Teaser: Cole wishes he were human, and gets a comforting presence from an unlikely source.

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March 23, 2008 - San Franscisco Cemetary

Cole looked down at his hands, half clawed and half human. His thoughts raced in a circle, and he only became more angry. He kept thinking to himself, "Dammit. I wish I were human. I want to be good. Why was I born half human and demon? Why do I have to suffer so much?" He looked up at the sky, angrily, raising a fist, and cursing the Source itself. His face contorted momentarily from human to demon, then back to human, taking deep breaths to control the beast inside himself. He started to cry into his hands, and let out a few soft sobs. "Oh Phoebe. I miss you."

He knelt in front of a simple gravestone, that has the words:

"Phoebe Halliwell
 Died Mar. 23, 2004
 She died bravely,
 With her heart so big,
 The world loved her."

His thoughts continued down his angry streak. With Phoebe gone, it doesn't seem to matter anymore. The sisters have their third, in the form of Melinda. Phoebe has been gone for 4 years. Everyone thought Cole was coping, and moving on, but in truth, Cole wasn't. His eyes streaked with tears, he contemplates the thought of suicide. His heart, heavy with guilt and sorrow, cried out for release. He withdrew a sharp knife from his dagger sheath behind his back. He felt sublime, his soul calm before the storm.

He discarded his jacket to the side, and rolled up his sleeves, leaving his wrists bare. He positioned the knife over his wrists, and readies to slash his wrists. He hesistated for a moment. Was that a intake of breath he heard? He looked around quickly, but seeing no one there, he focused back on the knife. His hand shook for a moment. He positioned the knife between his wrists, blade touching his wrists, gave Cole pause for thought. He felt burdensome, but felt that they would be fine without him. After all, they do have the Power of Three again. His thoughts narrowed to the gleam of the dagger, and swiftly slid his wrists up the blade. He gasped at the pain, but held on, for the thought of death was welcoming to him.

The blood seeped out of his wrists at an alarming pace, leaving Cole blinking, and weak from blood loss. His thoughts became murky and incoherent. His last words were gurgled out as he collapsed sideways. "Phoebe. I'm coming! I'll be there soon..."

Chimes rang throughout the air audible only to Leo.

Leo snapped alert back at the Halliwell Manor. "Cole's in trouble! I must go!" Piper nodded and shooed Leo. "Go then!" He orbed over to the gravestone, using his detector sense to find Cole. He grew pale at the sight of Cole bleeding to death. He knelt down by Cole's wrists, and tried in vain to heal him. After a moment it seemed like it would not work, Leo became frantic, and attempted a second time, and the Elders heard Cole's heart, and Leo's heart, and granted their wish.

Leo became shocked, then relieved, when the wounds started closing up. A yellow glow surrounded Cole for a moment, and left a Leo wheezing softly, cuz his healing ability got stretched to the maximum. He slumped backwards onto the wet grass, landing on his butt. Cole didn't stir for a moment, but began to blink groggily, and looked over at Leo. He smiled for a moment, but then becomes angry at Leo. "What the HELL was that for? I wanted to die!"

Leo looked at Cole with a little sadness in his eyes. "But Cole...Death isn't the answer." Leo's heart broke at the sight of Cole, bedraggled, weak, and despondent. Leo then marshalled his thoughts together. Cole looked at Leo with a defiant glance, but his gaze softened in despair. Cole whispered in a soft voice, "I don't know what I'm going to do without Phoebe."

Leo crawled over to Cole's side, and looked into his eyes. "Cole, I know how you feel though. I've lost my wife a few times, almost. I wish I could bring Phoebe back. But I can't." Cole sighed, and sat up, and looks into Leo's eyes with haunted emotion.

He said, "Leo. I miss her. I don't know how I'm going to go on." Leo nodded, and put his hand on Cole's shoulder for assurance.

"Cole - Please talk to us. To Prue, Piper, Me. Together, we will help you figure it out.", was Leo's plead.

Cole took a few moments to think about it, and nodded at Leo.

Chimes rang throughout the sky, signaling that the Elders wanted Leo up there. Leo looked up and listened. Leo had a surprised expression on his face, because they want to bring Cole with him. Leo abruptly looked at Cole, with an surprised gaze. Cole gives Leo a puzzled look. "What, Leo?" Leo smiled. "They want me to bring you up with me, to the Elder's Council." Cole's eyes widen at this news and he stood up quickly, taking a step backwards, shaking his head No.

Cole protested in a sharp voice, "But ..I'm evil. How can I be up there with their permission?"

Leo shrugged at this, and took Cole's arm. They orb up to the Elder's Council. Cole looked bewildered as he looked around. "It's...different. Why am I here?" was his question toward Leo. Leo shrugged, and said, "We'll find out in a moment."

At that moment, Three Head Elder Whitelighters walked into the Councilroom. One said in passing, "Welcome Cole, and Leo." They seat themselves into a panel of three tables, covered with white satin cloth.

The middle Elder drew back his hood, and smiled at Cole. Cole gasped. The Elder looked just like Cole. Cole said, "What? You look like..?"

He nodded. "Yes. I am...was... your Father."

A stunned silence met the Elder's outspoken comment. Cole's thoughts whirled around itself. "But? I thought my father was mortal?" Leo's expression mirrors Cole's, and was speechless. Cole's father smiled at Cole. "It's Ok. I know it is a big shock, but I did hear your love, and Leo's. You do know that you mean a lot to the others, not just Phoebe?"

Leo stepped forward to address Cole's Father, and asked, "Is that how I was able to heal him? I knew I couldn't heal a suicide attempt, but...I had to try."

Cole's Father smiled at Leo. "Your courage was admirable. I'm proud of you, Cole, and Leo."

Cole looked away ashamed. "Don't be. I've done a lot of terrible things. I've seen them too."

Cole's Father's expression turned from proud to loving. "Oh Cole. It doesn't matter what you did. I have always loved you, no matter what."

The other Elders are witnessing this scene, and lean over to Cole's Father, and whispered into his ears.

Cole's Father nodded back at them. "I'm sorry, but they want me to get on with this business now."

Cole looked at his father with a suspicious glance. "What business?"

Cole's heart had started healing a little, after finding his father. He thought to himself, "Wow. I didn't know my Father was still alive, and a Whitelighter, to boot." Leo placed his hand on Cole's shoulder, whispering, "Cole. They are telling you something."

Cole snapped out of his reviere and looks at his father. "Sorry.... Dad..erm...What was it?"

Cole's Father's expression softened to a small smile. "That's okay. We are making you fully human. As a reward of your love to Phoebe. All we do ask is that you be with the Halliwell Family, since they are the only family you have now. Unfortunately, *I* cannot be there, but at least you do know that I am still around, in a way."

Cole stared at his father with extreme shock on his face. "What? How?"

His father nodded quietly, saying, "Yes. We can. We just figured it out a little while ago."

Cole's mind spun at the realization that his dream would come true, to become fully human. But he had an afterthought. "But...why now? Why didn't you make me human while I was still with Phoebe?" The Elders looked at Cole with a saddened expression. "We didn't know how. I'm sorry. I really do wish I could have found it while she was still alive. ", spoke Cole's Father's with a regretful voice.

Leo placed his arm around Cole's shoulder to comfort him. Cole angrily pulled away from Leo, and grief marred his voice, "Dammit, Dad. I loved her with all my heart. I did this so I would be with her."

Cole's Father looks at Cole with a tranquil expression, saying, "Cole. The offer is here anytime you wish to take up on it. Take time to grieve. Talk to Prue. She knows what it is like." Cole looks resistant, but gives up the pretense, and nodded. "Okay. I still want to be human. I'm tired of running from Demons."

Cole's Father smiled at his son, proud of him.

Cole stood there for a moment, suspended in time. The three Elders flanked him, and held out their hands, and chanted.

"Belthazor, Force of Evil,
 Demon Side Plagued,
 Shall be no more!
 Heal This Man,
 Make his body, and soul
 Human for ever more!"

Cole agonized in pain, his face contorted inbetween demon and half, for mere moments, but felt they lasted years. A white light cascaded from each Elder's palms and surrounded Cole in an intense light that Leo had difficulty seeing, and had to cover his eyes. The bright light continued for a few moments more, as Leo watched in amazement, as the demon image of Belthazor emerged from Cole's rigid form. The Demon half became brighter, as the light continued to assault Cole. The Beast screamed mentally, making Leo clap his hands over his ears but it was pointless to do so. The Beast exploded in an inferno of black, and red flames. The white light collapsed, as the Three Elders staggered backwards, slumping a little.

Cole, still suspended for a moment, crashed to the ground. He moaned to himself, and felt his body for something, looking for something but not sure what. Cole, his expression became surprised, looked at the Three Elders, in a joyful voice, said, "I'm ...Human!"

Leo beams broadly at this news, and looks at Cole with an affection a brother can have. Cole grinned at Leo.

Cole thought to himself. Wow. Now I can continue, and die normally...in my own time. His heart felt unburdened, but his heart did miss Phoebe still, but it was no longer as debiliating as before.

He smiled softly, and whispered, "Bye Phoebe. I love you." His heart felt lightened that he has finally said Good Bye.

[fin]