don’t know what the matter with you is lately. You’ve been so twitchy these last two months or so.”
“I just…I…it doesn’t matter.” Paige ran upstairs before Piper could stop her. Stunned, the eldest Halliwell hung up her coat and went about fixing lunch.

~*P3*~

A couple of hours later, Leo orbed into the mansion to find his wife sitting in the kitchen, snglyngly lost in thought. Walking up and kissing her forehead, he whispered “What’s up?”
“Leo, hi!” Piper roused herself, kissing her husband before standing up. “Cole and Phoebe are coming round for dinner tomorrow, that okay?”
“That’s fine. Still doesn’t answer my question though.” Leo stroked Piper’s cheek. “Is it Paige?”
“I – how did you know?”
“Come on, Piper. She may think she’s doing a good job hiding it, but something’s going on with her.”
“She’s been missing work,” Piper informed him. “I came home today to find her boss on the phone, asking where she was.”
“Really?” Leo seemed surprised. “But she loves that job. Why would she want to throw it away?”
“I don’t know.” Piper sighed. “If only Phoebe were here. She’s the empathetic one – she’d know what to do.”
“Do you want me tlk tlk to her?” Leo offered. “She might open up to me.”
Piper shrugged. “You can try.”
Trying to smile reassuringly at his wife, Leo left the kitchen and started up the stairs. As he neared the top, he could instantly tell that something wasn’t right. Someone was hurting – and it seemed like they were in the attic. 'Paige, what have you done to yourself?'
Racing up towards the attic, Leo tried to think of a logical explanation. When he reached the top, however, all he could hear was the sound of repressed sobs. He was about to walk in when –
“Please Cole, no!”
Leo tensed – his mind was trying to reason that it could be anyone called Cole, but his gut instinct knew who it was even before the other voice confirmed it.
“You know what I want. I want to hear you.”
“Piper’s home.” Paige’s plea was answered with a slap.
Leo found himself fixed to the spot in horror. Opening the door ever so slightly, just enough to see, he noticed Paige lying on the floor, trying to struggle free from the man pinning her down. Cole was pressing on her clit again, forcing her to become overwhelmed by sensation. Leo was about to intervene when he felt a hand around his waist. Piper’s voice was a low whisper. “What are you doing?”
Leo took hold of his wife’s hand and led her into a position where she could see what was going on. Piper took one look at the scene, then turned to her husband. “Is that-?”
Leo nodded. “Sounds like he’s forcing her.”
Piper opened her mouth to add something when they heard a keening cry from inside the attic. She was about to storm in when Leo stopped her. “She won’t appreciate us walking in on her.”
“But we have to do something!” Angry concern filled Piper’s voice. “We can’t just let him-“
“You really ought to learn some self control, you know?” Cole’s voice interrupted. “Think of what it would do to Phoebe if she found out.”
“She won’t.” Paige bit out. “She can’t.”
Leo looked up in time to see Cole redress Paige with a wave of his hand, before disappearing in flame. “I don’t believe it. I-“
Piper pushed past him, walking into the room where her sister was curled up, crying uncontrollably. “Paige?”
“Piper!” Paige tried to back away from the other girl. “I swear, I didn’t-“
“Ssh!” Piper approached her sister and knelt down. “We know. We saw.”
“You-you saw? Then…then you know…”
“He’s not human any more,” Leo’s voice joined in.
Piper looked up at him. “What?”
“I don’t know what he is, but he’s definitely not mortal.” Leo knelt at the other side of Paige, who suddenly panicked at being ‘surrounded’. Piper wrapped her arms around the other girl. “It’s okay sweetie. We’re not going to hurt you.”
“How long has this been going on?” asked Leo.
Paige looked startled. “I…I…he…”
“The truth, Paige.” Piper stroked her sister’s hair. “You don’t have to cover for him any more.”
“A couple of months.” Paige’s voice was little more than a whisper.
Piper and Leo glanced at each other before the former turned back to Paige. “He won’t hurt you again, sweetie. I promise.”
“He…he said that…that…you wouldn’t believe me.” Paige burst into tears again. Piper hugged her, feeling the frightened girl tremble next to her. “Well we caught him now, and we believe that it’s been going on for a while – it explains a lot. So you don’t have to worry any more.”
“What…what about Ph...Phoebe?”
“I’ll speak to her tomorrow night. She needs to know.” Piper glanced at Leo, who nodded in agreement. “Don’t worry though; we’ll make sure that Cole isn’t alone with you.”
“They’re coming for dinner tomorrow,” Leo explained. “Now I know it’ll be hard, but try and act normally until Piper has a chance to explain. For Phoebe’s sake.”
Paige nodded, unable to speak. Piper stood up, helping her sister up as she did so. “Come on. Let’s get out of this attic.”
Paige allowed herself to be led away from her torture chamber. Leo followed them, clearly stunned at what he had seen. Piper turned to speak. “Leo, would you mind swapping with Paige tonight?”
“Piper, I-“ P rea really didn’t want to feel that she was putting a strain on the others. Piper, however, was adamant. “I’m not having you alone tonight. And tomorrow, I’ll make sure you get to work okay, and I’ll help you explain what’s been going on.”
“No. No!” Paige’s voice wavered. “I can’t.”
“You can and you will.” Piper’s voice was firm, but Paige knew it was only because she was concerned. Resigning herself to her sister’s protection, she whispered “Okay.”