A/N Yes this chapter includes a long flashback.
Chapter 6
Halliwell Manor: 8:15 A.M.
Piper was already downstairs sitting at the table drinking her coffee, "Hey where's Phoebe?" Paige asked walking in, the morning paper was tucked underneath her arm as she walked to the counter and poured herself a cup of coffee.
"She must still be sleeping" Piper said taking out her toast, she buttered it and put it on a plate then sat down.
"She's going to be late for work" Paige said looking at the clock on the wall. Paige took out the sports section and handed the rest to Piper. Piper set it down beside her and stood up to take her plate over to the sink.
She jumped when Leo orbed down in front of her causing her to lose grip of the plate as it smashed into pieces on the floor. "Sorry Piper" Leo said bending down to pick the broken glass up.
"You might want to put some bells on yourself before you orb in here next time" Paige said, she slightly laughed.
Piper couldn't help but laugh, "It's not my fault" Leo said apologetically.
Piper stood up "Of course it isn't" Piper whispered. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. Leo pulled her closer as the kiss deepened, Piper stopped when Phoebe ran into the kitchen.
"I'm going to be late for work!" Phoebe shouted.
"At least you had time to shower" Paige pointed out.
"That's not the point! I set my alarm clock so why didn't I wake up?" Phoebe asked drinking her coffee.
"It did go off, you just never got up" Piper said raising an eyebrow.
"Wow, you never sleep through that alarm" Piper said. Phoebe smiled and looked at Leo who was standing beside Piper, she almost didn't notice him.
"Hi Leo, and I know I don't, maybe I was just so tired from last night" Phoebe said grabbing a piece of toast.
"Last night?" Leo said his expression getting wider.
"I was on a date Mr." Phoebe frowned pointing at him.
Paige just laughed at the whole ordeal, "I'll never make it in time, Paige could you please orb me?" Phoebe asked looking at Paige who was still in her robe.
"I guess, but you owe me big, the last thing I want is the morning paper reading "Witch caught in pink robe!" Paige said sarcastically.
Phoebe grabbed Paige's hand, "Later guy's" Phoebe said.
Paige orbed out of the manor. "Now where were we?" Leo asked smiling at Piper.
Bay Mirror: 8:55 A.M.Paige orbed down into Phoebe's office, "Thank you so much Paige" Phoebe said.
"Yeah no problem" Paige said yawning. Phoebe heard her door about to open "Go, go!" Phoebe shouted in a whisper. Paige stuck her tongue out at Phoebe and orbed out just as Elise came in.
"Elise, hi!" Phoebe said sitting down.
"I could have sworn you didn't come in" Elise said looking at her watch.
"Must have went right past you, it is busy this morning" Phoebe said.
She hoped Elise would buy it,
"You're probably right, anyway your columns are top rate Phoebe! We have more readers than ever before, I guess that sabbatical must have helped" Elise said.
Phoebe remembered started to fade out, when she went on sabbatical, Elise had hired Leslie St. Claire to ghost write Phoebe's column. Phoebe almost laughed when she remembered she first met Leslie.
Flashback….
Phoebe walks into the building and interrupts Elise "Uh, yeah. Just so we're clear, if I don't like this person, we can find someone else, right?" Phoebe asked.
"Absolutely. It's your column. You got to be happy with him" Elise said smiling.
Phoebe raised her eyebrows "Him?! Wh -- I'm sorry, him?" Phoebe shouted.
Phoebe stops in the doorway to her office and sees Leslie "Les" St. Claire at her desk on the phone.
To phone I better call you back. He hangs up. "Hi. I hope
it's okay. I just wanted to get started." Leslie said standing up.
To Elise "Leslie?" Phoebe asked.
"Surprise! Hmm" Elise shouted smiling.
"Expecting a girl, weren't you?" Leslie asked.
"Well…." Phoebe paused.
"So were my folks. It's how I got the name. You can call me
Les." Leslie said.
He holds out his hand. Phoebe puts her hand in his and her world tilts as her
Sexual awareness of this man goes into sudden overdrive.
"Now before you say "no", just hear me out." Elise said.
Phoebe smiles at Les.
"He had his own advice column in Philly, and it was totally hip,
Very hot. A perfect match for yours." Elsie said.
Phoebe caresses his hand
"Hot, huh? Wow. She catches herself and jerks her hand out from Les'
grip. She looks up at the ceiling. Oh! Not again." Phoebe whispered.
"He's relocating to L.A. in a couple of months, which works out
perfectly for how long you want to be away.
"That's great, Elise, but he's a man." Phoebe said wryly.
"Is that a problem?" Leslie asked almost defensively.
"Well ... uh, most of my readers are women." Phoebe muttered.
"And you don't think a man can give advice to women." Leslie asked.
"Uh, no, actually, not as well as a woman can, no." Phoebe said trailing off.
Phoebe removes her purse and tosses it on the couch.
"Well, what about Dr. Phil?" Leslie said crossing his arms.
"Dr. Phil is a doctor, right? Dr. Phil." Phoebe countered.
"Ah, so a man can give advice to a woman if he's a doctor." Leslie asked.
Suddenly interested in Les' butt, Phoebe tries to get a good glimpse of it.
She circles Les.
"That's not what I meant." Phoebe said smiling.
Les circles back trying to look at Phoebe to continue the conversation. Elise
Watches, puzzled by Phoebe's behavior.
"That's what it sounded like. Puzzled are you feeling all
Right?" Leslie asked concerned.
"Me? Yeah. Ha! Yes, I'm feeling all right. Phoebe reaches for an
Envelope from a mail crate on the counter. I'm great. Are you kidding?" Phoebe said laughing aloud.
"'Cause you don't look like you do." Leslie protested.
Phoebe turns around and puts her arm on the filing cabinet.
"What are you, a doctor now, too?" Phoebe asked sarcastically
"Actually, I am. Of psychology. I wrote my doctorate on
Women's intuit" – Leslie stopped
Phoebe slips off the filing cabinet.
"Whoo!" Phoebe shouted.
And straight into Leslies' arms as he catches her.
"I ... I aced it." Leslie trailed off
"I bet you did." Phoebe whispered.
They kiss. Elise's jaw drops. They're completely oblivious to her presence in
The office.
Gasps "Phoebe!" Elise shouted
Phoebe pulls away reluctantly. In a daze, she pushes Les aside and walks
Straight past Elise, out of the office. She stops, turns around, walks back
Into the office, grabs her bag off the couch, and leaves.
End Flashback
Elise was now standing in front of Phoebe waving at her "Hello earth to Phoebe?" Elise said waving her hand.
Phoebe shook her head and sat up behind her desk, "Huh…what…what were you saying" Phoebe asked shaking her head.
"Phoebe don't make me regret brining you back into you column" Elise warned.
"I'm sorry Elise it's just….I….I don't know what's gotten into me, I've been out of it all morning" Phoebe said sighing. She put a hand on her head then looked back up at Elise who had her arms crossed.
"Well you better get back into it, you could wind up in trouble if you don't get a hold of reality" Elise said. She put the papers on Phoebe's desk and walked out her door closing it behind her.
Why had she spaced out like that? Could she really be that tired? "I hope I wake up soon, otherwise it could mean my job" Phoebe mumbled.
Halliwell Manor: 10:00 A.M.
Paige and Piper were sitting in the living room and talked to Leo, "So why were you up there so long again?" Paige asked.
"The elders sensed a disturbance in magic, they aren't sure if it's threatening to you or not but to be safe they are requesting that all elders and white lighters stay up there until they know for sure what's going on" Leo said pacing.
"Wait, for how long? What if we need you?" Piper asked standing up.
"I wont be able to hear you call, at least not in the room I'll be in, but the main thing is that they don't want any interruptions" Leo said.
"Interruptions my ass" Paige mumbled.
"My thoughts exactly" Piper said agreeing.
"Does this mean I have to go to this meeting thing? I mean, I am part white lighter" Paige asked.
"No, the elders want you to stay here just in case the power of three is needed." Leo said. Paige sighed.
Leo looked up at the ceiling, "I'd better go" Leo whispered.
Piper was about to kiss him until he orbed out, Piper threw her arms in the air and sat down.
"Well I guess one of us better run Phoebe's car in" Piper said looking at Paige.
"You know I'm beginning to think that me being able to orb has made you two lazy" Paige said standing up.
Piper laughed as Paige went out the door.
Piper figured she might as well go to the club and get a head start on inventory count.
Bay Mirror: 10:30 A.M.
Phoebe set her head in her hands and sighed, she hadn't even come close to finishing today's column at all. She felt tired and just wanted to go home, suddenly Paige orbed into her office.
"Paige! What are you doing? Trying to expose us?" Phoebe said running to her office door and closing it.
"Sorry, just wanted to tell you that your car is parked out front, I brought it in for you just in case you needed it" Paige said.
"Thanks" Phoebe said yawning.
"Are you okay? You look exhausted" Paige asked sitting down.
"I'm fine, just out of it" Phoebe said rubbing her head.
Paige sensed that Phoebe wanted to be left alone to work in peace, "See you later Pheeb's" Paige said.
She waited for Phoebe to reply but Phoebe had seemed to forget Paige was even there, so Paige just orbed out.
Phoebe looked at her computer screen and sighed "Guess I should try to write the column" Phoebe mumbled. She sat up and began to type, the sooner she got done the sooner she could go home and sleep.
P3: 11:00 A.M.
Piper was standing by the bar with her clipboard in hand marking off the inventory sections one by one. "Okay, I think that's the last of the Chardonnay so just put it in the back" Piper said. She sat down and grabbed herself a martini, she usually didn't drink in the mornings but one martini was all she needed to feel like she wasn't even working.
She jumped when Paige tapped her on the shoulder, "Paige? What are you doing here? I thought you were at work" Piper said setting her glass down.
"I took off this week remember? Anyway Phoebe is acting kinda weird" Paige said sitting next to Piper.
"Weird? What do you mean weird? Like demon possessed weird?" Piper asked flipping her hair to her other shoulder.
"No, weird as in spacing out weird I went to see her after I dropped off her car and when I did she looked like she hadn't slept in days, and she hardly noticed me when I said goodbye, not to mention she spaced out" Paige said placing her hands on her lap.
"Well maybe she just had too much fun or didn't get enough sleep, you know Phoebe all work no play and when she does try to get out and have fun she stays out too late" Piper said placing her glass on the bar top.
"Maybe your right, and maybe I'm just to paranoid" Paige said smiling.
"Maybe, or maybe your just lame" Piper said throwing an olive at her.
Piper laughed with Paige as they both sat there.
Bay Mirror: 12:15 Noon
Phoebe sat back and stretched, "Glad that's out of the way" Phoebe said yawning.
She hopped out of her chair and walked out the door, she threw her keys up and down as she approached her car. She stopped when she felt a hand on her shoulder she was about to land a kick until she noticed that Austin was behind her.
"Austin what are you doing here?" Phoebe asked staring at him.
"Just seeing how you were doing, you never returned my call last night" Austin said frowning.
"Oh I'm sorry, it's just…I don't know.. I'm. I'm not feeling to well" Phoebe said.
"I understand" Austin whispered as he stroked her arm.
Phoebe closed her eyes as she took in the scent of his cologne, why did she feel so free around him?
She was about to step away until his lips met hers, she felt powerless to resist his kisses, she threw her arms around his neck as the kiss deepened.
She felt his hand go down her back and broke the kiss, he smiled at her "I….I uh…better get going" Phoebe said.
She blushed as she fumbled with her keys and got into her car, she waved goodbye as she backed out and headed home.
"I hope you enjoyed that kiss witch, it's the last thing you'll feel before you die" Austin said sneering. He laughed as he shimmered out of the parking lot.
Cave: 1:30 P.M.
Austin shimmered into the cave and approached his master sitting in the chair, "Is the spell working?" He asked.
"Yes sire, she has fallen weak, soon we will be able to attack" Austin said.
"Yes we will" He laughed.
"May I suggest that we attack now? If we attack now we can distract the witch so she comes after us then kidnap her" Austin said.
"Yes, you will be the one to fall" He said.
"But lord Chevron! You promised my rewarding!" Austin said standing up.
"This is your reward! You will die honorably! Or you can die in pain by my hands now which do you choose!?" Chevron shouted.
"Forgive me my lord, it would be an honor to die to put an end to the charmed line" Austin said.
"Good, now go! It is time we attack" Chevron said.
Austin nodded and shimmered out with Chevron.
Halliwell Manor: 2:00 P.M.
Phoebe sighed as she walked through the door of the Halliwell manor, she plopped on the couch and relaxed. She was about to drift off to sleep until her cell phone rang, she groaned and answered it reluctantly. "Hello?" Phoebe asked.
"Phoebe it's Austin, I need your help" Austin said.
"What's wrong are you okay?" Phoebe asked sitting up.
"I…DAMN IT!" Austin shouted.
The phone went silent.
"Austin!? Are you there? What happened?" Phoebe said. She hung up and sprang to her feet.
She didn't have time to call for Paige and wait for them, she ran to the attic and scryed for Austin. The crystal dropped, "River Street?" Phoebe mumbled.
She ran downstairs and out the door, she knew something was wrong and she had to help Austin.
River Street
Phoebe pulled up to River Street and got out of her car, she called Austin's name. She walked down an alley calling for him. She stopped in her tracks when she saw him lying on the ground.
"Phoebe…." Austin called weakly.
She ran to him and knelt down beside him, "Austin are you okay?" Phoebe asked concerned.
He grabbed a hold of her wrist tightly "I am now witch!" Austin shouted. He stood up and slammed Phoebe against the brick wall.
"Let me go!" Phoebe shouted.
His eyes turned black, "Stupid witch! You will die" Austin sneered. Phoebe gasped when his hand turned into claws. She kicked him, he ran at her she went to levitate but nothing happened. "What's the matter? Powers not working?" Austin laughed. Phoebe ran down the alley.
"Paige!" Phoebe shouted. Paige orbed down beside her before Paige could even ask she saw the demon and took Phoebe's hand and orbed them out to safety.
Austin smiled as Chevron appeared beside him, "Good work, now they will scry for you and come back, then we put our final plans into action." Chevron said laughing.
A/N Hope this was an okay chapter. I'll update soon!