Sorry for the long wait, hope you enjoy the new chapter and I'll try to update sooner. enjoy
The devil's music
Prue, Phoebe and Paige are sitting at a table in P4. The place is almost empty. The girls look around, bored. Phoebe can't hold herself any longer.
"This place couldn't be more dead if I was embalmed."
"Yeah, I think that we're gonna have to take that offer."
Paige looks at Prue.
"We certainly need the money from that guy."
Phoebe nods.
"What's this guy's name again?"
"Chris Barker."
"And he's not a loan shark or anything, is he?"
Prue starts shaking her head.
"No. He's a collector, an investor. And it's a no-interest loan that we can pay back any time. Trust me, he's not gonna miss the money."
"Mmm. Must be nice."
"And are you sure he doesn't want anything else from you Prue?"
Paige eyes Prue.
"Paige, do you really think I would do that."
"Off course not."
Phoebe jumps in to save Paige from further answering.
"When do we tell Piper?"
"Not until the club is in the black."
Piper comes up to them.
"So, you guys, you do like the name of the club, right? P4. Little nod to the power of four, to us, partners."
"Yeah, it's very clever." Phoebe looks around. "Uh, Piper, it's a little, uh, quiet in here. Don't you think?"
"It'll pick up once word of mouth kicks in."
"And when will that be, exactly?"
Both Paige and Prue eye Phoebe.
"Well, you can't predict these things exactly. It's not like starting a restaurant. Besides the bank's not gonna call the loan. It's not like we're gonna lose the house."
She leaves. Phoebe and Paige return their attention to Prue.
"Who said anything about losing house? We're not gonna lose the house, are we?"
"Prue, please tell me we won't lose the house."
"No, because we're gonna take that offer and trust Piper to put this place full with people."
"What people? Where is everybody?"
"Probably somewhere more interesting then here. Not that that's hard to find."
"Paige!"
"What, just stating the facts."
-c-
In another club on the other side of town Dishwalla is playing. Leo is walking around, looking for something or someone.
-c-
Backstage, a guy is leading a girl trough a door.
"So, you, like, produce their records or what?"
"No, no, nothing that creative." They start walking trough the hall. "I'm their new manager. I take care of things, whatever needs to be done, I do."
"Man, I can't believe this. This is like the most unbelievable thing that has ever happened to me."
"Ah, the night's young."
He opens a door to the another room.
"I can't believe you picked me."
"Well, you seemed like a good... soul. Plus, you said the magic words." The girl looks confused. "You said you'd do anything, remember?" The girl smiles again.
"Yes, yes. I do."
"All right, just wait inside. The band should be down any minute."
The manager opens the door.
"Thank you, thank you so much."
"Don't thank me yet."
He smiles painfully and lets her into the room. He closes the door behind her and leans against the wall, feeling guilty.
-c-
The girl is looking around in the room when she hears a noise. "Hello? Is somebody there? Hello?" A demon appears behind her. When she turns around and sees him, she starts screaming.
Once the screaming is over the manager walks in. He starts talking to nobody in peculiar. "Okay, that's it. No more." The demon appears behind him, but he doesn't notice. "I can't keep doing this. It's got to stop."
"We have a pact." The manager looks around terrified. "You get what you want and I get what I want." He opens his coat to reveal his stomach where the outline of a face, of someone who is clearly in pain, sticks out. The sound is heard of several screaming girls. The manager looks at it horrified.
-c-
The manager is walking out of a room and tries to get the attention of a guy who is walking by. "Excuse me." The guy just walks on. "Jerk." Leo walks by and stops. "You know where the bathroom is?"
Leo leads him to the side of the room. "Yeah, it's, uh, right over..." He pushes the manager up against the wall.
"Hey what is this?"
"An intervention."
Leo blows magic dust all over the manager.
-c-
"There is my number one guy in the world." Paige walks into Peter's office. She puts her arms around his back and kisses him on his cheek. "What you doin'?" He leans back into his chair and looks up at her.
"What does it look like? Working, but lucky for me a wonderful distraction, disguised as Paige Halliwell, comes to interrupt it. So on what occasion do I owe this visit."
He turns his seat around and Paige sits down on his lap.
"I was bored and had absolutely nothing to do, so I thought why don't I go bother my boyfriend a little bit."
"Well I'm happy that you did." He kisses her on the nose earning a smile. "Hey, could you maybe get me into P4 tonight."
"Trust me, you can get in there anytime you like."
Peter makes a sceptical face.
"Really? With Dishwalla playing, that's kinda bizarre."
"Dishwalla isn't playing at P4."
"I just heard it on the radio that they were."
-c-
Back at P4 Piper is looking at the expenditures, about $24,000 in red. "This is bad." She covers her face with her hands.
-c-
Paige is walking to her next class, when she decides to give Piper a call.
"With Piper."
"Hey Piper, it's Paige. On the one hand I want to congratulate you for getting Dishwalla…" She opens the door and gets out. "but on the other hand, how come you didn't tell me that you got them in the first place. I thought we were partners?"
"Paige, hold up, I can't follow you."
"According to the radio, Dishwalla is playing at your club tonight."
"That can't be right, I don't know of anything."
"Right, Piper it's all over the radio."
"Paige, I don't know of anything. I'm sure it is a mistake."
"Well then you better fix it, because if people come tonight and find out that Dishwalla isn't playing, P4 is dead."
"Thanks, Paige I really needed that right now."
"Hey don't work it out on me, I can't help it. I just thought I'd give you the heads up."
"Thanks Paige, how will I ever repay you?"
"Oh I don't know, making sure that we don't lose the house."
"What are you talking about?"
A guy walks against her, letting Paige drop all her books. "Great thanks." She bends down to get her books.
"Paige, what did you mean with losing the house?"
"Oh, never mind. Look Piper I've got to go cause my class is about to begin. Call me when you know what's going on, okay?"
''Alright, bye Paige."
"Yeah bye."
Piper puts down her phone right when she hears someone coming down the stairs. She looks around and sees Jenny coming down the stairs.
"You should keep that door locked, you know? Anyone could just walk in."
"Jenny? What are you doing here?"
"Am I breaking the law, right now? Being underage and all?"
She stops before Piper.
"No, we're not open. Actually, I don't know. Uh, what's your point, Jenny?"
"Well," She starts walking around Piper. "if you were open for business and I was here, would you have me arrested?" She stops on Piper's other side, making Piper turn around. "Because I think friendship counts for something. Even though we're not really friends yet, but at least we're neighbours and neighbours do favours for each other, right?"
Piper looks suspiciously at Jenny.
"What kind of favours?"
"I need a ticket to the show."
"What show?"
"It's all over the radio." She walks again to Piper's other side. "I have to see them, if I don't, I'll die."
"You're talking about Dishwalla right?"
"Yeah, who else?"
Well, that's to bad, cause I can't get you one. Besides I don't even know if there is going to be a show."
The manager of Diswhalla walks in.
"Piper Halliwell?"
Piper turns around to look at him and stands up.
"Yeah. Can I help you with something?"
"Jeff Carlton. I have to tell you when I heard about PQ, it was if the fate had smiled upon me."
"P4."
Jenny nods her hand behind Piper.
"Whatever. I manage Dishwalla."
He gives Piper his card while Jenny's mouth falls open.
"Dishwalla? The Dishwalla?"
"I've been looking for the right kind of place, something small, new intimate. The boys want the reacquaint themselves with the personal side of performing. They want to connect again. And I think your little hole in the wall here, is just what the doctor ordered."
"Dishwalla wants to play in my little hole in the wall?"
Piper starts smiling.
"I want them to. Don't you?"
Jenny smiles at Piper.
"Uh... yeah."
"Let's cross some T's and dot some I's."
He hands her the contract and Piper opens it Jenny uses this time to get the manager's attention.
"Uh, Mr. Carlton, sir? Do you think it will be possible for me to meet the band? I'd do almost anything."
He looks at Jenny with sympathy in his eyes.
"Be careful what you wish for, sweetheart."
-c-
Prue's on the phone with Barker, the man who is going to loan them the money.
"Prue, don't feel awkward."
"Well, it's a big deal."
"I know. Starting a business with that bank loan breathing down your neck can make things kind of scary."
"Yeah. On top of your loan."
"Hey, Listen. I have no doubt I'll be seeing my money again after your sister gets her club off the ground."
"Okay. And the terms are still the same?"
"Absolutely. No intrest."
"Uh, no, we'll, we'll pay you interest."
" Ok, fine. A quarter percent whatever. Now, speaking of getting off the ground, the plane trip to Paris is still open for discussion, isn't it?"
Prue laughs uncomfortably. She goes with her hand trough her hair trying to find a good reason to decline.
"Mr. Barker..."
"I mean, come on hasn't that raincheck burned a hole in your pocket by now?
"Look, I really appreciate your offer..."
"It's not an offer, Prue, it's a dinner request."
"In Paris."
"You know what they call French bread in France?"
"Bread."
Prue answers him dryly while he starts laughing.
"Exactly. Dinner in Paris is where it all begins."
Prue laughs again, but now because she can't believe what she is hearing.
"Okay, you know, why don't we just start with your loan, followed with us paying you back as soon as possible?"
"Oh, you're a hard bargainer."
"So are you."
"Oh, I haven't even begun to fight." Prue laughs again. "Paris?"
"Stop it."
"Never. I'll see you at the club, with the money."
"Okay, bye bye."
She walks into the kitchen, hanging up the phone, irritated. She walks up to Phoebe, who's drinking a tea.
"Well, it's all set. Mr. Barker's gonna meet us at the club, hand over the cheque and that'll be that."
"We're doing the right thing, aren't we?"
"Well, we're helping out our sister. That's always the right thing, right?"
Paige walks into the kitchen over to the closet. "What's the right thing?" She gets out a pack of cereals, sits down at the counter and starts eating out of the box.
"Getting a loan from Mr. Barker."
"Oh, is that still necessary then?"
"Why wouldn't it be? You were there to last night, you saw how sad it was in there."
Prue smacks Phoebe on her arm.
"Phoebe!"
"I'm only telling the truth."
Paige stops eating "Oh, don't you guys listen to the radio?"
"Why?"
Piper runs into the house yelling. "Guess what I did? Guess what I did? All by myself?" She stops at the counter.
"What?"
"You ready?"
"What?"
"Dishwalla is playing at your club."
Piper stamps her feet on the ground like a little child.
"Paige, you just spoiled my fun. But it doesn't matter cause nothing is spoiling my good mood today."
"So wait, Dishwalla is playing at your club?"
"I networked. Sent out feelers, sent off press releases and wouldn't you know it. Dishwalla decided to put P4 on their schedule. How's about that? P4 has officially been validated as the place to be. We're on the map." She hugs Phoebe and Prue while smiling at Paige. "I couldn't have done it without you, you patient" She kisses Prue. "most generous" Continuous with Phoebe "sisters in the whole wide world." She sends a kiss across the counter towards Paige right when the doorbells rings. "I'll get it." She leaves the kitchen.
-c-
She opens the door and finds Leo on the porch. She gives him a great hug, before letting him enter.
"Leo... this day just keeping getting better. Hi."
"Hi, uh, Piper, we have to talk."
He looks serious.
"Yeah...okay, uh... are you free tonight? Better be, 'cause you're my date. We have backstage passes, all access, baby, to see Dishwalla at P4. I made it happen."
"Uh, no, actually, I made it happen."
Piper stops.
"What?"
Prue, Phoebe and Paige walk in.
"Yeah, look, I want to tell you sooner, but I didn't have time. I had to move fast. There's a demon involved."
"A demon?"
"Yeah, he'll be at your club, tonight."
"But, no, their manager, Jeff Carlton, came to me and, and booked them himself."
"I know. I cast a spell on him."
"You what?"
Piper backs away from Leo.
"I sort of cribbed it from one of the other witches I look after. I suggested to Carlton that he get Dishwalla into your club."
Prue interferes before Piper has the chance to explode.
"Why didn't you just come to us?"
Piper doesn't give Leo the time to answer.
"Because he knows I would have been pissed off. What are you doing?"
"My job."
"Your job? What are we, like, Leo's witches now? We're supposed to kill a demon during sold-out concert? Are you nuts?"
Phoebe tries to intervene, but without luck.
"Piper..."
"No, Leo. Anywhere else but not there... not my place."
He just looks at her, not able to say anything. Piper walks away from him, so Leo turns his attention to the other sisters.
"The band's manager made a bargain with masselin."
"That's the demon?"
"Yeah. In exchange for human sacrifice, masselin will make Carlton rich and powerful by attracting successful bands to him."
Phoebe can't believe it.
"Are you telling me that Dishwalla is hooked up with a demon?"
"No, they don't know anything about the demon."
"So, these innocent... what happens to them?"
"They're devoured by masselin. Consumed for their souls."
"Gross."
"The more souls masselin collects, the more successful Carlton becomes. You can't destroy the demon without first freeing those trapped within him."
Piper can't help but interfere again.
"All this freeing and destroying, is this in between sets or during the encore?"
"Look," Leo walks up to Piper. "I know you're upset."
"No...no... I skated past upset just after you came in the door. Right now, I'm at furious."
"We have to talk."
"You bet your whitelighter ass, we do."
"Later. I have to go."
He orbs out.
"See, now this is exactly why you should never date a co-worker." Phoebe sees Piper's face. "It was a joke. Oh, honey, I'm sorry."
"How could he do this?"
"Well, it sounds like he didn't have a choice and quiet frankly, I don't think we do either."
"Well, I have to get to the office and call this investor." Prue goes on quietly only for Phoebe and Paige's ears. "Barker... gotta talk to Barker." Phoebe and Paige go over to Piper. Paige rubs her back.
"Hey remember ten minutes ago. You said that nothing could destroy your good mood today."
"Well, that was before Mr. whitelighter showed up."
Phoebe takes her hand and starts moving.
"C'mon, let's check the book, that will distract you."
"Do I have to?"
"C'mon Piper, are you a witch or not?"
"Alright, alright, I'm coming."
Paige and Phoebe smile at each other as they follow Piper to the attic.
-c-
Outside some club people are putting the band's instruments in a truck. Daryl is there talking to the manager, showing him a picture.
"It's Tina Hitchens. She's been missing since last night when she came to this club."
The manager doesn't listen as he is giving directions to the movers.
"Yo... the address is on the front seat. P4!"
"You're playing P4? Piper Halliwell's place?"
"Yeah, so I don't have a lot of time."
"Oh, you've got time for this."
Daryl pushes Tina's picture under his nose.
"I answered your question."
"I didn't ask one."
"You asked me if I saw Tina whoever."
"I don't believe I did. Did you?"
"What?"
"See her?"
"I didn't see anybody, inspector."
"Look again."
"Listen.. you have any idea how many girls like that show up to something like this? Hundreds of them. Thousands. And they all look the same. Short skirt, tight tops. Like sexy little peas in a pod."
"So what difference does it make if one of them disappears?"
"I didn't say that."
"You didn't have to."
"Why aren't you out hassling her boyfriend?"
"Did that already. Now, I'm hassling you."
"I haven't seen her. What's with the Gestapo routine?"
"It tends to follow the acting like a suspect routine."
"Am I under arrest?"
"Not yet. Melanie Jenkins?"
Daryl shows another picture.
"No."
"Brittany Tyler?"
Daryl shows him the rest of his pile photos.
"None of them. Never saw them."
"They all disappeared from clubs all around the country. Clubs that your band played in. That doesn't concern you?"
"Not in the slightest. If we're done here, see ya around."
The manager leaves.
"Count on it"
-c-
In the attic, Phoebe has find masselin in the book of shadows. She gets Piper and Paige's attention and they come closer.
"There's Leo's problem."
"It's our problem."
"You want to know what the real problem is?"
"Oh, do tell."
Phoebe looks bored away from Piper.
"Never mind."
"Thank you."
"So, how do we vanquish this creep?"
"Let's find out. Shall we?"
"And what was with that attitude?"
Piper backs away from the book with her arms crossed.
"What attitude?"
"Leo... it was like he was angry that I was angry. I have right to be angry, don't I?" She sees Phoebe's face. "I don't want talk about it?"
"Then don't."
"Eww".
Piper comes back to the book to see what Paige has found.
"What?"
"Look at masselin's victims."
"Yeah..." Paige reads aloud from the book. "Trapped within the demon. The unfortunates one kept alive, their souls tortured for the pleasure he gets from their suffering. We got to get them out of there."
"With what? Demonic Ipecac?"
Paige nods. "Actually, yeah. That seems to be the idea." She starts reading on. "The demons seeks willing, trusting souls, delivered by the one who sealed the pact."
Phoebe answers.
"The manager. So we have to get close to Carlton."
"But how are we going to do that?"
"Well, I'm already close." They look at Piper. "And as far as we know, I'm a willing, trusting soul... a sucker. Someone who falls for a quick line from a pretty face."
"Will you please stop that?"
"You're right. Fine. Leo is the least of my worries."
Phoebe looks again at the book.
"Right. We'll worry about that tomorrow."
"I don't think I can wait that long."
"You're gonna have to. Because tonight we have some major demon-ass-kicking to do."
Paige smiles at Phoebe.
-c-
The manager is standing in the backroom of P4. Masselin appears before him.
"Cops are asking me questions. And you know what? They're not gonna catch you, no, sir. They're gonna catch me. All right, okay! I'm out. I'm done with it. No more souls. The pact, the agreement is now officially null and void."
Masselin sets him on fire, after a minute the fires disappear. The manager turns towards masselin.
"You will honor your agreement, Mr. Carlton. You'll bring me more souls."
"Okay, okay."
Carlton starts crying.
-c-
Inside Prue's office stands Chris Barker.
"So, what you're telling me is that you no longer need a white knight to rescue you and your sisters from debt."
"No!"
He walks to the front of her desk.
"But we have a deal."
"Well, what we had was an agreement to make a deal and I no longer agree."
"I see. This wouldn't have anything to do with a certain band choosing to play at P4 tonight, would it?" Prue looks at him suspiciously. "Word travels fast."
"Yeah, well, Piper pulled us out of the fire."
"Yes, in a doing so, revealed to me quite a diamond in the rough."
"Meaning what?"
"Well, meaning, I understand you're showing me the door, but I think I rather like this party. I think your sister's little venture is on its way to great success. Which is why I've already gone to your bank and made an offer to pick up your loan."
"You didn't?"
"Did!"
Prue gets out of her seat and stops before him.
"Ok, Mr. Barker... we have a relationship..."
"Yes and you've brought so many valuable items into my field of view. I just have this feeling that you sister's club is gonna be the best one yet. Could you put me on the guest list for tonight? Me plus one. I'd like to see what I'm buying."
"Ok, I am asking, nicely, for your own sake, not to go through with this."
"Is that a threat, Ms. Halliwell? Be careful. You could be jeopardizing a very profitable relationship. 2 passes. I'd like a booth, too, close to the stage."
He leaves Prue steaming with fury.
-c-
Piper, Phoebe and Paige are making a potion in the kitchen. Piper looks sceptical.
"How is this gonna work?"
"We're just going to slip masselin a little extra-strength anti-acid. And if the book of shadows is right, the demon should disappear like a demonic gas bubble, freeing his victims, leaving them safe and sound."
"Phoebe, we can't even give our cat a vitamin. How are we gonna get this down a demon's throat?"
"In this?"
Phoebe holds up a balloon.
"What is that?"
"It's a balloon."
"Stating the obvious, no what are you going to do with that?"
"Well Paige, I'm going to fill it and getting him to eat it."
"Okay, where is it?"
Paige and Phoebe turn towards Piper.
"Where is what?"
"The spoonful of sugar big enough to hide that thing?"
"You're looking at her."
Paige and Piper look at Phoebe.
"Excuse me?"
"Well, the only way to get to masselin, is through Carlton, right? So all I'll have to do is get close to Carlton, pretend I'm some choice tidbit. Then we get masselin to swallow this."
"Right before he swallows you, Phoebe. No, it's too dangerous."
"Well, unless you have a better idea, it's our only choice. You, Paige and Prue will back me up. I'll be fine."
"Well, at least let me do it then, I could shield him off."
"We don't know that for sure Paige, your power doesn't work on every demon and besides my self-defence does."
"I hate him."
Piper puts something in the blender. Phoebe and Paige turn around while Phoebe answers Piper.
"Of course you hate him. He's a demon. Wait, we are talking about the demon, right?"
"He didn't even have the decency to ask me first. He at least could have discussed it with me."
"Oh, Leo!"
"I mean, can you believe him? He acted as if we've never has a relationship before. Like it was just business." She turns on the blender without putting the lid on. Food flies everywhere. "Oh! Oh!" Phoebe hits the off-button.
"Got to put the lid on, honey!"
Phoebe puts the lid on the blender and puts it on.
"And I saw the future too, you know. Leo and I get married. A marriage in the future imply some sort of relationship in the present ... the question is: where's the relationship."
"Somewhere between confusing and complicated?"
"Well Phoebe and I are dead in the future, so let's just hope that that future doesn't come true, alright?"
Phoebe looks at Paige.
"What do you mean with you were dead, I saw you in there, alive and kicking."
"Well maybe kicking but not alive." She sees Phoebe's confused face. "I orbed and that implies that I was a whitelighter and that implies that I have to die cause that's only way to become a whitelighter, or do you know another way."
Piper waves her arms.
"Hello, back to my problem."
Phoebe looks at Piper.
"Just talk to him, honey? It'll be okay."
"I'd rather just freeze him and kick him in the..." The doorbell rings. "That better not be him."
"In the shins?"
"Not exactly.".
-c-
Piper opens the door.
"Piper?"
"Dan, hi."
"Can I talk to you for a second?"
"Sure! What's up?"
She lets him enter.
"Jenny... Did you tell her she could go see Dishwalla tonight?"
"No, no! She can't go!"
"She said you said it was all right."
"Well, I didn't exactly tell her it wasn't. But things were happening kind of fast."
"Well, she's in her room right now, picking out her clothes."
"Oh god! Okay... I'll go talk to her."
As she opens the door again, she sees Leo.
"Hi."
"Hello!"
"Listen, I was hoping that we could..." He sees Dan. "talk."
"Sure... Leo this is..."
Leo walks in.
"Dan Gordon!"
Leo shakes hands with Dan. Piper looks confused
"Wait. You know him?"
"What? Are you kidding? He used to play second base for the Mariners. Ha had an all-star season going till he blew out his knee sliding into home. I still think you were safe."
"So do I."
"I'm Leo."
"Nice meeting you."
Piper comes between the two guys.
"No, it's not. You follow baseball?"
"Yeah!"
"You have time for baseball, but you don't have time to tell me about you-know-what, before you-know-who shows up you-know-where?"
Dan looks uncomfortably at the two.
"Uh, Listen. If you two need to talk or something, I can..."
"No, no no. We don't need to talk. Leo stops by occasionally to fix things. Phoebe or Paige can show him around." Phoebe shows up. "See Phoebe is already there. Let's go talk to Jenny."
"It was nice meeting you."
"Yeah, you too."
Dan and Piper leave. Leo looks at Phoebe.
"She's just a little upset."
"Yeah... I don't blame her."
-c-
Prue is on her way to the elevator when Daryl passes her.
"Right... and this is where you say Darryl and I say Prue and then you say something like what are you doing here?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Andy didn't have time to teach me all the steps to this dance but I'm a quick study."
"I have to go."
Prue turns around.
"To P4?" She turns back to Daryl. "As usual, I barely know what's going on. And I don't like it."
"Look, I will explain everything to you later."
"But you never do. I know it's all about keeping me safe and I respect that. What do you know about Jeff Carlton?"
"I can't."
"This is about my job. Andy is gone but I'm not Andy. I'm not saying that you have to tell me about everything. But whenever you and your sisters get involved, the whole playing field gets little crazy."
"Yeah. And a lot more dangerous."
"I'm a cop. Stop protecting me, Prue."
"You have absolutely no idea."
"I'm an imaginative guy. I have plenty of ideas. I even had you four working for the CIA for while. What matters is you and I work out some kind of relationship. We're gonna need to communicate or I'm gonna become a very unsociable."
"Okay."
"The missing girls... and Jeff Carlton."
"We're working on it."
"I figured."
"Look, Darryl, just trust us, okay? We've got this one for right now."
"Sure."
"I have to go."
She leaves.
"Be careful."
-c-
Dan and Piper are standing in Jenny's room. She is picking out her clothes.
"Jenny, the state can shut me down."
"How are they gonna find out? Are you gonna tell 'em? 'Cause I'm not gonna tell 'em." She shows Piper two skirts. "Do you like the read or denim?"
Dan tries to convince her.
"Jenny..."
She walks around the bed.
"Yeah! Sure. Let's hear from uncle Dan. Who never in his life faked an I.D. or snuck into a bar. Who never did anything wrong. Ever."
"We're talking about you."
"No, we're talking about Piper and she said I could go see the show."
"I never said that... Jenny, I'm sorry, but I can't let you in the club."
"Your mom and dad, they put me in charge…"
"Right.. everybody's in charge... but not me. Not ever. Why is that?"
Jenny starts to cry and storms out of the room.
"I'm sorry. She's just feeling, you know, a little..."
"Betrayed... it's okay. I know the feeling."
Piper leaves too.
-c-
Paige enters P4 with Peter. She sees Phoebe and Prue standing.
"Peter, why don't you get yourself something to drink. I need to talk with my sisters."
"Sure thing."
Paige comes closer to her two sisters right when she hears Phoebe asking Prue about Chris Barker.
"You didn't leave any passes for that investor guy, did you?"
"No way. The bouncer has his order. Chris Barker is not allowed. The last we need is for Piper to find out she's gonna lose her club."
"If the bank accepts his offer..."
"One hellish complication at a time. Hey Paige. Wait you brought Peter. You do realise we have some demon vanquishing to do right?"
"Relax, I told him that I had to help my sister tonight cause the place was going to be swarmed."
Prue looks still sceptical but returns her attention to Phoebe.
"Okay, do you have the poison pill?"
She shows them her purse, that's full with balloons filled with potion.
"Armed and dangerous."
"Good! 'Cause here comes demon boy." The manager just entered the club. "Positions." Prue says while giving Piper a nod. Piper gets it and goes over to the manager.
"Mr. Carlton."
"Nice crowd. Is the band here?"
"Yep. They came in the back way. They're right over there. Everything's ready."
"Better be. I don't want any problems."
He walks away.
"That's too bad."
"Talking to yourself again, I see."
Piper turns around to find Leo.
"What are you doing here?"
"I'm watching over things. It's what I do, remember?"
"I remember when it didn't use to be a job."
"Look! This isn't easy for me either, Piper, you know."
"Leo, I really can't talk about this right now... Excuse me."
She walks away from him.
-c-
Phoebe, Prue and Paige see Carlton standing alone.
"Okay, Pheebs. Go get him."
"Keep an eye on me."
"You're kind of hard to miss in that outfit."
Piper looks at Phoebe.
"Yeah, where did you get those clothes?"
"Your closet."
Phoebe walks off. Paige looks at Prue.
"I swear, I had no idea that I still had those."
Prue smiles at Paige while looking back at Phoebe who just stopped in front of the manager.
-c-
"Excuse me? Aren't you Jeff Carlton?"
"Yes."
"Yeah! I recognized you from that MTV top 10 video things last month."
"Somebody actually saw that?"
"It was really good."
"Taped that almost 2 months ago."
"I didn't even know there was such a thing as a music manager. Let alone what they did until you came on the scene. I mean, who knew? I'm now taking a class in music management at the learning Annex. You're my inspiration."
"Really?"
"Cross my heart. Hey, do you have any pointers? I would do... just about anything to get the inside scoop."
He smiles.
"Anything, huh? Wanna meet the band?"
"Yeah."
"This way."
-c-
Prue, Paige and Piper watch the manager leading Phoebe away from the crowd.
"Where is he taking her?"
"In the back."
"All right, let's go."
-c-
The manager locks the door behind him and hurries towards another room.
"What's the rush?"
"No time to waste."
He pushes Phoebe into the room and quickly closes the door behind her. She looks around in the room, but sees nothing. All she hears are cracks.
-c-
Back in the club Piper tries to open the door with no luck. "Oops." Prue uses her power to open it. They see Carlton and Piper freezes him when he tries to run away.
-c-
Back in the room masselin appears behind Phoebe. She immediately goes into her pocket to get the potion, but the demon is already gone before she can throw it. Prue, Piper and Paige come in.
"Are you all right?"
"Did you get him?"
"No."
"What?"
"I think we need a bigger balloon."
"Ok. We're gonna have to regroup. Come on, let's go."
Prue leads the way back into the crows. Right when the sisters are out of sight, Carlton unfreezes.
-c-
Back in the club, Phoebe does her story.
"He's huge, and ugly and I really think we need a bigger balloon."
"Maybe we just came in too soon."
"Maybe he saw the poison."
"Well, in any case, the spook's spooked."
Phoebe continues.
"And took the trapped souls with him. The ones that we have to save."
Prue stays calm.
"Look, we don't know for sure if the demon is gone, is he is still here, then he's gonna feed again and Carlton's the one to feed him. Do you still have the poison pill?"
"Yes, but I don't think it's gonna be enough."
"Phoebe, stop. All right, uh, we need to cover the exits, look for Carlton, if we see him grab anybody, Piper, you freeze the room and we'll get into positions."
"I wish we could just stuff his head in a toilet and make him cough up the demon."
"Oh, honey, still upset with Leo?"
Phoebe takes Piper's hand.
"I'm talking about Carlton."
"I can't keep up."
She turns around and walks away. Her sisters follow her example.
-c-
Back in the backstage masselin is talking to Carlton.
"You brought witches to destroy me."
"What are you talking about? No, I didn't. I swear."
"To whom do you swear?"
He gets down on his knees.
"To you. Just you. I didn't know about witches."
"Your most recent selection, she holds the key to my destruction. Take it from her."
"But why? They know about you, they know about me."
"Take it from her and bring the witches to me."
"All right, all right. But how am I gonna get 'em back here? I mean, they're gonna be a little suspicious."
"Tempt them with an innocent soul."
-c-
On the outside of P4, Jenny's sneaking in.
"Excuse me, I'm sorry... Pardon me... Excuse me."
She arrives at the door right when Barker is talking to the bouncer.
"I'm sorry but if you don't have a ticket and your name isn't in the guest list, I can't let you in."
"Try looking under G for Grant"
He gives him a $50 note.
"Oh, here you are, Mr. Grant."
"Thank you so much."
Jenny sneaks in behind them.
-c-
Back in the club, Dishwalla starts playing. Paige is walking in the club looking for Carlton when someone grabs her arm and pulls her towards him. "Hey!" She is about to put up her shield when she notices it's Peter "Ow, it's you."
"You look disappointed."
"Me never, but I told you that I have to help my sister."
"Yeah, okay, one kiss and I'll let you go."
"Okay."
-c-
Piper sees Paige and Peter and looks jealous.
Leo appears behind Piper.
"We were once like that."
Piper turns around, startled.
"I wish you'd quit doing that."
"What's happening?"
"Paige and Peter are…"
"I meant the demon."
"Right, off course you did." She smiles awkwardly. "Well we're on it, Leo. We're just waiting for Carlton to do his thing."
"Look, you think I like this?"
"Leo..."
"Do you think I like to not being with you?"
"Ok, can we cut the crap? I know what you have to do. I always have. The question is: What do you want? What do you wanna do? With me? With us? Do you ever think about that?
"All the time."
"You ever want to discuss it with me?"
"Yes. It's just the timing always seems.."
They notice Darryl coming in.
"Seems to suck. Okay, hold that thought. Don't let go. Just hold it." She goes where Prue is. "Morris is here?"
"What?" Prue sees Mr. Barker. "Whoa! Oh, boy!"
"What are you looking at? He's over there."
"Huh, yeah, okay."
Prue grabs Piper and runs.
-c-
Jeff sees Phoebe and motions the security to come closer.
"See that honey by the stage in the silver thing. She's got something in her purse."
"Something illegal?"
"Extremely. Get it out of here."
"You got it."
-c-
The security goes where Phoebe is and grabs her purse.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
"Weapons check."
"There's nothing in th…" The security finds the balloon. He and Phoebe both grab the balloon which makes it burst all over Phoebe's skirt. It starts smoking. The security backs away.
"Oh! What the hell is that?"
"That is my sister killing me for destroying her skirt which means a $75 dry-cleaning bill."
-c-
Jeff walks up to Jenny.
"Hey there, Jenny. Hello, I remember you. You're friend of Piper Halliwell, right?"
"And Phoebe, Paige and Prue. We're like sisters."
"Listen. Would you like to meet the band?"
"Are you serious? Man, I'd do anything to meet them."
"Follow me."
He starts taking her backstage.
-c-
Prue, Piper and Paige are waiting for Phoebe at the bar. Paige sees Barker coming up to them. "Prue, problems at four o'clock." Prue looks around.
"Problems where?"
"Here."
She says right when Barker speaks.
"Hello, Prue."
"Hi, Mr. Barker."
Piper whispers to Prue.
"Where's Phoebe?"
"Let me guess. Piper Halliwell, right?"
"Yeah! Who are you?" She turns to Prue. "Who's he?"
"The name's Chris Barker and I'm gonna be taking over everything from here on out."
"Wait! What?"
Right then Darryl shows up.
"Piper, we've gotta talk."
"Not now."
She returns her attention to Barker.
"I'd be willing to discuss you staying on. However, in a diminished capacity, of course."
Phoebe comes up to them.
"Jenny's here with Carlton."
"What?"
"Jenny's here?"
She shows them her skirt.
"And I lost the potion."
Paige points at her skirt.
"And my skirt. That's a 75$ dry-cleaning bill."
Darryl tries to attract their attention again.
"Piper, it's important."
Baker pushes Darryl back. "Yeah, wait in line, pal." Darryl shows Barker his badge.
"Hey, why don't you step to the back."
"Okay, everybody hold it."
Piper freezes the entire room right when Phoebe shows Prue and Paige where Jenny is. "Look. They see Jenny and Carlton are about to leave the room.
"Oh my God."
They run to follow Carlton and Jenny, but the place unfreezes before they can reach them.
"Freeze them again."
"They're through the door."
-c-
Carlton pushes Jenny into the room and closes the door behind her. "Hello?" "Masselin appears and she screams."
-c-
The girls finally arrive at the room. Piper is ready to go in, but Piper stops her.
"Wait. Hold it. Stop."
"Jenny's in there."
"Yeah, but we can't kill Masselin without the potion."
"Well, we can't just stand here. She's gonna die."
Right then Carlotn opens the door and Prue uses her power against him to make him fly across the room.
"Help us."
"He'll kill me. He'll burn the flesh off my bones for eternity."
Piper bends down in front of him.
"Listen up, skid mark. You tell us how to save Jenny and get Elvis out of the building, or spending an eternity in hell is gonna be the least of your worries."
"There's nothing you can do."
"We can break the pact and free you from Masselin."
She stands back up.
"Believe me, if I could help you, I would. But if you go in there, he's gonna swallow you whole and you'll still be alive."
"That's not a bad idea."
Prue looks at Piper.
"What?"
"Where's the demon?"
Carlton waves his head to a door.
"Through that door."
Piper looks back at her sisters.
"I got a plan. We get eaten."
Phoebe looks unbelievingly at Piper.
"I'm sorry, we get what?"
"She has completely lost her mind."
"No Paige, I haven't. Once we're inside, Prue, you use your power to blow him up."
"From the inside?"
"Mmm hmm."
Phoebe points to the door.
"Who's to say that we won't lose our powers once we get in there. Maybe that's exactly what he wants."
"Yeah, well, we don't really have a choice, Phoebe. The poison pill is gone."
"Is it?" She shows her skirt with the poison. "Back up."
"Phoebe, what are you..."
She kicks the door open. Masselin appears.
"It's time to join your friends, witches."
Prue, with her powers, makes the skirt with the poison fly into Masselin. Barker comes in right when Masselin is being destroyed. "What is going on back here?" Masselin blows up and green stuff is flying everywhere. Luckily Paige gets her shield up in time, so the girls don't get splattered, Barker isn't so lucky and gets goo all over him. All the victims lie on the floor. The girls help everyone up. Piper turns to Jenny.
"We gotta get her home."
Darryl comes in, stopping beside Carlton.
"Prue, what's going on here? Someone wanna clue me in?"
"You're arresting a kidnapper."
"And rescuing his victims. Good job."
"Trust me. That's all what you wanna know."
" I guess that's all I need to know."
He arrests Carlton. Prue bends down next to Barker who is eying his clothes.
"Mr. Barker... here's what you need to know. This place is ours. The ups, the downs, the good and especially the bad. It's all ours. Now if you ever bother us again, you won't have to ask if I'm threatening you. Are we clear?
"Yeah!"
"Good."
She stands up and goes back into the club where Dishwalla is still playing. The girls enjoy the rest of their evening together.
-c-
The next morning, in the conservatory, Piper is signing some papers when Prue, Phoebe and Paige come in. They sit down.
"Paying bills?"
"Every last one. For this month, at least."
"Thanks to Leo." Piper gives Phoebe her evil look. "Well, technically if it wasn't for him, you would've never landed Dishwalla."
"I suppose. And technically if we hadn't vanquished a demon, your client, Chris Barker, wouldn't have abandoned his hostile takeover. The bank called... and told me Mr. Barker didn't have the stomach for gruesome stage theatrics. He's withdrawing his offer."
Prue, Phoebe and Paige give Piper their guilty faces.
"I'm sorry."
"He was just supposed to help. We didn't expect a double cross."
"Phoebe and I only suspected him off trying to look good for Prue."
Prue gives Paige her dirty look.
"It's okay. I mean, I understand why you didn't want to hurt my feelings but you could have told me the truth."
They look at Piper with their puppy face and Prue answers with her cute voice. "I said I was sorry."
"We're sorry."
"It's just dawning on me that personal relationships and business don't mix well at all." The doorbell rings. "I got it." Piper gets up.
Prue looks at her sisters.
"Why were you trying to blame it all on me?"
-c-
Piper answers the door. It's Leo.
"Hi."
"Hi."
She lets him in.
"Uh, thanks. For everything."
"Just doing my job. Do you wanna come in, sit down?"
"I'd love to..."
"But you can't. We got Jenny home safe. Dan doesn't know she was at the club. But are you sure she won't remember anything?"
"I took care of it with a little hocus pocus."
"So you erase memories now?"
"No, I make pain go away. When I can... sometimes, I can't, no matter how hard I try."
"And Masselin's others victims?"
"They'll be fine. No memories of Masselin or Carlton."
"Good."
Piper looks down.
"Piper, did you mean what you said?"
"When?"
"Couple of months ago, when I almost died and you saved my life. I left and you said... that you loved me."
"I thought you were gone."
"Well, sometimes I linger... Did you mean it?"
"Yeah, I meant it..." She starts laughing. "You... you linger?"
"What about now?"
"I still mean it."
"But..."
"But we can't keep doing this. I can't keep doing this. I feel like all I do is wait around for you to show up and then when you do, it's just not... quite right."
"Well, I'm just... I'm doing what I thought you wanted me to do, Piper. You're the one who didn't want me to clip my wings."
"And you shouldn't. Not for me. But that doesn't make it any easier for us."
"What are we gonna do?"
"I don't know, Leo."
He hears a jingle and Piper notices it.
"Go. It's ok. I understand."
He kisses her.
"I'll see you."
He orbs out. She looks down sadly and goes out to get some fresh air, where she sees Dan, who is just getting his mail. He notices her and she waves before pretending to go back inside. Without knowing she is looking he gives a nod of approval, making Piper smile.