CHARMED

"Demons, Demon, Everywhere"

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 "Astral Monkey" and "Apocalypse, Not".)

A premonition leads the Charmed Ones to a man being chased by a demon. But this demon is very clever and only attacks when no one else is around.

ONE

Prue came over to the booth where Piper and Phoebe were sitting and sat down. As she did, Leo came back from the bar carrying drinks for the other two sisters and himself.

"I thought you were staying home tonight?" questioned Phoebe.

"I decided you guys were right," said Prue. "There's no sense just sitting around the manor all by myself. Besides, where else can I get free drinks?"

"Can I get you something?" Leo asked before he sat down.

"Sure," said Prue. "Just my usual."

"I'll be right back," said Leo.

"So, how are we all doing?" Prue asked.

"Okay, I guess," said Piper, not much enthusiasm in her voice.

"What's the matter?" Prue asked. "You sound like you're depressed."

"She's still upset about Dr. Williamson," Phoebe half whispered to her.

"Well, it was kind of our fault about what happened to him," said Piper. "I just wish we could have done something to help him, that's all."

"It wasn't our fault," said Prue. "Dr. Williamson made his own choices. I'm sorry about what happened, too, but there was nothing we could have done about it."

"I know," said Piper. "That doesn't make me feel better about it. Sometimes being a witch is no fun."

"You have to take the bad with the good," said Leo, coming over and putting Prue's drink down on the table. "Is she still upset about Dr. Williamson?"

"Yeah," said Phoebe. "I guess she just hasn't accepted that there wasn't anything we could have done to stop it."

"I will," said Piper. "It will just take some time, that's all."

"She always did feel stronger about things," said Prue. "She was always dragging home lost strays. Grams used to have fits about it."

"Dr. Williamson was no stray," said Phoebe.

"No," said Prue, "but it just illustrates how deeply little sister feels things sometimes."

"Okay, enough all ready," said Piper. "I know it wasn't our fault what happened to Dr. Williamson. Can we just drop it, please?"

"You're the one who's sulking around," said Phoebe.

"I am not sulking," said Piper. "I'll be okay. Just let it go."

"Okay," said Prue. "We'll let it drop if you stop sulking."

"You have a deal," said Piper, picking up her glass. "Shall we toast on it?"

They clinked their glasses together and Piper just smiled at them. She knew they were just trying to help and she couldn't blame them. And she knew that in a while she wouldn't feel so bad about Dr. Williamson.

"Did you know that the tradition of clinking cups together came about because a ruler didn't trust the other rulers around him?" Phoebe asked. "Apparently, they were having a toast and he suspected his cup was poisoned but he didn't know who had poisoned it. So he suggested a toast and when they clinked their glasses together, he clinked his so hard that the liquid from his cup splashed into everyone else's cup. So all he had to do was watch and see which one of the other leaders didn't drink and he knew who had tried to poison him."

"And you know this because?" Prue asked.

"I used to work with this guy in New York who was always coming up with trivia like that," said Phoebe. "It was amazing the stuff he used to know."

"I see," said Prue. "Well, here's to little known trivia and the people who know it."

"Speaking of trivia," said Phoebe, "does anyone know who the geek with the briefcase is who just came in the front door?"

"That's no geek," said Piper, getting up, "that's my lawyer."

"Lawyer?" questioned Prue.

"Yeah," said Piper, waving the lawyer over. "He's the one who was helping me with the licenses and legal paperwork for the club. He said he'd drop some of them by today when they were finished. Hello, Geoffery. I'm glad you could finally make it."

"I'm sorry it's so late, Piper," said Geoffery. "I was going to drop these by earlier but I got tied up in court and then my secretary found a deposition that hadn't gotten filed and I had to make sure it got filed before five o'clock. Then my biggest client came in at the last minute to amend his will and it took forever. It's been one of those days."

"You did get the paperwork done, didn't you?" Piper asked apprehensively.

"Yes, I did," said Geoffery, opening his briefcase and removing some papers which he handed to Piper. "Everything was done in a timely fashion and properly filed. It's all in order and you don't have anything to worry about."

"Well, he sounds like a lawyer," giggled Phoebe.

Geoffery just smiled as he suddenly dropped his briefcase. The papers still inside spilled all over the floor.

"Like I said," said Geoffery, "one of those days."

They all helped him pick the papers up off the floor and stuff them back into his briefcase. As Phoebe picked up a handful of papers she suddenly stiffened slightly but it seemed to pass quickly. After collecting the papers he excused himself and left the club.

"Okay, I know that look," said Prue to Phoebe. "You had a premonition, didn't you?"

"Yes," said Phoebe. "As soon as I picked up those papers. There was a guy in an alley and he was being chased by something."

"A demon?" Piper asked.

"I don't know," said Phoebe. "I couldn't see who was chasing him. Just him running down the alleyway scared out of his mind."

"You think it could be a demon?" Leo asked.

"I can't think of another reason Phoebe would get a premonition," said Prue. "Do you think it's going to happen soon."

"I don't know," said Phoebe. "I only know it was dark out. Just like it is now."

"Well, we'd better get there just in case," said Piper. "I guess the bartender will have to take care of the place until we get back."

Together the four headed for the back door so Leo could orb them to where the man was being attacked.