Teaser: We all know how season four plays out (sorry if you don't!), with Paige coming into the Halliwell family and after a rough start, they become a unit once more with the power of three, a powerful unit of good.

Way back in Charmed Again Two (ep 2), Piper and Phoebe had to stop Paige from killing a human she thought was beating his own child. They did it just in time by getting Leo to orb her out.

But what if they'd failed? What if Paige succeeded and killed the mortal?

They'd been told that if this happened, Paige would become evil. Having committed murder, will she do so? And will she take her sisters down with her?

Here is my alternate series 4.



It Takes One


Chapter One: It Is Done




"She has forty-eight hours to choose her side."

"We have to find her."

"Use your power for your desires, to seek your own revenge. Use your power. Call for his heart. Call for his life."

"If we don't convince her, we're done."

"Twenty four hours left."

"Evil will prevail."

"I can do whatever the hell I want to my kid... and there's nothing you can do to stop me!"

"You can get him Paige, you can save that child!"

"Make him suffer, Paige, he's evil."

"I will... I will make that bastard pay."

* * *

"Heart," Paige uttered, holding her hand out and staring at the man as his hands suddenly flew to his chest in agony. She could feel his fluttering organ press itself against his ribcage, squeezing itself in a horrifying bid to travel to Paige's waiting hand.

His wife cried his name, darting to his side. "Jake? What is it? No!"

He was on the ground now, writhing in fearsome pain, screaming and crying out. His words didn't mean anything to Paige. The loathing she felt enveloped her and she concentrated on pulling his heart further. She could almost feel it materialising into her outstretched palm, bleeding and still beating, until it slowed, choked out one last spasm, and faltered.

He deserved it. He deserved everything that was coming to him. Death was the only answer.

And Paige felt great.

She could feel it beginning to beat irregularly, sometimes it pumped at a frightful speed, trying to sustain life for all it was worth. Then there would be a long pause as it's strength sapped. It was almost over.

"Paige!" a voice from behind her came, and she felt herself topple as somebody rugby-tackled her to the ground.

"No!" Paige roared, kicking Leo off and clambering up.

"You know what?" a voice she recognised as Piper's cried, then her sister stepped in front of her, "Hi. Leo, take her. Go home. Go, go, go, go!"

Leo placed his arms around her.

Panic took over as she saw the bastard begin to regain normal breathing and she felt herself orb out. This was something she couldn't let go!

Sharply, she jerked out of Leo's grasp, leaving his orb just as he disappeared. She called for the man's heart again. This time, she succeeded.

With one last strangled scream, the man's body flopped down onto the hard sidewalk. And didn't move.

"Jake, no!" the woman cried.

Leo orbed back in, his face clearly fearful. He darted to the mans side and placed his hands over him. Nothing happened.

Paige glared at the corpse. It was disgusting, watching his widow cry like that, and all the bystanders running about trying to help. Nothing would help now.

She turned around to make her exit and stopped short on seeing Piper and Phoebe, their faces horrified. Leo quickly joined them, staring at her.

"What do you want?" she demanded.

Piper took several steps forward, her eyes fixed on Paige's face. "What have you done?" she whispered. Paige was a little surprised at how shocked Piper looked. Surely they faced down death everyday - and it wasn't like they knew the guy! Paige had done the world a service purging him from their midst.

"You... you killed him," Phoebe said. "You killed somebody."

Paige felt intensely uncomfortable at the way Piper was staring at her. Why was Piper so bothered? Why did she care so much? Why wouldn't she stop staring!?!

'Do I feel bad?' Paige thought, suddenly questioning herself.

Piper was practically a stranger, but Paige could sense her incredible disappointment and in turn felt ashamed! How could this be? She'd done a good thing! Hadn't she?

She was cracking under Piper's eyes. She wanted to stay strong, to act like she didn't care, but she just couldn't. Not with the way Piper was making her feel.

"Tear the face off, Piper," she said quietly.

Instantly, Piper adjusted her gaze and looked away. Paige could see her eyes were tearful. It was just one man! And Piper hardly knew Paige - why did she look so defeated?

"We gotta get out of here," Leo said.

Phoebe took a deep breath and said "Okay. There's, uh, a couple cars over there. We can go and orb out."

They began to walk briskly away. Paige remained, numbly.

Seconds later, Phoebe returned. "You're coming with us," she said through clenched teeth.

Paige let Phoebe grab a rough hold of her arm and drag her after the other two. Her mind was frozen. She couldn't concentrate on anything, and felt like she would never want to. She was in shock.

They rejoined Piper and Leo behind some of the parked cars. With a sharp tug on her arm, Paige was forced to duck down with them.

"Ready?" Leo asked.

Then he orbed them out.






A/N: Wow I finally got this one online! You have no idea how long I have been working on this... I only hope you love reading it as much as I love writing it. Pretty neat idea, huh?
A/N: You know, I did RESEARCH for this one! I looked up the script and 'borrowed' real live quotes! Praise me. Now!
A/N: Thank you to Paigeriffic for his idea for the title, I like it a lot, and it makes sense - which is always nice.

pp