CHARMED

"Protection"

By J. B. Tilton (a.k.a. NoAzMale) and Teri Thibeault (a.k.a. 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 2 episodes "The Painted World" and "The Devil's Music".)

Just after Piper opens P3 she gets a visit from some local "businessmen" who insist that she take out an "insurance policy" on the club.

ONE

Piper put the last of the boxes of straws below the bar. As she did, Phoebe finished putting the last of the trashcan liners in the trashcans. Phoebe walked over and sat on a bar stool. As she did Piper put a glass of soda on the bar in front of her.

"One of the fringe benefits of owning a club," said Piper smiling. "Free drinks."

"Does that include at night when the club is open?" giggled Phoebe.

"Just as long as you don't overdo it," said Piper. "This isn't your own personal brewery."

"Okay, okay, I got it," said Phoebe. "Do you have to go through all this every day before the club opens?"

"Pretty much," said Piper. "There's a lot involved opening it each day. Not to mention what I had to go through just to open the club in the first place."

"Yeah, like renting the building, getting furniture, buying the booze. I know there was a lot you had to do just to open the club."

"You have no idea. Those were just the beginnings. Then there were getting enough glasses for all the patrons not to mention extras in case any got broken. Cleaning supplies to clean the club with, the sign out front, all the signs hanging around the club, the mirrors that had to be fixed or replaced, even the food bill."

"Food bill? You plan to serve food here, too?"

"No, the food bill for the drinks. Cherries, limes, lemons, coconut, all the little extras that go into some of the drinks. You'd be surprised just how much of those little extras we have to keep on hand for the drinks."

"I never thought about those," said Phoebe.

"Then there are the straws, trays, napkins, bar rags, cleaning bills, repair bills, inspections, and hundreds of things you've never even seen. I've worked my fingers to the bones just to get the club open. And that was on top of all the stuff I had to do at home not to mention fighting demons."

"Boy, I guess I never realized just how hard you've been working. I guess that sometimes we get so wrapped up in our own lives and don't see just how much others have to go through."

"I'm not complaining. This is my dream, not yours. At least as close to my dream as I can get right now. I'm more than willing to do all the work that I have to to get the club up and going."

"Anything I can do to help? Besides everything I've all ready done, I mean?"

"Well, I could use another waitress tonight," said Piper sheepishly. "I'm a bit short handed right now and I could really use the help."

"Well, okay, but just for tonight. I know I'm looking for a job but I don't want to get stuck being a waitress the rest of my life."

"Hey, some waitresses make a lot of money. Especially at a club like this."

"I know, I know, I'm just looking for something else, that's all."

"Thanks. I appreciate it."

"So, how much am I making?" Phoebe asked smiling coyly.

"Boy, this is really a nice place," said a man just inside the front door. "I've heard it was. I can see that Artie wasn't kidding."

The man was dressed in a suit but with no tie and a leather jacket instead of a suit coat. He was also wearing a fedora which Piper thought looked very out of place on him. Standing next to him was another man dressed similarly but with no hat.

"Can I help you?" Piper asked, looking at Phoebe.

"You must be Piper Halliwell, the owner," said the first man.

"Yes, I am," said Piper. "And you would be?"

"We're friends," said the second man.

"We just thought we'd stop in and see the place," said the first man. "A friend of mine was in here last night and he told me it was a great place. I can see he wasn't lying."

"Well, we don't open until later tonight," said Piper. "You can come back then. We aren't entertaining any guests right now."

"Oh, we ain't guests," said the other man. "We're, uh, businessmen. We just thought we'd stop in and welcome you to the neighborhood."

"Okay, well, thanks," said Piper suspiciously. "I appreciate it. But if you don't mind I'm kind of busy right now."

"Well we was just wondering," said the first man. "This is kind of a bad neighborhood. We just thought you might like to take out an insurance policy. Just to make sure you don't have any, uh, unexpected trouble."

"I all ready have insurance, thank you," said Piper. "I don't think I need any more."

"I don't know," said the second man, looking around the club, "this is kind of an old building. You just never know when you might have a problem. Faulty wiring, weak floor boards, there are a lot of things that can go wrong with a place like this. And you can never have enough insurance."

"She said she had insurance," said Phoebe. "And we don't need any more."

"Who are you?" demanded the first man.

"I'm her sister," said Phoebe. "And like we said, we don't need any insurance."

"Bad choice," said the second man. "You never know what's going to happen."

"Okay, that's enough," said Piper. "Get out of my club right now before I call the police."

"Okay, okay, lady, take it easy lady," said the first man. "It's just a friendly little visit that's all. We'll give you a couple of days to think it over. I'm sure you'll make the right decision."

"She said out," said Phoebe. "Now."

The two men just smirked at the girls and then turned and left the club.