Hidden in the Mist
Darkness. The night is silent. The void of all light and sound that is nightfall. It loved the void. Loved the things hiding within the blackness. It swirled and hovered just above the cool ground. No shape, no sound, it just was. It hunted and it fed. It's only purpose. Just ahead, distant footsteps broke the solitude. It felt anticipation and hunger. Slowly it wove its way down the street, stalking its prey.
She hasted her pace down the dim, desolate road. Her heart was racing with anxiety. Normally she would never be out at this time, alone on a deserted street. Her blind date had turned out badly. He was supposed to take her home, but in the process he began his unwanted advances. When she put up a fight, he stopped the car. With force, he began in earnest to take what she was not offering willingly. She managed to grab the door handle and with her other hand, dragged her nails across his face. He cried out. Taking advantage of the distraction, she used her other hand to open the door. Stumbling out onto the rough pavement. Ignoring her torn dress and scrapped knees, she got up and ran as fast as her two inch heels could carry her.
Now she was wandering around at one in the morning, with no idea where she was. Desperately she searched for a phone. Her cell phone had been damaged in her fall from the car. Franticly she turned her head, squinting into the bleak night, praying to find a phone or open restaurant. Anything. Abruptly she became still. She felt a chill come over her. Rubbing her hands up and down her arms, she turned and gazed into the blank space behind. Nothing. It was just her nerves, which had been stretched to their breaking point. Shaking her head, she turned back to resume her harried trek down the street.
A gray mist whirled and followed close behind. Long willowy tendrils reaching out like a lover's touch. It could feel its quarry. Feel the warmth just beyond its reach. Silently it crept ever closer. Gently swarming around its victim's feet in a cool embrace. Slowly, it inched its way up in a swirl of cloudy wetness. Soon it was encompassing its prey.
Becoming still once again, her eyes darting around, seeing the mist all around. Her breaths coming out in short pants, as fear engulfs her body. Yes, it thought. Breath. Let me in. With each drawn breath, the mist enters. Through each nostril, as well as her mouth which was slightly ajar. It felt the sweet warmth as it makes its way into her lungs, filling them with its cool being. Once there, it fed. Savoring every ounce of life force he was consuming. Sucking, draining until every last drop had been devoured. When it was done, it swiftly exited the barren wasteland that had once been a human being. With the invader gone, the body fell. Rigid. Frozen from the inside out, the body landed with a thud onto the unforgiving pavement. In the distance, the mist traveled forth, looking for its next victim.
It was Tuesday morning. The alarm had gone off, yet Piper Halliwell still lay a bed. Rolling over, she pushed the long stands of her brown hair out of her eyes and squinted at the clock, hoping it would read differently. Of course that was not going to happen. She needed to get up and get motivated. She needed to be at P3 by nine sharp. Normally she would not be at her club until much later, however she had a huge supply shipment coming in and she needed to be there to supervise. Leo would be there to help, but it was her club. Beside, Leo had just started working there and only a mortal for a few weeks. Couldn't forget that little fact. Although there were many times she wished she could.
Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes. When did her life get so complicated? Okay, more complicated than normal for a witch in the twenty first century. A good witch mind you, but a witch all the same. Getting out of bed, she dragged her feet to the bathroom. A hot shower would hopefully clear the cobwebs.
Forty minutes later, she was ready to go. Quickly coming down the stairs she made a swift detour to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. Phoebe was sitting at the table busily writing in a notebook, a book lay open in front.
"Hey Pheebs."
So engrossed in her work, Phoebe gave a start at her sister's greeting. "Whoa, you're up early."
"Yeah." Piper answered back as she poured a steaming mug, blowing on it before taking that first sip. "I've got a huge shipment coming in this morning, so I've got to be there."
"Right. Oh, I almost forgot. Dan called. Wanted to know about dinner tonight."
"Does he want me to call back?"
Returning her attention back to her homework, Phoebe replied. "No, said he'd call you at the club later."
Grabbing her purse and taking one last sip of her coffee, Piper responded. "Thanks. I'm off, see you later."
Her mind back on her work, Phoebe did not reply.
Piper arrived at P3 fifteen minutes later. She could see two large trucks already unloading. "Damn, I'm late." She muttered to herself. Rushing into her office, she threw her purse on her desk and ran back out. She could hear Leo's voice coming from the storeroom at the back of the club. He turned as she walked in, a half smile on his lips. She hated when he did that, because it always caused her stomach to give a little flutter. She did not need the distraction this morning. "Okay, I'm here, sorry I'm late. Where we at?"
He came to stand next to her, and the heat from his body, made her heart race a little faster. Pushing her emotions to the back of her mind she waited for him to answer her.
"The new glasses came in and are over there." He pointed to a pile of crates in the corner that had Fragile stamped across them. "Over there are the napkins and swizzle sticks. I wasn't sure where you wanted them, so just let me know when you decide and I'll move them."
"Thanks. What about the liquor and beer?"
"Not yet. The pretzels and peanuts haven't come either."
Giving the room a quick survey, she nodded her head. "Alright, let me go to my office and get organized. I'll let you know where everything needs to go then."
"Sounds good. I'll go check the stock behind the bar and see where we stand."
With all the new supplies coming in, the storeroom was a tight fit, so when they went to leave, they bumped into each other. "Sorry." Both said in unison, and smiled.
Leo shuffled sideway so he could get around her and out the door. Piper stood there a moment after he left. Her body burning where his arms had brushed across as he passed by. She closed her eyes, willing the sensation to go away. This was ridiculous she thought. She had to stop reacting like this anytime Leo was near. Or when he smiled, or when he looked at her with those warm green eyes. Enough! She scolded herself. You're with Dan. You love Dan. Then why was it so hard to be around Leo? Giving her head a mental shake, she decided now was not the time to delve into it. She had neither the time nor the desire to explore it at this moment.
For the next several hours all the deliveries had been made and most of the stock put in it's proper place. Looking around, Piper was satisfied with the results. They would be ready for business tonight. Thinking of tonight, she wondered what Dan had planned. Even though she ran a nightclub, she tried to spend as many evenings with him as she could. Usually they would have an early meal, allowing her to be at the club during its busiest time.
Her thoughts were interrupted as Dan came down the stairs. Going up to him, she gave a hug. "Well, this is a nice surprise."
Hugging her back and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek he replied. "Any chance to see my girl."
Keeping his arm around her waist, he navigated then to a table and sat down. "So we on for dinner tonight?"
"Absolutely."
"Good! I've got an appointment, but should be done by five. So how's six for you?"
Piper mentally went over her schedule. "Six should be good. I only have a bit more to do here."
"It's a date." He smiled and leaned over to kiss her. Out of the corner of his eye, he spied a figure coming from the other side of the room.
Piper immediately felt Dan tense. Following his gaze she instantly knew the reason as well.
"So how long is he going to be hanging around?" Dan asked. He tried to keep the terseness out of his tone, but did not succeed. "I mean it's been weeks."
"Dan I know how you feel about this, but I am not going to kick Leo out." Piper understood Dan's feelings, however she was not about to leave Leo high and dry. He had done too much for her and her sisters.
"I don't think I'd mind as much, if a friend was all he saw you as. But we both know that's not the case. I'm sorry, but it's hard having my girlfriend work with her ex-boyfriend."
Grabbing his hand, she gave it a slight squeeze. "I know, and I'm sorry, but Dan I chose you not Leo."
Soothed by her words, Dan let the issue drop. He'd never be comfortable with the situation, but he'd deal the best he could with it. "Alright, so till tonight?"
"Tonight." She smiled and leaned over for another kiss, which he was more than happy to indulge in.
Leo tried to keep busy behind the bar, although it was very difficult. No matter how often he saw Piper and Dan together, it always hurt. More than hurt. It was unbearable. Loosing Piper was the most painful thing he had ever experienced as a Whitelighter. Even the bullet he took in World War II was not as painful. Now that he was a mortal, it was worse. He told Piper he was going to fight for her since he was mortal. For weeks he had tried everything to win back her love. So far he'd failed miserably. He was fast loosing hope of ever being with her again and it was breaking his heart. To know what Piper and he had shared, and to think he would never know it again was almost too much to comprehend. Slowly he was coming to realize he would most likely be living the rest of his life without her. A large lump formed in his throat, making it hard to swallow.
So lost in thought, he was startled when Piper came up to the bar. "So we're looking okay for tonight?"
Looking down so to mask the anguish in his eyes, he nodded and in a low tone said. "Yeah, looks good."
"Great! I've got a few errands to do. I'll be back before the rush. When he still didn't look up, she asked. "Is something wrong Leo?"
By this time, he had pulled his emotions and himself together. Looking up with a small grin, he answered back. "I'm fine, just want to make sure everything is ready."
Tilting her head to one side, she studied him. There was something lurking in his eyes. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she knew him too well. Sometimes it felt as if she had known him all her life. It was unsettling how they could sense each other's feelings so well. "Okay, I'm off then. See you later."
Daryl Morris paced along the yellow tape of the crime scene, his cell phone at his ear. "Hello, Pru Halliwell please." Looking over to the white draped body, he waited.
"Prue Halliwell."
"Hi Pru it's Daryl."
"Hey Daryl, what's up."
Turning from the two uniform cops that had strolled by, Daryl replied. "A dead body."
There was a slight hesitation on the other end of the phone. "Okay, and you're calling me because...." Prue let her words fall off.
"Because it looks like the victim froze to death."
"Froze? Well, Daryl, that's not always supernatural, lots of people freeze to death."
Glancing around to make sure he was alone, he answered. "Yeah, but most aren't frozen from the inside out."
"What!" Exclaimed the voice from the phone.
"Uh huh. Seems her insides are frozen solid. Not to mention it's about seventy five degrees out here and she's not thawing, not even a little bit."
"Okay, that's not normal. Get me all the information you can. I'll go home and check the Book of Shadows. See what I can come up with."
Nodding his head, Daryl said. "Yeah, you do that, cause I've got a bad feeling about this." He hit the end button of his phone. Clipping it back onto his waist, he went back to work.
Pru sat at her desk, staring at the phone. Like Daryl she had a really bad feeling about this. Grabbing her jacket and purse, she fled her office in search of some answers.
Two hours later and having searched the Book of Shadows thoroughly, Pru had no answers. There was nothing in the book explaining what Daryl had described. Maybe it wasn't surpernatural after all she thought. Stranger things have been known to happen in San Francisco. Since she had no real evidence to support an unnatural cause, Pru elected not to alert her sisters. She'd wait until there was more to go on.
At seven o'clock, the club was still relatively quiet. The rush would not start for another hour or so. There were a few couples at tables enjoying some quiet time together. There were several people scattered around the large oval bar. Leo was serving a drink to a lovely blond seated at one corner of the bar. She looked to be in her late twenties. A career woman if her appearance was any indication. Leaning over, he placed a napkin and then a martini in front of her. As his hand left the glass, the woman brushed her fingers across his forearm and gave a slow smile. Uncomfortable from the attention, he gave a small grin and quickly turned to see if anyone else needed service.
Phoebe and Pru sat at the other end of the bar observing the whole scene with amusement. They each had a soft spot for Leo. Even though he wasn't their
Whitelighter anymore, he was still their friend and they loved him. Both had hoped things with Piper and he would have worked out, but unfortunately that was not going to be the case. Piper was with Dan and her sisters vowed to support her decision.
Noting that all the customers had been seen to, Leo walked over to the girls and leaned his hip against the bar. "So, no dates tonight?"
Pru played with the red swizzle stick in her drink. "I think I'm on strike from guys for the time being."
Phoebe had turned around on her stool and scanned the growing crowd. "Not me! I'm always optimistic that there is a hottie out there for me."
Leo chuckled and Pru rolled her eyes, and looked at Leo. "What about you?"
"Me? What about me?" A slight frown marring his forehead.
"Looked to us like the blond bombshell over there is quite interested."
"Yeah, Leo!" Phoebe chimed in, as she swiveled back to the bar. "Didn't know you were such a chick magnet."
A bright, red, flush, crept over Leo's features and he looked down at the floor self-consciously. "So how about it Leo, you gonna ask her out?" Pru teased. She couldn't help herself.
Leo's head popped up. A horrified expression stamped on his face. "Of course not!"
"Oh sweetie, we were just teasing you." Phoebe patted his arm reassuringly.
Before Leo could comment, his attention was drawn to the stairs where he spied Piper and Dan. They were giggling to each other, and Dan had his arm wrapped possessively around her shoulders.
Observing the look on Leo's features, the girls turned and followed his gaze. Looking back at each other, they returned their eyes back to Leo. His eyes reflecting so much raw emotion it was almost too painful to witness and it broke their hearts.
Pru placed her hand over his and gave it a small squeeze. The gesture brought his eyes to her and he managed a wan smile. "I better get back to work." He said, clearing his throat. Moving away, he went to take care of a gentleman who had just sat down.
"This sucks!" Grumbled Phoebe. "I mean Dan's a nice enough guy and all, but..."
"He's not Leo." Finished her sister. "Well, Piper obviously has made her choice and we agreed to support her."
"I know, you're right, but it still sucks."
Pru shook her head and gave he little sister an indulgent smile.
"Hey you two, how's it going?" Piper's voice sounded behind them. Standing between her two siblings, she put an arm around each.
"It's going." Phoebe responded. "The joint is starting to pick up, so maybe I will too. Get picked up that is." The last said with a mischievous grin.
Pru shook her head again. "You're hopeless, you know that." Looking at Piper she asked. "So how was dinner?"
"Nice. Relaxing."
"Boring." Phoebe uttered under her breath and Pru shot her a warning look. Going back to Piper she went on. "Well, it seems like you finally got that normal life you always wanted honey. I'm happy for you."
"Yeah. Course he doesn't know I'm a witch, with powers and I fight demons on a daily basis."
"So ya gonna tell him?" Phoebe questioned. "Piper?"
Her sister didn't hear her, because her attention had been diverted to a scene at the other side of the bar. Leo was serving a gorgeous blond a drink. She had said something and he leaned his forearms onto the surface of the bar, obviously quiet interested in what she had to say. The woman leaned forward, allowing a large amount of her cleavage to be displayed. She laughed at something he had said and ran her long red fingernails across his left arm. While he made a move to pull away, she played with the open vee of his black shirt. Touching the exposed skin there, she sent him a seductive smile.
Piper's stomach clenched into a tight knot as she watched the whole episode as it played out before her. "Who the hell is that?" She spat out.
Having witnessed their sister's distraction, Pru and Phoebe were also watching the woman hit on Leo. At Piper's reaction, the two's eyes met over Piper's head. Pru was the first to recover. "Umm, I don't know. She's been hitting on Leo since she came in."
"Oh really."
Hearing the jealously laced in those words, Pru went on. "Ah honey, why are you so upset? Leo and you are not together anymore. You're with Dan right?"
Gathering her emotions, Piper tried to regain a normal tone. "No we're not and yes I am...."
"But?" Pru prompted.
"It's just, I don't know." Piper's frustration was so evident, that Pru's heart went out to her. Giving her a hug, she said. "Sweetie, you can't have it all. You picked Dan which means you have to let Leo go. Which means seeing him with someone else."
Piper let out a long pent up breath. "You're right, I know. It's just difficult. I never thought about Leo being with someone else."
Smiling, Pru nodded her head. "I know honey, but let's face it. Leo's cute, sweet, sensitive.."
"A good listener." Interjected her other sister.
"Making the whole package pretty damn sexy." Continued Pru.
"Pru!" Replied a shocked Piper.
"Hey, I'm not interested. I mean Leo is like a brother, but other women are going to find him attractive. So, you better get use to it."
"Yep. Just the other night I heard Trish and Carrie talking about him." Informed Phoebe. "Both want to ask him out, but sense there is something between you two. They don't want to mess with the boss's guy."
"But he's not my guy anymore right. That's what this whole conversation is about."
"Afraid so honey." Phoebe confirmed with sympathetic eyes.
"Hey, you going to leave me alone all night?" Dan asked as he came up behind Piper and hugged her around the waist.
Wincing because she had totally forgotten Dan had been waiting for her. Turning in his arms, she gave a weak smile. "Sorry. Just had to clear some things up."
"And did you?"
"Yep, all better. Let's go back to our table."
Pru and Phoebe watched them weave through the masses to their table.
"I still think she's making a mistake."
"Not our call Pheebes."
Darkness. The night is silent. The void of all light and sound that is nightfall. It loved the void. Loved the things hiding within the blackness. It swirled and hovered just above the cool ground. No shape, no sound, it just was. It hunted and it fed. It's only purpose. Just ahead, distant footsteps broke the solitude. It felt anticipation and hunger. Slowly it wove its way down the street, stalking its prey.
She hasted her pace down the dim, desolate road. Her heart was racing with anxiety. Normally she would never be out at this time, alone on a deserted street. Her blind date had turned out badly. He was supposed to take her home, but in the process he began his unwanted advances. When she put up a fight, he stopped the car. With force, he began in earnest to take what she was not offering willingly. She managed to grab the door handle and with her other hand, dragged her nails across his face. He cried out. Taking advantage of the distraction, she used her other hand to open the door. Stumbling out onto the rough pavement. Ignoring her torn dress and scrapped knees, she got up and ran as fast as her two inch heels could carry her.
Now she was wandering around at one in the morning, with no idea where she was. Desperately she searched for a phone. Her cell phone had been damaged in her fall from the car. Franticly she turned her head, squinting into the bleak night, praying to find a phone or open restaurant. Anything. Abruptly she became still. She felt a chill come over her. Rubbing her hands up and down her arms, she turned and gazed into the blank space behind. Nothing. It was just her nerves, which had been stretched to their breaking point. Shaking her head, she turned back to resume her harried trek down the street.
A gray mist whirled and followed close behind. Long willowy tendrils reaching out like a lover's touch. It could feel its quarry. Feel the warmth just beyond its reach. Silently it crept ever closer. Gently swarming around its victim's feet in a cool embrace. Slowly, it inched its way up in a swirl of cloudy wetness. Soon it was encompassing its prey.
Becoming still once again, her eyes darting around, seeing the mist all around. Her breaths coming out in short pants, as fear engulfs her body. Yes, it thought. Breath. Let me in. With each drawn breath, the mist enters. Through each nostril, as well as her mouth which was slightly ajar. It felt the sweet warmth as it makes its way into her lungs, filling them with its cool being. Once there, it fed. Savoring every ounce of life force he was consuming. Sucking, draining until every last drop had been devoured. When it was done, it swiftly exited the barren wasteland that had once been a human being. With the invader gone, the body fell. Rigid. Frozen from the inside out, the body landed with a thud onto the unforgiving pavement. In the distance, the mist traveled forth, looking for its next victim.
It was Tuesday morning. The alarm had gone off, yet Piper Halliwell still lay a bed. Rolling over, she pushed the long stands of her brown hair out of her eyes and squinted at the clock, hoping it would read differently. Of course that was not going to happen. She needed to get up and get motivated. She needed to be at P3 by nine sharp. Normally she would not be at her club until much later, however she had a huge supply shipment coming in and she needed to be there to supervise. Leo would be there to help, but it was her club. Beside, Leo had just started working there and only a mortal for a few weeks. Couldn't forget that little fact. Although there were many times she wished she could.
Sitting up, she rubbed her eyes. When did her life get so complicated? Okay, more complicated than normal for a witch in the twenty first century. A good witch mind you, but a witch all the same. Getting out of bed, she dragged her feet to the bathroom. A hot shower would hopefully clear the cobwebs.
Forty minutes later, she was ready to go. Quickly coming down the stairs she made a swift detour to the kitchen to grab a cup of coffee. Phoebe was sitting at the table busily writing in a notebook, a book lay open in front.
"Hey Pheebs."
So engrossed in her work, Phoebe gave a start at her sister's greeting. "Whoa, you're up early."
"Yeah." Piper answered back as she poured a steaming mug, blowing on it before taking that first sip. "I've got a huge shipment coming in this morning, so I've got to be there."
"Right. Oh, I almost forgot. Dan called. Wanted to know about dinner tonight."
"Does he want me to call back?"
Returning her attention back to her homework, Phoebe replied. "No, said he'd call you at the club later."
Grabbing her purse and taking one last sip of her coffee, Piper responded. "Thanks. I'm off, see you later."
Her mind back on her work, Phoebe did not reply.
Piper arrived at P3 fifteen minutes later. She could see two large trucks already unloading. "Damn, I'm late." She muttered to herself. Rushing into her office, she threw her purse on her desk and ran back out. She could hear Leo's voice coming from the storeroom at the back of the club. He turned as she walked in, a half smile on his lips. She hated when he did that, because it always caused her stomach to give a little flutter. She did not need the distraction this morning. "Okay, I'm here, sorry I'm late. Where we at?"
He came to stand next to her, and the heat from his body, made her heart race a little faster. Pushing her emotions to the back of her mind she waited for him to answer her.
"The new glasses came in and are over there." He pointed to a pile of crates in the corner that had Fragile stamped across them. "Over there are the napkins and swizzle sticks. I wasn't sure where you wanted them, so just let me know when you decide and I'll move them."
"Thanks. What about the liquor and beer?"
"Not yet. The pretzels and peanuts haven't come either."
Giving the room a quick survey, she nodded her head. "Alright, let me go to my office and get organized. I'll let you know where everything needs to go then."
"Sounds good. I'll go check the stock behind the bar and see where we stand."
With all the new supplies coming in, the storeroom was a tight fit, so when they went to leave, they bumped into each other. "Sorry." Both said in unison, and smiled.
Leo shuffled sideway so he could get around her and out the door. Piper stood there a moment after he left. Her body burning where his arms had brushed across as he passed by. She closed her eyes, willing the sensation to go away. This was ridiculous she thought. She had to stop reacting like this anytime Leo was near. Or when he smiled, or when he looked at her with those warm green eyes. Enough! She scolded herself. You're with Dan. You love Dan. Then why was it so hard to be around Leo? Giving her head a mental shake, she decided now was not the time to delve into it. She had neither the time nor the desire to explore it at this moment.
For the next several hours all the deliveries had been made and most of the stock put in it's proper place. Looking around, Piper was satisfied with the results. They would be ready for business tonight. Thinking of tonight, she wondered what Dan had planned. Even though she ran a nightclub, she tried to spend as many evenings with him as she could. Usually they would have an early meal, allowing her to be at the club during its busiest time.
Her thoughts were interrupted as Dan came down the stairs. Going up to him, she gave a hug. "Well, this is a nice surprise."
Hugging her back and giving her a quick kiss on the cheek he replied. "Any chance to see my girl."
Keeping his arm around her waist, he navigated then to a table and sat down. "So we on for dinner tonight?"
"Absolutely."
"Good! I've got an appointment, but should be done by five. So how's six for you?"
Piper mentally went over her schedule. "Six should be good. I only have a bit more to do here."
"It's a date." He smiled and leaned over to kiss her. Out of the corner of his eye, he spied a figure coming from the other side of the room.
Piper immediately felt Dan tense. Following his gaze she instantly knew the reason as well.
"So how long is he going to be hanging around?" Dan asked. He tried to keep the terseness out of his tone, but did not succeed. "I mean it's been weeks."
"Dan I know how you feel about this, but I am not going to kick Leo out." Piper understood Dan's feelings, however she was not about to leave Leo high and dry. He had done too much for her and her sisters.
"I don't think I'd mind as much, if a friend was all he saw you as. But we both know that's not the case. I'm sorry, but it's hard having my girlfriend work with her ex-boyfriend."
Grabbing his hand, she gave it a slight squeeze. "I know, and I'm sorry, but Dan I chose you not Leo."
Soothed by her words, Dan let the issue drop. He'd never be comfortable with the situation, but he'd deal the best he could with it. "Alright, so till tonight?"
"Tonight." She smiled and leaned over for another kiss, which he was more than happy to indulge in.
Leo tried to keep busy behind the bar, although it was very difficult. No matter how often he saw Piper and Dan together, it always hurt. More than hurt. It was unbearable. Loosing Piper was the most painful thing he had ever experienced as a Whitelighter. Even the bullet he took in World War II was not as painful. Now that he was a mortal, it was worse. He told Piper he was going to fight for her since he was mortal. For weeks he had tried everything to win back her love. So far he'd failed miserably. He was fast loosing hope of ever being with her again and it was breaking his heart. To know what Piper and he had shared, and to think he would never know it again was almost too much to comprehend. Slowly he was coming to realize he would most likely be living the rest of his life without her. A large lump formed in his throat, making it hard to swallow.
So lost in thought, he was startled when Piper came up to the bar. "So we're looking okay for tonight?"
Looking down so to mask the anguish in his eyes, he nodded and in a low tone said. "Yeah, looks good."
"Great! I've got a few errands to do. I'll be back before the rush. When he still didn't look up, she asked. "Is something wrong Leo?"
By this time, he had pulled his emotions and himself together. Looking up with a small grin, he answered back. "I'm fine, just want to make sure everything is ready."
Tilting her head to one side, she studied him. There was something lurking in his eyes. She couldn't put her finger on it, but she knew him too well. Sometimes it felt as if she had known him all her life. It was unsettling how they could sense each other's feelings so well. "Okay, I'm off then. See you later."
Daryl Morris paced along the yellow tape of the crime scene, his cell phone at his ear. "Hello, Pru Halliwell please." Looking over to the white draped body, he waited.
"Prue Halliwell."
"Hi Pru it's Daryl."
"Hey Daryl, what's up."
Turning from the two uniform cops that had strolled by, Daryl replied. "A dead body."
There was a slight hesitation on the other end of the phone. "Okay, and you're calling me because...." Prue let her words fall off.
"Because it looks like the victim froze to death."
"Froze? Well, Daryl, that's not always supernatural, lots of people freeze to death."
Glancing around to make sure he was alone, he answered. "Yeah, but most aren't frozen from the inside out."
"What!" Exclaimed the voice from the phone.
"Uh huh. Seems her insides are frozen solid. Not to mention it's about seventy five degrees out here and she's not thawing, not even a little bit."
"Okay, that's not normal. Get me all the information you can. I'll go home and check the Book of Shadows. See what I can come up with."
Nodding his head, Daryl said. "Yeah, you do that, cause I've got a bad feeling about this." He hit the end button of his phone. Clipping it back onto his waist, he went back to work.
Pru sat at her desk, staring at the phone. Like Daryl she had a really bad feeling about this. Grabbing her jacket and purse, she fled her office in search of some answers.
Two hours later and having searched the Book of Shadows thoroughly, Pru had no answers. There was nothing in the book explaining what Daryl had described. Maybe it wasn't surpernatural after all she thought. Stranger things have been known to happen in San Francisco. Since she had no real evidence to support an unnatural cause, Pru elected not to alert her sisters. She'd wait until there was more to go on.
At seven o'clock, the club was still relatively quiet. The rush would not start for another hour or so. There were a few couples at tables enjoying some quiet time together. There were several people scattered around the large oval bar. Leo was serving a drink to a lovely blond seated at one corner of the bar. She looked to be in her late twenties. A career woman if her appearance was any indication. Leaning over, he placed a napkin and then a martini in front of her. As his hand left the glass, the woman brushed her fingers across his forearm and gave a slow smile. Uncomfortable from the attention, he gave a small grin and quickly turned to see if anyone else needed service.
Phoebe and Pru sat at the other end of the bar observing the whole scene with amusement. They each had a soft spot for Leo. Even though he wasn't their
Whitelighter anymore, he was still their friend and they loved him. Both had hoped things with Piper and he would have worked out, but unfortunately that was not going to be the case. Piper was with Dan and her sisters vowed to support her decision.
Noting that all the customers had been seen to, Leo walked over to the girls and leaned his hip against the bar. "So, no dates tonight?"
Pru played with the red swizzle stick in her drink. "I think I'm on strike from guys for the time being."
Phoebe had turned around on her stool and scanned the growing crowd. "Not me! I'm always optimistic that there is a hottie out there for me."
Leo chuckled and Pru rolled her eyes, and looked at Leo. "What about you?"
"Me? What about me?" A slight frown marring his forehead.
"Looked to us like the blond bombshell over there is quite interested."
"Yeah, Leo!" Phoebe chimed in, as she swiveled back to the bar. "Didn't know you were such a chick magnet."
A bright, red, flush, crept over Leo's features and he looked down at the floor self-consciously. "So how about it Leo, you gonna ask her out?" Pru teased. She couldn't help herself.
Leo's head popped up. A horrified expression stamped on his face. "Of course not!"
"Oh sweetie, we were just teasing you." Phoebe patted his arm reassuringly.
Before Leo could comment, his attention was drawn to the stairs where he spied Piper and Dan. They were giggling to each other, and Dan had his arm wrapped possessively around her shoulders.
Observing the look on Leo's features, the girls turned and followed his gaze. Looking back at each other, they returned their eyes back to Leo. His eyes reflecting so much raw emotion it was almost too painful to witness and it broke their hearts.
Pru placed her hand over his and gave it a small squeeze. The gesture brought his eyes to her and he managed a wan smile. "I better get back to work." He said, clearing his throat. Moving away, he went to take care of a gentleman who had just sat down.
"This sucks!" Grumbled Phoebe. "I mean Dan's a nice enough guy and all, but..."
"He's not Leo." Finished her sister. "Well, Piper obviously has made her choice and we agreed to support her."
"I know, you're right, but it still sucks."
Pru shook her head and gave he little sister an indulgent smile.
"Hey you two, how's it going?" Piper's voice sounded behind them. Standing between her two siblings, she put an arm around each.
"It's going." Phoebe responded. "The joint is starting to pick up, so maybe I will too. Get picked up that is." The last said with a mischievous grin.
Pru shook her head again. "You're hopeless, you know that." Looking at Piper she asked. "So how was dinner?"
"Nice. Relaxing."
"Boring." Phoebe uttered under her breath and Pru shot her a warning look. Going back to Piper she went on. "Well, it seems like you finally got that normal life you always wanted honey. I'm happy for you."
"Yeah. Course he doesn't know I'm a witch, with powers and I fight demons on a daily basis."
"So ya gonna tell him?" Phoebe questioned. "Piper?"
Her sister didn't hear her, because her attention had been diverted to a scene at the other side of the bar. Leo was serving a gorgeous blond a drink. She had said something and he leaned his forearms onto the surface of the bar, obviously quiet interested in what she had to say. The woman leaned forward, allowing a large amount of her cleavage to be displayed. She laughed at something he had said and ran her long red fingernails across his left arm. While he made a move to pull away, she played with the open vee of his black shirt. Touching the exposed skin there, she sent him a seductive smile.
Piper's stomach clenched into a tight knot as she watched the whole episode as it played out before her. "Who the hell is that?" She spat out.
Having witnessed their sister's distraction, Pru and Phoebe were also watching the woman hit on Leo. At Piper's reaction, the two's eyes met over Piper's head. Pru was the first to recover. "Umm, I don't know. She's been hitting on Leo since she came in."
"Oh really."
Hearing the jealously laced in those words, Pru went on. "Ah honey, why are you so upset? Leo and you are not together anymore. You're with Dan right?"
Gathering her emotions, Piper tried to regain a normal tone. "No we're not and yes I am...."
"But?" Pru prompted.
"It's just, I don't know." Piper's frustration was so evident, that Pru's heart went out to her. Giving her a hug, she said. "Sweetie, you can't have it all. You picked Dan which means you have to let Leo go. Which means seeing him with someone else."
Piper let out a long pent up breath. "You're right, I know. It's just difficult. I never thought about Leo being with someone else."
Smiling, Pru nodded her head. "I know honey, but let's face it. Leo's cute, sweet, sensitive.."
"A good listener." Interjected her other sister.
"Making the whole package pretty damn sexy." Continued Pru.
"Pru!" Replied a shocked Piper.
"Hey, I'm not interested. I mean Leo is like a brother, but other women are going to find him attractive. So, you better get use to it."
"Yep. Just the other night I heard Trish and Carrie talking about him." Informed Phoebe. "Both want to ask him out, but sense there is something between you two. They don't want to mess with the boss's guy."
"But he's not my guy anymore right. That's what this whole conversation is about."
"Afraid so honey." Phoebe confirmed with sympathetic eyes.
"Hey, you going to leave me alone all night?" Dan asked as he came up behind Piper and hugged her around the waist.
Wincing because she had totally forgotten Dan had been waiting for her. Turning in his arms, she gave a weak smile. "Sorry. Just had to clear some things up."
"And did you?"
"Yep, all better. Let's go back to our table."
Pru and Phoebe watched them weave through the masses to their table.
"I still think she's making a mistake."
"Not our call Pheebes."