A Life Rekindled

Blast From The Past: Part I

By: Alchemystik

-----

Cole:

A few years ago, Prue and her sisters helped a young boy by the name of Max. He had the power of telepathic projection, and was being used by a gang of thugs to help them in some kind of robbery. Pardon my dimness, but this was not only pre-Paige, it was pre-Me, also.

The sisters helped Max & his father come to terms with his magical ability and the death of Max's mother. They were focused, compassionate and bonded.

Not exactly the words I'd use to describe The Charmed Ones right now.

Anyhow.

Max is still struggling a bit. He's almost sixteen years old, quiet, a bit of a misfit; he's become a target for those oh so wonderful youths with small brains and too much time on their hands. He's being bullied, big time.

Max could waste these losers with the flick of a finger, and my fear is that he may seriously be contemplating just such an action.

While Prue's presence would have made things so much easier, I've got to map out an offense with the team I've got.

Time to visit Halliwell, Jr and get his input...

-----

Chris: I want an unlisted address.

-----

Cole: " You're familar with the incident I'm speaking about? "

Chris: " Yep. Aunt Prue isn't here, though. Unless you've got her waiting in the wings as a surprise for Mom and the girls? "

Cole: " The glib tongue is not attractive. Although you raise an interesting point..."

Chris: " About? "

Cole: " Prue would whip these uncooperative ladies into shape quickly, and with her own brand of..um...ingenious flair. "

Chris: " Aunt Prue would bitch-slap all three into next week. "

Cole: " Kinda my point. "

Chris: " Got it. Yeah, I know all about Max. Poor kid is still getting shit? "

Cole: " He just needs a pep-talk from some old friends. "

Chris: " You're really going to take them out in public? Acting like this? "

Cole: " Saddle 'em up. "

Chris: " You just love it when Mom blows me up, don't you? "

Cole: " It does have it's moments. Coming along? "

Chris: " Nah. I'll stay home and change my big brother's diapers. "

Cole: " Sounds like such fun. "

Chris: " In this family, we deal with shit non-stop. All kinds. "

Cole:

I'm beginning to like this young man. And, no matter what anyone else may say...he's a Halliwell.

We just need to find his father so we can assure he'll BECOME a Halliwell.

Here they come, and don't they look lovely?

Pissed off, not speaking, but lovely.

Why do I feel as if I were a headmaster taking a bunch of junior terrorists on a very demented fieldtrip?

-----

Paige: " Just so you know, I'm still going to vanquish you. "

Piper: " Can we just do this?! "

Phoebe: " Aren't there RULES about coming back from the dead?! "

Cole: " Nice to see you all, too. We have a situation that requires your input. The collective your, by the way. Paige, you weren't around for this, but with your background I'm sure you'll be able to help. "

Paige: " Bite me. "

Cole: " Piper, Phoebe, perhaps you remember a young man by the name of Max? "

Piper furls her brow for a brief moment and then snaps her fingers..

" Max! Psychokinesis! He and Prue..."

Cole: " Exactly. It appears that the young man is being pushed around quite a bit. To the point that the Elders fear he will use his powers in retribution. "

Phoebe: " Oh no. That's not good. "

Cole: " Precisely. Shall we? "

Piper: " Shall we what? "

Cole: " You three are going to help Max. "

Piper: " Oh no...no, no. Uh uh. "

Cole: " You really don't have a choice.

And before they could protest further, I had them across the street from Max's High School.

Paige: " That was a dirty trick! "

Phoebe: " I mean it, there has got to be some rules for dealing with resurrected dead guys! "

Meanwhile, Piper is scanning the crowd of young people, her face lighting up as she spots a dark face with a sweet yet hurt expression on it.

" MAX! "

Max's head jerks around and he stares across the street. After a moment of contemplation, he lopes over to where the sisters and I wait.

" Piper? "

Piper nods, a smile on her face. She places her hand tenatively on his sleeve and is shocked when Max all but collapses into her arms.

" I wanted to find you guys! I needed to talk to someone who understood...Dad's been great but he doesn't know what it's like! "

Piper murmurs words of comfort, literally rocking the sobbing young man. I look at Phoebe, and catch my breath. Her face is soft with compassion, a tear clings to the long dark lashes. It's the face of the woman I loved...so long ago.

Paige also expresses concern, reaching a tentative hand out towards Max.

They can still feel compassion for others. It's a definite start...

Max has recovered himself, and looks slightly embarrassed. Piper deals with the introduction of Paige and all await the inevitable question.

" Where's Prue? " Max asks in all innocence. " Why didn't she come along? "

Piper swallows and flashes a look at Phoebe.

Phoebe steps forward and takes Max's hand in hers.

" Prue's dead, Max. She died three years ago. "

Max looks down at the ground, his lower lip trembling for a moment. He takes a deep, albeit shaky breath and looks at Phoebe's upturned face.

" Was it a demon? " He asks in a low tone, conscious that other students are passing by them.

Piper nods, " Yes, it was. A very powerful one. "

He glances shyly at Paige, " And you're their half-sister? That means you have Prue's...

" Yes, I have her powers. " Paige answers, gently. I can't recall ever seeing her face so soft with concern or compassion. It really is quite lovely to behold.

Paige explains the difference in the powers with her whitelighter half, and Max begins to relax. Finally, the sisters can broach the subject that has brought us here.

" Why were you looking for us, Max? " Piper asks, " What's wrong? "

" Everything. " Max answers in a miserable tone of voice.

It appears that the boys in question sense that something isn't quite the same with Max as it is with them. Besides the fact that Max can spell, that is.

Although he had put up with their pushes, shoves and name calling, he was fast reaching the end of his rope. He told the sisters, bluntly, that he was considering teaching these assholes a lesson they would never forget.

" You listen to me, young man. " Piper said, sternly, taking Max by the shoulders. " A good witch NEVER uses his or her powers against an innocent. If you do that, Max, you cross a line that you can't return from. Ever. "

" You're a smart kid. " Paige chimed in. " Baffle them with bullshit. Talk to them, distract them from violence with words. Maybe you can even find a common ground with one or two of them.

Max nodded, his mind working in the right direction.

" I know what it's like to be tempted by the dark side, Max. " Phoebe told him, quietly. " You don't want to go there. You have a wonderful gift, and you were given that gift to help people; not to harm them. You are special, and I suspect they're jealous of that. We have an aura about us, something that sets us apart. It can draw people to you, but there are those who have such a low self-esteem that they can't stand to have someone better than they are around. And you ARE better than them. Don't forget that. "

Max sighed, " You're right. I remember my Mom telling me that a witch could lose their powers if they misuse them. I don't want that to happen, I want to help people; like you guys do. "

" That's what we want to hear. " Piper said, warmly, giving him a quick hug.

A few more moments of catching up, an exchange of phone numbers, and we were back at the manor. The mood was definitely lighter than it had been when we had left...

Piper: " It was so good to see him again! "

Paige: " Nice kid. Awesome power to have, too. "

Phoebe: " He's gotten so big! I remember a chubby little boy, and now he's almost a man! "

I let them babble and delve in the freezer for a container of Chunky Munkey. They settle down at the kitchen table, laughing and talking in a way that hadn't been possible even a few hours ago.

It was Paige who finally looked at me, asking the inevitable question...

" Hey, why didn't Max ask who you were? "

" Because when we go on this missions of mercy, only you three can see me. Saves time and questions. "

Surprisingly, they accepted that explanation, and were still full of enthusiasm when Chris walked into the room, holding a freshly bathed Wyatt.

Piper: " You bathed him, too?! Thank you! "

Chris: " Didn't have a choice. He had an artistic moment, but I wasn't too keen on the medium he chose to express himself. "

The sisters burst into laughter, and I let them fill Chris in on their journey. He glanced at me once or twice, taking his cue from my looks. He was interested, complimentary and supportive.

I finally cleared my throat. " This is what it means to be a Charmed One. You help others in need. I was very pleased with how you all handled yourselves today. "

Piper blushed with pleasure and look down at her son, whom Chris had deposited in her lap.

Phoebe gave a shy smile and looked away, quickly, while Paige, of all people, thanked me.

They're high on adrenaline right now; I'll assess their progress once they wind down, but my preliminary report is fairly straightforward.

They don't see. They don't hear. If they believe, they aren't telling me.

But...

They FEEL. They CARE. And they relish the feelings that helping others brings about.

I'll take that behavior any day.