By J. B. Tilton email: Rating: K
Disclaimer: "Charmed" and all related characters and events are the property of the WB television network, except for those characters specifically created for this story. This is a work of fan fiction and no infringement of copyright is intended.
(Authors note: This story takes place between season 3 episodes "Power Outage" and "Sleuthing With The Enemy".)
Phoebe has a premonition about a woman who's in no danger from demons. Instead, the sisters learn they are supposed to reunite her with her long lost father.
ONE
Prue was in the attic looking through the Book of Shadows. As she flipped through its pages she had a disgusted look on her face. A sigh escaped her throat.
"Problems?" asked Phoebe from the attic doorway.
"Not really," said Prue. "I was just trying to see if I could figure out all the weird happenings lately. We know the Triad has been sending something after us. I just thought I might be able to figure out who or what it was."
"No luck, huh?" Phoebe asked.
"No," said Prue. "I just don't have enough information. I guess we'll just have to wait until we learn some more before we can figure out anything."
"I was wondering," said Phoebe. "Do you think I could borrow your car for a little while? There's a book I need for one of my classes and I thought I'd go get it while things are relatively quiet."
"Don't do like you did the last time," said Prue. "Check the fuel gauge. If it needs gas, put some in it. I almost didn't make it to the station."
"I will, I promise," said Phoebe.
"I mean it, Phoebe," said Prue. "If it happens again you're going to be walking everywhere."
"Understood," said Phoebe. "I promise to make sure there's gas in it before I bring it home."
"Okay," said Prue, smiling slightly. "You know where the keys are."
"Thanks," said Phoebe.
Phoebe continued to look through the shelves of books at the bookstore. She had found the book she needed relatively quickly. Then she decided to see what else the store had in stock.
The store was relatively empty. There were only three employees and five customers in the store at the moment. Phoebe knew that would change soon. Evening was always a busier time than the middle of the afternoon.
She pulled a book off the shelf and looked at the title. "Tracing Your Roots". She must be in the genealogy section. Well, she knew her roots as far back as three hundred years ago. That was one of the benefits of being a Charmed One. Her ancestors clear back to Melinda Warren were listed in the Book of Shadows.
"Excuse me," said a woman standing next to Phoebe. "Are you going to buy that? It seems to be the last one they have and I would really like to get it, if you don't mind."
The woman looked to be only a couple of years older than Prue. She had dark blonde hair and Phoebe noticed a wedding band on the woman's hand. There was also something familiar about the woman's eyes. Phoebe couldn't place what it was but they definitely looked familiar.
"Sure," said Phoebe handing the book to the woman. "I was just looking at it. I pretty much know my family tree anyway."
"How lucky for you," the woman said. "I know almost nothing about mine. I'm hoping these books will help me."
"I'm sure they will," said Phoebe. "I had to do a family tree for one of my classes. Some of these books give some pretty good suggestions about ways to learn things."
"I can use all the help I can get," said the woman. "It's been a while since I did any studying."
"Well, good luck," said Phoebe.
"Thank you," said the woman.
Phoebe looked around the store for a few more minutes and then headed for the register. When she got there she put her books up on the counter. She noticed the woman she had spoken to was just purchasing some books.
"Well, here we are again," said Phoebe.
"Yes," said the woman. "Find what you were looking for?"
"Yeah," said Phoebe. "I only needed one book but I decided to get a couple of others."
Suddenly the clerk behind the counter accidentally knocked both stacks of books off the counter. Apologizing, the young man hurriedly picked up the books and put them back on the counter. He put the woman's books into a store bag and handed it to her. Then he handed the woman a credit card.
The man then rang up Phoebe's books while Phoebe and the woman said their goodbyes. Phoebe turned back to the man just as he was bagging her books. She paid for them and then picked up the bag by its handles and left the store.