Ripples through time
Chapter Six: Job hunting
It was five a.m. Jamie looked around the dark empty room that made up P3 it was weird to be a place that had been so pivotal in her parents lives, from her dad's stories there first kiss happened here, their first fight, her dad had proposed here, and it seemed that John's dad also proposed here too. She along with a few of her cousins had been conceived here. Now that little tidbit had come out unintentionally but after Jamie had told her father she was pregnant the next thing she got was a flash of parents engaging in extra-curricula activity which in turn lead to a very embarrassing conversation with her father.
Hugging herself Jamie couldn't believe she was actually going to go through with Chris's plan.
Jamie's flashback:
When Chris had orbed them back to P3 his assumption had been right the club was closed for the night. They quickly moved to Piper's back office.
"It's not much but…" Chris said with a shrug of his shoulders.
"Please tell me you haven't been sleeping her for the past couple of months."
Jamie had said with obvious distaste. When he didn't look at her she knew she he had.
"Chris why didn't you go to the penthouse?"
"Because it was left for you I didn't think I should use it."
"Chris were family I thought we had reached an understanding a long time ago about that."
"It didn't feel right Jamie."
Jamie just nodded her head knowing it would be pointless to fight with her cousin now, when he set his mind on something it was impossible to change it. If he thought it felt weird to stay at the penthouse then so be it.
"Any how tomorrow I'm going to go a check the penthouse see if the key is where he put it. Then we move in got it Chris no two ways about. You…me…penthouse."
Chris nodded his head and accepted that his cousin's ultimatum.
"So how exactly am I going o get a job with The Bay Mirror? Because that's something I'd really like to know."
"Well Phoebe's assistant just promoted and is now working as a journalist. And well San Francisco's favorite agony aunt needs someone to fill the void that was left by her departure."
"Oh…THAT"S great just …GREAT. Not only do I have to suffer watching my mom make- out with Jason Dean. I also have to work for her and by association the dragon lady Elsie."
Jamie just shock her head,
'Not only am I stuck in the past that knows nothing of rainbow ribbon shraab I'm also stuck with a mother who is horny for anyone but dad right now. Okay that was gross…the fact that I'd prefer to see both my parents acting like hormonal teenagers instead of my mom with some other guy…I know they're not together right now but I can't help but feel like she's cheating on him…then there's the add fact that I've got to help Chris clean up the mess he's made here in the past…and help him get his act together…find out who or what turned Wyatt evil stop and it from happening…have I forgotten anything else? Oh…can't forget the all important fact making sure that both Chris and myself are conceived hence insuring our existence…what else? Oh…what the hell while I'm at it why not go for world peace.'
Jamie mentally rolled her eyes at the last thought,
'As if that's ever going to happen.'
"So this means I have an interview with dragon lady tomorrow?"
Chris shrugged his shoulders and said,
"It's the only way"
"That is where you're wrong you could have easily had the sisters' trust if you had told them the truth from the beginning but instead you choose to lie to them. If they don't trust you it's your fault. But I don't get it."
"Don't get what?"
"How is it they don't know you're you? I mean how many times my dad has said you were a Halliwell through and through, plus there's the fact that you like exactly like both your mom and dad, and as my dad says stubborn as any Halliwell."
"I don't know…I guess…I…I just…I think a part believed that when they saw me they'd know, you know…your dad has always been going on and on how much I remind him of my mom and my dad just wrapped up in a convenient package of having their best traits…They were meant to know…she was meant to know."
Chris said in a defeated tone he slumped down into the couch, Jamie sat down next to him put her arm around him shoulders and rested her chin on his shoulder and said,
"Well I'm here now, and we'll fix everything, everything will work."
She gave her cousin's shoulder a reassuring squeeze. Chris looked a his cousin giving here a small smile, he kissed her forehead and said,
"Time for petty theft."
He said raising his eyebrows. He orbed out leaving his cousin. Jamie yelled at her cousin one request for the clothes he was about to steal from the sisters.
"Nothing trashy Chris!"
"Like that's possible" was his retort.
Jaime looked at the clothes that were on the bar she shook her head, she didn't get sure the whether wasn't that cold but still didn't her aunts or mother believe that clothes were actually meant to cover something? She scowled at her aunt Paige's taste there it was the only item of clothing Chris could lift that wouldn't be missed, a green ruffled mini-skirt that if it reached mid thigh was a miracle of it's own, the purple cropped top with the low plunging v-neck line, Jamie thought that it was quit a beautiful color but she hated that the neck line it would definitely be skimming the lines of her bra,
'Like I'd ever think of going bra less, hello woman who was just breast feeding.'
Jamie felt a pang for her lost son, but decided she wasn't going to dwell on it if things worked out she would never loss her son. So focusing her thoughts on the matter at hand Jamie turned her attention back to the matter at hand.
Looking at the top in her hand Jamie gave silent thanks to who ever was watching over her for the fact that the top had cap sleeves. It's not that she had a problem with sleeveless it's that Jamie had always believed if one thing showed the rest was better off covered, it add to the mystery. She knew the top had to be Piper's her aunt was the same when it came to the amount of skin she bared for all to see.
And finally the shoes though very cute she couldn't help but curse her mother, who yes did have good taste when it came to shoes but said shoes were never appropriate, she looked at the beige strapy wedge sandals, sure they had the buckled strap that went around the ankle but how in God's name was she able to fight in shoes like this? Jamie looked down at her fashionable yet sensible boots, sure they were four inch heels but at least the protected her feet from all the weird types of demon slime out there.
Jamie pictured herself wearing this out-fit and couldn't suppress the groan that came out of her, she started banging her head on the bar she could see it know the looks she would get the feelings and images she got of people as she walked down the side-walk and then finally Elsie who would take one look at her and throw her out. She so didn't want to do her version of a Jedi mind melt but the way things looked like they were going to go she more than likely would have to.
Wyatt was unable to contain his anger, twelve hours give of take had past and he was no closer to getting Jamie back.
Every warlock, sorceress, time manipulating demon had turned out to be a dead end. The attic in the Halliwell manor was turning into a blood bath.
'Damn Chris and the little bitch of phoenix taking the only spell that got them into the past. Damn my idiotic aunts and a mother for closing the portal when he got back. And that fool of an uncle for not knowing how Jamie left. Why doesn't Chris get it Jamie is mine not his. She always has been. Why does he always get in between us?'
Wyatt turned around at the sound of the creak coming from behind him. When he saw that it was his father he sneered at him and said,
"What do you want?"
"Wy."
Wyatt raised an eyebrow at him and said,
"How many times have I told you dad no one calls me Wy, especially you."
"Wyatt what's gotten into you?"
"Nothing that Jamie can't fix."
"God damn it Wyatt stop this obsession you've got with your cousin it's not right."
Wyatt let out a mirthless laugh,
"Oh…that's rich you are lecturing me about right? Where was right when Jamie's dad came to you and said that he was worried about how I was acting around Jamie and what did you tell him? How is that right dad? Or where was right when you cheated on mom?"
"That's none of your business. That was between me and your mother."
"Your right it is none of my business kind of how this in none of your business. Jamie is mine the sooner she gets that into her head the better it will be for everyone."
"So until then you'll kill anyone who stands in your way?"
"If that's what it takes. Plus wasn't you and mom who told me that Jamie was mine."
"Not like this."
"Well you where never very specific plus I like it like this. Now leave, before I have you arrested, or better yet executed…you're in my way."
Jamie looked in the mirror she couldn't believe that she was actually wearing the clothes, the top hugged her figure perfectly it showed all her curves the top exposed some of her mid-drift showing a perfectly toned stomach she had never gained that much weight while pregnant, and never stopped exercising, and as soon as she had had J.C. she began to work off the few pounds she had gained while pregnant. The green ruffled mini skirt hung on her hip giving it a little extra length it reached mid-thigh to which Jaime was very pleased about having feared it wouldn't, the skirt only helped to put a spot light on thin toned legs. Turning around Jamie had to admit that the clothes looked better on than she would have thought, and the top along with the skirt only help to highlight the tattoo she had on her lower back just above her tail bone. The tattoo was about the size of a post-it it was a stenciled butterfly in black, Jamie had never liked anything but black tattoo having thought that the colored tattoo quickly looked old. Looking at hers now she knew she was right.
Jamie contemplated wearing the shoes Chris had got but then shook her head, her boots were the better pick they'd make the out-fit less flirty. So sitting down Jamie put on her boats zipping them up, looking in the mirror she knew she had been right the black boots reached about an inch and half below her knee. She ran her fingers through her long hair trying to get some control over the tangled mess her hair had become during her sleep, she needed a brush.
She then picked up her jacket and slipped it on. Taking one final look Jamie had to admit she didn't look half bad.
Looking at the clock in the club she saw that it was now nearly six o'clock. When her stomached growled at her she knew she had to feed it but where to get food in 2003?
Jamie then decide that Chris had enough sleep especially considering the way her stomach was now growling.
"CHRIS! Rise and shine."
"Huh…what…where?" Said a very disoriented Chris.
"Kiss I'm hugwe?"
Jamie said in a baby voice.
"Well it's just going have to wait I'm tired."
That was until he heard what sounded like a growl.
"What was that?"
"That was me…my…stomach trying to tell you it's time for breakfast."
Jamie said with a huge Barbie smile.
Shacking his head Chris got decide that it would be best to feed his cousin and her demonic stomach before they thought that he'd look good roasted.
Getting up he pulled a shirt over his head, pulled on an old jacket, taking Jamie's hand and said,
"Have you ever been to the IHOP?"
It was now nine o'clock and Jamie nervously drummed her fingers on the arm rest of the chair she was sitting in she had been there for nearly half an hour she was just waiting on Elsie to call her in for an interview so far two out of the three of the applicants had ran out of the office crying, the third was still in there with her.
When she saw the door open and the man who had been in there come out looking like had just gone one on one with one of the Williams sisters Jamie knew it couldn't be good plus the added fact she didn't have an appointment.
'Great my tomb shall read, Jamie McCarthy loving wife, loving mother, fought against evil died during an interview with the dragon lady Elsie the Bay Mirror's editor'
When she heard a shrill,
"Next"
Jamie gulped and took in a depth breath.
'Okay Jamie you can do this, think of it as Daniel's loin den.'
When she came she smiled at Elsie, who merely raised an eyebrow.
"And you are?"
"Jamie McCarthy ma'ma"
"You're here about the assistant position or the photo journalist?"
"The assistant position."
"Can you type?"
"Yes how fast?"
"How fast do you need me?"
"Good answer."
"Can you keep your mouth shut and not blab to your co-workers?"
"What co-workers?"
"Fine you're hired, go down the hall you'll find the office of a Phoebe Halliwell your desk is out side you're to work for her."
Elsie then turned her attention back to the papers on her desk, Jamie taking her cue to leave walked out the door and to her mother's office.
She found the desk easily enough and on top of it where piles and piles of on opened letters. Jamie groaned
'So I guess it's the assistant's job to read the letters and categorize them according to importance.'
Jamie sat down her vision obstructed by all the mail in front of her. Shrugging of her jacket Jamie started to touch the letters being able to tell the truly important letters over the slightly less, by using her empathic powers she soon sorted out the mail. For Show she opened the up a pretend to read the whole time fingering the other letters.
When she had finished she saw it was ten o'clock that is when she saw her mother coming towards her office. She noticed that she was wearing jeans and a tight hitting halter top.
'My mom must really be desperate to constantly go around dressed like that.'
When Phoebe came closer to her office she saw that the assistant position had already been filled. And she also remembered why she hadn't been aloud to interview Elsie had been sure she'd only hire a cute guy, not someone who would do a good job in the position.
'As if my readers are important to me, I'd only hire someone good to do the job and if it turned out to be a guy and cute so be it.'
But when she saw it was a woman couldn't help but scowl, did Elsie really think she was that much of a tramp? Was she or was she not dating a very cute guy?
When she got closer to the desk she saw that the woman that was sitting there was none other than Chris mystery woman. Phoebe had bite back the envy she felt when she had first seen Jamie she had been beautiful in black, but now in purple she was radiant, Phoebe couldn't help but feel it was a little unfair.
Shaking her head clear of her thoughts she smiled at her and said,
"So you're my new assistant."
"So it would seem." Jamie said also smiling
Phoebe couldn't help it but something about the smile was so inviting it was like it accessed a part of her heart she didn't know existed.
Jamie then stood up and said,
"I categorized the mail in order of importance; the most important on top the least on the bottom, how about I take them into your office?"
Phoebe just nodded her head she just hoped that Jamie hadn't felt too much of an imprint on the letters making it hard for her to give the advice the people needed.
When Jamie put the letters down she asked Phoebe if she would like a cup of coffee, when Phoebe nodded her head, Jamie left the room to get her coffee. Phoebe then quickly went about touching the letters when she felt that each letter was exactly the way Jamie said it was she let out a breath a relaxed, and thought,
'This might work out better than I thought she seems to have good instincts about the letters while reading them it might help my getting my article in on time.'
Her thoughts were interrupted when a cup of steaming hot coffee was placed in front of her,
"I didn't know what you like so I did a cream no sugar; you seem to me like the kind of person who likes their coffee the same I do."
Jamie finished with a shrug, and left Phoebe's office. Phoebe carefully took a sip out of the hot coffee and thought,
'Oh…thank you God this is definitely going to work out Chris's girlfriend or what ever she was knew how to make coffee just the way she liked it. Thing were going to work.'
'Things are going to work out.' Jamie thought as she drank her coffee.
To be continued….
