CHARMED
"Sands Through The Hourglass"
By J. B. Tilton
Email: 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 6 episodes "My Three Witches" and "Soul Survivor".)
When Piper suddenly finds herself in a world that seems frozen in time she must risk her sisters' lives to restart the world.
ONE
Piper dropped the clipboard onto case of alcohol. She had finally finished the monthly inventory. Her bartender was out with the flu so he hadn't been able to help her. She had been able to entice Chris to baby sit Wyatt for the afternoon. Leo was off on Elder business or otherwise searching for whomever had sent him to Valhalla. Phoebe had to work and Paige had plans she said she just couldn't break. That left Piper to do the inventory by herself.
Not that she really minded. She had enjoyed having the entire afternoon to herself for a change. She loved her family but like most families there were times she just had to get out by herself. Even Wyatt, whom she loved dearly. Watching over him twenty-four hours a day was wearing her out. Even though she had spent the entire afternoon working she felt completely refreshed.
The temporary bartender would be in soon. She was glad she had been able to get hold of him on such short notice. He had filled in for her regular bartender on several occasions and there would be very little she would have to do to make sure he knew all the duties involved.
All in all it had been a very productive afternoon. She had completely finished the inventory in record time, she had been able to get some much needed time away from her family, and there were no demons around. One afternoon had been more refreshing than most of the vacations she had taken in her life.
She looked at her watch. It was three fifty. She had enough time to still get home and make a nice dinner for everyone. She hadn't had a chance lately to prepare a proper meal for her family. They hadn't noticed of course. They always thought her meals were fabulous.
She looked up as she noticed a flash outside the storeroom. She walked to the door and looked around. Nothing seemed to be amiss. She walked into the main bar and looked around. Nothing seemed out of place. Then she noticed one of the florescent lights overhead. It was dark.
"So that's what the flash was," she said aloud to no one in particular. "Just when I thought everything was all set. Oh well. It will only take me a few minutes to change the bulb."
She went back to the storeroom and brought out the ladder and a spare bulb. This was one of the aspects of running a club she really didn't like. The small details that constantly needed taking care of. Normally her bartender would take care of those things. But with him out sick she was left to do it herself.
After changing the bulb she put the old bulb in the trash and the ladder back in the storeroom. Then she picked up her purse and headed for the exit. As she passed the bar she glanced at the clock behind the bar. It read three fifty-one. Great, one more thing to go wrong. Apparently the clock had stopped working.
She considered checking it out but decided against it. She could take care of it later after she came back for the night. And most of her patrons wouldn't be worried about what time it was until it got near closing time. A twinge of guilt went through her as she left the club. It wasn't like her to leave something undone. But she decided she was entitled and left the bar, making a mental note to fix the clock when she came back.
Piper got into her car and put the key in the ignition. She turned the key over and nothing happened. She turned the key several more times with the same results. This was just perfect. She pulled out her cell phone and dialed Phoebe's number. She hated to disturb her sister at work but she didn't have much choice.
Her phone had no dial tone. That was odd. She had put it on the charger last night like she did every night. It should be fully charged. Unless the battery was bad. She had had the phone for a number of years. It was possible it just wouldn't hold a charge any longer.
Piper got out of her car and started to head back into the club. She could use the phone in there to call Phoebe. As she headed for the club door she glanced out onto the street. She stopped and stared at the sight that greeted here.
Everywhere she looked everything seemed frozen. People stood frozen as they had walked along the street. Cars sat in the street making it look like one large parking lot. And overhead a flock of birds hung suspended in midair as if hung with an invisible wire. It was as if she had suddenly used her power to freeze everything in sight. Only she hadn't used her power.
