Secret and guys

A man walks into the living room carrying two plates with pieces of pie on it. He hands one to his son, who is sitting on the couch playing with an Etch 'n Sketch.

"Here you go."

He sits down on the couch next to his son when two masked armed men burst into the house. One of them heads for the adult and the other grabs the kid.

"Max!" The gunman pushes the adult back on the chair and holds his gun on him. "Hey!"

"Don't move. Don't breathe. Just listen. We're going to be borrowing your kid. Now we need him just for a day. Now if you're smart, you will not call the cops. We will have him home safe and sound first thing Monday morning ready for school. Do you understand?"

"Yeah. Yeah."

"It's just our little secret, right?"

"Yeah."

The gunman knocks him across the face with the gun, knocking him out. The other gunman puts a cloth bag over the kid's head and drag him out of the house.

"Dad!"

-c-

The sisters are cleaning out the attic. Piper picks up an old Etch 'n Sketch and shakes it. Paige is looking at a couple of books of witchcraft.

"Can I just say I am actually enjoying this?"

"That's because you're not doing anything."

Piper squints at Phoebe who is busy painting her toenails.

"Not true. I've painted my fingers and my toes."

"I just hope that this doesn't fall under the personal gain category."

"How could it? A good witch is a clean witch."

"Yep. I think we should spring clean like this more often. You go, girl."

And with that, Prue squints and uses her powers to clean up the attic. The drawers with clothes hanging out magically close. The chest magically opens and things fly into it. The window starts cleaning itself. The toys and the books go back on the shelf and the broom sweeps the floor. The trophies on the top shelf rise up so that the duster can dust under them. Phoebe giggles.

"Good job, Prue."

She magically puts the broom away. Piper looks in the box near her and finds more childhood things.

"Oh, look. More toys. I told you Grams wouldn't throw them away."

"Yeah, but we will. Why don't you just put that stuff in the discard pile?"

"Wait. What's in there?"

"Stuffed animals without eyeballs, dollies that look like they've been through the mill once or twice... and look here, Miss Phoebe's diaries."

"The place where I kept all my secrets. Give me those." She giggles as Piper hands them to her. Prue turns and looks at Phoebe. "What?"

"The place where you kept your secrets?"

"Uh-huh."

"Phoebe, you could never keep a secret."

"Oh, that is so not true."

"Oh yeah name one."

"Prue's surprise birthday party."

"Guess again."

"You knew?"

"Mm-hmm."

Piper and Paige start whacking Phoebe with stuffed animals.

"Phoebe. You swore you wouldn't tell her."

"Little squealer."

"I'm sorry, okay? It was an accident." She sighs. "I say we keep all the toys."

"Subject-changer."

"For our children, for our future."

"That's a good idea."

"Well, you can get rid of mine." They look at Prue. "What? It's just that, you know, we live in a world with so much violence, and then you add the evil demons, and it's a pretty scary place to raise kids in. Besides, I don't really think I'm cut out to be a mom."

"How can you say that?"

"You practically raised us."

"Why don't we just have this conversation later? Like, say, in five years."

The downstairs kitchen alarm rings.

"Good. Ooh, ooh. I think dinner's burning." Piper gets up. "Phoebe, lend me a hand."

"Can't Paige help, I just did my nails."

Piper leaves. Paige gets up to follow her.

"Okay, but while I'm gone, don't tell any more 'secrets'."

"Funny, no hurry up."

Paige runs out of the attic after Piper.

-c-

The two men push Max into the office garage. He's gagged and bound as he sits down on the floor.

"All right, you try anything, you're dead, and so is your old man. You got that, kid?"

"Mm-hmm."

"Come on. Ease up on him, Mickey. Kid's not stupid. Are you, Max?" Max shakes his head. "You're going to do just like we tell you, and everything's going to be fine, right?"

Scared, Max nods again.

"Yeah, you better be right about him, or me and you got problems."

"Look, that kid is a living, breathing, winning lotto ticket. All I know is my kid brother said somehow, like magic, he turned off the arcade alarm system from across the street and got them inside."

Mickey looks at Max and nods. He suddenly turns to his friend.

"I don't believe in magic."

"So? We test him out, we don't like what we see, cut our losses."

He turns and leaves the room. Mickey stares at Max for a moment, then he also leaves the room. Max watches them go. He closes his eyes and slowly starts rocking back and forth.

-c-

Back in the attack, the pointer on the spirit board starts moving. Prue sits at the attic table with a pad and pencil taking down the letters that the pointer stops at. Phoebe calls for Paige and Piper.

"Piper. Paige. Get in here."

They run into the attic.

"What is it?"

Phoebe motions to the spirit board, while Prue is writing. Paige stops and sighs. Piper also stops.

"Oh, no. Not again."

"What's it saying?"

Prue shows them the notepad.

"Help Max."

Phoebe looks at Piper, while Paige sits down next to the board. Prue looks at them all. She puts the note pad down and sighs.

-c-

Phoebe and Prue walk into the conservatory, where Paige is sitting next to the spirit board. Prue is carrying the book of shadows. They both take a seat at the table.

"So maybe Max is a ghost. I mean, after all, that is a spirit board."

"A ghost who needs our help? I don't think so."

"Well, it wouldn't be the first time."

As they talk, Piper is on the phone and pacing.

"What if it's just someone in trouble crying out?"

"Well, it would have to be someone with powers. It's not exactly AT&T."

"Help Max. That's not a lot to go on."

"Yeah. I mean, there's nothing really you can do unless he sends another message. Did he?"

"No, I kept up for most of the night, but the pointer didn't move again."

"Too bad. What are you on hold or something?"

Phoebe turns towards Piper.

"It's Harry, the new chef at Quake. He threw out all my Henckel knives. Apparently, he prefers Forscheners."

"You follow any of that?"

"She had hired a new chef, but he is a little stubborn."

"That doesn't matter right now. Look, we wouldn't have gotten the message if it wasn't important."

"Okay. So what do you want to do?"

"Maybe go see Andy. See if he knows anything about a Max needing help."

"Can you say long shot?" Prue doesn't say anything. "All right. You're obsessed. I accept that. I'll thumb through the book of shadows, see if there's anything in there about spirit board SOS's."

"Okay, and maybe Piper can…"

"Look, wait. I'm the manager. If I say I want Henckels, then I want… Hello?" Piper looks at the phone. "The jerk hung up on me." She slams the cordless phone on the table. "Okay. How can I help you three?"

"I think we got it under control."

"Okay. Then I'm going to Quake before Harry does any more damage."

Piper turns and leaves. Prue looks at Paige. Phoebe smiles.

"So Paige maybe you can keep an eye on the board for another while then?"

"I guess so."

While yawning.

-c-

Piper grabs her jacket off the hallway coat hook and opens the door to leave. Leo is standing on the front porch.

"Ha. Ding dong."

"Leo, you're back. Come in." They hug each other. "It's so good to see you. How are you?"

"Better now. How are you, Piper?"

"Um, I'm better now, too."

Paige, Phoebe and Prue enter the foyer. The spirit board is tucked under Paige's arm. Phoebe smiles at Leo.

"Leo!"

"Hey, stranger. Good to see you."

"Yeah. What brings you back?"

"You know, the chandelier in the living room keeps flickering."

"Yeah? Well, I'll get my tools."

"Oh, no, no. Take your time."

"Uh, attic. Remember? You have some reading to do."

"Right."

"Mm-hmm."

Phoebe waves to Leo. She turns and leaves. Paige is ready to follow.

"Is that a spirit board?"

"Uh, this?" Leo nods. "Yeah, it is. We were cleaning up the attic, when we found it. I'll better put it back, you never know when a spirit board can come in handy. Bye."

Paige runs up the stairs. Prue grabs her jacket.

"So I'll call you if I hear anything."

Prue walks out of the house.

"I'll be at the restaurant."

"Do you have to go now?"

"Uh, yeah, sort of, but I'll be back soon, I promise. Uh, can you wait?"

"Um, sure."

She reaches up to him and they kiss.

"Ooh. So glad you're back."

Piper walks out of the house while Leo steps into it, turns and watches Piper leave.

-c-

Andy is sitting at his desk across from Prue.

"Okay, let me get this straight. You think a guy named Max might be in some kind of trouble, but you have no idea why. You've never met him and really don't have any idea who he is. Is that about right?"

"Okay, fine. See, I had a dream last night, and, um, in my dream, my sisters and I were cleaning the attic when we found this old Ouija-type board, and the pointer started to move until it spelled out help Max." She stops. Andy waits for her to continue. "That's it."

Andy slowly turns to his computer. He types in MAX into the Metropolitan Police Department to search the Missing Persons Database.

"You know, I hear a lot of stories in my line of work, but yours are always very entertaining."

"Thank you."

"You're welcome."

The computer beeps.

"Sorry. Nothing on anyone named Max."

"Oh. Thanks for checking."

"Any time."

Prue and Andy look at each other. Suddenly she smiles.

"Okay."

"Okay."

"Bye."

"Bye."

Prue gets up and leaves. Andy watches her go.

-c-

Piper bursts into the back kitchens and heads straight for the new chef. "Harry!" The new chef, a young man wearing shorts, stands in front of the stove.

"Hey. You must be Pippy."

"Piper, and…"

"You know, your voice doesn't do you justice. You're actually attractive."

"You can not come into this restaurant, throw away all of our knives, and refuse to make the house specialty. That is not a proper chef's uniform."

"Will be." He turns and reaches for the colander on the counter. She notices that he's holding a phone in his other hand. "I'm a trendsetter. In fact, I, uh, decided to change the menu, so I threw out all the old ones." He picks up a colander. "Now, my crab ravioli, there's a specialty." He smells it. "Mmm. Straight from Eden."

"You threw out all the menus?"

"Hey, complain to your sister Phoebe. She's on line one."

He hands her the phone. She grabs the phone from him.

"You're fired."

"Ooh. Attractive and feisty. Um, you can't fire me, 'cause, um, you're just a manager. Unless you'd rather be the executive chef."

He steps away from her, chuckling. Frustrated, Piper freezes him. "Ooh." She takes her knives out from the trash bin and throws in Harry's crab ravioli. "Take that." Piper turns and walks out of the kitchen. Time resumes. Harry looks around and notices that Piper's not there anymore.

-c-

Phoebe walks down the stairs as she talks on the phone with Piper. She is followed by Paige, who is wearing the board.

"Yeah, sounds like a real piece of work. He has a nice voice, though. What does he look like?"

Piper sits down at the bar.

"A complete and total jerk. Is Leo around?"

"Yeah. He's working away." Phoebe steps down into the main hall slowly making her way towards Leo. "He wants to know when you're going to get back, though."

Piper glances back near the kitchens and finds one of the chefs talking with two waitresses.

"Uh, I think it might be a while. Maybe I should talk to Leo."

Phoebe turns into the sitting room.

"Sure. Hold on a second."

She looks up and sees Leo floating mid-air as he fixes the lights. He has the extra light bulb between his lips to free up his hands. The light bulb is lit. Phoebe can't believe it.

"Oh, my god!"

Paige also comes around the corner and bumps into Phoebe.

"Hey, why did you… Wow."

Leo suddenly notices he is being watched and falls to the floor.

"Let me call you back."

Phoebe hangs up and brandishes the phone in front of her as if it were a weapon. She points it at Leo. Leo struggles to his feet, the lit light bulb in his hand.

"Uh, Phoebe, Paige, wait. I can explain."

Leo gets to his feet and walks over to the girls. They start backing away from him.

"Not a step closer."

Paige produces her shield.

"You are a warlock, aren't you?"

"No. Wait. Think about it. If I was a warlock, and I wanted to hurt you, don't you think I would've done it the last time I was here?"

"Okay. Good point, but still, most... normal handymen use ladders to fix chandeliers. Are you a witch?"

"No."

"Then what are you?"

"Uh..."

Leo tries to come up with an explanation. He waves the lit light bulb around in his hand as he thinks of something to say. Phoebe's eyes widen as she realizes that the light bulb is on, her eyes following the swaying light. Paige's shield gets stronger as she gets more scared. Leo glances at the light bulb and puts it down. He smiles sheepishly at them.

-c-

The parking lot is empty except for a single car parked with the main entrance in view. The kidnappers and Max are in the car.

"So, the main security panel is in this room here."

One of them shows Max the building layout and goes over the instructions with him in the backseat of the car. Mickey sits in the front seat.

"All you got to do is switch the system off. You start with zone one, ending up with zone five, ok? You got it?"

"I can't. My mom made me promise never to use my power for bad things."

"Yeah, well, you ever read the book when bad things happen to good people?"

"Look, I got it, Mickey." (to Max) "You broke into the arcade, right? This isn't any different, man. I mean, we're not even going to take anything. We just want to see if you can actually do it. Look, I'm really sorry about what happened to your mom, okay? That's a tough break, but you want to make sure something doesn't happen with your dad, don't you?"

Max looks at him. He looks down and starts rocking back and forth as he concentrates. The one in the back looks at Mickey and nods. Mickey opens the car door and gets out of the car. He closes the car door behind him as he makes his way to the building main door.

-c-

The small metal door to the security system box opens. Inside, the lights are on. They're all red.

-c-

Mickey makes his way to the building's main door. He looks around and stops in front of the door to look at the alarm box on the door.

-c-

Max continues to rock back and forth.

-c-

The red lights switch and turn green. The box smokes and shorts out. The security lights to the alarm system shut off.

-c-

Max stops rocking and looks at the guy next to him.

-c-

The light on the security alarm on the door turns from red to green. Mickey smiles. He opens the door and steps inside the building. He stands in the main lobby and looks around.

"Well, I'll be damned."

-c-

"I don't know how you did that, but I got to say I'm very impressed."

Max turns and looks out at the main door. Walking along the side of the building headed back to the main door is a security guard. Just then, Mickey steps out of the building. The security guard sees him and reaches for his gun.

"Hey."

Mickey takes out a gun and shoots the security guard. He falls to the ground. Max can't believe it.

"Nooo!"

"Shut up."

The guy grabs Max and covers his mouth with his hand. Mickey tucks the gun back into his waistband and heads for the car. Inside the car, the guy in the back looks around. He's still covering Max's mouth to keep him silent.

-c-

Phoebe, Paige and Leo are sitting in the conservatory. Phoebe is holding a cup of tea in both her hands.

"I really don't know what to say. I mean, up until today, I thought you were a handyman, and now I find

out that you're a…"

"Whitelighter."

"A whitelighter."

"What exactly is a whitelighter?"

"Oh, we're really just messengers, guides. Think of us as guardian angels for good witches." Paige likes the sound of that. "Your tea's cold."

Leo reaches forward and holds his hand over Phoebe's mug. Her tea in the mug starts steaming. Phoebe moves her hand away from the heated cup.

"Ow. Well, you are handy. So all this time you knew who we really were?"

"Yeah. I was sent here to watch over you and your sisters when you first got your powers. You know, help out wherever I could."

"Sent by who?"

"Whom. They're a group of elder whitelighters. They're known as the Founders. You were never supposed to find out. I screwed up and got caught."

"So, what, you're here again to help us out with something else?"

"Uh, actually, I'm here to help a boy named Max."

"Max? Wait. That's the…"

"The spirit board. I know. See, Max is a budding good witch, new to the powers, but he's very young and vulnerable, and he's in serious trouble. Someone wants to take advantage of his gift."

"So why don't you help him?"

"I did. I made sure that Prue received his cry for help. That's why I was sent here. That's all I'm supposed to do for now. The rest is up to you guys.

"Yeah, but we don't know anything about him. We didn't even know that he's a little boy."

"Well, now you do. In the meantime, you must help me keep my secret, or I could get in trouble, okay? Piper and Prue can never know what I really am."

Paige chuckles wryly.

"Phoebe keeping a secret? Hello? Wrong Halliwell."

"Hey, still in the room. Wait, uh, you have to tell Piper, because if I know her, she's going to think that…"

"I know, I know, and that's where I need your help." Leo stands up. "You see, whitelighters and witches aren't allowed to fall in love. It's like humans and angels aren't... but I did. I fell in love with Piper."

"And we know how much she cares about you."

He sighs.

"It isn't fair to keep her in the dark... but I have to keep the secret, so somehow I have to tell Piper that I can never see her again, and I can't tell her why."

"You don't need our help, Leo."

"You need a miracle."

Leo scrunches his face at that thought.

"Well, Phoebe why don't you go with him to Quake, you're more advanced in love advice than me. I'll stay here on watch."

"Okay, but take a little nap, you look exhausted."

-c-

Paige gets back to her room, wanting to take a little nap. When suddenly the pointer on the spirit board starts to move again. Paige notes the letters down.

-c-

Prue is at her desk working on the laptop computer. There's a knock on the door. Andy walks in.

"Got a minute?"

"Uh, sure."

Andy walks over to Prue.

"So what's up?"

"I've got some interesting information about a boy named Max."

"A boy?"

"Named Max. Yes."

"Whoa."

"It's curious, huh?"

"Very."

"Earlier today, a microchip plant was broken into, but nothing was taken. Stranger still, the alarms on the inside were turned off before the front door was opened on the outside."

"Um, so what does this have to do with this boy Max?"

Andy reaches into his valise.

"Well, uh, security cameras picked up a car in the parking lot with a boy in the back seat... matching this photo taken at an arcade last week..." Andy puts the photo on Prue's desk. "...where a couple of kids snuck in, in much the same way. Same boy. Max Franklin."

"Do you know who was in the front seat?"

Andy shakes his head.

"Just that they shot and wounded a security guard at the scene. This boy's in serious trouble, Prue. This is not a dream. I need to know what you know about this."

Andy leans forwards.

"Well, I mean, why would I know anything? I think that you need to talk to his family."

Andy leans back in his seat.

"I did. His father. He pretended not to know anything either. Told me that the boy was out of state visiting grandparents, will be back tomorrow, but something's wrong. He wanted to tell me something, but he was scared. He was afraid to say anything. You're not going to tell me anything, are you?" Prue says nothing. Andy stands up. "One day I'm going to figure out your secret, Prue. Count on it." Andy leaves the office, right when the phone rings.

"Hey Paige, what's new?"

"The pointer moved again. It spelled kidnapped and auto shop. But I have no idea what that means."

"I have an idea. I'll pick you up at the manor."

-c-

Piper is putting the knives into the soap bin in the sink. Harry walks up to her.

"I need more crab for my ravioli because someone threw it all away, and I just got five more orders, Pepper."

He tosses the orders at Piper, turns and leaves. Piper grabs the orders as they hit her in the face.

-c-

Prue and Paige walk up to the front door of Franklin's home. Prue rings the door bell. Gordon opens the door. He has a band-aid on his left cheek.

"Mr. Franklin?"

"Yes."

"My name's Prue Halliwell and this is my sister Paige. We need to talk to you about your son."

"Sorry, um, you have to leave, okay?"

"Look, I know that he's been kidnapped. I know that he's in trouble."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"I think you do. What I don't understand is why you won't talk to the police."

"Please, you got to leave, all right? Thank you."

He starts to close the door. Prue sticks her foot in the door and stops him. Paige figures it out.

"Unless you can't talk to the police. The kidnappers won't let you, will they? That's why you wouldn't say anything to inspector Trudeau."

"Look, I don't know who you are, but I'm begging you…"

"We can help."

"No, no. You can't. All right? Good-bye."

Again, he tries to close the door. Prue reaches out her hand and stops the door from closing.

"Mr. Franklin..."

On the hallway cabinet are some framed family photos. Prue magically lifts one of the photos up. Gordon catches it. He turns and looks at the girls.

"Dear god."

-c-

Leo and Phoebe sit at a table in Quake. As they wait, Leo holds his hand over Phoebe's empty water glass. The glass fills up with water. Phoebe smiles at Leo.

"Thank you."

In the back, Piper rushes out of the kitchen to stop in front of their table.

"Hi. I know you guys have been waiting a long time."

There's a loud crash in the back kitchen. Piper puts a hand to her forehead and sighs heavily. Harry starts yelling from the kitchens.

"Who's the culinary idiot who ordered penne putanesca sans black and green olives?"

"Hey, have you heard from Prue?"

"Uh, yeah, uh, she is with Paige. It sounded like they got everything under control. I'll be right back."

Piper turns and hurries back to the kitchen.

"Okay, it's actually good that we have a few more minutes. We can go over your plan. You know, what you're going to tell Piper."

"Oh, well, I thought I'd tell her that, uh, you know, as much as I love her, and as much as I'd like to stay in San Francisco, I can't, and I don't know how long my work will keep me away."

"No, no. What you just said to her was as much as you'd love to stay and have sex with her, you've got a wife and kids in another part of the country. Try again."

"Piper, um, you know how much you mean to me, and more than anything, I wish things could work out, but they can't, and no one is more sorry than I am."

"Translation: I found someone I like even better."

"I'm completely confused."

"Uh, look, Leo, it's not that complicated. Okay, just avoid the following, we can still hang out, I don't deserve you... yet, I need more me time before we can have we time, and my personal favourite, it's not you, it's me, and whatever you do, do not start off the conversation with, we need to talk. Other then that, you will do fine."

She smiles confidently at Leo, picks up her glass of water and takes a sip. Leo still looks confused.

-c-

Gordon holds the framed family photo. Prue and Paige sit down on the couch. He sits down too and puts the photo on the table.

"Then they hit me and I passed out. I've been out of my mind crazy ever since last night. Should I go to the police? Should I do what they say? They promised to bring him back, but after what the police say happened this morning, I... I don't even know if he's all right."

"No. I know that Max is okay right now. If he wasn't, he couldn't have sent me that last message."

"So I take it you're, uh, witches, too, huh?"

"Is that what your son says he is?"

"What Paulette, my wife, said he is. It's what she was. You know, it would've been a hell of a lot easier to handle her family secret had it been revealed a lot sooner."

"Maybe she was afraid of how you'd react. Maybe she was afraid that you might not accept her or love her."

"Speaking from personal experience?"

"Yes, I am."

"Well, Paulette, she had to tell me." He looks down at the framed photo on the table and lightly touches the picture of his wife. "She was running out of time. She passed away three months ago. Then suddenly, Max, he starts having these powers. I don't have a clue what to tell him, what it all means. Then he uses it and nearly gets busted at an arcade and now this."

"I'm sure that Max…"

"Do you have any children?"

"No, but…"

"Then you couldn't possibly understand what I'm feeling."

"Still, I'm sorry about what happened to Max and your wife, but if you could just find a way to forgive her."

"Forgive her. She should've told me. Maybe if she had, I would've been better able to protect Max."

"Do you know anybody who owns an auto shop of any kind?"

"No, why?"

"I think your son was trying to send me a clue."

"No, I... although I think Max's friend Danny, his brother works at one over in Oakland."

"Is Danny the friend that broke into the arcade with Max?" Gordon slowly sits up. By the expression on his face, he is. "Got an address?"

-c-

Max is sitting on the floor struggling with untying his hands. Prue walks in through the doorway and sees him.

"Max?"

Max turns and looks up.

"Who's there?"

Prue kneels next to Max and starts working on the ropes around his wrists.

"My name is Prue. I'm here to take you home. My sister is waiting in the car."

"But how'd you find me?"

"I had a little chat with your friend Danny. Look, your dad, he's waiting for you."

"You know my dad?"

"Yeah, he…"

A door closes. The sound alerts them. Prue looks up and sees Mickey walking in through the doorway. He sees Prue.

"Hey, who the hell are you?"

Prue stands up and uses her powers on him, sending him back through the doorway and into a rack full of tires. He falls to the ground. Max looks at Prue with awe. David walks in and Prue pushes him also back against the tire rack. He falls to the ground. Prue quickly turns to Max and pulls him to his feet.

"Come on. We need to hurry."

"You have powers?"

"Yeah. We'll explain them to you in the car, okay?"

"I can't leave. They'll kill my dad if I do."

"Prue!"

Prue turns around and sees Mickey holding a gun against Paige's head.

"David, get some rope. And don't get any ideas in your head, little witch or your friend gets a bullet trough her pretty head."

"Paige, use your powers."

Mickey hits Paige in the face with his gun. She falls to the floor unconscious.

"Any more ideas?"

-c-

Prue and Paige are bound and sitting on the floor. Paige is still unconscious. Mickey walks over to Paige and shakes her awake.

"Nap time's over, pretty head. Wake up. I got a little surprise for you."

Paige wakes up while Mickey puts Max down next to the sisters.

"Max, are you okay?"

"He's fine."

Prue ignores Mickey and looks at Max.

"Look, don't worry…"

Mickey grabs Prue's shoulder.

"I said he's fine." Prue glares at Mickey. "Now before you go trying to pull any of that magical, uh, hocus-pocus crap again, I want to show you something."

Mickey takes out a small hand-held device with a blinking red light.

"What is it?"

"All that matters is what happens when I flick that little switch. Now I flick that little switch, and Max here takes a nap. A long one."

David comes closer.

"Mickey, why don't…"

"Shut up!"

Mickey walks over to Max as David leaves the room. Mickey opens Max's jacket and shows Prue and Paige the bomb attached around Max.

"Plastic explosive. Little trick I picked up in Corcoran. Prison system's very educational."

"Mickey, he is just a child. He's already proven that he's not going anywhere. If you're going to wire anyone, wire me."

"Or me."

"What is it with all of you? What are you, like, magicians or freaks of nature? Aliens? What?"

"Witches."

Mickey starts laughing. He gets up and leaves the room. Prue and Paige look at Max.

"You okay?"

"I'm scared."

"I know. Just, uh, do as they say and everything will be fine. They need you, remember?"

"I'm sorry I got you into this. Sorry I have these stupid powers."

"No, Max. Don't ever be sorry about that. It's a gift. It's like being a, uh, musician or an athlete."

"It's a pain. I'm a freak. My dad hates it, too. He hates me."

"No. No, he doesn't. He just doesn't understand it, that's all. It's new to him, too. Don't worry, Max. I won't let anything happen to you. I promise." Max nods a little. "Okay?" Prue looks at him until he finally agrees with her.

"Okay."

"Okay."

They share a smile.

-c-

David walks up to Mickey who is standing in front of a table with some blueprints open and spread out.

"You really think it's necessary wiring the kid like that?"

"You saw what that chick did. Pretty cool, actually." Mickey is looking at the alarm schematic blueprints. "Might come in handy tonight. I wonder what pretty head is capable off. It's the only reason they are still breathing." Mickey walks away. David looks at the blueprints.

-c-

The kitchen door opens. Piper steps out and walks over to Leo's table. She removes her apron and sits down.

"Sorry. Small mutiny in the kitchen. Where were we?"

"Piper, there's something I need to tell you."

"Yeah?"

"Look, forgive me, but I could be summoned at any moment, so I have to tell you this now." Piper waits quietly for him to continue. "I can't… I can't, uh... I can't believe how much I missed you."

"Well, Leo, I missed you, too. What do you mean summoned? Summoned where?"

The kitchen doors open and Harry comes out. "Hey!" He looks at Piper and snaps his fingers trying to recall her name. "Uh ... Piper. No respect I can live with, ok, but where the hell's my coriander?" Harry turns and heads back into the kitchen.

"Ok, that's it. I'm ending this now."

Piper takes her apron, stands up and heads for the kitchen. Phoebe, who has been watching on the side, sees Piper stand up and heads over to her.

"Oh, my gosh. You know."

"Of course I know. The whole restaurant knows. Didn't you hear him scream across the room?"

"I thought it was a secret."

"I wish. It'll probably be in the newspaper tomorrow."

"No, it can't be. Look, Piper, he never meant to hurt you."

"Phoebe, please. You haven't even met the maniac yet. What's gotten into you?"

Without waiting to find out, Piper walks around Phoebe and heads into the kitchen. Phoebe looks at Leo.

"She's talking about the new chef."

"Oh. Right. So does that mean she took your news well?"

"That means she doesn't know. I can't tell her, Phoebe. I can't stand to think about it, much less talk about it."

"Well, here's something else you might not want to think about. Piper said that Prue and Paige had everything under control. Well, I can't find them."

Leo and Phoebe share a concerned look.

-c-

Morris shows Andy the surveillance photo.

"Say hello. Mickey Jackson. Security camera digitally enhanced for your viewing pleasure."

"Jackson's a convicted bank robber. What's he doing breaking into a microchip plant?"

"And stealing squat. Good question."

"A better one would be how he broke into the plant in the first place." Andy chuckles as he taps his temple. "High tech's not exactly his style."

"Mmm. Unless this was just a dry run. Maybe Mickey's looking to do bigger and better things."

"Like another bank?"

"Hmm. Like a big bank. It's a leap, I know."

"Agreed. But why the kid? How's he fit into this?"

The phone rings. Andy answers it.

"Trudeau."

"Hey, Andy, it's Phoebe."

While Phoebe's on the phone, Leo is on the couch with his eyes closed. He's concentrating.

"Have you seen Prue since this morning?"

"No. As a matter of fact, I was about to ask you the same question."

"Really, why?"

"Because I think she knows something about a boy named Max. Do you?"

"Uh... ooh. Oh. That's my call waiting. I gotta go. It could be Prue. Bye."

She hangs up and turns to Leo.

"Uh... anything?"

"No. I can't reach either Max, Paige or Prue telepathically."

"Does that mean they're in trouble?"

Piper appears in the doorway.

"Who's in trouble?"

"Oh, the 49ers. No secondary. They need a good draft pick next year. Well, I'm gonna go into the kitchen and see if I can get in touch with Prue or Paige. Carry on."

Phoebe leaves the room. Piper walks over to the couch and removes her coat.

"Alone, finally. Don't have to worry about any more interruptions from Harry. He quit."

Piper sits down and reaches for Leo. He automatically pulls away from her.

"Okay. Not the enthusiastic response I was hoping for."

Piper sits back.

"Look, uh, Piper, I've been searching all day for an easy way to tell you this."

"Ooh. Uh-uh."

Piper freezes Leo. She turns and calls out to Phoebe.

"Phoebe. Phoebe, I know you're not in the kitchen."

"That is so weird. I was just on my way back."

"Is Leo about to tell me he doesn't want to see me anymore?"

Dying to tell her, Phoebe sits down next to Piper and takes her hand. She takes a deep breath and stops herself. She glances over at frozen Leo, puts Piper's hand back on her own lap and stands up.

"You'll have to ask him."

Phoebe leaves. Piper sighs heavily and turns around to look at Leo. She unfreezes him.

"And that's the problem. I fell in love with you and I shouldn't have."

"You're married."

"No."

"Engaged."

"Um... I'm involved. But it's not the way you think. The truth is that I led you on and made you believe that I was coming back."

"Leo, you are back."

"Yeah, but I have to leave again. Now. And it's not because I want to, though, it's because I have to. I'm sorry."

"That's okay."

"It is?"

"Yeah. I mean, Leo, you're a nice guy, and I like you a lot. But let's face it, you're, uh, geographically undesirable. I mean, you said you live really far away, right?"

"Yeah. Pretty far."

"Well, I try never to get involved with guys I can't see regularly. So, don't feel bad. I mean, I understand. Really, I do."

Piper leans forward and kisses Leo. She stands up and leaves the room, leaving a very, confused Leo still sitting on the couch. Phoebe walks back into the room and looks at Leo.

"So how'd she take it?"

"Not bad."

Phoebe shrugs. Leo hears jingles.

"Oh, um, excuse me, but I have to go."

He grabs his jacket and stands up heading past Phoebe.

"Leo, where are you going?"

"I have to leave. Now."

Leo heads for the door.

-c-

Mickey sits in the van as he checks his weapon. David walks over to him carrying the blueprints.

"So the thing is, once Max shorts out the alarm, we got like three minutes till the guards realize there's a signal interruption."

"Just make sure the kid knows what he's supposed to do. And keep an eye on the girls. I don't trust them."

David looks over at Max, Paige and Prue who are standing a distance away near the table.

"Has anything like this ever happened to you before?"

"Uh... not exactly like this. Usually the demons that we have to deal with…"

"Demons?"

"Your mom didn't get a chance to tell you much about being a witch, did she?"

"No. I just found out about my power when she died."

"You know, our mom died when we were young, too."

"I don't even have memories of her, because I was so young. So we know how much it hurts."

"And it doesn't ever really go away. We didn't even know that our powers were coming. We've had to figure it out all byourselves. Which means, so can you. Especially with your dad's help."

"He'll never understand."

"Max, you have to help him understand."

"You sound just like my mom."

"She does has that effect on people."

Prue smiles at Max. She puts an arm around his shoulder and gives him a hug.

"Well, I care a lot about you, too."

"I wish you could be my mom right now."

"So, what is your power anyway?"

"Mom called it psychokinesis. It means I can move things I can't see."

"What's yours?"

"My power is called shielding, I can create energy shields."

Mickey walks up to them.

"All right, remember, just do everything I say and nobody gets hurt."

In his hand, he holds the bomb triggering device. David walks up behind Max.

"Let's roll."

The group slowly heads for the van. When Gordon steps out from the front of the garage

"Max."

"Dad."

Mickey steps forward. He raises his gun and points it at Gordon. Gordon holds up his hands.

"Hold it. Hold it. Don't shoot. I'm unarmed." Gordon opens his jacket to show them. "Nobody else knows you're here, I swear. I found you the same way they did, through your brother."

"Your brother?"

"Gordon, they have him wired."

"Shut up."

"Dad."

"It's all right, son. Look, man, I'll give you anything else you want. Just... let me have my boy, please."

There's a long, tense moment. Suddenly, Mickey puts his gun down and turns to David.

"All right, David, go put 'em in the van." David looks perplexed. "Do it!"

David moves Max, Paige and Prue toward the van. As Max passes Gordon, Gordon reaches out to touch Max. "My son." David pushes Gordon aside and continues to steer Max, Prue and Paige towards the van. Mickey steps between Gordon and the van, pushing Gordon back into the garage. "Max. Max." With a look at his dad, Max is pushed into the van.

"Please, man, let him go. I beg you, please, he's my son." Mickey is putting a silencer on the gun. "Let him go. I beg you, please." Mickey points the gun at Gordon's chest. "Sorry." Mickey fires. Gordon falls to the ground.

Inside the van, Prue holds Max close to her. While Paige sees Gordon get shot. From the outside, Mickey closes the van door. He slips into the passenger seat and looks at David. "Drive." David starts the engine. Prue looks from Mickey to Paige, who shakes her head and starts crying. Prue understands and as the van pulls away, she pulls Max to her as she cries.

-c-

The van pulls up alongside the curb and parks in front of the bank. David turns around and looks at Max, Paige and Prue.

"All right. It'll be just like this morning, Max."

David spreads out of the alarm schematic in front of Max.

"That's where the alarm panel is. You know the rest."

Mickey turns around and finds Max staring at him.

"What are you looking at?"

"What did you do to my dad?"

Paige and Prue looks at Max.

"Max, the sooner this is over, the sooner we can get to him."

"We need to hurry."

Max picks up the map and looks at it. He closes his eyes and just like before, starts rocking back and forth as he uses his powers.

-c-

The alarm panel at the bank starts to smoke and shorts out.

-c-

The laser alarm inside the bank shuts off.

-c-

The vault door lock starts turning. The iron gate in front slowly opens.

-c-

Max is finished. He looks at David and Mickey.

"Okay."

Mickey pulls his ski mask down over his face.

"Out."

David also pulls down his ski mask. They get out of the van. Mickey opens the van sliding door. Max, Paige and Prue step out of the van. They all head into the bank.

-c-

They open the outer door easily and slip inside through the open iron gate. Everyone heads into the empty bank. David leads them to the back area.

"We got two minutes."

"All right. You get the cash, I'll watch them."

David steps into the vault. Mickey also steps into the vault, but he has his gun on the others. While David and Mickey are sufficiently distracted with the money, Prue turns to Max.

"Use your power."

Confused by what she's asking, Max looks at Prue. Prue glances down at the bomb attached to Max's waist. To emphasize what she wants him to do, she uses her powers and pushes Max's jacket open, away from the bomb. Max gets it so he closes his eyes and looks down. He starts concentrating. Just then, Mickey turns and sees Max. He walks over to Max and pulls Max away from the girls.

"Don't want you three getting any ideas."

Prue glares at Mickey as he pulls Max towards him and over to the vault. Retaking up his position in front of the vault door, Mickey goes back to watching David grab the money bags. Max glances at Prue. Prue nods to him. Max looks down and closes his eyes as he concentrates on the bomb around his waist. Mickey turns and sees Max.

"What the hell are you doing?"

The device around Max's waist shorts out and smokes. Prue and Paige smile at each other. The overhead alarms start ringing. They look up and find two bank guards running towards them.

"At the vault!"

Mickey pushes Max away from him. Prue grabs Max and pushes him down on the ground away from the line of fire.

"Hold it right there!"

Mickey and David head over to their duffle bag where they take out bigger and more dangerous weapons. Mickey positions the gun getting ready to fire. The two guards have their guns out and stop to aim. Prue uses her powers and pushes the two guards away just as Mickey starts firing the automatic rifle at them. The security guard hits the bank desk. Mickey glares at Prue. David aims at them. Paige gets up and looks at Mickey and David.

"Big mistake."

Mickey presses the small hand-held device. It doesn't work. He aims his gun at them.

"Yeah, right back at you."

He starts firing, but Paige produces her shield. He stops firing.

"What the hell is that?"

"Magic. Want to see some more?"

Paige looks at Prue who uses her powers to knock the guns out from Mickey and David's hands.

"Hey!"

She again uses her powers and pushes both of them back into the vault. She shuts the vault door on the two thieves. She locks the vault door. Grabbing Max's hand, Prue pulls him towards the front door, Paige follows.

"Come on."

"Shouldn't we wait for the cops, explain everything?"

"No, look. We cannot explain without telling. And you have to protect yourself by protecting your secret."

"And we really need to get back to your dad, okay?"

Paige, Prue and Max head out of the bank.

-c-

Gordon is on the ground and bleeding to death. He rasps for breath consciously aware that he's dying. In front of him, he sees a bright light appear and grow brighter and bigger as it gets closer to him. He smiles seeing the bright light turn into a person.

"Paulette?"

Leo appears. Leo walks over to Gordon and kneels down.

"It's not time to be with your wife, Gordon. It's time to be with your son."

"But..."

Leo holds his hand over Gordon's chest. His hand gives off a soft, golden glow. When he removes his hand, Gordon's gun wound is gone.

"Raise the boy well. Heed Prue's advice."

Leo stands up and slowly backs away. He orbs out, his form turning back into the bright, white light. As he watches, Gordon raises a hand up. The orb light moves out of the garage. Gordon touches his chest where the wound used to be. The van returns to the garage with Prue behind the wheel. She parks the van. Max jumps out of the van and rushes over to Gordon.

"Dad, you okay?"

Gordon gets to his feet and hugs his son.

"Max. Ohh. Ohh, I'm fine, Max. Thank God. Thank you. You're all right."

"But I saw you get... you're not bleeding."

"It's a miracle. Thank you. Thank you for protecting my son."

"I'm just glad it worked out."

Gordon kisses Max's head.

"Raise the boy well."

Gordon turns and gives Prue a strange look.

"What?"

He looks at Max.

"There's somewhere we need to go." (to Prue and Paige) "I'd like you to come with us."

-c-

Gordon and Max each place a pink rose tied with a pink ribbon down on Paulette's grave. They're kneeling in front of the headstone. Prue and Paige are standing a short distance away.

"Max, I was so busy being angry at your mother for leaving, for not telling me her secret, your secret. It was like a weight on my heart." He looks at Max. "I hope you both can forgive me." Max turns and hugs Gordon.

Over Max's shoulder, Gordon nods at Prue. She smiles at him.

-c-

Back in the attic, a small two-car toy train is travelling across the attic floor towards Kit. Kit meows and runs away just as Phoebe, Paige and Piper walk across the attic floor. They chuckle. Phoebe picks up the toy train while Piper and Paige follow her carrying both a box of things. Prue looks up at them and smiles.

"Can you believe that? Dad's old train."

Phoebe sits down next to Prue.

"Too bad you couldn't get to say good-bye to Leo."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know. It's just weird. I felt like he was holding something back from me."

"Holding something back, what do you mean?"

"Who knows? It just seemed like he wasn't telling me the whole story, like he had some secret he was afraid I couldn't handle."

"Well, that's his call."

At that strange comment, Piper and Prue both look at Phoebe. Paige gives Phoebe a meaningful look.

"Assuming that he had a secret. Might not have."

"What are you talking about?"

"Okay, okay, you don't have to beat it out of me. Leo is a whitelighter. They're sort of guardian angels for witches, and they're not supposed to get involved with witches. But Leo couldn't help it. He fell in love with you, and that broke all the rules and got him in all sorts of trouble. And even though he'll love you forever, you will probably never see him again."

There's a moment of silence. Paige looks around and starts laughing.

"What? Phoebe, that's… that's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. Oh, god. Don't be so silly."

They others also start laughing. Piper throws the doll she's holding at Phoebe. Phoebe wants to protest, but gets that Paige just saved the secret.

"That's me, silly."

"I'm gonna get some more tea."

Piper leaves the attic.

"You know, Pheebs, with an imagination like that, you should be writing children's books or something."

Prue looks at the toy in her hand.

"No. But I didn't… I didn't…" Paige gives her another meaningful look. "…even think of that. That's a really good idea, Prue."

Phoebe grabs the toy train and starts to dump it in the get-rid-of box. Prue quickly puts down the thing she's looking at and grabs the toy train from Phoebe.

"Oh. Oh. That stays here."

"Wait. I thought all of the toys were going to the Salvation Army."

"Well, like you said, we should save some for our children."

"Do I sense a hormonal shift here?"

"It's no big deal. I've just had some time to think."

"Yeah, in all that spare time of yours."

"And I realize that I do want kids."

"I think you'd make a great mom."

Paige grabs a box, stands up and leaves.

"So did you save Max or did Max save you?"

Prue looks at Phoebe who smiles back at her.