fandomhigh | Tuesday Office Hour

Getting only marginally better at maneuvering the wheelchair, Phoebe appears at CJ's door.

"Professor Cregg? Do you have a moment?"

"Sure thing, Phoebe. Come on in."

Phoebe smiles at CJ and makes her chair come into the office.

"I came to see what I missed in class, today," she says with her eyes full of smiles.

"Today I assigned speeches on persuasion. Now that I know you a bit...persuade me to buy something. Make me trust you, and pick something you could plausibly sell. Five minutes."

She smiles and walks around her desk, leaning on the edge. "Belthazor gave me your note though...and I didn't think I'd me seeing you. Are you supposed to be here?"

Phoebe looks guilty. "No, I'm not. I'm supposed to be in bed..."

Flashing her a half smile, she walks to the door and shuts it. Entirely dry, she nods to the couch. "I can't believe you. Escaping from your hospital room. I've never done that in my life. And racing wheelchairs is no fun either." She laughs softly, "At least lay down on the couch. Take it easy.

Phoebe grins and obediently rolls herself over to the couch and manages to move herself from the chair to the couch. Entirely failing at keeping the giggle out of her voice, she titlts her head once she's on the couch.

"Wheelchair races...somehow I doubt Cole would go for that."

"Somehow I get that impression too. He's kind of...reserved, huh?"

"He's not reserved at all...just very, very protective when it comes to me. I fear that this attack and the mangling with my mind is going to make it worse."

"You know, Phoebe, we work hard to keep our students safe. So many strange things go on around here...would it help you if he knew he wasn't the only one who felt a need to look out for you?"

CJ doesn't realize it, but she has just earned Phoebe's undying devotion for understanding that Cole did love her, no matter what he was or she was.

She smiles. "C...err, Professor Cregg, I think that would go a long way to make him feel better -- especially if it comes from someone that he does like and respect."

"Like and respect, huh? I tend to prefer fear and worship, but I'll take what I can get. I'll talk to him. But first...what do you need? I'm guessing Piper's going crazy over you, right?"

Phoebe grins. "Cole, admitting fear? Surely you jest!" She nods. "Piper is scared, as is Paige. Piper realizes that I'd be dead if it wasn't for Cole and Crowley getting there when they did." She sighs, looking at CJ with troubled eyes. "Can I be honest about something and not have you lose what respect you may ahve for me?"

Her eyebrows rise slowly, concern apparent when she mentions Crowley, but she stays quiet about it.

"Phoebe, you can tell me anything...and I tell you what. I'm big on give and take, so you tell me something, and I'll tell you something about me to make us even, ok? Shoot."

"I'm scared. The main reason I left the dorms? I was afraid to be up there in my bed alone...afraid that they'd either come back or send someone new after me."

She blinks several times before moving to the couch and sitting beside Phoebe. Taking her hand softly, she looks into her eyes.

"The fact that you're scared is normal. I respect you more for having brains enough to be scared. But, Phoebe, the dorms are the safest places here...I mean, besides the TARDIS and Mr. Phale's Shop...nothing can hurt you in the dorms but what's already there. This school, it's more than a school. It's your home while you're here, and home is meant to be safe."

Phoebe looks at her, grateful that she understands. "Professor Cregg...I need to tell you why they came after me...and why I'm so afraid that they can get to me. I know, logically, that I'm safe in the dorms."

She swallows. "I'm a witch...the things that came after me? Demons sent to kill me because I am what I am. The campaign for class representative? It's how they found me, my posters."

The overwhelming urge to wrap Phoebe up and take her home and keep her safe is almost overwhelming. Almost...she takes a deep breath and stands, pacing slowly.

"Okay."

"Okay."

"Okay."

"Okay, well...then we need to figure something out, right? We can't have you getting killed. Elections are done, so it'll be easy enough to keep your face off the wall. You're one of many witches, so I guess we'll have to figure out a way to protect you all. And then...wait...Demons? Like Crowley's a demon demons or like Belthazor's a demon demons? Or are all demons the same?"

It doesn't take an empath to sense that CJ was starting to feel protective. She didn't want to scare CJ, because she really does like her, but Phoebe isn't known for lying, either.

"Yeah, right after the attack, Cole called Maia and she removed every poster we had put up during the campaigning. I think she even went and collected all of the flyers or stickers we had left out for distribution. The Halliwell name is no longer on the walls anywhere, so Piper can't be hunted. If they come back, it's my face they'll look for, and Piper stays safe."

Phoebe looks at CJ, more respect growing for the teacher because she had actually asked if all demons were the same and didn't assume anything.

"Not like Cole," she says softly. "They...they were different. They weren't like Crowley, either." She frowns, trying to remember things clearly. "The one...she," Phoebe swallows, shuddering slightly and trying not to let tears fill her eyes. "The one...she had teeth that came from her eyes...she did something to my mind...had me trapped in a nightmare. Mr. Aziraphale came into my prison to help me..."

Phoebe is taking sharp breaths as she fights to keep herself from panicking as she remembers the horror in her mind from that demon.

Moving back to the couch swiftly, she wraps her arms around Phoebe. "It's ok, hon. You're safe here with me. It's going to be all right...shh..."

Rocking gently, she just holds her, letting her know she isn't alone.

Phoebe clings to CJ slightly and does something she hasn't done since she woke up after the battle in her mind that Aziraphale had helped her with. She starts sobbing, somehow knowing CJ won't hold it against her.

"It was awful," she says through sobs. "Her eyes...they had teeth and they bored right into my mind...making me doubt everything and making me afraid of everything..."

"It'll be ok, Phoebe. Really. I know you're scared, and I cna't imagine how horrible...but you're safe now, and we'll keep you that way. I promise."

[[ooh...a promise from CJ. look out world!]]

Phoebe believes CJ's words and wipes her eyes. "Thank you C...Professor Cregg. I really appreciate you being here for me. If there's anything I can do, let me know, okay?"

[[*glee* CJ won't take no crap!]]

"You can start by calling me CJ. And then we'll go from there." She smiles softly, wiping Phoebe's tears.

Phoebe smiles at her. "Alright...CJ." She looks a little less haunted than she was when she arrived. She swallows. "I think...I think when I'm well I might look into hiring a bodyguard for awhile. I'm scared to be alone in town...and Bel or you cannot be with me at all times."

"Who on Earth would you hire, Phoebe? I mean...it would have to be someone who could stand up to...demons. Right?" SHe looks skeptical, but doesn't think it's the worst idea ever.

Phoebe also looks skeptical. "Okay, I know it's not the best idea ever. Maybe someone in town who could teach me to fight when I'm well? Someone who won't see me as just a girl?" She sighs. "CJ, it's not just demons that I or Piper will have to deal with."

She bites her lip as she looks at CJ. She hasn't told many people who exactly she was, but CJ wasn't just anybody. "Grams told us that we were the Charmed Ones...good witches charged with protecting innocents and fighting for good...demon or human."

Her slow grin has a touch of mischeif as she asks, "What kind of fighting do you want to learn, Phoebe?"

"The dirtier the better," she responds, and then facepalms as she realizes she has said that out loud.

"Lord, that makes me sound horrible, doesn't it?"

"Not really. Sometimes we need to fight dirty...when that's what our opponent expects, usually. Look, Phoebe, it's the same all over, whether you're getting attacked physically or mentally...politically or your image. You can't take it lying down. Find what strength you have and use it or you'll keep being a victim. And I know you and Belthazor love each other, I can see it every day in class...but hon, it's not good for either of you if he has to be the strong one because eventually it'll wear him down. Do it for both of you and don't worry about sounding horrible. Really."

Phoebe is listening and nodding. "I'm tired of everyone thinking I need to hide behind my boyfriend...I'm tired of thinking I'm vulnerable and not taking me seriously." She looks at CJ seriously. "CJ, I want to learn whatever I can. If I need to be able to fight dirty to keep myself up, then so be it."

"Then I say use what you need, Phoebe. I can teach you basic self defense, and there are teachers here who I bet if you asked nicely and gave them beer would teach you to use a sword. as far as magic or anything, I'm not sure except for youand your sisters and the couple other witches...and Mr Phale and Anthony, but they aren't exactly the ind of magic that can be taught. I don't think."

Phoebe nods. "CJ, I would appreciate anything you can teach me," she says softly. "As for the swords...I could ask Ms. Sidle or Adam Pierson if they can recommend. As for the magic part...Mr. Aziraphale saved my sanity and kept me from dying in my brain. And my mentor...she's gone." She ponders. "That doesn't mean I won't try to find someone to help me...us."

Tuesday Office Hour

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