Disclaimer:

I do not own any of these characters.

Backstory: One year has passed. Leo is now an upstairs elder. That creep that was going to be their replacement Whitelighter, has been vanquished and replaced, by none other than ex-cop on earth, and ex boyfriend of the late Prue Halliwell, Andy Trudeau. While this development has made Piper and Phoebe feel somewhat better and secure, it has unnerved Paige, since she is starting to develop feelings for him.

Piper, who is determined to go on with her life without Leo, has met another next door neighbor, Jarod(from the show 'The Pretender', actor Michael T. Weiss). Piper has noticed strange men parked across the street from their homes, and fears that Jarod, who they think is a doctor, is in some sort of trouble, albeit not the demonic kind. What the Charmed Ones don't realize is that Jarod has moved next door to them, because HE fears they are the ones in danger.

For anyone who is not familiar with 'The Pretender' basic story, Jarod was taken from his family and forced to live at a place called 'The Center'. He was a child genius who as a 'Pretender' can be anything he wants to be. But, one day, Jarod escaped The Center, and has been hunted ever since. Jarod spends most of his time running, and in between those times, helping the weak and defenseless. But the Haliwell sisters are anything but 'weak' or 'defenseless'....

Chapter 1

Piper stared out of the window from behind the curtain. She watched as the men in the black sedan, watched their new next door neighbor's house.

Piper let the curtain fall, turned and almost bumped straight into Phoebe!

'Phoebe! Would you quit sneaking up on me like that!'

Phoebe smirked, stirring her coffee.

'Sorry! It's just that I don't see how you ever plan to get to the bottom of this, unless you talk to Jarod yourself.'

'And tell him what? That some very shady people have been watching his house three days in a row?'

'Uh, yeah! Piper, I can tell that you like him. I like him. He's good with Wyatt and...'

Piper put a hand up.

'Jarod is just a neighbor, that's it! I'm not doing the Dan thing again!'

Phoebe set her coffee cup down and walked over to her, yanking on her hair.

'You know, honey, it's hard to find a man who can accept another guy's child as his own.'

Piper's eyes widened.

'Phoebe! For the last time, Jarod and I are just friends! And as his friend, if he's in trouble, I want to know if I can help!'

Piper began to leave the living-room and walk into the kitchen. Phoebe followed. Piper continued the conversation as she poured herself a cup of coffee.

'It's just that, Jarod is very secretive about his past. And there are other things...'

'Like?' Phoebe asked.

'Well, like the other day, when I was out in the yard with Wyatt. Some neighborhood boys ran by with G.I. Joe gear on. Jarod asked me about it, as if he had never heard of the toy or the term.'

'Well, honey, maybe he came from a background where he didn't play with toys or something.'

Piper sighed.

'I think we should call Andy.'

Piper bit her lip and began stirring cream into her coffee.

'You know, I still can't get over that. I mean, I love Andy and am glad he's here. If we had to ask for another Whitelighter after Leo...'

Piper stopped talking abruptly. Phoebe rubbed her shoulder.

'I know, Piper. It's been bittersweet. Andy always looked out for all of us when he was alive. We grew up with him.'

'Yeah, but his heart belonged to Prue. And everytime I see him, I want to ask what he knows about her. I know he can't tell us anything yet.'

'Honey, I get the feeling he's suffering too.'

'What do you mean?' Piper asked.

'I mean, I tried to ask him about Prue, and he said something that made me think that he was not allowed to be with her.'

Piper sighed heavily and shook her head.

'I know what he's going through.'

Phoebe smiled sadly at her.

'I know you do, honey. But just let's not bother him about it, okay? This is probably just as hard on him in a way, than it is on all of us.'

Piper nodded, then looked up towards the ceiling.

'Andy!'

****

Somehow, Piper's calling for Andy, must've interrupted Paige's dream, because she awoke, somewhat upset.

She had been dreaming about Andy. They were making love on a cloud. She shook her head and looked at her alarm clock. Christ! She was late!

Paige jumped up and hurried to her closet. Ever since she had quit her job at Social Services last year, to perfect her craft, the household had been woefully short on funds.

So, a couple of months ago, Paige decided to join the working force again. She got a job as a social worker in a local ER. Jarod Knight, their hot new next door neighbor, was a doctor there as well, along with another cutie pie doctor named Damien Ross.

Damien was tall and blonde, and spoke with a British accent. Paige had first met him in the cafeteria at the hospital. He was kind, attentive, gorgeous, and maybe, the man she had been looking for all of her life.

That was, until Andy Trudeau orbed into their lives. Paige thought back to all of the brouhaha over his arrival, how happy Piper and Phoebe had been to see their very tall, dark and handsome new Whitelighter. Andy had been a stranger to her, much like her real mother and grandmother were.

Detective Darryl Morris had been tickled pink! Paige had not realized that they had been partners in life. Morris acted as if he had his old college buddy back or something!

But, as she got to know Andy, he taught her several knew tricks, that helped strengthen her powers. She realized one day that she was uncomfortable around him. And she only became uncomfortable around men that she had feelings for...men that she had no business having feelings for!

To Piper and Phoebe, Andy would always belong to Prue, in life and death, though, he had not said much about the deceased sister she never had the privilege to meet.

'Paige! Get down here!' Piper called out.

Paige sighed, picked out an outfit from the Gap, and laid it down on her bed. She then walked downstairs in a spaghetti strapped nightgown. She appeared in the kitchen. Phoebe grinned.

'You're late for work again, aren't you?' she asked slyly.

'Late night with Damien again?' Piper asked lightly. They had met Damien, and to be perfectly honest, she didn't care for him personally. She didn't know what it was, and until she did, Piper was going to keep her mouth shut!

Andy, who was standing a little bit behind Piper, peered around at Paige.

'Hi, Paige. Who's Damien?'

Phoebe slung a hand around Andy's shoulders.

'Just Paige's new yummy boyfriend. He's a doctor.'

'Oh.' was all Andy said to that. Paige was seeing someone. Well, good for her. She was a nice girl. He wished he had known her years ago.

Andy cleared his throat.

'I'm going to check with the elders and see if they know anything. I think someone ought to see Morris. Maybe Jarod has a record or something.'

Piper made a face at him.

'You will always think like a cop, won't you?' she said, grabbing his chin and pinching it. She tried not to think about the fact that one of the 'elders', was Leo.

Andy smiled.

'Piper, I know you like him...'

'I never said that!'

'Okay. But we have to be realistic here. Maybe this isn't a case of demonic forces waiting to attack an innocent. Maybe this is a police matter.'

Paige scratched her head. She was a little embarrassed to be standing in her nightgown in front of Andy.

'Well, give me a call at the ER if it does spell demonic trouble. I'll keep an eye on Jarod today at work.'

Piper nodded.

'Okay, well I guess you'd better get going. I'm going to go see Darryl, Phoebe, since you're working from home today, could you watch Wyatt while I'm gone?'

Phoebe bowed.

'Your wish is my command. Besides, I love looking after that little guy.'

'Okay then!' Paige said loudly and hurried from the kitchen and back up the stairs. Why had Piper had to mention Damien in front of Andy? And why did it bother her?

Paige was about to head into the bathroom, when Andy suddenly orbed in front of her. She stopped short!

'I'm sorry, Paige, if I scared you. It's just that I got the feeling that something was a bit off downstairs. Something you didn't want your sisters to know.'

'Why would you think that?' Paige asked nervously.

Andy rubbed his palms together.

'I know we don't know one another real well. But I hope you know that you can talk to me anytime. I mean, you're half-whitelighter. In many ways, we have more of a connection than I do with Piper or Phoebe.'

A connection, Paige thought. Could that be it? Could it be that it was just the Whitelighter in her, that was making her so attracted to him? No! That couldn't be it! Otherwise, she would have had the hots for Leo as well!

'I do know that, Andy, and thanks.'

Andy nodded, his gaze lingering on her for a moment. He then orbed off. Paige stood in place for a moment, before shaking her head wildly, and heading into the bathroom.

****

'Did you notice anything funny about Paige and Andy?' Phoebe asked, sitting at the table, staring at her laptop.

Piper raised a brow, as she rummaged through her purse. She looked at Phoebe.

'Funny? Funny how?'

Phoebe looked up from her screen.

'I don't know. I guess I'm getting the feeling that she's just not taking to him.'

'Well, she just needs to get used to him, that's all. Who couldn't love Andy? Besides, she looked more tired than anything. Listen, I'm taking off. I'll be back in a bit.'

Phoebe nodded, then returned her gaze back to the screen. She suddenly looked up, and stared after Piper for a moment. The oddest thought about Paige and Andy had just come to mind.

'Nah!' she said, and turned back to her laptop.

****

Hours later, Paige stepped out of the examining room. Jarod had called her down to talk to a boy that had cigarette burns on his arm. His mother claimed the boy did it. The boy, under Paige's gentle cajoling, told a different story.

Jarod was waiting for her when she stepped out of the room. His eyes were filled with worry.

'Well?' he asked.

'He told me his mother's been doing it. She's also been locking him in the basement.'

'Damn!' Jarod hissed. Paige looked at him sympathetically. She could see that any abuse or suffering, greatly disturbed Jarod. She just hoped he didn't let him burn him out.

'Look, I'll take care of calling the police. Listen, why don't you come over for dinner tonight?' Paige suggested. It would give them a chance to watch over him as well.

Jarod nodded and smiled.

'That sounds good. Is there anything I can bring?'

Paige shrugged.

'Piper does all of the cooking. You should call her and ask her. I'm bringing Damien.'

For the briefest moment, Paige would swear she saw something in Jarod's eyes, at the mention of Damien.

'Okay, then I'll definitely come. Things seem to be getting hot and heavy between you two, hey?'

'You bet, Knight!'

Damien walked up behind Paige, lifted her hair and kissed the back of her neck. He then eyed Jarod.

'What's going on over here?' he asked.

Paige turned and gave him a quick kiss.

'Just another bummer abuse case. Listen, Jarod's coming to dinner tonight, can you make it? I know things can get kind of hectic of around here...'

'I'll make the time.' he said firmly, kissing her again. Jarod looked away, until they come up for air. Paige smiled at Jarod.

'I have to get back. See you both tonight.'

Jarod nodded. Damien smiled. Jarod then tried to walk off, but Damien stood in front of him.

'You know, you've been looking pretty cozy with Paige lately.' Damien said.

'And you've been looking kind of tired...dead tired.' Jarod said. Damien moved aside and let Jarod pass. What the hell was that guy's problem?

****

Jarod went outside and stood in the doorway of the ER. Something beyond his control was going on here, and he didn't know if he could think of anyway to help Paige, Phoebe and Piper.

Piper. He cared for her more than he would ever be able to admit. But one he was done here, he would have to keep on the move. Jarod couldn't afford to start caring about anyone, not until he was free of The Center's influence.

Damien Ross. Funny thing about him. He looked exactly like a Damien Ross he worked with on an oil tanker. Only, the tanker exploded, and Damien was killed. So, who was this guy, and what did he want with Paige Matthews?